Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-29

InlS Is the name OF new paper IN tnls Clty, Oy
A. NJ Gorman Esq, established as the successor of
the State Journal which, we are gratifed to say,
has ceased to exist.
The Editor of the Confederate declares it to be
his purpose to avoid controversies ola personal
ture, and to- discuss public questions and the
duct of public men in fair and temperate manner.
We give him credit for this purpose, and trust he
may be able to adhere toit and we can promise,
so far as we concerned, whether we shall con-
trovert his views or not that we will say nothing
intended to induce or tempt him to abandon Tie
rule he has laid down.. We have never been the
first to begin personalities with cotemporary, 5ut
have uniformly acted on the defensive in this re-
speet.
We copy from the Confederate to day an article
headed 1.-THE Peace Party" which does great injus-
tice to those with whom we act The Confederate
says that those who are most anxious for peace in
this State are not in earnest but actuated sole
ly by desire to obtain power. This is grave
charge, and if it applied to only a few public men
it would be very injurious to them, and Justly So c
it had even the semblance of truth but it applies
to large majority of the people of the State, who
can have motive for their advocacy of peace mea-
sures but their own good and the good of the coun
try Will it be believed that the great of our
people Eho favor Convention, and desire that
some steps should be taken to end this cruel and
wasting war on honorable terms, are actuated by
the sordid idea of putting few men out Of, and
few men in. power? Surely, surely not
But the Confederate nisrepresents the Conserva-
tives of the State in the grossest manner when it
says that in 1852 the people were led to believe
that if the called Conservative candidates were
elected the conscrpt law would be abrogated, skull
kers and dessrters would go unmolested," &c. No
such ground was taken by any Conservative in that
campaign. It true large majority of our peo-.
pie were opposed to the conscriSt law, but they
quesced in it necessity which resulted from the
want of foresight on the part of the Confederate ad
ministration; and though many of them thought,
and correctly thought that 1t would have been bet
ter for the cause if the law had not been passed,
| and the States had been relied upon to keep the
necessary number of troops in the field, raised in
! their own way, yet it was net proposed by any
| Conservative so far as know, to abrogate the
law. Nor is it true that the Conservatives led the
people to believe, believed themselves that in
| the event of the election Of Gov. Vance and Con-
servatlve Legislature skulkers and deserters would
! go unmolested." There was no such issue in the
campaign On the contrary, it was taken for gralS.
ed that the laws would be enforced and that deser
ters would be arrested and returned to their regi
ments We admit that it has been found very diff
cult to deal with the skukerS, and as nine tenhs Of
them are Destructives or original secessionsts we
commend them to the special attention of the Con-
fsderats Perhaps a word from that paper now
snd then, addressed to those who promised to fight
tut who have not yet done so, but who are skulk
ing in every conceivable way from the conf ct while
the Conservatives in the ranks doing more than
they promised, may have good effect. Talk to
them Mr. Confederate, and if possible shame them
into sense of duty They belorg to your politi-
cal household and you have right to reProve them
for their bad faith in aiding to bring on war which
they refuse to fight in.
Nor is it true that attempt was made to de-
ceive the people by the so-called peace movement Of
1868. The movement began with the people, and
progressed until they had expressed their senti
ments both in public meeting and at the polls.-
The result was brilliant Conservative triumph in
the State by which seven out of ten members Of
Congress we're elected pledged to do all in their
power to secure anAh6nOrable peace.
Nor is it true, as charged by the Confederate,
that the proposition for Stats Convention was
made for selfish purposes, or with the view of de-
ceiving the people, or that the people kept in
the dark" as to its objects. The movement started
with the people. 1t is their movement If they
kept in the dark .as to its objects it will be
because they shut their eyes and close their to
events around. them. We have already stated,
as one of the people, why we favor Convention
Will the Confederate publish our remarks on the
subject and thus give that portion Of the people
whom it serves with information an opportunity of
seeing for. themselves some of the reasons why a
!. Convention should be called? We shall see. But
if that paper gives but side of the question: and
meanwhile misrepresents the statements and views
of those who differ with it. will IL not render itself
justly amenabe to the charge of having kept its
ders "in the dark ?"
We have been struck with the proneness Of Ger.
tain politicians to engage in the business of taking
care of the people THE people were deceived
they exclaim; or "the people were msled, and
did so and so,"-or "there is plan on foot
TO deceive the people, and they will be humbugged
before they know it." Such language not only con-
veys poor compliment to the people, but it indi-
Gates the part of those who it want of con-
fdence in their capacity to govern themselves. The
people of North. Carolina do not need guardians to
think for them, or to direct them what to do They
can think and act for themselves. By the theory of
our government as well as its practice, call poti-
cal power is vested in and derived from the peo-
pie only" There is other source of power. That
power has generally been exercised in a wise and
wholesome manner There is nothing in the past, as
we believe there will be nothing in the futufe, which
can justify politicians in treating the people like no.
vices or half grown boys who need to be warped