Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-03
For the Standard
PRovosT MARsHAL's OFFICE,

KINsToN, n c., Feb. 90, 1868.
Having recently had my attention called to no.
tce by some Of the press, of attempt the
part Of "Personne,7 army correspondent Of the
Charleston Courier, formerly following General
Evans brigade and whose statements as contained
in letters from this place, certainly do not sustain
the high reputation OF the Courier for purity Of
purpose and truthfulness,) to justify his gross and
wanton attack Apon the people Of this portion Of
the State, IN charging upon them in former letter,
that Gen. Evans chief difficulty" in his military
operations here was the "disnyalty Of the people,"
by appeal to the Provost Jail at this place, deem
it proper to make q public statement Of facts
trouble quite unnecessary " this portion of the
State, as the charge is well Known here to be gross
ly sanderous-that those at a distance, seeing the
charge and this statement may better understand
what estimate to place upon charge so absurd, as
well on its originator. As the appeal has been
made to the Provost jail here, let it speak: There
is not now, nor has there been in a month"; single
man imprisoned or brought to me on the charge Of
disloyaty-nOt one. 1t is universally conceded
that for the past few months We have had vlgilant
and prompt Generals In command ut this post
Now, If "t6e peopLe of this section" are so dis
loyal as to render military operations difficult"
why are not arrests continually being made? Its
true, that since took charge Of this office on the
18th day OF October last there have been arrested
and placed in charge Of the guard, about dozen
persons from this and adjacent counties, and else
viz: Bearing intelligence to the enemy-taking the
oath Of allegiance to the Federal government-buy-
ing salt from Newbern and Washington, &c, &C.
Threefourths Of these after having been subjected
to a most rigid examination, either by the General
commanding by myself the result land detail if
required) of my examination being always submit
ted to the General commanding, have been dis
charged without ascertaiEing sufficient diSloyaty
to send the accused TO Salisbury In fact tIcO only
have been sent up, and the. authorities have net
dared to allow them speedy Tor any trial"
as expressly required by high authority and the de-
mands Of justice itself One of these two prison.
ers has gone so far, through counsel, as to have
writ OF haIeI' corpus sued out, in an endeavOr to
press trial Yet that writ was resisted by the
Confederate authority with threat Of tUcO hundred
6uyonets if persisted in 10 an issue. And why1 II
found guilty, the prisoners could be punished quite
as certainly and with far more evidence Of Justice
Ii not guilty, their punishment is PROFESSIONALLY
unjust express no opinion as to the guilt or in
nOcence OF the accused, there Is difference Of
option on that question. But, suppose both these
men sent up, be guilty-would that, even with the
alleged relationship of Watson, and two or three
others, sustain the charge Of "disoyalty OF the peo
pie Of this secton7" So much for the evidence
contained "in the Provost Jail" A few remarks
on another point so, and | close.
There are doubtless, few individuals in this
section of the State, there are IN South Carolina
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi OF Louisiana, who
nv oO NuhFaSteIleSS anu 50 ueau 10 SDamc, as 10
sympathse with the enemy, and to Islander and rid
lcule their own people and State, thus giving aid
and comfort to that enemy. But these are " few
and far between" The people of this portion OF
the State lave given evidence that they true
aud loyal to the interests rights and honor of the
South as any section. Upon and since the occuPa-
ton OF Port Royal in South Carolina, New Orleans,
and various posts in Mississippi and Louisiana by
the enemy, at least as many traitors were devel-
oped In those VIcnties as i'll this as facts and fig
ures will prove But that docs not, in any sense,
prove the people there dsloyal- far from it.
For near twelve months, 1t is well known what
sacrifices have been made here for the soldiers by
our people. Prudence before the enemy forbidS
the statement Of facts which ought and must be
known to that correspondent, and which should
cause tinge of shame to mantle the cheek of any
one, not totally abandoned, whO entertains for
moment expression so disreputat ly false as the
one INDUCED by "PeSonne' concerning the people
of this vicinity well for the exhibition of his
sense of propriety in a wretched, i'll timed and
misplaced attempt at wit in endeavorng to ridcule
fourshing g, prosperous and rapidly growing town.
(when the war broke OUT because of certain short
comings and adaptations in appearance made so |
by the effects of the war, blighting visit by a |
large force of &c enemy, among other things And
nothing but the most Ytiaed disposition would in
duge it, such might naturally enough be expec-
ted from ill-bred foreigner transported to this
country-to the enjoyment of new conceptions of
freedom" whose potons of propriety and NAV |
add OF the institutions of the South-are generally
OF the most erroneous and dangerous character |
facts of which this revolution furnishes unfortu.
nately, too much evidence.
Unfortunately for this charge we have the testi-
mony Of one, between whom and this community |
there exists rather more confidence than Per |
some, or any other anonymous aud irresponsible
scneHler SaststaS. Ceh. Evans after nngling with