Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-07-12
w. r. Richardson. Esn.

Defamation and falsehood seem to constitute the
main stock in trade Of our political opponents
Conscious that their cause is sinking and that their
principles and views will not bear the test of nyes
tigation, they resorting to personalities and
catching up and retailing private conversations.
Gentlemen who are engaged in this business Of re-
failing private conversations for political effect ad-
NIT thereby that their cause is desperate while at
the same time when their smbiton coos, if it ever
does, they must feel their cheeks burn with shame
at having been reduced to such conduct to advance
their purposes. But the example of retailing pri
vate conversations was set them by their leader,
Gov. Vance, who seems since his association with
the Destructive leaders to have little regard
they have for decency, propriety, and truth. He
has "apt scholars in every County in the State
men who will not or cannot rise to the dignity of
an argument, but who vex the public ear and belit-
tie themselves by retailing private conversations
and starting chineapiR issues
The Conservative of Friday last attempts to pro.
duce the impression, based on an alleged private
conversation that Mr.. Richardson, one Of the Con-
servative candidates for the Commons in this Coun-
ty, is an GbolitiOnist, and is in fauor Of negro
equality Nth the Whites! We are authorized by
Mr. Richardson to say that this is a foul calumny
and that by no word act of his life. has he IA
yored such doctrine. He is himself the owner
OF q considerable numoer of slaves, some of VIII ON
have been purchased since the time this alleged
conversation took place. He is q native of the
South, and all his interests, hopes, and sympsthes
are identified with the South. He believes that the
condition OF slavery is proper and suitable one
for the negro, and by ne word or act would he i'm
pair the tenure by which slave property is held
But while he holds these views he is not prepared
to sacrifice every thing for the negro and he hon
estly believes that an indefinite proongation Of the
war will not only put the whole of our slave prop
erty in serious jeopardy, but that it will impover-
ish and ruin the white race. He is, therefore, in
favor of the most earnest efforts for an honorable
peace. He feels that fighting merely will never
bring peace; and that if the war is to go on, and
on and on, without pause or limit every thing val
liable to US, slave property included may be
swept away TIE charge thu t-he is an abotionist,
and in favor of negro equality with the whites,
is as ridiculous it is false. No thoughtful or
sensible person will listen to it for moment.
1t is also charged that Mr.. r. is an original Sc
ceSSOniSt An original seceSslonlst In one breath,
and an aboItionst in the next He seeded, they
say, to save his negroes, and now he wants to set
them free What nonsenseI No, gentlemen, we
will tell you who the real abotionsts are. Slavery
was safe IN tie States until the States south of US
seeded How is it now? We have lost not less than
one million of slaves by secession. Who is respon-
sible for this The abolitonists of the North an6
the secessonists of the South not that the latter
desired or expected it, but they were so wanting
in forecaste, and their hatred of the North was
| blind and bitter, and their wish to have new
government ard to extend the institution over new
territories so deep-seated, that they tOOuA seceds
| The result is before US. Mr.. Richardson opposed
secession as we did. We knOO the fact for we were
intimate with him then, as we are now, that be
was not an original seeessionist. He clung to the
government as long as it was safe or honorable to
do so; and he voted in February, 1851, and in kay
| 1861, for Union candidates for the Convention in
Wake County. And here, by the way, is one Of
the reasons why he Is so Bitterly prosecuted now