Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-02-25
REMARKS OF MIR, SMITH.
IN M.roD

Delivered IN the senate Of North Carolina 1pon |
tho resolutions offered in oindication u the cher
aetsr 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 influence my vote arises from the
fact that it has been currently reported not only 10
this State but in adjoining States that there exists
in North Carolina strong feeling of disloyAty to
the Confederate government and the cause Of the
South; and that 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. G., told me the other day that
gentleman in Columbia informed him that he had
it from the best authority, that seventy. five men,
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 a
constructionist in this body, do not know him
and hope shall not know him. Sir, this runner
is bare-faeed 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 really strange that
any sister State or any person should be SO preiu.
diced against North Carolina aud against ter Leg
islature. as to peril the cause of the South for the
sake Of beraiiHS the good old State Why, Sir,
the circulation of such runners 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 large 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 miscellaneous as though they were true.
MI. 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
tn IL tho md IF lkx,
Judging from their tone and temper, one would
suppose that this was their chief desire. If they
can catch . 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 natips North Cdroliaiana and can
not be supposed to feel tho same sympathy and
concern for her character and honor that her own
native born sons feel for her. They are, indeed,
step-sons-and hence their disposition to bring dis
honor and rsproach upon the mother and the true,
heirs. Sir, ! hold that the aid and comfort given
to the enemy in 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 (though as the reso=.
buttons show, falsey) that they will find in North
Carolina large and strong element in favor of re-
construction. Now, Sir, to show the true position
of this General Assembly, and the people Of the
State, we propose to pass these resolutons-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-
dence-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 other honor and the glory of her arms.
To weakeu the confidence Of the government and
l,co sesck Skrkn, H..
not strengthen the noble cause in which we
gaged-cannut break the power Of the tyrant who
seeks to ensave will not Insure. the success of
single battle, nor add single laurel to the glory
| of North Caroliaa's arms 80.
Under these circumstances, owe it to ourselves
and to our posterty to vndicate the character and
s honor Of our noble old State. We owe it to the
: of the Confederacy-we owe it to truth and JUS
{ tice-we owe it as children of North Carolina, 10
| the purity and honor Of our common mother. her
| step children TO- the contrary, Notwithstanding
| Certainly no natire North Uarofnian, who loyes
his native State who honors and reveres the mother
that gave him BIRTH can wink at and encourage the
SANDER of her character. I am, Mr.. Speaker q ma
tive North Carolinan, and feel proud to own her as
my mother. When she is slandered; l 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 slanderer's tongue.
Mr.. Speaker. We are engaged in q severe but noble
strusglefor those bertes* nd principles transmitted
to US by our ancestors In this struggle we ask
for nothing but tnuth and justice. We protest tha
shall not be sobhcd by any either in this State Of
out Of it. Of thsmeEited laprels won by our owu
sons upon. the h;zdest fought battle, fields. W.
protest against beng robbed Of the facts of history
which, If un.arnished by ti4imny: and the hatred
Of North. Gpsoti,a, will shed brilliant lustre upor
our true character, and secure for. our brave oil
Staten future history. the honor. the fidelity, thu
heroic bravery which she SO justly merits!
i FOR SALE.
NJORTHCkROLINAs PER CENT BONDS.
III %" 6
W. r RICHARDSON l. co.
\ Raleigh, jan so. 1883. .l0-w&swif.