Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1862-05-28
: - f0f the Standard.
ARE THESE THINGS SOs

MIR. EDITOR :-Rumors Of wars are not the only !
rumors We have and the reports of artillery are not
the most startling we hear. It has been currently
reported, for some days, and have not yet heard
1t contradicted, that A. NJ Lewis ESQ.,, Paymaster,
mas exchanged orth-Carolina or other funds for
Conieoerate bonds at premium of fifteen per cent?
pocketlng the profits and paying off our soldiers
with Confederate notes instead Of giving them the
funds ne obtained to pay them with. If this be So
the people should know it; if not so, Mr.. Lewis
owes it to himself to deny it. True the Confederate
notes may be good but if other funds, provided for
paying the soldiers are worth Is per cent pre-
MUM, the soldiers should certainly have the benefit
OF the premium: Many soldiers have told me they
are paid in Confederate notes, and in no other kind
Again, it is said that our Commissaries, Quar-
termasters, Ordnance Officers, Governors Aids, &C.,
purchase their supplies of salt, sugar, coffee, &C.,
from the government at cost. If this be so, our
officials of the peace Offices besides their high SAL
aries, can purchase their groceries and many ar
tices at onefourth onetenth the prices that are
charged the families of the poor men now in camp,
and exposed to the hardships, privations and dan
gers Of soldiers life. Are these things so?
We all recollect that Mr.. Lewis pledged himself
to kill hundred Yankees" and it is due to him
that we should sympathize with him in being pre-
vented from doing so by having the peace Office of
paymaster thrust upon him. But for this no one
has a right to doubt but that he would have
redeemed his pledge; but do not think he should
be sympathized with to the tune of Is per cent on
all monies paid to the soldiers besides his salary
Nor can see why the other officials of the "peace
establishment" who, true to their original advocacy
of "peaceabe secession" have preferred peace Of.
tces, should be permitted to purchase their neces
sarles and luxureS at cheaper rates than allowed
to those engaged in the war;
am aware Mr.. Editor, that 1T we'll suits the con-
| venience of many officials to construe censure of
their own acts into treason against the government
| and the cause. As one of the people, l submit to
| no such construction-to no such despotism Too
much leniency towards high officials, and too much
timidty in exposing their ineficiency and corrup-
tion-the leniency and the timidity both probably
induced, to great extent, by fear of injuring the
Southern cause-have well nigh wrecked that cause.
The only safety for the people lies in themselves
Let them visit with summary punishment all dere-
Lotions of duty and all corrupt officials, and hurl
from power and place the incompetent and inefi-
cent, and they and their cause will prosper. Other
wise despotism Of the most grinding and crushing
kind awaits them. Let them submit to all the acts
OF officials no matter how corrupt for fear of being
charged with treason, and they will merit the iron
heel of that despotism which will assuredly be
placed upon their necks. The cause of the South
is one thng-the acts of those in authority another
May 26, 1862. *+****
We have heard the above rumors for several days.
Are they true or false? Let the truth and nothing
but the truth be known in this matter, no matter
whom it hurts. AS to the rumor in regard to the
purchase of groceries, cloth, &C., from the govern
ment, bought for the army, by the "peace" officers
of the military department here at cost or govern
ment prices we feel sure that there are gentlemen
connected with the Department who would not take
advantage Of their position to spunge upon the gov.
ernment tut we are not sufficiently acquainted with
matters to endorse for every one.