Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-02-24
REMARKS OF MIR. SMITH,

OF MACON,
Delivered in the Senate of North Carolina upon
the resolutions offered in Uindication Of the char
actsr and loyalty Of the State.
Mr. SPEAKER:-I ask the indulgence Of the Sem
ate while offer few remarks in favor of the pas
sage Of the resolutions now pending. The first
reason that will inf pence my vote arises from the
fact that il has been currently reported not only in
this State but in adjoining States that there exists
in North Carolina a strong feeling of disloyaty to
the Confederate government and the cause Of the
South and that a large number of the members of
this Legislature are in favor Of construction of
the old Union. An acquaintance of mine, direct
from Columbia, S. c., told me the other day that
gentleman in Columbia informed him that he had
it from the best authority, that seventy five mem.
bers Of the North Carolina Legislature. were IN "a
vor OF reconstruction. This rumor does great in
justice to this General Assembly If there is re-
constructioniSt in this body, do not know him
and hope shall not know hun. Sir, this rumor
is Uarefaced fabrication, and calculated to do
North Carolina gross injustice, and the cause of
the Confederacy great HARM because it renders aid
and comfort to the enemy 1t is really strange that
any sister State or any person should he so preju-
diced against North Carolina, and against her Leg
Slature to peril the cause of the South for the
sake of berating the good old State Why, Sir,
the circulation Of such is in contravention
Of the law against treason, because these rumorS
though false in letter and in spirit calculated
to encourage the enemy-to make them believe they
have aarge number Of friends in the State, and in
this General Assembly. Sir, have been surprised
that government officials and official organs should
to crafty party spleen, assume course of conduct
calculated to make the enemy believe these rumors
to be true. This for all practical results is just
as mschevous as though they were true.
Mr.. Speaker, this is not all. There are at least
five newspapers in this State whose Editors are as
siduous in their efforts to bring this Legislature in
to dscredit and fix upon it the brand of disloVaty
Judging from their tone and temper, one would
suppose that this was their chief desire. If they
can catch a word, out Of which, by any possible
construction, they can make any sentiment Of dis
loyalty, they rejoice over it as jewel Sir, let it
be borne in mind that these Editors of these five
papers are not nGtire North CdrGLiniaHs, and can
not be supposed to feel the same sympathy and
concern for her character and honor that her own
native born sons feel for her. They are, indeed,
sons-and hence their disposition to bring dis
honor and reproach upon the mother and the true
heirs. SIR hold that the aid and comfort given
to the enemy i'll this State, is given mainly by such
newspapers and persons who give currency to the
rumors to which have alluded They are, In fact
inviting an invasion of the State by the enemy, by
virtually publishing to them, Uhough as the reso
lutons show, falsely) that they will find in North
Carolina a large and strong element in favor of re-
construction. Now, Sir, to show tho true position
of this General Assembly, and the people of the
State, We propose to pass these resolutions-the
newspapers and persons alluded to- to the contrary
Notwithstanding.
Mr. Speaker, the course Of the public journals
to which have alluded, can only tend to weaken
North Carolina in this great struggle for indepen-
dcnce-to weaken the confidence Of the Confederate
government, and the confidence Of the Confederate
States in our brave old State-to rob her thereby
of portion of her honor and the glory OF her arms
70 weaken the confidence of the government and
of sister States in u.s. cannot do any goOd-can-
not strengthen the noble cause in which we are en-
gaged-cannUt break the power of the tyrant-who
seeks to ensaVe us-will not insure the success of
single battle, add single laurel to the glory
of North Caroiua's arms
Under these circumstances, We owe 1t to ourselves
and to our poserty to vindicate the character and
honor Of our noble old State. We owe it to the
Confederate government-we owe 1t to our sisters
of the Confederacy-we owe it to truth and JUS
tice-we owe it as children of North Carolina, to
the purity and honor of our common mother, her
step children, to- the contrary, Notwithstanding
Certainly no nGti"s North Uarolinian, who loves
his native State who honOrs and reveres the mother
that gave him BIRTH can wink at and encourage the
SANDER of her character. en-, Mr.. Speaker, ma
tive North Carolinian and feel proud to own her
my mother. When she is slandered cannot re-
main silent. No, Sir, when the vile tongue and
pen of SANDER assal the chastity and purity Of
mother, who was first in l775 to cradle the young
Hercules of civil liberty, will vindicate her. Yes
Sir, and be it remembered, that pure virtue is al
ways the victim of the slanderers tongue.
Mr. Speaker, we are engaged in a severe but noble
struggle for those liberties and principles transptsd
to US by our ancestors. In this struggle we ss6
for nothing but truth and justice. We protest that
VIC shall not be robbed by any either in this State
out Of it, OF the merited aurels won by our own
soos upon the hardest fought battle fields. We
protest against being robbed of the facts of history
which, if untarniShed by calumny and the hatred
Of North Carolina, will she'd brilliant lusre ulon
our true character, and secure for our brave old
State in future history the honor. the fidelity, the
heroic bravery which she SO justly meritst