Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-05-27
Col, McRae's Accounts.

Ia the latter part of the year 1862, Gov. Vance
appointed Col Duncan X. McRae Commissioner
to proceed to EuroT with George n. Sanders, Esq,
to inspect certain goods to be purchased by the lat
ter for this State in exchange for naval stores and
to verify the bonds of the Statcto be delivered in
accordance with such con tracts as Mr.. Sanders
might make. 1t seems that the contract for this
business was solemnly made by Gov. Vance toith
Mr. Sanders; but the sequel shows that Gov Vance
sbIogated The contract with Mr. Sanders, and Col
McRae did the business, returned home, and left
Mr.. Sanders to mediate the mutability Of hu-
man glory, and sigh over the miserics Of migrate
full man." Col. McRae no doubt found it good
thing, and had good time generally in transacting
this business. Mr. Sanders published Col McRae
at much length for his conduct, appealing to the
Governor for justice, which he is not likely to get
We reprinted the pamphlet for DR.. J. T. Leach,
with sundry very truthful and appropriately severe
remarks by the latter, in Appendix to the same
for which Col. McRae has sued DR.. Leach and our.
self in damages each to the amount Of 800, 000.-
Our bond is filed, and we await the issue with as
much equanimty possible under the circum-
stances.
But this is somewhat by the way. Col. McRae
returned from Europe just in time to run for Con-
gress in the Sd District He was beaten, as a mat
ter OF course He always is. So brilliant and yet
SO unsppreciated. But this is also somewhat by
the way. He stated, on the stump, that he would
be conscript soon as his accounts as State Com.
missioner should be settled and he kept on stating
and acting this up to the time the Confederate was
established by the patriots and property holders"
to "save the State from disgrace, when he sud-
denly became the Editor of that interesting journal
jumped the ropes into the charmed circle of ex-
enpts, and commenced to laud Gov. Vance as the
best Governor the greatest orator, and most versa
tile genius of the age. Indeed, he said the Vance
"grapcs" were so delectable they "melted in his
mouth" Golden fruit no doubt But still the ac
counts Of Col McRae as Commissioner remained
unsettled He signed his name to his letters as fol-
lows: IL am, very respectfully, D. K. MoRAE,
C0LaneI and Commissioner for the State of North.
Carolna." His pay, therefore, was that of Colo,
mel ia the Confederate service, in gold. The law Of
the State provides that all accounts and Claims
against the State shall be audited and adjusted by the
State AUDITOR but the report in Raleigh is that Gov
Vance, disregarding this law, which isa highly i'm
portaut and useful one some months since appoint
ed couple of gentlemen Of this City as-a sort of
private committee to examine and adjust Col. Nc
Rae's accounts; that the committee met and acted
under this appointment; that Col McRse claimed
eleOea thousand dollars in gold for his services, in
addition 10 his pay as Colonel that the committee
allowed him foe thousand dollars in gold, but that
Col. McRae Indignantly refused this amount, and
appealed to the Governor for relief, like SOLVER
asking for more" And Gov. Vance, in his late
message, says, "A report of the operations of our
other Commissioners, Col D. K. McRae, necessarily
incomplete, is also submitted, and will, believe,
be found equally satisfactory, and creditable to him
as Commissioner" and then advises the appoint
ment of committee to investigate all matters ap-
pertaining to the blockade-runniug of this State,
&c. He says nothing about his disregard of the
Law which places Col. McRaes accounts before the
Auditor7-uothing as to the importance Of waiting
until Mr. Sanders returns andeVidence in relation to