Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-23
For the Standard.
HOUSE OF Commons, /
RALEIGH, Dec. 18th, 1864. (

E.~ RALEIGH, Dec 18th, 1864. =
Mn. HOLDEN II observe that the Confederate of
December 10th, is disposed to be witty and imper-
/ tinent in . notice which it takes of some resolu
tons introduced by me in the House of Commons
protesting against the destruction of State sover
eighty and civil liberty. am not accountable to
that paper for the manner in which discharge nv
duties as member of the House; but lest the Eli
tor should presume hereafter on my silence, and
lest his article should mislead some honest, we'll.
disposed person who does not know him, deem it
proper to offer a reply. . IL
The resolutions which offered contain the only
principles on which free government can be success
fully administered. Just in proportion as we ad-
here to these principles will prosper and just IN
proportion as we depart from them will our cause
decline No man who is fit to enjoy free govern
ment will object to these principles and they who
would trampe them under foot, for any purpose or
10 advance any cause, are already slaves These
resolutions, Sir, speak the sentiments of q large
MAJ 1rlty OF my constituents, and considered it
duty owed to them to offer them in tie House.
A portion OF them, as the resolutions themselves
show, were adopted by the last Legislature; but
events have since occurred which rendered it proc
er and necessary, in my Judgment that still fur.
ther and stronger protest should be made against
the assumption OF unauthorized and may say,
despotlc power by the Confederate government;
ana hence the addition Ventured to make to the
resolutions of former session The Editor of the
-
is, assails the resolutions or at least part of them
and attempts to Tidicule me as the introducer of
them but It seems he had no sense of Justice and
not even the common fairness to induce him to pub
lish them in his paper, so that his readers could
Judge for themselves as to the propriety and force
| OF MS comments But do not complain. ask
him no odds 1t is clear that be is afraid to trust
his own readers with the truth but conceals it from
them, while he gives his own version of what is
done IN the Legislature. If this is not his general
course, n is certainly the course he has pursued
towards me- If my resolutions are not proper in
themselves, let the Editor show t. If they are not
patriotic, let him demonstrate the fact If il was
not expedient to offer them let him submit an ar.
gument to prove that it was not expedient. II they
are not true, let MIN show wherein they are false
but If true, | hold them to be, and as believe
my constituents and the country will regard them,
1t does not become him, unless as a partizan of
power and an enemy oftruth and civil liberty to OBJ
Ject to them. L repeat what said in my resolu-
lions, ii Congress should confer on the President
despetc powers, alike destructive of the liberty of
the citizen and sovereignty of the State" our mem
oers ought to be instructed to withdraw from Con-
gress and return to their homes" | would not ut
ter this as threat, but an admoniton. My OBJ
Ject is TO save the government and not to stand by
and see it destroyed by the establishment of des-
pOtlSm in its stead Am not rght2
But the Editor, with sharpness which he must
have acquired in the County Courts, draws dis
tnction between withdrawing from Congress and
reSlgRing and says if the members should with
draw they will be sent for by Confederate power and
compelled to return to their seats, to resist that
power, and take the consequences. What non
sense The State power that might instruct them
to return home, cauld protect them, even though
the gallant Editor himself should again buckle on
his sword and aid in their arrest Ii am not mis-.
taken, the Editor took off his sword and repudiated
the Confederate government in a much better
than this when he rnciunn6 hic nlaca Tnl-
onel because he not promoted; and his repu-
tation, which he made in fighting the common enc
my, would not be increased by his advising or tax
ing part in fight here at home, between citizens
of his own State, in silly effort to compel men,
6ers OF Congress to return to their seats. If the
Editor cannot get up more reasonable OF. sensible
ground of fight than this, l would advise him to
break his sword and throw away his pistols
But, taking another view of the case the Editor of
the Confederate is very much pleased at the idea
that OFT members of Congress may resign. He
wants new election. He reminds me of lot of
old French war horses, that in their worst days Of
skin and bone, long after the wars were over, and
they were turned out to grass heard the
bugle sound but they pricked up their ears formed
into squadrons, and charged an imaginary enemy.
1t is just with the Editor lie is so used to it,
that lie never hears Of election but he prcks up
his ears, places himself in the position of cand
date, and is ready to run No doubt it would give
him " infinite joy" to find vacancy in Congress-
that he might try his chance time more for
/ seat
The Editor says he entertans no "unkind feel.
ings towards me, and he is not sure he "has the
pleasure of my acquaintance" Well, have no
unklnd feelings towards him and if he desires to
become acquainted" with me, l have no objection.
He will find me thorough Conservative, the friend
OF civil liberty, and the friend of peace. Such is
my platform. He will find also, l trust, that am
not afraid to do my duty, here or elsewhere; and
that am ready, at all times and in all places, to
defend my own rights and the rights and honor of
my constituents. | make no objection to fair and
just comments on my conduct as a representative !;
! but have right to expect, when am aSsailed,
and what do, or attempt to do a representative
is misstated perverted that the grounds for these
| msS;atements and perversionS as laid down by my
SELF should be placed before the public by those
| who thus unustly treat me- No man ever had q
more honest, more upright, or a more patriotic
constituency than / have. They have honoreG me
far beyond my merits, by confding their Interests
in part to my hands and intend to the extent Of
my humbly ability, to maintain and advance those
| interests. l am accountable to them, and to them
| only. | shall endeavor to redeem every pledge
made to them while before them as candidate and
if fail in any respect to them acceptably, 1t
will not be for the want of disposition to do so,
| but from some other cause. / am not to be deter
red by patronage, or power, or any outside pres
sure, from asserting my principles or from main
tanning, far as may be able the interests ofthose
| who sent me here. W. b ST1PE.
We notice, in recent issues Of the Wilmington
J0urnaland Raleigh Conservative articles complain
ing against the policy of officials in refusing tyans-
portaton of supplies from one section to another
We most cordially endorse the sentiments express
ed by those papers, we know something OF the
operation of the system alluded to- here at home
An unfortunate state of affairs is existing IN our
county, on account of deficiency of the corn crop,