Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-22
The Raleigh MeetinE-Col. McRae.


proved by Mr.. Richardson. '
., The Raleigh Meeting-Col. McRae.
On Monday night last portion of the citizens of
Raleigh met at the Courthouse to- devise means to
resist any raid that may be made by the enemy,
Col W.. II. Harrison, Mayor Of the City and COM
mander of the Home Guard Of the County, in the
chair. 1t seems that portion of our citizens, not
satisfied with the Home Guard organization, were
anxious to have An organization Of volunteers the
officers to be appointed BY the Adjutant General Of
ths'state or by Gen, Holmes: On Monday night .
Statement or report was made to the meeting by
Adjutant General Gatlin, to the effect that the
Home Guard organization existed in accordance
with law, and that those who properly belonged
to it could not be permitted to attach themselves
to, any new organization, but that persons
over fifty years Of age could volunteer and
organize if they desired to do So This very
proper decision Of the Adjutant General excited
the ire, as we understand, of Colonel Duncan
X. McRae, who was present. 1t is stated that he
rudely interrupted gentlemen who were speaking.
and at length declared that he wouM not seros in
the Home Guards-that he insisted on q separate
organization to be under Confederate control; and
ako said that he had heard the report that COL
Harrison had already determined to make no de-
fence but to surrender the City in the event of an
attack. s-.. ... :,
Col. Harrison, we learn, promptly eontradicted
this statement He also told Col. McRae that
if the occasion should require it he would make"
do dntv in fho
the City should be attacked. Altogether, We
learn, the conduct of Col AcRae was exceedingly
factious and reprehensbe on the occasion, and was
evidently deplored by his political friends who were
present Gov. Bragg, Gov. Manly, Mr.. Mordecai
and others, by their manner deprecated his conduct;
and Col. McRae retorted by intimating that certain
gentlemen talked one way in one place, and another
way in another, and that he would resist the At
tempt to make him serve in the Home Guard, if he
''stood alone"
Col McRae, though conscious Of having acted
badly on the OCCASION felt bound to notice the meet
ing, which he has done in his paper Of Wednesday,
He resorts to the pital shift of declaring that he
objects to the Home Guard Of the County because
"CoL Harrison is an active friend and sympsthizer
of Mr. Holden"- because other officers are reported
to have said so and So and to be so and so and be
cause, in ine he does not like the political senti-
ments and action of the oficersll' This fire eat
ing gentleman, according to his own declaration is
not willing to fight in defence Of his own home
unless he can do so under officers who agree With
/ him in political sentimentl 4.. st
But COL McRae in his lame apology for his con.
duct ut the meeting says: '~
We had heard it stated that Col. Harrison had
proposed, when the former raid was threatened, to
surrender the town. In this we are free to say we
may have m,sstated the rumor, though we are not
responsible for that it WAS given to us precise.
gly stated it but We should have stated that
Mr.. Holden Is reported to have said to certain Ia
dies, that if the enemy came here, be should ad.
wise the Mayor to surrender the City"
I" Oh my prophetic SOUL my uncler Was the
like ever heard beforef When our aceussr, COL Nc
Rae, in his latest, If not last effort to convict us o.
dsloyalty, takes refuge behind crinone, We surren
der We cah have no dispute with ladies. Col. McRae
has proved somethiae on us at last First, be re
peated with great gusto Gov. Vances statements o.
our private conversations about the brandy; sec
ondly, he aided in fishing out ridiculous oertiA
cate from Mr.. Hampton, based on private cenver
sation to prove us seceder thirdly, be published
>, an extract from some paper, to the effect that
couple Of ladies who had crossed the lines to th,
enemy had said We ssss recoustructieu;st; fourth
ly, be published = letter purporting to have bee:
te addressed by Mr. Evsritt Ito ns, the originate
copy Of which was stolen from the ;Geldsborougl
| Psstoface aoseoavict us Of disloyalty; and now b.
caps the climax Of his proofs b5 the repstition d