Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-02-24
p "I|| WILL u. DCUI I.
GreensboroIgh, Feb. 5, 1864.

W.
- WILL: l.. SCOTT.
Greensborossh Feb 5, 1864
FELLOW CITIZENS OF GuILFoRD Our Constitu
tion secures 10 every citizen the flee utterance Of
his sentiments; and if they are erroneous reason
is unenslared to combat them, If they are treason
able, the strong arm Of the law is able to punish
the traitor. But in expressing his convictions on
questions of public policy, honest patriotism should
Dash his language with wisdom and Justice. Though
revolution is no time for mere political disputa
ton and dcnunciation yet it is not inopportune to
discuss freely and dspasslonatey questions of con-
stituticnal law, or those which touch the honor of
the general government. The freeman is justified
in guarding his liberty with vigilsnce-his honor
with jealousy. But political denunciations as was
said by the eminently great and pious Bishop Pierce
from the sacred DESK caused in part the overthrow
of the old government Instead, therefore, of i ;
nounc!ng those in authority, our people ought to
have prayed for them "everywhere, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and doubling" A wide dis
tincton, however, exists between silly cracking de-
nunciation and generous, elevated, rational crit
cism. The one sours and cnrd'es national feeling
the other purges- and pnriiies the public mind
Point out, them in becoming mlnner the faults of
your public servantsthat is The duty of patriotism
and pray the Father of Lights to enable item to see
the right and 10 give them the moral courage and
the intrepid iriAneSs to pursue it-lhat is the dut1
Of Christianity.
The government of the United States in the
midst ct lis unparalleled prosperity, when it was
making such strides toward wealth, power, irterna.
tiohal pre- ennnence and internal splcndor as none
OF Its predecessors, or contemporaries, had ever at
taincd, was curbcd in its high, proud, unmatched
career and hopelessy disrupted; and while the
Southern States stood off from the federal Union
with sullen and naughty defiance, the States, cling
ing to the old Constitution and tie old flag, began
upon them most oppressive, savage, atrocious and
unrelenting warfare Why vas this? Why is
their undying malice pursuing US so Gercely? Why
is the North "the sword Of the Lord to the South
Because the people of both wings of the govern
nent forgot God; they embraced "the deus,on of
mans pertectibity by human agencies - all tina,
they were was due to God-of this glory thew were
attempting to rob Him. lnfdelity, idclatry, self:
Righteousness and intolerant fanaticism were ram.
pant. THE people of the Confederate States"
says the Rev Mr.. Wiley in his profound work on
National Trials, "can easily see that the conduct of
the fanatics which caused ACKNOWLEDGMENT of the
old Union is abominable; but let them remember
WITH humiliatio" and penitence that they helped to
noursh into life and vigor the doctrine which anati.
cism has borrowed 10 work their destruction They
ao not make the fanatics but they assisted in forg-
Ing the weapons with which these incendaries de.
history Nor could our States change their moral
character or shift the moral turpitude of their &C.
hon, or escape the wrath Of Heaven by mere poli.
ncal mutation The Almighty has been scoureiup
ooth sections; and the assaulted and the assailant
are now suffering fo2 their terrible and abomnable
wckedness against Him who made them all thew
were and whose was the glory
our government has existed nesrly three years
~ shock OF arms against it haS been the fierces.
ana host dreadful ever known. <The most dauntless
prowess, the most patient endurance the most IL
deat'saele energy and the most brilliant daring
nave been displayed by our noble Southern soldery'
thousands nave proudly sunk into the srms Of
oeath on the crlmsoned field; thousands have lar,
sushed ana expired IN the hospitals; and thousands
all over the land are MANNED for life. Nor has the
suffering OF the North except in destruction of
property, been less-rather it has been az mpch
greater as are Its numbers. Every campaien has
gFo~n Iaore sansulnary and horriic DesoIat,on
aS saiHea through some of the farest and loye,iest
its wake. Hundreds of homeless wa,dorers ,n -
s'sn'ng and longing to, return to the places that
ohce knew them and to the loved who arc l.rt no
hiha. LIE breach Of hatred was wide and it ia stil
"iueh,hg' Deep seated annu,sty hatlfbeen lasha5-
lnle the widest frenzy. Our people have hoo,,
kneellng at the foot of M.,nmon: unhaIlowe, srn.
ult'on mas been seeking only selfaggrandizement
'he ciVl' Ia" mas been more and more disresarded.
ao e law Oh Holiness and perfection taught in the
sae1ea oraces OF God has been neglected, profaned
"I .ontenneo' Ay, all this is now enactiny in our
lIlost osy and continually. This is our condition
The slnfulness Of the Northma be as much h1acva
'han ours RS. as the sun in the sky is more mnons
aoa oriliiant than the glow-worm: but that dos
lot excuse our national wickedness that does MT
us'i,y our gro wing hatred. Their and our enb;t.
le'eo lee''hss and accommodating sins are ONLY mara
ano more Inv oE'ng the hot displeasure and consu.
ning WRATH OF an angry and insulted Judge. What
1le we 10 10 DO as Jeremiah hath said Amend
Lord our God" VIZ ''''s VI tue
Inc character of an administration like that of
IN individual, ought to DC blameless and nnsnI;.J
. uman reputation depreciates as II recedes from,
5i exalted standard, which was erected bv the
2a1our wnen on earth, and so does an administe.
Ia "a, 'eputat'on BE ye perfect" is the command.
na all should approximate the perfection of the
1elty as much as possible, though it is unattainabe
stranger comes into your neighborhsod and is
10 MS promises fathless as to his OBLIGATIONS
nu enasaVors to practice frauds upon you at once
60 A nun as unworthy of your confidence and
hto disrepute So, if an administration ia nntrna
'taless and decei,fnl toward its own subjects and
II us international intercourse at once II will Io.a
o.;. nce ana iath at home and respect and admi-
~ ~ a'oaa. sucl a man cannot reasonably ex
'ees .ne smiles Of Heaven upon him, nor can such
!" s administration. Reformation is first essential
:! row m'ssteps will not irretrevably ruin nuns
nor will they az administrations if sin.
ere disposition and endeav"r to act rightly be after
, nd manifested That man, too, is your brother
lid G sEu cannot excuse yourself by answering, as
rests upon you kindly to admonish him
us error and 4poin: out the path Of right. The
anne great obligation Of keeping your brother rests
pon the people ofs nation toward their public ser.
ants and the Confederate Constitution deeIare.
.ae right OF the people peaceaby to assemble and
The government for redress Of grievances"
40 Methods then suggest themselves by which
Us. errors errors OF public functioparies may be cured:
ND Oh. .nserneti1g them wisely andtemperately
the b.,a. h ~ aisp,aclns them BY the quiet magic
oect to either. Not only So hnt euaru Io,,.1