Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-02-27
The No-PartV Party.


The movement set on foot in this City by a few
members of the Legislature, and few citizens,
under the direction of certain disappointed poll
tcans behind the scenes processes to discard party
These gentlemen are greatly shocked at the bare
idea of party, and yet they have organized party,
and they appeal to the people to "unite" with
them-to hold public meetings, appoint commit
tees of vigilance and cOrrespondence-to organize
preparatory to the next Congressional elections in
this State and bring out candidates for Congress in
the respective districts who agree with them in
sentiment. They have also appointed Il Central
Committee and Committee of Correspondence.
In short they have thoroughly organized party
in the midst of war; and yet they have the assu-
rance TO declare that they are opposed to party.
In the language of our friends of the Observer,
There is prodigious ahjuring of party" yet
like the ostrich which hides its head and fsncies
that its whole body is thereby hidden, at the same
time party sticks out vsiby in every feather of the
bird" The three individuals who figured in the
meeting-only three-are ultra partizans The
persons appointed on the committees referred to,
are, for the most part, ultra partizans, who have
either been disappointed in their aspirations for
Office. thrust out of Office by the people Nearly
all of them without influence, and some Of them
have no fixed political principles. The appeals OF
such men to the people, and especially against the
immense majority by which Gov. Vance was elected,
will produce no more impression than sounding
brass or tinkling cymbaL" The gong at one of
our hotels would have as much effect on the judg-
ments of our people as these appeals.
The meeting referred to purports to have been
held by persons "who are for sustaining the au-
thoTtes Of both the Confederate and State govern
mens in all rghtul and patriotic measures looking
to "a vigorous prosecution Of the war until our
independence is secured" The Conservatives cor
daily subscribe to this sentiment. Wherefore,
them the necessity of this new party9 They also
say they "are opposed to party organizations and
party divisions during this war" So are the Con-
servatives Wherefore, then, this new party2 They
also say they "for outstanding our resources,
the better to enable US to pay feed, clothe, and
support the families of the gallant soldiers who are
fighting our battles" So are the Conservatives.
Wherefore then, this new party? What good can
come of it? 1t represents at most, not more than
twenty thousand out of hundred thousand
voters. Is it not therefore, factious? But these
gentlemen are 100 SnTeWQ not 10 nave an OOeCl IL
view. What is that object? Is it unity among
our people? If SO, how easy would it have been
for the twenty thousand to have united with the
eighty thousand. No, fellow citizens, office is the
object and to this object, their conduct proves,
these persons would sacrifice the harmony of the
country and the peace of society. Shall this sac
riice be permitted? There is no other way to pre-
vent it than 10y the Conservatives keeping their
feet where they have them, the necks of these
facton!sts. Will you do it fellow-citizens Aye,
#ye-we will we will, comes up to us in tones of
thunder from every section of the State. Let it be
done.
The Conservatives of this State have no party
machinery whatever. They have no Central Com
mittee, and no Committee of Correspondence
They are reSorting to no secret correspondence to
influence the elections. They rely on the intrinsic
soundness of their principles, and the people at
the ballot-box. If they should hold meetings to
express their views, or to nominate candidates. they
will do SO only in Selfdefence. And yet, with a
majority in the State of thirty-fve thousand, they
are denounced as faction" by gentlemen behind
the scenes; and with no party machinery, but on
the contrary sincerely deprecating party spirit and
exhibiting that spirit only in sclfdeience they are
charged with having established party tyranny
over the State. Let the people judge.