Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-12

VB0 VS8WeI OSDStUCSlSoos
friend has called our attention to the State
Journal Of the 6t instant which contains the pro-
ceedings Of public meeting held in Yanceyylle on
the LIST Of August "to take into consideration the
course pursued by the North Carolina STANDARD IN
reference to the existing crisis in countrys At
fairs" This meeting which was gotten up and
managed by Nj. John Kerr, resolved among other
things that in its opinion the Editor Of the Standard
is untrue to the South. This is mere assertion.
From the moment our people determined to secede
up to the present, we have given IN urwavering
support to tho war. We voted in the Convention
for men and means to defend the State; We have
advocated in this journal all necessary war meas.
ures we have appealed to deserters to return to
their regiments; we have encouraged our young
men to volunteers We have sustained every meas
ure deemed necessary to strengthen the public
credit; and generally and specially, We have labor
ed in common with our fsllowcitizens to secure the
Independent existence of the Confederate States
Is there any treason in thatf We have rcjoiced
when victory has perched on our banners, and We
have mourned when disasters have befaen our
arms. Is there any treason in thatf No, our trea-
son consists in having demanded the rights Of our
State-in having resisted arbitrary power, IS shown
in disposition to override our Courts-in having
vindcated civil liberty against the assaults of mill
tary power, and in having expressed the opinion
that it was proper, while the fight was going on, to
endeavor to end this bloody civil war by nego-
tiations. We have been true to our State-true to
the people At home and to brave soldiers in the
field; and for this we are denounced IS traitor
We confess that We desire peace, but We would have
it only on honorable terms But the voice of the
knightly and pu!ssant Mr.. Kerr is still for war"
Like Samson, he would STAY his thousands with the
jaw.bone Of an ass but, unlike Samson, he does
his staying at safe distance from the enemy. He
denounces as traitors "all who nou favor recon
struction of the Union" Is that intended to leave
the inference that Mr. Kerr may be reconstruc
ZIONIST three months hence2 We should not be
surprised if be should be-and then, We suppose,
he will denouuce as traitors ali who may differ with
| him, as he does now.
Our answer in brief to all these imputations on
our loyalty is rs follows: We . citizen Of and
| attached to, the Confederate States. But We were
citizen of North Carolina before we were citizen
Of the Confederate States. We intend to stand by
the latter long it is to the interest of North
Carolina to do SO, and no longer. A man who is
true to his State cannot be false to himself man
who is true to himself cannot be false to any other
man." And we have 10 hesitation in saying, that
while we true Confederate, such is our affec-
ton for North Carolina that in comparison with
| this affection our attachment to tho Confederate
States is Z mere abstraction. "If this be treason,
make Tie l,ost c: Il" This is the key which un-
locks the secret- there he any secret in t-of our
whole course
We have good authority for saying that three.
fouIths of the people of Caswsll County oppo.
sei to the purity purposes sought to be accomplished
by this meeting. A large crowd Of people was
present in Yanceyville, having assembled for the
enrolment of the home guard, and many of them
were present At the meeting a. mere spectators
but we learn that only eight or ten voted on the
resolutions A large majority Of the people Of Cas-
well regard the meeting As = selfish movement on
the part of Mr.. Kerr, and as direct attempt to
put doom the liberty Of the presto suppress pop
ular and State rigAts and to iaas4ur1ts military
1espotism. This bold bad man has recently been
visiting Richmond, no doubt begging for Office; and
his expectation is to commend himself to the au
thorites there by viliifying and trsducing the Ed
tor of the Standard. Reckless in principle anc
desperate in circumstances, he is endeavoring Il
float into position on the tide of revolution, by aid
ing in bringing about reign Of terror, after TIT
manner of the clubs Of Paris in the FIRST French
revolution. A brsssy, fashy, sky rocket orator, b.
is alike destitute of judgment and elevated mora
principle. During the last ten years he has belong
ed to every party-has betrayed them all, and nov
dispenses his gas and devotes the energies of biz
impaired intellect to the side which pays him best
The people of Caswell know all this better than W,
do They will reject his advice and spurn his leader
ship, as We would deprecate his friendship. ",
would rather have him against US than with u.s.
If he were to compliment US, We would e1claim =.
Mr.. jefferson did on 4 similar occasion, "Oh Lord
what have done, that the wicked should prais'
me2"
The State Journal, in publishing thss. proceed.
ings, makes gross and vile assault no doubt in
stigated thereto by Mr.. Kerr, on the Hon. Bedfor,
Brown. That paper says Col Brown lodged
the meeting referred to- and that he is more tia,
suspected" as . Southern man It also iDsut
him by telling him he has no son in the SERVICE
Now, in the first place. Col Brown does rot belon,
to the "dodgng" order Of public men out if h
had thought proper to go into the meeting and hst
raised his voice against the selfish and factions pur
poses of Mr.. Kerr, such are the sentiments of tn.
people of Oaswell, and such their respect for him
that Mr. Kerr's meeting would have failed and Z
large majority of those present would have turnet
upon and denounced the latter.
In the second place, We have no reply to make t.
any man, much less an irresponsible character lik
the Journal who assails the loyalty Of Col. Brown
for the reason that his patriotism needs no vindica
ton and in the third place, it is not true that h
has no son in the service. One of his sons, DR.
Bedford Brown, is surgeon to . brigade and hi