Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-06-09

Al1AI
same &c trne in measure to our naval stores. n's
the demand for evident reasons, for oreadstuuS y
increasing; and middle and western CaronhS'
offer an inviting field for slave labor In the ProuIc
ton of these staples. And this brings me to the
poinf on which particularly you desired an opinion
The question is scarcely now an open one Pan
ters and farmers who are determined to adopt the
policy (Which thought and still think toGs an er-
one) of removing their slaves from the cas-
tern counties WILL at least, find in middle anu ives
tern Carolina, the means OF comtortaoe support ioI
their slaves if not profit from their labor. Bread
must be had and it must be made during the pres
ent year. for it is already scarce and commanding
high price; and in the absence of so many Whlte
laborers in the army, do not see how the usual
of land in the middle and western portions Of
the State can lie cultivated without the labor OF an
increased number of slaves The eastern planter
who abandons his plantation, may prepare himself
to hear of its having been despoiled and desoated
like those refugees who have preceded him; but his
compensation for this will be- as he supposes, the
increased security of his slave property, his exepP
ton from the actual presence of the enemy and the
reflection that instead of producing cotton or wheat
for the enemy, he is contributing to sustain our
armies and put bread in the mouths of the suffering
poor. But this compensation is predicated upon the
assumption that the enemy will not ultimately over
run the whole State confess that the idea OF
their doing so is rather wild, but there is rea-
20 suppose that some gentlemen Of intelligence
and probity have serious doubts.
We have now been engaged in war more than
two years and though on several occasions the
most brilliant victories have crowned our arms yet
the result has been that have perpevnalIY rece-
ded Before our enemies, andseidom if ever, driven
them out from any point they have once perma-
nently occupied. They now threaten very seriously
to grasp and control the whole MississlRp Valley,
while even Virginia and Carolina are IN imminent
peril of being overrun and yet my own belief in the
prowess Of our troops so decided that these ancles
L IT., Ill, ,-,ra roal
uneasiness. 1t would be idle to speculate on the
causes of these constant retreats You are to lock
at things as they are and while hopeful Of good re-
suits prepare for the worst | do not believe we
can eXtricate ourselves from present difficulties
by despotic measures, or by violations Of the Con-
sttution. Unless our means be adequate to the
crisis aud properly employed, and unless we rely
upon the spontaneous patriotism of the people, a
fortunate termination of the struggle is not toe ex
pected or even hoped for
Consumption, whatever may be thought Of it in
other respects, creates an additional demand for
slave LABOR; and it is to be earnestly desired for
various reasons that every muscle will be employed
the present season in the way OF breadStuilS. The
future appears gloomy enough, and we Should re-
member hereafter those who are mainly irresponsible
for the present state of things and avoid their coun
sells as public men, For the present at least let
elimination and recrimination cease. History is
not experience teaching by example, if she speak
That every virtue resides in those favorable to the
war, and that its opponents are little better than
bandit would be simply ridiculous, or only excite
smile Of pity or contempt but for the mischievous
tendency of such inuendoes. The opponent of this
war is true conservative, and his only error may
be in pushing to extremes that noole sentiment of
loyalty which only SaVages regard as Incompetent
/. sible. He is perhaps too stubborn; and though
his loyalty may be mistaken, yet his very is
of such nature to demand respect Folly, and
passion and hatred, and malice, and revenge may
detract from his fair name for season. yet poster
ity will do him justice, will weigh his deserts and
dement's, and rather look upon him as more con-
slant than prudent Let it be remembered that
Tory, after the old revolution, was the word used
to designate those who had been :oremo in carry
ing the war against Britain. 1t is idle to deny
that our people were divided the war. Enthu-
siaSm for ones country is doubtless becoming
virtue; but even this may render its poSSesSor,
less restrained by the rules of decorum and good
behaviour nuisance rather than otherwise. 1t is
frequently stated with air of taunt that there is
a party in the State. If the taunt be intended as
reproach, it results from ignorance Difference Of
any there beg is rather an evidence of truth, of
chivary, of generosity of candor, Of character. If
it cause crime, it is so far to de regretted and yet
even then it's the source which has given the world
its noblest specimens of integrity and courage
Away, thep. with this pitiful slang about Tory
Tory and traitor are by no means convertible terms.
While Lee and Longstreet and Beaureg9rd and
Bragg are famous men in action, it is or ought to
be- subject of pride, that Graham and Moore
are ever ready to shield their country from some
thing worse than foreign foe-the unbridled IL
cence Of military domination-to use no harsher
epithet Endeavor there be no conflict between the
civil and military; rather exercise generous con-
hdence Should it occur, however, in every instance
and without exception, sustain the former when
acting according to the due course Of Justice. The
decisions of court rival claims are your deeiso IS
until oVerruled 1t matters not that the reasoning
is bad or illogical, ttough to be regretted where
the conclusion is sound and where incontrover.ble
reasons might have been assigned) say it matters
not what reason is given as the ground for such
adjudcation-it matters not that some laundering
or incompetent official may aggravate the dispute
your duty is obedience. If the decision be really
incorrect render the law palpabe that no future
| mistake occur; if We should have an irresolute or
timd Governor, placing individuals in Office utterly
unbecoming their station, or if himself without
knowledge OF law or craftsmanship, remove him
By the quiet operation of the ballot.box. Why
should not this be our principle of action in any
war, most especially now? A sectional war; it is
true of fearful consequence, is raging; but there
is no civil strife. No people were ever more
united than we are. Parties are necessary evils
at any time, peculiarly so in revolutions like the
present-the necessity for opposition being evident
as check to the extravaganza both Of views and
action engendered by state of war. However
misguided those may be engaged in the struggle
now upon US, or however wrong our Southern
brethren may possibly be who are really opposed to
the Confederacy and its cause, throw the mantle of
charity over. such error, if practicable remember
ing that the verdict of intellectual and thoughtful
and wise and discreet and good men now is that the
Tories Of the old revolution were not snch monsters
as you might suppose. This is my judgment. 1
think posterity will take a moderate and Just view
of the present and its actors, from whose decision
there can be no appeal to any earthly tribunal
That the vie VS. herewith submitted reflect the feel
iDgS of millions of my countrymen-aye, of a ma
jority of them-Ientertain not doubt
Very truly yours,
JAMES B. SHEPARD
W. G. SHARP, ESQ.
An Act to amend an Act entitled &c Militia -
Rn .tnd L IL ~