The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1863-06-02


Y The Salisbury Waterman says "there seems
to be certain persons and presses in the South which
ignore Constitutions and laws, and favor the mill
tary authorities usurpiDg all the power necessary
for the summary arrest, unlimited confinement, and
final execution of persons accused of infdety to the
Confederacy," while there is another class of per-
and presses (says the Watchman) which adhere
"to written law and ancient forms in attaining the
ends of JUSTICE In the first class the Waterman
is pleased to name the Western Democrat" We
| think it would have been easy for the Waterman
to have represented correctly as incorrectly for
it ought to know that when it charges that re-
present the party f there is SUCH party disposed
to ignore sacred charters and ancient usages" that
it entirely misrepresents If it had said that we
were in favor of the Summary arrest oftories and
persons guilty oftraitorous conduct inimcal to tbs
cause of the South, should not object. We are
in favor of the confinement of transporting North
all persons who known to be opposed to the
souhernc and not leave them at large to pilot
the enemy about in their murderous and theving
raids. If the Waterman is opposed to all action
not in accordance with 's,critten LdU and ancient
FORMS" why has it not objected to some fthe acts
of Gov Vance! The Governor has found it neces-
sary under the present peculiar Observation-Disclosures
law or ancient forms''-and, with two ex-
captions, approve the action of the Govei -or--
but have yet no disapprobat:on expressed by
the Waterman to any part of the Governors course.
We desire discussion with the Watchmah or
any other paper while the lasts, and if fairly
can, we intend to avoid it. If we live until after the
country is free from brutal and invading foe, we
willing to engage in newspaper discussions, and
L. H.
wrong. In the meantime, suggest to our Sails
bury neghbor that while he is Illuminating against
and exposing the little mean acts of those he calls
"origina secessionsts," he nigh exercise his re-
bukng powers, with some propriety, on two three
prominent men in this State who not original
secessionists, aud who have talked and acted in
manner unbecomng true southern and south
citizens. When 'origina1 secessonists''
assailed we take part of it to oursef for we did
not happen to belong to that class-but we are in
favor of fair play, and think the Waterman and
some other papers which to take SO much de-
light in ridiculing and abusing original secession
ists might strike lick at two at least who were
not original secessionsts The conduct one of the
persons alluded to has been publcy,exposed and his
name published time and again, yet tho Watchman
is mum about him, though we think it silently dis
his before alluded to his conduct because
we concluded that if the friends of the party with
which he always acted and voted did not censure
and expose him, it not worth while for us to do
so, as it would be attributed by his party friends
to old party malice in us. If the Watchman pleads
as excuse for its silence this matter, desire
not to afford encouragement to the enemy by ex-
posing the disoyalty of southern men, then ask
why does it abuse and copy articles abusing seces
soniss, when its certain that such denunciations
encourage and please the enemy more than any
thing else i! We have always been careful to alb
stain from assailing the loyalty Of any prominent
man in this State-even before the Union divi-
ded did nothing of the kind. The great mass of
our people true to the southern cause; but we
sincerely regret to learn that there is one man who
has occupied prominent position, and probably
two Others who entertain sentiments nmical to the
welfare of the South. If their former friends would
rcbuke them it would do more good than any thing
we could say.
The Watchman and "a few other papers (for some
purpose) are always ready to attack, jump on
and gouge original secessonist, but to the faults
of their former party friends they particular to
be "a little blind.' If they tolerate such conduct
and such sentiments entertained by some of
their old party friends, without word of condem
nation, they certainly ought to stop abusing and
ridiculing original secessionsts, matter how
much some of them may deserve it. Fair play, as
we'll as consistency, is jewel.