Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-30

who
may
. M,
we'll, dated December II, 1868:
"There is considerable excitement here at this
time, in regard to the organization of the 10th reg
iment; and to this matter desire to call your at.
tention, not only journalist, but as public
man. 1t is matter of considerable Importance,
and will have very material bearing on the next
election, SO far, at least the Cape Fear District
is concerned The facts are these: Some time ago
the Adiutant General of the State issued an order
by order of the Governor, commanding the officers
Of the 40th Regt N. G. troops, to hold an election
for field officers OH the Goth of November. Two
days before the time appointed for the election,
Gen. Whiting issued an order prohibiting the Of
hcers from holding the election, and stating that
the Governor had reserved the right to appoint
them. IL is now ascertained, beyond all doubt
that the appointments hare been made Now, Sir,
what right did Gen. Whiting have 10 revoke an
order from the Governor Of the State? What right
has ne to interfere with the organization of State
regiments? What right has Gov. Vance to ap.
point field officers of regiment, when the law
says expressly, that the company officers shall
elect them? These are the questions that the SOL
dlers of this district want answered.
| am not in this regiment myself, and am not in
any way personally concerned, but when see such
outragcs on the rights of men, perpetrated by
miserable set of petty tyrants-nen who have gone
into this war for the sake of glory, and to make
money-.men who would not end it tomorrow on
terms honorable to US, if they could when 1 see
these things, say, | am determined to do my part
in holding them up to rigid responsibility to the
people of North Carolina and the Confederacy.-
And now call upon you as the only Editor in
North Carolina who has the independence to stand
up to our rights, to ferret out the whole matter,
and expose it to the world I hold myself pre-
pared to prove all the statements | have made in
this letter, and should you deem any of them worth
place in your columns, you are authorized to give
the name of your informant, if called upon. There
are thirty or forty other things that might men,
tion, but have already written more than was in
tended If the other matters are not worth pub
lshing certainly the of the 10th regiment is
Extract from letter from an officer at Fort Cas-.
well, dated December Is, 1868:
"Believing that you are the only Editor in tie
State that has taken the proper stand in upholdin,
the laws of the State as well as the rights of th}
soldiers desire to lay before you few facts in rel
gard to the treatment of the 10th regiment N. C
troops by the State authorities In doing so it i
not my object to present them in the form of pub
lication, but merely to give you the facts in tins
case that you may them edtorially as you thinl
proper. The 4Oth regiment n c. troops, you an
perhaps aware, has never been properly organiz&
by the election of its proper field officers the cau$
Of this no one is, perhaps. able to divine, excep
the wisdom of Mr.. Martin, the former Adit General.
recently, however, the State authorities conclude
that it was time this giment should be organized
and Gov. Vance issued an order stating what com
panies composed the regiment and further ordering
the company officers to hold election for the field
officers Of the same on the goth November last,
All the officers of the regiment seemed we'll pleased
that even at the ninth hour, the State authorities
had concluded that it was necessary that this regi;
ment, in common with all the other regiments oI
the State, Except those raised under the ten regi
ment bil) should, in the exercise of right guar
anteed to the officers of the regiment by an act Of
the Convention, elect their field officers. Two days
before the election ordered on the Goth November,
an order was received from Maj. Gen. Whiting,
commanding, stating that no election would be held
for the field officers Of this regiment the Governor
having reserved to himself tho right Of appointing
the same From this order it is evident that the
Governor and Gen. Whiting must have had a con.
sultation on the subject, and agreed that no elcc
ton should take place. as, since that time the Gov
ernor has. as stated in the Generals order, made
the appointments. The whole facts of the case
seem to be simply this: The Governor in good
faith ordered the election, but before the election
was held Gen. Whiting, that he might put some o.
his fayortes in position, induced the Governor t
prevent the election. In all due respect to Gov
Vance, desire to know by what authority he ha
made these appointments and thereby disfranehise.
literally all the officers of the regiment By Law
of the State, which the Governor must know to b
in existence, we certainly have a right to vote 70
the field officers of this regiment Such cours,
as this on the part of Gov. Vance I must truly ad
NIT was unexpected, as had too high an opinion
of him ever to think that he would be the means o
setting aside and rendering void any law of th
State. This is one step towards despotic absolu
tism that may be forced upon this regiment for tE
present, but which, by their votes in the future
they will show that an acknowledged law of tn
State cannot be thus set aside to their detrinent
Of the men appointed will not speak, as it is mere
ly the principle involved wish to bring before you
/ am truly sorry that our Governor, who was large
" voted for by the soldiers, and whose course, s
far, has been generally approved, should submit t
such proceedings or be a party to them. Thes
remarks have been made not in spirit OF accuse
tion, but because believe my rights have been in
fringcd In closing. will state that the companie
composing the regiment have been in SERVICE tn
most of them, since the months of September, Ot
tober and November, 1861, and have never bee
commanded by officers of their own choosing bu
by such as the Confederate authorities saw ut
appoint over them"
WHY r?-Whe our people are anxious to
their duty to the government and are all lntereste
in our noble soldery, it is CALLING to be made th
victims of illegal exaction: All are disposed !
meet the requisitions of the government but
there any reason in impressing the necessaries
life before the tithe is collected? Why should cor
and bacon be impressed before the government due
are collected? officers Of the government shou
beware how they try the endurance OF the peopl
They will not submit to injustice. For Gods SAX
| don't let rebellion be produced. We are fighting
| a common cause-South C1rolinian.
| Dr. Ellis Malone, of Franklin county, has BET
appointed by the, Governor Director Of the less'
Asylum of the for the unexplred term Of DR.. Carl
! Skinner, deceased, of Warren.-PresTsss.