Newbern progress., 1863-01-24

lima are covering themselves with fame in the
battle fields of their country, Gas witness for
example, the laurels won by the 57th North
Carolina Regiment at Fredericksburg, an ac-
count of which was published on the 25th
ult.,) let the patriots at home protect the fair
name and fame of the old North State from
the plottings of those whose hearts are with
the enemy"
The "mischievous few" in this State to
whom the Enquirer refers, embrace two thirds
of the people of North Carolina. These peo-
pie, called Conservatives, are truer to liberty
and the Confederate cause than the Enquirer
and its masters behind the curtain, for whom
it speaks. They have sent thousands of their
sons and brothers to Virginia, to fight and die
for that cause, while they have labored dill
gently at home, and sunted themselves, TO
provide shoes and clothing for these sons and
brothers We say they are truer than the
Enquirer and its masters because they are
animated not by the love of Office and spoils,
but by sincere devotion to the cause.
But the 'patriots" of North Carolina are
making arrangements to expose the "insidi-
ons" and " reasonable" " conduct of the Con-
servatives. Does the Enquirer know who
these patriots are? Why, in nine cases
out of ten they are disappointed office-seekers
broken down politicians-gaseous original
secessonists, who labored to bring on the war,
and boasted of what they would do to whip
the Yankees, but who have not yet fred the
first gun ex ofice-holders, who are squealing
and complaining because the public that has
been forced from their mouths-embittered
partizans, who hate every one who prefers
country to party-bankrupts in fortune, in
reputation, and principle these the
patriots" who are to aid the Enquirer in its
insolent attempts to dictate to the people of
North Carolina and to brand two-thirds of
our people as traitors to the government The
Eyaa ntc TO
our people through the press and from the
stump. Well, let them do it. Let them take
the stump, if they dare. Let them take it and
denounce the Conservatives of the State as
traitors, and the people will turn their backs
upon them with scorn and walk away. Let
them take the stump, and true men every
where in the State will do the same, until the
Enquirer and its faction at Richmond, and the
partizan administration of jeff. Davis, shall
have been thoroughly exposed to patient
but indignant people One of these patriots :"
is John Spelman of the State Journal who to
the shame of the Enquirer and of the admin
istration at Richmond be 1t spoken, has more
influence with them than the most eminent
Conservative among US. This man Spelman,
we tell the Enquirer, is a mere adventurer.
without principle, property, or character His
Office is substantially owned by clique of
politicians, and he is q mere tool in their
hands. We knew the Enquirer well when
Thomas Ritchie had control of it. We had
the honor to act with that great man, and to
enjoy his respect and confidence He never
attempted to lecture the sovereign State of
North Carolina or to dictate her people. He
never allied himself with such characters as
Spelman, nor would he have condescended to
use such tool to effect his purposes. But the
Enquirer has fallen since that day. 1t is now
the mere echo of power. Its articles are
dipped in the gall of party. Its advisers are
not what they once were-statesmen and pa
triets-but housing politicians, corrupt hang
ers on to the skirts Of power, and unprincipled
Jews and Englishmen.
The Enquirer compliments our brave troops,
and it also frequently compliments Gov. Vance.
Two thirds Of our troops were Union men up
to Lincoln's proclamation, as Gov. Vance was.
These oIu men, so=caftgt, ttc- -eurz-
servatiyes of the State, who have been forced
by the Enquirer's allies here to assume a party
attitude. These Conservatives, in the army
and cut of the army, are one and indivisIble.
They think, and feel, and speak alike. There
is no difference between them. The Enquirer
cannot consistently compliment portion of the
Conservatives and abuse another portion. But
it does so for effect. 1t knows it will not do
to assail Gov. Vance, though it did all in its
power to defeat his election; and it COM
pliments our troops with the hope of
changing their feelings towards their
Conservative friends at home, and thus plays
into the hands of those army correspondents
who talk of marching the men home to "break
up our internal Legislature ]" Our brave boys
are Indifferent to both the compliments and
the censures of the Enquirer.
The duty we are performing Of exposing the
Enquirer is by no means pleasant one. But
it has been forced upon US and we shall not
shrink from it. We shall notice hereafter other
articles in that paper, in which great injusfi ice
tn
Standard.