Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-26
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NoRTH-CAR0LFNA PoLITIGs Z. vs.
It can no longer be doubted or denied that there
Is = division in pubIesentisaent in North Carolina
-on the one hand q dissemination to resist subiu.
CATION by the Yankee government, end to achieve
the independence of the Confederacy; on the other
"pcace party" ~ it is falsely called, that would
be willing to have Independence, but slamors for
peace, with or without independence. Those first
mentioned are Enthusiastically headed by Gov. Vance,
The other BY the Raleigh Standard though that
paper does not itself 60 the length of some of its
followers for it has very recently declared itself op-
posed to reconstruction of the Union.
Before addressing respectful appeal to the STAN
dTd to consider well the character and tendency of
the socaled Peace Party, We feel it right and just
to say, that we do not hold that paper primarily re-
sponsible for the most unfortunate condition in
which the State is involved. The real authors of
the mischief those who refused to recognize the
palpabe fact that, after Liacoln's Proclamation of
April 1851, North Carolina was thoroughly united
in the determination to resist the suhjugaton of the
South under the policy foreshadowed by that pro-
damation. We say thoroughly united, and know
what we say. With more sorrow than we ever did
any puoc act this paper promptly and unhesita-
tmgly resolved to resist subjugation, Without
waiting to see what the members Of the great party
with which we hadbeen identified would do and
tearing Indeed that many Of them would adhere to
their love of the Union and come to different con-
elusion from that at which we had arrived, we felt
that the existence of the South people and the
Security of their liberty and property, demanded
instant and effective resistance Within six hours
after the reg ct that proclamation without con:
sulting with human being, for there was no need
Of consultation about so selfevident proposition.
we unitedin the determination unanimously made by
reatmeetng this town, to take all proper steps
tomantain secure and defend the rights Of North Car
oina as one of the Southern States and to support
The authorities Of the State in ASSERTING our rights
and defending our soil" We had the inexpressibe
qualification to find that this action met with cor.
tiial and unanimous response from all parts of the
State, and from none more cordial unanimous
Thsn from our old political friends The ShanAtrd
II that day, with equal prornpttude, took the same
stand And five weeka afterwards, as member of
the State Convention its Editor voted for and de-
hberately put his name to the ordinance which for
over separated North Carolina from the Federal
Union and identified her, in interest and honor as
she was already identified in location and homoge-
neity Of institutions, with the Southern Coniedera
cy. We have no doubt now, and never had, that
the Editor of the Standard was perfectly sincere in
this eourse, and the pledge he then gave of 1.-The
lust dollar and the last man" Of North Carolina to
,lantain the declaration then made by him and his
associates in the Convention and approved by her
whole people, as abundantly testified by the
Iromptness with which her " best and bravest rush
ID to arms"
But unfortunately the State administration of
that day and its organs md advisers were incapable
Of comprehending the amazing spectacle of divided
people united in one moment by common impulse
os selfpreservation. The condition of things de.
handed that party administration should as in
In uyofFo ehool 80
ing but united people, and tolerate no prescription
deEuncation-no war but a war upon the CON-
mon enemy. There was not soul enough in the
whole set that then controlled the State to realize
tae importance of this line of policy. Every man
who had been q Union man was sedulously pro.
:cri5ed. Certain malignant organs of the powers
that were, talked Of quitting mark upon the FORE
heads" of those who had been their political oppo
nents but had become their CO laborers in the work
Of defence against Lincoln. The most eminent
1nen of the old Wing party, such as Messrs Badger
airaham, Vance, and Gilmer were falsely and fouly
denounced along with the Editor of the Standard as
fathless to the South, opposed to the war, and in
favor of reconstruction. Even we, only about a
year ago. were plainly charged by one of these con-
we favored the election Of Col Vance as Governor
We treated the imputation with scorn, and SO did
all of those whom we have named except the Editor
of the Standard, who unfortunately did not choose
to suffer the ncessant abuse heaped upon him above
all others
The result of all this, to say nothing of the aid
and comfort given to the malignant partisans by
the unfortunate course of the Confederate admins
tration towards North Carollna-a course evident
~ prompted by those partisans, and which might
have been avoided if the President himself had so
far realized the unity of the country as to call into
his councils even one man that had the ear of his
old political opponents-was to infuse into the
IL IN nd n tho Cfofo fbo
false idea that there party in North Carolina
opposed to the war and to dissolution of the
Union. And when the people locked at the alleged
leaders of that pretended party, and found them to
be men eminent for their ability as well as for per-
sonal integrity and purity, what more natural than
that they should conclude that there was reason
for hostility to the war and to dissolution, else sure
" such wise and good men, who had so great
stake in the community, would not entertain such
Opinions. As we have said, it was not true that
they did entertain such opinions. But the inces-
SAINT DINING it into the of the people persua
ded many man that it was true. And SO men
have been educated by certain bad papers and bad
men in North Carolina into the belief that there
were weighty reasons for opposing the war and de-
string reconstruction.
With inexpressible regret we have seen the
Standard giving way before the assaults of its
mics which it could SO well have afforded to disre-
gard and lending its admitted ability and influence
to the malcontents thus created by the teachings
of those enemies We have moi, however, de.
nounced the Standard as many. have done and do,
because we still hoped that some remains of com.
mon sense and patriotism would come to the aid Of
our suffering country and preserve it from the evils
Of DIVISION and from the even possible horrors Of
, civil war; We do not denounced it now We ratk-
ser appeal to it. to its good sense its love of coun
try its every feeling Of humanity, to use its nhu
,ence to discountenance the meetings which its
friends are holding in various parts Of the State
The immediate cause of the earlier Of those meet
mos was the appointment of Virginian to an i'm
po2tans civil office in this State. That cause has
been removed by the removal Of the Vsginan
Another cause was the vindication Of the Editor o
the Standard from those assaults which ne ane
tbev would have been wise to have treated with
contempt. The third and last avowed cause o
these meetings is desire for peace. Every body
in tho Confederacy desires peace. The questions
are what sort of peace, and how is it to De Oh
tanned? =. O.,