Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-11-18

The President's Speech in Wiininston.
We publish, to-day = report Of the Presidents
speech in Wilmington, on his way from the South
to Richmond. -
President Davis does full Justice to the manner
in which our noble old State is bearing herself in
this war, and we thank him for it.; out he goes out
of the beaten path Of his speeches 10 the States
south Of US to defend the partizan policy of
his administration This part Of his speech was in-
tended for North Carolina, and especially for the
Conservatives of this State He very truly observes
that we did not 60 into this war from any ignoble
motives Of "ofices or plunder," and be declares
that no such narrow considerations have controlled
his appointments to office Let us see If this de-
claration is true in pointof fact We claim with
him that "ofiees and plunder" ought to be the
last consideration which should influence patriots
in struggle like the present; but We insist and
the facts will sustain in the statement that from
the hour when he assumed the reins Of government
to the present. nine tenths Of bis appointments have
been coafsrred on persons who agree with him in
political opinion, and that Conservative or an old
Unionist but true Confederate, has seldom been
recognized as ct to hold any office under his admin
istration. "Let him laugh who wins" The Pres
ident and his peculiar friends the original secession
lists, won in the contest in 1860 which involved the
destruction or the preserv alton of the Union; and
its destruction, which followed as the result of the
dissolution through their ,nstrumentaty Of the ma
tonal Democratic party, placed them in possession
ofthe new government He and his peculiar friends
are in Office for six years. and they can well afford
to speak Of the "ignoble motives" of those who
are influenced by "ofices and plumber" 1t is all
well enough for them to conduct the government in
their own way and to enjoy its honors while their
opponents, who have the same stake in the govern.
ment which they have; arc ignored and considered
unworthy Of place; and then, if any complaint is
made Of such treatment to raise the cry that those
who complain are actuated by the "ign6ble mo-
tives of "of6ce and plunder." Il is all right in
them to hold the Offices and have their own way,
but the offices at once become objects Of plunder"
when their opponents criticise their conduct and
as5 them to give place to wiser and better men.
u.s. Davis has formed.two Cabinets. All Of the
members Of both were original secessionists. He
has sent abroad some four or Eve ministers to for.
eign courts. All of them were original secess,onists
He has appointed some two hundred Brigaaier Gen.
erals. Nearly oil Of them were original secession
lists. He has made numerous appointments in this
State, and nearly all from the original secession
party. OF the eighteen or twenty Brigsdiers ap.
pointed from this State, but two were Conservatives
or old Union 1hep> He says, merit and merit
alone should be tie criterion" in making appoint
ments. We make bold to say that such criterion
exists only In the abstract Party, and not merit,
has been the criterion. The whole country knows
and feels this to be so. Nh. Davis must know it
also, but he is 80 thoroughly wrapped up in party
that he is unable to see or admit it. " s;' H.
Now, we tell Mr. Davis, as we have frequently
told him BEFORE that the Conservatives of this State
are Indifferent to ''spoils and plunder." But they
have deep interest in this revolution as he has,
and they do not care who fill the offices SO they are
well filled If well filed and if public affairs had
been conducted as they should have been, the Con-
servatives would have, been as much gratiled as
Mr.. Davis and his friends seem to beswith their
possession Of the Offices; but when these things are
not so-when they see and feel that they not So
and demand q change, and are told ,n reply that
the secsssionsts constitute privileged class and
are alone entitled to hold Office and no change will
be permitted which viii place the Conservatives in
power and that their desire to improve the admin.
straton Of public affairs and thus benefit the cause
is only an "ignoble disposition to clutch the
"spoils" and the pfupder," they, the Conserve
tiyes feel that insult has been added injury, and
that their own President, for whom large msioriy
Of them generously voted as no.party man. has
but endorsed all the insult and Ill the injury which
they have been required to, endure from tia mo-
lnent his administration commenced to the present
time. If Mr.. Davis and his peculiar friends enter
tain 50 much contempt for .spoils and plunder," !"
why do they hold on to them.with SO tight grssp
Let Mr.. Davis practice what be breaches. Let
him indeed make merit and not party the criterion
in his appointments, and no one will sooner COM
mend him for it than we will Let him who eoan-
sells '.fe.bearanee with each ether" set the exam
fple Of fforbesrsnce ahil fmagnaainity himself. Lei