Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-08-16
The Conservative VICTORY in this state.


A vast majority of the people o.. this State were
Unionists in 1850. They were opposed to
dissolution of the Union and to the war which they
knew would result from it, until every measure of
Cancellation and compromise had been tried and
failed. They did not regard the election of Mr..
Lincoln to the Presidency as justfyng resort to
secession, though they profoundly deprecated his
election, and feared that serious consequences would
flow from it. But, they were Unionists according
to the Constitution. While they deprecated the
precipitate action of the States south of us, and
deplored the results which that action might pro-
duce they nevertheless regarded the old government
as founded upon public opinion and not upon force
as between sovereign States; and though they diff
ferei in opinion as to the rghto secessio1 they were
determined that after States had acted in their SOW
ereign capacity and had separated themselves from
the old government they would not stand by and
see the sword drawn and used against them by that
government They regarded coercion as violation
of the Constitution and as the parent of despotism
While they admitted the right of the old govern
ment to suppress rebellion or notification in
State which remained in the Union, they could
not, in any event, concede the Constitutional
agent of the States to make war upon the soveregns
which had formed it, after they had soemnly, by
the voice of their people in Convention assembled,
announced their separation from it. Consequently,
soon as Mr.. Lincoln's proclamation of April,
1861 appeared calling for troops to be used against
the States south of u.s. the people of this State, with
those of the other border States promptly and in
dignantly refused the CALL and commenced the ne
cessary- steps to connect their fortunes with the
Confederate States. They had been true to the
Union as long as the Constitution was observed,
and that, too, against their own sympathies which
were largely with their erring Southern brethren;
but when the sword was drawn, by the shortsight-
ed and bloody-minded tyrant who rules at Wash
ingtOn, they felt they had no alternative but to
turn upon and resist him to the last extremity, or
become in his hands, the executioners of their own
brethren. As We have stated, they did not hesitate
instant; and in this they were perfectly consist
ent for they had proclaimed In all their newspapers
and on every stump, that while they devoted
to the Union. and would exhaust all honorable
to preserve it. they would never consent that
the sword should be drawn against their sister
States of the South or themselves.
Those in our State who had been Union men up
to this period, constituted twothrds of our voting
and lighting population Instantly, to al! human
appearances the violent and early secessionsts and
themselves became unit. Both governments were
in the hands of the early secessonisS and the old
Union men, forgetting all past differences, rallied
around them like band of brothers. All they
asked was, to be allowed to fight and pay for their
md IN ha lal tha llv
and politically of those who controlling public
affairs. But what was the sequel ?-how were these
unSelfsh and devoted patriots treated by those in
power? As a general rule, they were prescribed
from all prominent positions both in the military
and civil service. Incompetent notwithstanding
party hacks-avortes IN certain circles, family ia
vorites, and blatant secessoniss without merit, and
in many instances, without character, appoint
ed TO Office our best men, merely account Of
their political opinions. The ten State regiments
were Differed to a considerable extent, in this way.
The coast defences were neglected, and as the re-
suit the enemy gradually encroached upon US, until
at length he obtained possession of our seaboard-
Our brave troops had officers placed oyer them in
Raleigh, many org BON were wthEiScal capricious,
and insulting in their character and manners; and
one of these officers even went faas to attempt
to dictate, in writing, to the regiments encamped
near this place, the officers whom they should
choose to command them. The militia of the State
were mismanaged and vcxed by inconsidera:e or
ders, and by counter orders. One of these orders
was calculated to array the nonslavehoders against
the Shareholders, and another to degrade our vol
unteers and consequently arrest volunteering, by
causing them to be stripped and examined before
they were received The public money was i'm
providently expended. Unaccoun.able and inexcu-
sable delays took place in manufacturing munitions
of war While thousands were lavished in various
quarters the Governor heSiated about giving forty
cents per pound for indispensable article, salt
petre, until it rose to double that price, when of
course he was compelled to purchase it. Pet reg-
ments were we'll armed, while other regiments
whose officers did not agree in their political opn-
ions with those IN power, were put off with muskets
that were almost useless and one of these reg-
ments, the 3lst was required to meet the enemy on
Roanoke Island with muskets Of this character
Appointments of officers made by one administra-
ton-that of Gov. Ells-were revoked by tie ad-
ministration that succeeded it, no doubt on the
ground that the appointees had been Union men !;
and even ministers of the Holy Gospel were ap-
pointed to Chaplances in the army on party grounds
one of these appointeeS, at least, not having been
commissioned by his Church to administer the sa-
craments The Constitution and the law were dis
regarded in numerous instances and various at
tempts were made to render the civil subordinate to
the military power. Foreigners and refugees
some of whom had run the blockade-were placed
in office over natives and persons of known loyalty
and more than one Of the newspaper organs Of the
faction which thus misgovcrned the State, con-
trolled by foreigners of low character who bad but
little sympathy with, or interest in, the Southern
cause The test for office was as follows: Are you
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