Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-04
For the Standard.
For the Standard,
PRoyosr MAIsuAL's OFFICE,
kINsToN. N, c.. Feb. 30. 1863,

For the Standard.
PRovosr MAIsuAL's OFFICE %
kINsroN, N. c., Feb 20, 1853.
Having recently had my attention called to no.
tice by some of the press, Of al. attempt Oh tho
part Of "Personne," an 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 AMI
wanton attack upon the people of this portion of
the State, III charging upon them in former letter,
that "Gen. Evans chief difficulty in his military
operations here was the "dsloyalty of the people,"
by appeal to the Provost jail at this place. deem
it proper to make public statement Of facts-a
trouble quite unnecessary in this portion Of the
State as the charge is well known here to be gross
ly slanderous-that those at distance serin5 the
, charge and this statement may better understand
what estimate to place upon charge so absurd, as
we'll as on its originator As the appeal has been
made to the Provost Jail here, let it speak: There
man imprisoned or brought to me on the charge of
disloyalty-not one. 1t is universally conceded
that for the past few months We have had vigilant
and prompt Generals in command at this post
Now, If "Me people of this section" are so "dis-
Loyal as to render military operations difficult"
why are not arrests continually being made? 1t is
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
where, charged with disoyalty in various forms,
viz: Bearing intelligence to the enemy-tak;ng the
oath of allegiance to the Federal governner buy
ing salt from Newborn and Washington, &C., &C.
Threefourth of these after having been subjected
to most rigid examination, either by the General
commanding or by myStlf the result land detail, if
requred) OF my examination being always submit
ted n the (H,npral m nCpp have hpeD die,
charged without ascertairing sufficient disloyalty
to send the accused to Salisbury! In fact, t,eO only
have been sent up and the authorities have not
dared to allow them speedy (or even any trial"
as expressly required by high authority and the &C.
mands of justice ITSELF One of these two prison
ers has gone so far, through counsel, as to have
writ of Aa6eas corpus sued out, in an endeavor to
press trial. Yet that writ resisted by the
Confederate authority with threat of tro hundred
6ayoncts if persisted in to an issue. And why? 1t
found guilty, the prisoners could be punished quite
certainly, and with far more evidence of justice.
If not guilty, their punishment is unqucstonably
unjust l express opinion as to the guilt or in
-nocence Of the accused, there is difference OF
opinion on that question. But, suppose both these
men sent up, be gulty-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 section!' So much for the evidence
contained sin the Provost Jail" A few remarks
on another point or so, and | close.
There are, doubtless, few individuals in this
section of the State there are III South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi or Louisiana who
so characterless and SO dead TO shame, as to
sympatbise with the enemy, and to SANDER and rid
,cule their people and State, thus giving aid
ard comfort to that enemy. But these are few
and far between" The people of this portion OF
the State have given evidence that they are as true
and 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, ut least as many traitors were devel-
oped in those vicinties as in this, as facts and fig
ures will prove. But that does not in any sense,
prove the people there disloya- far from it,
For near twelve months, it 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 tnge Of shame to mantle the cheek OF any
one not totally abandoned, who entertains for
moment an expression so dsreputat ly false as the
one INDUCED by "Personne" concerning the people
of this vicinity, as we'll as for the exhibition Of his
sense of propriety in wretched, an i'll timed and
misplaced attempt at wit, in endeavoring to rdicue
a flourishng, prosperous and rapidly growing town,
(when the war broke ouD because of certain short
comngs and adaptations in appearance, made so
by the effects of the war, blighting visit by
large force of the enemy, among other things. And
nothing but the most vitiated disposition would in
dulge it, such as might naturally enough be expec-
ted from some illbred foreigner transported to this
country-to the enjoyment OF new conceptions OF
freedom" whose rotions of propriety, and may
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-
scnne," Or any other anonymous and irresponsible
scribbler sustains Gen. Evans after miaging with