Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-10-07
To the Pablo.

To the Pablo.
On Wednesday night the 9th of September, 1868,
my printing Office was mobbed by portion of Gen.
Bsnnings Georgia brigade with arms in their hands.
It is believed that the officers and men who COM
posed this mob belonged to the I'd and Goth Georgia
regiments. owe it to the public as well as to my
self to give the facts connected with this outrage
my Constitutional rights
Troops were known TO be passing through Raleigh
at the time on their way to the South, but though
threats had been made against me, entertained no
serious apprehension that they would be executed.
On the evening referred to, about dusk, an officer
accompanied by a soldier called at my house and
enquired for the printing offices in town. l told
him what Offices there were and where, and handed
him copy of the Standard 1 also invited them
to come in the house and be seated, which the off,
Ger politely declined About eight o'clock couple
offrends called to see me, and we conversed until
about half past nipss when one Of them left Soon
after, my, door. bell was rung, when went to the
door and iluk think, the same officer and soldier
who had pteyiously called. invited them in the
house, which the officer declined, saying he desired
to see the Editer osthe Sta4dard in his office my
Office is on the tot WITH my house, some twenty
yards from the latter. 1 told himit was late-that
my Office was closed for the night, and again inv-
ted him in. He replied that number of gentlemen
desired to see the Editor of the Standard in his Of
flee. again told him it was toQ late to go to the
Office but that would be glad to see him and his
friends in my house. He bowed and retired. l had
no other thought than that they were some North
Carolinians who were friends, on their way South,
who desired to call upon me. In the course OF tive
or ten minutes body Of armed men filed by on the
pavement opposite my house, on the way towards
the Office My friend and myself were looking out
through the window at them, when one of some
three OF four officers in the exclaimed, "only
the provost guard, gentlemen" Even then did
not suspect their purpose, but thought they had
been sent from the depot guard to pick up strag
glers. They halted, however, at the Office, and l
soon became aware that their object was unfrendly
Immediately retired from my house, feeling that
was not safe on the premises. Meanwhile some
friends who had had earlier intimation than of the
purpose of this armed band repaired in haste to the
Executive mansion and informed Gov. Vance of the
movement. He instantly FASTENED up Fayetteville
street, accompanied by member of his staff who
happened to be with him, and met the Mayor Of the
City lust before he reached the Office He then
looked for Gen. Beuning but, being unable to lind
him, he met Col. Harris of one OF the Georgia
regiments to whom he appealed to aid him in ar
resting the movement then fully under way-T Col.
H. promptly responded, and they fastened to the
office When they arrived the men were engaged,
evidently under orders, in pouring the type in the
street. and some of them were trying to puil. down
the power press. A Maj Shepherd was called for
1T is said he appeared, and telling the men that
the Governor of the State was present and desired
to address them he ordered them to leave the once
and fall into line. This they did quietly and at once
Gov. Vance, we learn, reproved them in the strong
est and most pointed terms for their conduct where
upon they cheered him, and one Of the officers re-
piled, "Governor, we have done what we came to
do, and will now retirc"
1t is not true, as stated in some Of the Georgia
papers. that there were North Carolinians in this
mob. They were all Georgians, with arms in their
hands, led and directed by officers. The men were
no doubt picked out for this work from the I'd and
Goth Georgia, and officers from both these regiments
were no doubt in the mob. I learn that Gov. Vance
Immediately wrote to President Davis, character
izng the outrage as it deserved and demanding the
trial and punishment of the off GERS and men en-
gagged in this disgraceful business; and that the
President replied informing the Governor that ne
had given directions to the commanding General OF
the department to investigate the matter. l take it
for granted that the investigation will take place.
and lust punishment will be inflicted. TO suppose
otherwise would be to conclude that our govern
ment was Merican;zed, and that the President was
deliberately fathless to the Constitution which ne
has sworn to support But even if this were possi-
BILE, such is my confidence in Gov Vance that
believe he will see to it at all hazards that this out
rage is properly atoned for.
/ The extent of the injury to my office is not so
great as at first supposed Nearly all the types
were poured out of the cases, several forms OF type,
including form of the State laws, knocked into p''
and some paper damaged; but the presses were not
;n;u-edS nor was the house itself seriously dam
.oed. But several gold and steel pens, postage
stamps small change, nkstands, four large bottles
If ink some books and other articles mysteriousay
disappeared: and I learn that some Of the mob
we're engaged next day in showing some old federal
hostage stamps which had before the war, as ev-
;dence that was traitor and in correspondence
with the enemy!
Early on the next morning after this occurrence,
:. norton of the citizens of Raleigh, and others who
hsnuened to be present, attacked the Office OF the
+ State Journal, threw the type into pi, broke the
,,resses &C., naicting serious injury on the estab-
! ,;sbment This was done by my friends, by way
~ retaliation for the injury inflicted on .ne the night
t,.fore. 1 knew nothing about ii, and had nothing
~ do with its arrived at the spot after the work
.SdMrbetion was over, but with Gov. Vance, the
M.vm ofthe City, and Others, aided in prevent
-. X destruction of the Register Office, which
,enld othlrwise in all probability have followed.
3 An ,uobpawis wrong and cannot be too soon ar
,es,sd have reason to believe that the attack on
g. g . ks.