Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-10-20
For the Standard.

70 the Wanton and iawfesS attack on your printing
! am glad tue ma sk Of hollow deception has beeuOuug
asde and the determination not TO tolerate any freedom
of speech so plainly disclosed The people needed
such startling and audacous display desposm
them from the fatal lehargy which they have sunk
nope they VIII now see the necessity of checking the in
tendencies to centras and of guarding against
tne estsosnment OF military desposm. Every thing
put 100 clearly shows we are upon the brink ofa military
desponsm, If We do not draw back in time
The military have unlimited controI-the Constitution
osreearded-rghts of property ruthessy truddeu
DER oo and the right of the States for the defence of
winch we originally took up arms despised The only
excuse Vouchsafed for these manifold usurpaons of
thority is that they done in obedeuoe military
necessity, phrase of such convenient vagueness
cover Lny and al expressions Where will these usurpa-
hons ends Away with the coSening eant-the lying ex-
that these usupations necessary to from
sugugaon, aod that so the closes rulers
VIII Voluntarily relinquish their ILL gotten power. They
VIII 90 no such thing They will endeavor to retain their
power and they will succeed also il defer resistance
To lnat hour The interest felt in the has rendered
many indifferent TO the encrOschmens of the military,
Wne Others who fully awake the drift of events,
lack The moral courage to take bold stand for right.
The Confederate Congress which should be the guar
dian OF civil liberty has yet displayed single spark
oi independence Its subseryency to Mr. Davis has been
SDect 10 the EXTREME and has most usually with
Closed DOORS the people have been kept in profound gno
rance OF ts doUgs Not law which it has passed has
ever undergone any previous discussion by the people
lnaeea MT. Davis and Congress have acted if they
were he masters, instead of the trustees of the peo
pie put Congress down, then, accomplce in the
OF ensavng the people through the instrumenaty
1t is vain to expect any thing from the legislatures of
tne several States since they serviIe and id
and ready to applaud any act of oppression
They do not possess sufficient moral courage to pro-
tect their own citizens from wrong. What of the judca-
yE Alas! that, too, has shown of the pancy of
the willow than the sturduesS of the oak and has often
grossly perverted the law, rather than encounter popular
camor or run the risk If offending military upstart
aue up OF wool aud warp of ignorance and impudence
Mr. Davis has prevented the formation of Supreme Court
Tor no reason that see except that might possibly
operate as a check on himself
bavo
ALARM should danger menace liberty Where is this free
pess! with the exception of the Charleston Mercury,
haelgh Standard and Montgomery AdOertissr no other
paper has dared to show spark of manness and indie
pence they have all succumbed to the military power.
There IS not newspaper that will publish communca-
on IN favor OF recons rucon yet they boast loudly of
their independence and freedom believe with Mr. JET
ierson that error of opinion may be tolerated while
son is left free to combat it - and my notion of free
press enjoying ireedo n that will publish
any decenty written article, regardless Of its tenets
Before the South seeded her press urged and advocated
ne destruction Of the Federal umon without let or hin.
drance and would have resented fagtOus wrong any
attempt to prevent its doing Is any criminal
to advocate the destruction Of the Confedeacy than
that of the Unon Has Carolina the same in
defeasbe right secede from the Confederacy that she
had to retire from the Union? Has she right to ia
vor reconsruction If she this right her citizens
have right to advise its exercise.
Let me recall case in point. North Caro- lima did not
secede until the Cotton States had formed the Con ederacy
presses that urged the State secede? The press ought
enjoy the of freedom today-agreeaby to
the Confederate Constitution it does actually enjoy it.
by means agree with you the subject of
strucon have sign of relenting the part of
Lincoln and his faction, any modification of their hos
tiiy to slavery and with this fact before me- unable
TO conjecture what possible good could rebound
from reconstruction know there many men, who
in of full security of their property and persons
would consent to reconstruction but myself sceptca
the good faith of those who have often dsregarded
the requirements of the Constitution Despite the deca
raons of the press there good many Instruction
lists every State but they afraid to aVoT their
timents- ~ r..-.. 80. -..-
While such are my individual views of reconstruction
fully admit your right to favor it and condemn the
cuou of yourself other for Opinions sake )"
If your views held to be reasonable the remedy
prompt and peaceabe is at hand by your Indictment
in the courts
The awless attack upon your press should the
people to of their danger The attempt
and ntimidate the Standard, wrong done to every
in the COnfederacy and such it ought to ken
general Indignation and resentment To approve it is tC
dared denounce it, though ready enough demo unct
Lincoln and Burnside for similar acts in which We, hcw
ever, have no concern.
