Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-19
Party Movements, in the Army.

house, Va, on the 18th instant specially to de-
nouncs this journal, and generally to pass rssolu
tons of political nature. Col Bryan Grimes, De-
structive, presided with number Of Secretaries OF
the same stamp, so far Is We are able to learn. A
committee, composed of such Destructives - Sam
uel P. Hill, R. H. Singeltary, and others, reported
resolutions. These resolutions denounce the pub
lie meetings recently held in this State as aeor.
ing the cause of our enenies," and also denounce
the Standard and declare that if "true patriotism
in North Carolina has SO far lost its hold upon the
minds and hearts of her people as to be unable to
check the course Of the Standard and other papers
which are giving utter.nce to such sentiments then
the public authorities would be recreant to the cause
Of the country if they should fail to take measures
for theirsuppression."
The patriotism of large majority Of the people
of the State is questioned and the authorities are
called upon to violate their oaths and violate the
Constitution by suppressng freedom of speech and
of the pressl We had thought these officers Cor
prioats were not tolerated in the convention were
fighting for liberty and law; but it seems, from
their own showing that they are contending for
the right to trample down law and extinguish lib
erty They itseems are the self constituted judges
Of what $ true patriotism" is in North Carolina;
and if the people Of the State, who made them what
they are-who put stars on their coats and stripes
on their breeches, and commissioned them to fight
against arbitrary power-do not happen to think
ashley do they to be dealt with by ''the author
tiles" and the newspapers that speak for them are
to be suppressed and then the people themselves are
to be suppressed if they resist this attempt to tram
pie on the Constitution and deprive them of their
libertiesl Such, in brief was the action of this
selfconstituted convention. 1t 6scloses DISPOSE
ton aid purpose on the part of officers in the
army, which is alarming; and if this disposition and
purpose should increase and become general among
of the States will be placed in imminent peril
military power will overshadow every thing, and
the people will be ridden over and trampled down
by military iespots.
But this feeling is not general in the army, nor
is it likely to become so. We have letters IN our
possession from officers and privates in the army,
which show this movement to be one of the most
thorough farces and impositions ever enacted. The
privates in the regiments were ignored both in &C.
to- Every person who figured in the convention is
an officer, and the inference is that no private was
allowed seat in that body. The poor privates were
confined to the kitchen, and not allowed seat in
the big house. But we have heard from the prvates,
and they inform that large majority in all our
regiments endorse the course of the Standard. 1t
seems that meetings held in the various regi-
men,s to appoint delegates to the convention. The
following extract will furnish an insight into the
manner in which these meetings were gotten up and
conducted A soldier writing from Pettigrews bri.
gade says:
There has been some speeehyying in our bri-
gade followed by the drafting of resolutions repu-
drafting the action. of the public mseiings held in
Wake and other Counties. These resolutions were
submitted to a vote of the men, but in such way
that they could not vote their sentiments The res
olutions were adopted unanimously apparently,
twelve or fifteen IN our regiment voting aye and no
ore penturing to pote nay. But the feeling of the
men is far from being correctly represented The
vote was put in this way, whether they we're in
favor of still fighting, or of laying down their arms
and going back into the Union under any circum-
stances We might have imposed upon US. Whilst
some would accept peace on any terms, the great
majority would not agree to this but certainly
in favor of an attempt at compromise aud concSia-
ton. If nothing honorable can be secured, then
fight on; but if peace is to be had on any terms
that not degrading, let us have it by all means
before our men are all killed, and our whole country
ruined. am told that the 44th regiment voted to
man for peace at all hazards. Our men were t.
king second vote in the companies yesterday. The
whole affair is calculated to do much more harm
than good. 1t will teach the men the strength Of
the peace sentiment; and will but give to other
States better opportunity to heap their ISLANDERS
and calumnies on our noble old State"
Observe the wicked fraud practiced on the SOL
diers They were asked whether they were still
for fighting or for laying down their arms and sub
hitting to any terms that might be imposed OF
course they would all say no. The people of the
State who have held the meetings referred to- have
never even thought of such base submission to their
enemies.
Another friend writes US from Pettigrew's brig
ade as follows:
"The whole thing was managed through hum
/buggery and sccresy. 1 am confident that eight
out of ten in this brigade sustains you in your
course. 1 have been in the army twenty-seven
months, and have a right TO speak. = While
the meetings, gotten up BY some Of tho officers,
so they had to get the Richmond Enquirer and read
garbled extracts from the Standard. The meet
ngs we're of short duration, and not one-third of
the privates knew any thing Of them till they were
over. 1 will close by saying I am peace private
of the 26th, and twothirds of the regiment are the
same way"
A number of soldiers in the 47th regiment have
written us as follows .E
"This morning the commissioned officers were
summoned to the tent of the commanding officer to
appon. delegates to a convention at Orange Court
house. The privates were not consulted at all.
We agree with you fully, and if the men of this.
amy had the privilege of speaking you would hear
very different voice from that Of few officers"
Another soldier writes US as follows:
81 have conversed with the soldiers of three
brigades. They say they do not want these packed
meetings controlled by tho officers bata fair vote
BY ballot. The meetings held are all one. sided