Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-11
For the Standard.

W. W. HOLDEN, ESQ Dear Sir: have con-
cluded to give you short historical sketch of the
rise progress and fall of the (woud be great De-
structive party In North. Carolina. In attempting
this, 1T is unnecessary to alude to every incident
that has occurred since the Inauguration of the doc
trIne OF peGcsGbe secession in this State but shall
only attempt to expose some of the leading actors in
this dramatical farce. The most prominent among
those who gave the doctrine the first impetus in this
State was the late Gov. Ellis, and the Hon. Warren
Winsow and still later the famous Military Board.
lnaSmuch as these have all passed away, it would
not be charitable to allude to them in any other
than in historical way Assuming as do that the
Destructive party had its rise in the Ellis admins
tratlon, the Legislature then in session, obeying
this Chief organized that famous Military Board,
and by it the first illegal impressmen if mistake
not, was made in North. Carolina. This, then, was
rolling machine by the Military Board and ap-
proved by the Executive, was heralded and publish
ed by the State JOarnGt-the pet organ of the De-
structlVe admlnStratOn-to the world'as one Of the
great trophies won by the military over the civil
authority. This party having completed its organ
za:ion, set its sails full adrft mounted the storm
of excitement, fully determined upon its mission to
rule or ruin. In the meantime there was STILL small
voice heard murmuring, possibly from the hustings,
that the property life and liberty of the citizen
in danger. The powers that were suddenly be-
came alarmed, grand council was assembled-free
/ conversation uSed-the storm was seen to lower in
the diStance-one expedient and then another was
resorted to and duly conSiiered-the voice Of the
people must be hushed-fOr this purpose test oath
must be enacted into law, and "hideouS mark
placed on the fOreheadS of the old Union men in
order that they might be known in future genera
TONS the military must hold in abeyance the civil
laws-the writ of habeaS corpus set aside-ctiZens
seized and hurried off to bastile there to be kept
indefinitely without knowingdor what. The mill
tary seize the clergy while in the discharge of their
ministerial duties and hurry them out of the State,
and all this and much more must be done in order
toSecure our independence.
The doctrines held in secret concave are still
the nearest idols to their hearts. At this time
they reached (as party the acme Of their glory;
that glory or any of the party is unenved and un-
sought for by all true Conservatives. Their fall
may pc chronicled by the triumphant election Of
our worthy Conservative, Gov. u. B. Vance, the
firm advocate of the rights of the citizens of North
Csrolina-who on all occasions endeavors to hold
the military subordinate to the civil authority
and yet his enemies praise him! Conservatives,
be not surprised at ths-true to their instinct they
pray for your destruction, rule or ruin is their
motto. Say to them, "gentlemen, you have not
given any evidence of your conversion to conserva
tive principles you have made no acknowledgment
that your test-oath doctrine has been abandoned
No Sirs nothing of the kind. Have you renounced
your opinions on the writ of haDeas corpus ?-no,
not word of it. Have you repented for the de.
nuncations heaped upon Gov. Vance previous to
his election ?-no evidence of it. Have you come
to the conclusion to acknowledge the supremacy Of
} the civil law over the military? Your every day
actions and public organs aNwer, no. You en-.
courage mob violence-illegal mpressments, both
of citizens and property" Conserva vatives beware Of
them-trust them not the day that you take one
of them to your bosomS, you receive a viper. Why.
all these eulogiums heaped upon Gov. Vance, and
the great care and concern manifested for his ad
miniStration? 1t is to endeavor to destroy ham in
the house Of his friends The possession of the
spols and power has ever been their god; to OBJ
tain these, any principle of honor however sacred
is readily compromised
Then Sir, seeing that no acknowledgment of er-
ror, no iSavOwal of any of their doctrines preached
before and after the election of Vance for Cover
nor having been made, conclude that it is the
very essence of demagogueism-a wanton insult
not only to Gov. Vance, but to every Conservative
who assisted in elevating him to the high position
which he now occupies, and is intended as SUCH
They would feign create the impression that Gov.
Vance has receded from his position; he is now
acknowledged by them as "loyal citizen" and
would have the world believe, in the same connec
ton, that the masses Dh0 hOnOred him 1otth their
rotes, 10eGr the "HIDEoUs MARK" Oh, conssten-
cyl were there ever such potroons?
And yet strange as it may appear, with all Of
these lights before them, there fen political
journals In this State who can see no distinction
between men OF this stripe, aspiring to high posi-
tions and those who, previous to the war, ident
fed themselves with those who were opposed to-
and endeavored to prevent the bringing on of the
war-opposed to the extreme radical doctrines Of
competitors VINO have never retracted them, nor
in my judgment, ever will. / repeat, that it is
passing strange. that difference can be made be-
tween such men, in the eyes of these journalists,
who have not only been threatened themselves with
the "hideous mark, but also with mob violence.
/ can forgive my enemies, but. never can forget
them-neIther can affiliate wisE them until due
apology is made, and some public disavowal of any
intention their part of holding on to their origi-
nal opinions CONSERVATIVE.
Harnett Co., Dec. 4, 1863.