Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-11-05
MIR. Longs Card.

ton, we publish his Card in full, as follows:-
Card-'sThe Council of State"
The Raleigh Standard of the oath inst, under
the above head, states:
The Governor notified the Council of State to
meet in this city on Saturday last" The same pa
per of to-day says:
Had Mr.. Long attended as he could and should
nave done, the necessary steps would have been
taken to repress speculation, to clothe our troops
and to defend the coast"
10 PLAIN man, whose ambition is fully satisfied
by dlscharging every duty. any defence is an un-
gracious task but justice demands that facts should
be known and stated
was notified to attend meeting of the Council
OF State on Saturday, the 18th inst | informed
MIR. Ferguson, one of my colleagues, en- route to
Raleigh, that family reasons of imperous necessi-
ty demanded my presence at the time at home
that presumed quorum would be present, mot
having heard of Mr.. Graves resignation,) but that
II my presence was necessary for quorum, to tee-
graph E. N Peterson, at Weldon, who would send
1t to me here promptly and that would obey forth
with
A telegram, dated the 18th inst, at Raleigh, to
me at Weldon, was received by me here on Mon
day, the Goth, too late to attend.
Another telegram, dated Goth inst, to meet on
the 2lst, was received on that day, the 2lst and
| telegraphed in reply to Pulaski Cowper, ESQ.,,
Secretary of the Council, that would leave home
that night; and SO intended to do, without fail.
l received an immediate reply that "my presence
was unnecessary, as the Council had adjourned"
wrote to the Governor on the Goth inst, in re-
ation to the failure of the due reception of the tee
grams.
These facts will prove my willingness to do all
my duty.
ANY measures that can be suggested g to repress
speculation in articles Of prime necessity to clothe
our troops, and to defend the coast" would have
met and will meet my hearty approval; and the
amiable threat, that "the present Council must
give place, in ece'y instance, to wiser and better
men," will be source of real qualification to
JNO. JOS. LONG.
Garysburg, N c., Oct. 2s, 1862.
Mr.. Long, it seems, was notified three times to
attend-first in writing, and then twice by tele-
graph. He says he informed Mr. Ferguson, one of
his colleagues, en- route to Raleigh, that I" family
reasons of imperious necessity demanded his pres
ence at home at that time. But Mr.. Long does not
state what those family reasons" were. He does
not say that any member or members of his family
were sick If they had been, and if their sickness
had been serious, he would certainly have so stated
as such reason would at once have been regarded
satisfactory. Will Mr.. Long state the nature of
this "lmperious necessity?' Did he not tell Mr.
Ferguson that he could not leave home, because q
regiment Of troops stationed near his resi-
dence and that he feared that, during his Absence
they uouM plumber his propertys Was not this
the "imperious necessity" that prevented his at.
tendance?
He says he was "willing to do all his duty"
His own Gard shows that he did not intend to at
tend under the written notice of the Governor
He "presumed" quorum would be present, yet
he admits that he was negligent in not aiding him
self in forming that quorum. He admits that he
aoouM have done so, if he had received the tee-
grams in time; and this shows that the "mperious
necessity" was not of such character as absolute
ly to prevent his attendance If all the Councillors
had "presumed," as Mr.. Long did, and had awaited
second and third summons not even the three
who were here would probably have attended.
But it is not necessary that we should discuss the
matter further. Mr.. Long could have obeyed the
I first summons as his Card shows. He did not do
So and was, therefore, involved in the first false
STEP which led to his subsequent insufficient ex.
cuses for not attending. A public officer who ex
cuses himself from the performance of duty by
"presuming" that others will be true to duty, and
that he will, therefore, not be needed, will find him
self unsustained by all just, thoughtful, and fair
minded persons.
The truth is, this whole matter is in nutshell.
Gov Vance, in the outset of his administration
summoned his Council, to advise with him as t.
measures of the gravest character. A majority O
the Council failed to attend, and in consequence.
those measures could not be considered. Excuse.
and "reasons" for nom attendance were to be ex
pected, but still the fact is plain that majority
did not attend.
We are surprised to find the Spirit Of the Age
Of this City, apologsing to newspaper called tn
State Journal for its article on the subject, in which
the editor spoke out in just and plain terms t.
this dereliction of the Council The Ago says il
"burnt its fingers" by "relying too implicitly upol
statements that it supposed based upon we'll authen
ticated facts" Of course the Age refers to ou
first article on the subject That article contained
facts, and nothing else. Subsequently we CAV
other facts, but fact has yet been stated which
relieves Mr. Long. The Age thinks to the con
trary, and is satisfied with Mr.. Longs reasons.
We fear it was aided in arriving at that conclusion