Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-04-01
An Unprovoked Attack on Gen. Fow,e.

mnnicaton in the last issue of that paper over the
signature Of compatible"
This writer sneers at the Supreme Court, and
goes so far to intimate that it vas Influenced in
its recent decision on the Adutant Generalship by
the fact that the present incumbent who succeeded
Gen. Martin is the sou-inlaw of the Chief Justice
We give this as 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" $50.
This vstr states that the last Legislature, under
the leadership of Gen Fowle declared the Off ce of
Adjutant- General vacant This is not true. Gen.
Folwe had no more to do with it than any other
member Of that body; and the journals will show
that when the vote was taken on 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 sensiblity, or 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 tke case which have gone into history
It will not do to say, because it is not true, that
Gen. Martin was ousted to crafty "avarice" or to
provide another Office for those who have the man
agement of State affairs The Constitution, Is 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 far from
showing disposition on the part of the Conserva-
tives to vacate or provide Offices for themselves,
proves that Gen. Martin and his friends, who I'D.
vsed him to hold on, regard Office and nothing else
as compatible" with "the chief duty of man."
1t was the leech holding on 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 deservedly unpopular.
He was peevsh, insulting in his manner, and tyrar-
cal. Our people and soldiers could barely endure
him. What 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,
while only few favortes had to the seat Of
power; now, the "latch-string is always OUT
every who desires to see the Governor is admit
ted, and patiently and respectfully heard while his
aids and those about him are as civil and obliging
as they are prompt in dispatching business. The
same contrast is marked in the Adjutant-G Generals
| office. Gen. Fowle, who is greatly the superior 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 once wins confidence and inspires respect
Soldiers and citizens do not now leave the Adjutan.
Generals office with their faces flushed with indig-
nation and their feelings mortified. The first re-
quisie 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 civiity 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 g. common herd" who
! hold-as many Of the Destructves 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 crsbappe dispo-
sition and contempt for the people, should assaii
Gen. Fowle, and eulogze such an officer as Gen.
Martin.
| We have no wish to criticise Gen. Martins ad-
ministration- as AdjutantG General; and if We have
told some unpleasant truths in this article Mr. "Com-
patible may blame himself for it.