Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-08-20
The Conservative Victory in this State.

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 justifying resort to
secession though they profoundly deprecated his
election and feared that serious consequences would
flow from it. But, they were Unon;sts aceordino
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
fered in opinion as to the rghto secession they were
determined that after States had acted in their sov
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 notification, in
State which remained in the Union, they could
| not in any event, concede. the Constitutional
right to the common government, the creature and
agent of the States to make upon the sovereigns
which had formed it. after they had solemnly, by
the voice of their people in Convention assembled,
announced their separation from it Consequently,
as soon as Mr.. Lincoln's proclapation 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
dlgnantly refused the call, and commenced the me-
| 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 short,sight-
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 las. extremity, or
become, in his hands, the executioners of their own
brethren. As we have stated they did not hesitate
an instant and in this they were perfectly consist
ent, for they had proclaimed in all their newspapers
| and on every stump, that while they were devoted
to the Union. and would exhaust all honorable
means 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 two-thirds of voting
and fighting population. Instantly, to all human
appearances the violent and early secessonists and
| themselves became unit Both governments were
in the hands Of the early secessonists 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
country and to be regarded as the equals, socially
and politically, of those who were controlling public
affairs But what was the sequel ?-how were these
unselhsh and devoted patriots treated by those in
| power? As general rule, they were prescribed
| from all prominent positions both in the military
and civil service. Incompetent men-blustering
party hacks-avortes IN certain circles, family ia
vorites and blatant secessoniss without merit and,
in many instances, without character, were appoint
ed to office over our best men, merely account of
! their political opinions. The ten State regiments
were oficered to considerable extent, in this way
The coast defences were neglected, and the re-
suit, the enemy gradually encroached upon US, until
at length he obtained possession of our seaboard-
Our brave troops had officers placed over them in
Raleigh, many of whom were whimsical, caprlclous,
and insulting in their character and manners; and
one of these officers even went far as 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
we're mismanaged and vexed 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 nexcu
sable delays took place in manufacturing munitions
of war. While thousands were lavished in various
Quarters, the Governor hesitated about giving forty
cents per pound for indispensable article, salt
petre, until it rose to double that price, when o.
course he was compelled to purchase it. Pet regi
ments were we'll armed, while other regiments
whose officers did not agree in their political opin
ions with those IN power, were put off with muskets
that we're almost useless and one of these regi
ments, the 31st was required to meet the enemy or
Roanoke Island with muskets bf this character
Appointments of officers made by one adniinistra
tion-that of Gov. Ellis-were revoked by tie ad
miuistration that succeeded it, no doubt on thu
ground that the appointees had been Union men
and even ministers of the Holy Gospel were ap
pointed to Chaplainces in the army party grounds
one of these appontees, at least not having beer
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 t.
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 moro than one of the newspaper organs Of tn
faction which thus misgoverned the State, was con
trolled by foreigners of low character who had bu
little sympathy with, or interest in, the Southern
cause The test for Office was as follows: Are yo'
secessionist Yes Are you an original seces
sionstP Yes. Are you an original secessionist
No, but believe secession was right and regart
the old Union men as untrustworthy. "Ver!
WE'LL" was the answer, "you can have the Office.