Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-01-09
Virginia and NOr.h-CarOlina--The Richmond

Richmond Enquirer, but the folloWlngs Hoh ohe Vi
the ablest and most gifted pens in the Confederate
States saves us the labor of saying word on the
subject in this issue. Our correspondent has elled
the forest Of Destructive nquiy, leaving to US only
the task of rolling the logs gathering the brush and
putting fire. to them. Or, to change the figure ne
has taken off all the epdermis of this vaunted organ
of the administration, and sprinkled plentiful sup
ply of Cayenne pepper on its shrinking flesh. Read
what our correspondentsays, and hand the paper to
your neighbors.
The Enquirer seems to think that we are not dis
posed to answer some questions it propounded to
us some weeks since. In this it is mistaken. We
shall meet all those questions in our own way and
time. But we are OBTAINING our readers from the
rich treat We have in store for them
For the Standard.
Is North-Carolina Amy Thing9 ,
l am led 10 this humiliating inquiry by recent
and current events in and out of the State. freely
concede that there ought to be divisions or strife
among the people of any State, or among the States
themselves. And he who originates strife is alone
to blame; for it is not in human nature to receive
offense without retOrt and sefeXiStence requires
self-defcnce. 1t is charged, that those who now
govern North Carolina, have caused divisions among
the people; have organized themselves into party,
and prescribed all others; and have inaugurated
measures injurious to the common cause, and in bad
faith. If these things so, it is great crime
If they are not so, it is gross SANDER. And the
character of those in power, and the character of
the State ITSELF require. that the truth should be
known by all who will judge Justly and that those
who accuse against the truth, should be exposed.
Soon after Lincoln's election, the propricty OF
calling Convention to Secede was, by the Legsla-
ture then in session. submitted to vote of the peo
pie. The people refused to call Convention at all,
and the vote for members, at the same time, ind
Gated that twothrds of the people were opposed to
secession for any cause then existing. But in
short time, events occurred which induced these
same people to meet in Convention, and secede by
a unanimous vote. Up to that time, the two divis
ions among the people were called, severally, uni
onists," and "SecessionstS" And these names
truly indicated the sentiments of each party. After
it became necessary to secede, and the people were
unanimous, the name "UniOnists" no longer indi
Gated the sentiments OF any party or Of anybody;
for all were then SeceSSiOnistS but not in the
sense for the original seceSSionsts we're foEseces
sion without sufficient cause, and, together with
disunionsts at the North, created the necessity
which the UnioniSts were obliged to realize. The
secession of North Carolns was not, therefore, the
act of the secesSonSts for in their attempt at Sc
cession before sufficient cause they failed; but it
the secession Of the unionistS after sufficient
cause existed.
So soon as North Carolina declared her indepen-
unionists, abandoned all party distinctions, and
sought to make common cause; yielded to the Sc
cessionstS who had possession Of the government
a cordial support, continued them all in Office, and
preserved the State and her institutions they
were. And thus were, verify, Conservatives But
those who had been SeceSSiOniStS Immediately or
ganized themselves, or what is the same, retained
their original organization as party claimed the
act of secession party triumph and prescribed
and aSpersed every one who was not of them.
As proof OF the first proposition ] mention that
although, as shown by the vote before the Conven-
tion and by the vote of the late State elections two
thirds of the people were against the original Sc
ceSsionists; yet the Convention did not single
act of party character prescribed nobody, and
aSpersed nobody At the Presidential election, that
same year, they made no opposition to the original
secession President but gave him unanimous vote.
As proof Of the second proposition passing by
much that the SeceSsiOnsts did in the Convention
their proposed ordinance 10 send every man to the
guillotine who shodld question the immaculacy of
their men or measures. and the like, mention the
fact that although offices were of necessity, great
ly multiplied and although the Conservatives were
two 10 one in numbers, and some of them nearly as
gOOd SecesSionStS, yet, not one office in fifty was
allowed to be filled by them. After the Presidential
election which was unanimous for Mr. Davis, they
claimed that election a party triumph, simply
because all did not unite upon the same names as
electors; which was, Of course, the mereSt matter
of form. The organ Of the party, the State Journal
said: at is a strange but pleasing coincidence that
the first number of our new volume should be the
herald to our readers of Uict0ry by the tri-
umph of the electoral ticket advocated by this paper
and its political confrereS." And it said further of
the Conservatives, that they should have "a hide
Gus mark upon their brow, By which they should
be known by the people"
Now, in what was the "victory?" Over whom
was it? For what was the "hideous mark ?" If
the election was for President, and all voted for
the same President where could be the victory of
party, or the infamy Of the other? What could
be complained Of except that the d, structves set
upa ticket, avOwedy party ticket, for which
all aid not VOTE and thereby opposed not the Presi'
dent not the Confcdcracy, not the State, but
knewedgcd organized party of political coDfrercs"
Here then, is full proof that the Destrucives had Or
ganized party, and marked every man who did
not act with it, even in matters OF FORM Verify,
they are DestructiUes.
These things provoked retort. SelErespect self
existence required selfdefence. The people began
to say, what do these things mean? We are eX-
cluded from all places of trust in the State, although
we had it in our power to take them; and are &C.
nounced as unworthy Of confidence. We voted for
Mr. Davis, but still victory is claimed over US
We have poured out our blood and treasure for the
State but those who have done little of either, say
we traitors, and have marked in the forehead,
so that in all time to come, we and our children
may be known and hated What must be done p
The tocsin sounded, Aroused Arouse yourselves!
rang from one end of the State to the other; and
the people ran to the polls, and by such a vote
never given before, drove these libellers from
power, and put in better men. But truth requires
that it should be further said that not for this only
were they driven out, but because it found that
they had neglected the best interests of the State,
and were as imbecie before the enemy as they were
malignant towards their friends.
But what howl is raised by the Destructives
from one end of the State to the otherl What is it
for? They have been turned out of office! Well,
why did they allow it Why did not the "politi-
cal c0ntrereS" triumph in the election? ? Why not
"another victOry?" Why was not the "mark on
the brow" palmer? Aha! Did they have, and
have they lost the peoples confidence? That 'oas
10 be the doom Of the Conservatives! IL they
mistaken in suPposing they had the victory and The
nennlns cnnlilencn what rinht have IhnY to claIm