In nv poor judgment we should officially indicate tht
basis which are willing to enter into negotiations
Let manifesto be published setting forth what
fighting for. Are we tn prolOng ind ehnItey his gigantic
war. in the hope of ultimately wrestling Maryland, Ken
tucky and Missouri from the grasp of the North? Two
those States represented in Congress- and
taxed to pay their members when the truth is thes
members were elected legally aud regularly by the
peopl. whom they claim 10 represent but by conclave
fugitive politicians who arrogaed authority given
them. The admission Of Kentucky and Missouri i6tC
the COnfederacy is level with Lincons recognition
the PerpOnt government and ought to have be en-
cousummated. For myself am opposed to prolOnging
the war single day for the above purpose nasmuch as
firmly believe majority of their citizens are hostile to
We should make ample provision fur such citizens from
those States have nObly sacrificed their oil to join
Are we to proong the war in the hope of finally COM
peipg the North to make indemnity for the property she
has sczed If this be the calculation of rulers
may to look for peace under couple of fr
it is in the power of five millions of people to whip
twenty millions so completely as to be able to dicta'e
terms to them.
w5 H. rocnIa onsont t nooca ON tbo condtion that
each belligerent pockeed his own losses? Would they
consent reconstruct the condition of such m0dlca
ton of the Constitution would the safety o.
1avery2 Would the agree to abolish slavery at the end
IF ten, twenty or thirty years. IN order to secure per
naneut pence?
These questions should be freely discussed 1t dc
harm TO collect and ascertain the views and wishes
the people for rulers only the of the peo
pie and bound to execute their wishes No punctO of Mr.
Davis else ambition of man, should bt
suffered to prulong this runOus war, but it should b
settled ON such terms will conduce to the welfar
aud happiness of the largest lumber of people. Th
people must compel politicians to open negotiations TO
peace for very much fear those who precpated us int
he war by telling secession would not be followed BY
war, WILL now that we are embarked IN it continue
from sinister motives. If wait for politicians arm
contractors blockade specuators and servile press
nnrae negotiations, peace is indeed remote The peopi
must move in the matter, and depue to Congress me-
who reflect their views-bnld aud honest men-whose on
chart shall be the public welfare.
must briefly touch another topic ere close. 1t
of the utmost moment that constitutional opposite
party shall be organized to serve check upon MI
Davis who has met far too much subservency, a1d bee
TOO much under the influence of the who served al
with him in the Federal Congress- have no faith in thes
hoary ntrguers and professional placehuntersthelr IN
erests are not those Of the people So far Mr. Davis ha
had things all bis wayhe has already exercised th
veto powers ofteper than any President OF the Unite
States ever did, and be has deported himself as all tn
functions of government were lodged in him 1t shout
be the ardent Of every patriot to Congress becom
an independent CO ordinate branch of the government
discussing public questions with open
abuses-rebukng usupations. upholding Mr. Davis "be
right and opposing him when wrong. This is what
ought be- and the only way to make it for the pei
pe at home think speak, and act Independent fire.
men, and teach all public officers from Mr. Davis down
he petiest subaern that they the creatures not
absolute masters of the people Such opposition as
aude TO- would strengthen rather than diminish the vgC
of the government while it would enable to preserve
liberties in the midst of 4 1t is very far from
wish to enbarrass the government but do wish mo
earnestly and sincerely tn its usurpsons checked ar
the people protected from oppression. As our Governor
Judges and Legislatures have abdcated their function
aud forgotten the penpe had any rights, we must ere
new ramparts against military despOtsm and arouse
peopef their lehargy to sense of impending da
ers am satisfied that the iusOlences expressions au
surpations of the military have done more to Gill the pc