Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-11
REMARKs OF HON. J. r. MCLEAN,
Or NORTH. G. ARoLINA.

Delirered IL tho House of Representatives. Of the
Confederate States, February 17th, 1863
Mr. Mclean asked the indulgence of the House
whilst he submitted few remarks. When these
resolutions were introduced, he did notintend to
have uttered single word, but after the most ex-
traordinary speech of his colleague, (Mr. Gaither0
he felt called upon to say few words.
The resolutions fully and completely endorse the
loyalty of the people Of North Carolina to the Con-
federacy, and in that he most cheerfully and cor
daily concurred. The unanirnity with which her
Convention had passed the ordinance OF secession
the large number of troops which she had raised
both by volunteering and conscriptio6-the sacri-
fees they had made. and the bravery and heroIsm
which they had displayed every battle field since
the commencement of the war, more amply vindica-
ted the State from any sanderous charges OF dis
loyalty, than any legislative resolves could posi-
bly, do. When.a portion of the Legislature, doubt
less acting under the belief that their State had been
neglected had attempted to pass what is known as
"The Ten Regiment Bill,"tit had been made the
subject of sever ocrticism and comment both in and
out of the State. Its progress in our legislative
halls had been watched with the most intense anx
iety from all parts of the republic 1t was believed
by many, that the passage Of such law would be.
q practical notification Of an act of Congress, and
was calculated to bring about collision between the
Confederate and State authEvities. Its defeat how
ever, by the Senate, after it had become apparent
that the whole power of the Confedefacy would be
welded if necessary, for the defence Of North Car
DINA had been everywhere hailed with the Gveest
qualification. He did no. impugn the motives Of
the authors and advocates of that measure and was
gratiied that they had indicated themselves from
what they conceived to be slandcrous charges
against their State.
But why his colleague, (Mr. Gaither,) should have
introduced into this discussion, the subjects of the
right Of secession and CONSUMPTION he at loss
to imagine. He hoped that his colleague did not
desire to fan the flames of party now to an injurious
extent existing in our good old State
Whatever may have formerly been the opinion Of
her people to the abstract light of state to Be-
cede, her Convention had exercised that right in
common With all her sister States of the South
lie could see no good but much harm, to arise from
this attempt to revive former political animosities
He had voted for the conscript law entertaining
the honest belief that it both constitutional aud
necessary He did not intend now to discuss that
measure Our patriotic Governor, statesman and
soldier, in his inaugural address, had declared It as
his opinion that the passage of the conscrpt law had
been the salvation Of the country, and had invoked
the aid Of all patriotic citizens of the State
in its faithful execution. Every intelligent per-
son must know that it is now the only mode by
which the ranks of our gallant army can be filled
The necessity for keeping those ranks we'll filled, is
as great as ever heretofore He deprecated for
these reasons, the attempt Of his colleague to array
the prejudices of the people against the only law by
which our armies csn be filed up At a proper
time hi was prepared to discuss fully its consttu.
ionality and necessity and he believed that in that
opinion he would be Sustained by an overwhelming
L.sjority of the people of th-Carolina. .-