Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-31
An Unprovoked Attack ON Gen. Fowle.

| We have coarser things in the Register, but
nothing more unprovokcd or unjust than the COM
muncation in the last issue of that paper over the
| signature of compatible"
! This writer sneers at the Supreme Court and
goes so far as to intimate that it was influenced IN
its recent decision on the Adiutant Generashlp, by
the fact that the present ncumbent5 who succeeded
Gen. Martini is the son-inlaw of the Chief Justice!
We give this as q specimen of the writer's char
acter He who unjustly, or without some reason
able grounds suspects others Of corruption is very
apt himself to be corrupt To use old fashioned
expression, "he measures other peoples corn By
his own half bushel."
This writer states that the last Legislature, under
the leadership of Gen. Fowle declared the Office Of
Adjutant General vacant This is not true. Gen.
FOlwe had no to do with it than any other
member of that body; and the journals will show
that when the vote was taken the proposition to
declare the Office vacant but ten or twelve names
were recorded against the proposition. Gen, Martin
was almost unanimously invited by the Legislature
to retire; but such was his ambition, or his want
OF sensibility, his contempt for that body that
he held on until the Supreme Court, by whose de-
cision he agreed in advance to abide unanimously
approved the action of the Legislature, and turned
him out according to the Constitution These are
the facts in the which have gone into history.
1t will not do to say, because it is not true that
Gen. Martin ousted to crafty "avarce," or to
provide another Office for those who have the man.
agement of State affairs. The ConstitutioR rs the
result has shown, required his removal. The
highest judicial tribunal in the State, whose duty
it is to expound and apply that instrument, per-
formed that duty, and its deciSion-not the demon
Of avarice," or the supposed wishes of any one
commanded Gen. Martin to retire. The fact that
he refused to retire until thus required fer from
showing disposition on the part of the Conserva-
tves to vacate or provide offices for themselves,
proves that Gen. Martin and his friends, who ad-
vSed him to hold on, regard office and nothing else
as compatible" with 1.-The chief duty of man."
1t was the leech holding without sucking, from
the mere habit of holding, until the chief doctors
of the Constitution forcibly removed him. He is
now bottled up in Brigadiership, and not likely to
taste any blood soon, if we may judge from his
campaigns in that capacity in this State.
This writer also compliments Gen. Martin in the
highest terms ard regrets his removal. Our reply
is-what every body knowS-that Gen. Martin
was unfit for the place and deServedy unpopular.
He was peevish, insulting in his manner, and tyran
cal. Our people and soldiers could barely endure
him What a contrast in this respect between the
administration of Gov Vance and the two that
preceded him, and between Gen. Martin and Gen,
Fowle Formerly, the door OF the Executive Office
was nearly always locked, and the people excluded
Whe only few favorites had access to the seat of
tbo Lotto cf0 - oil ~
e, cry one who desires to the Governor is admit
tel and patiently and respectfully heard, while his
Aids and those about him are as civil and obging
they are prompt in diSpatching business The
same contrast is marked in the Adjutant- Generals
office. Gen. Fowle, who is greatly thesuperior of
Gen. Martin in education and intellect, performs
more labor than he did, and that, too, with man.
ner towards those who have business with him
which at wins confidence and inspires respect.
Soldiers and citizens do not now leave the Adjutant
Generals office with their faces flushed with indg
nation, and their feelings mortified The first re,
quisite in public officer in country like this is to
understand his duties and perform them thoroughly;
the second is, to treat every one with whom he
comes in contact from the humblest to the highest,
with civility and respect. True, the heart must be
! right from which such manners proceed but it is
| not easy for those to show even common civity to
! what they regard as the common herd" who
hold-as many of the Destructives and old army
officers do-that public officers are the masters and
not the servants of the people 1t is natural that
the editor of the Register, with his crab-appe diSpo-
sition and contempt for the people, should assaii
Gen. Fowle, and eulogize such officer as Gen.
Martin.
We have no wish to criticse Gen. Martins ad-
ministration as Adjutant- General; and ii we have
told unpleasant truths in this article Mr. Com
patble" may blame himself for it.