Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-07-05
rErnm the PeopIs,s Press

To the voters OF stokes auo rOIsyth $ouhhASS'
FELLow. CITIZENS AT the earnest solicitations
of many political friends, / announce myself can
dida6e to represent the people of Stokes and For
syth counties in the Senate OF the next beglsh
turc OF North Carolina. :. T. 80. -. a.s
To many citizens of the district am not stran-
GER as my lot has been cast among them Tor nole
than so years past and my political wiring
through the columns of the Peoples Press, nave
constantly assured the public that l was utterly
opposed to secession and to the t0dr, which prcdlc
ted would be the necessary consequence: Il
After this unnatural war had made fearful in
roads on the peace and quiet Of our people, and With
the purpose of aSceFtaining whether soma method
short of fighting could be adopted, that would stop
this war and the shedding of more human blood,
advocated ga call for a COnrenti0nj" not In
deed, for the alleged purpose of destroying the
Government" but with the honest and sincere
desire ito save the Government" / am not afraid
to trust the people," in them is lodged all power;
and the man that dares deny to the people the
right to express an opinion the subject OF haV-
ing q Convention, is q foe to free government,
and should not be trusted by the people. Those
who opposed calling State Convention are not
willing TO trust the people; they think that the
people have too much power. They charged that
those who favored a Convention, wished to secede
from the Confederate States. l denounced seces'
sion in 1861; and am opposed to 1t now, under
present circumstances Secession, could not cure
our troubles and it would be utter folly and mad
ness, and could only be justified in life and death
struggle for liberty. l wished Convention, not
to secede, but 10 aid and strengthen the General
Government by granting it needtul powers IN eve
~ emergency, which, if assumed without the con-
sent of the States, would be usurpation and un'
wa-rantable authority. Neither the Legislature
nor the Governor possess sovereign power; but
Convention would possess such power. And While
it could grant all needful powers to the General
Government and check usurpatlOns, 1t would see
to it that our present form of government is not
changed There are those who are constantly en-
deavOring to educate the mind of the public, to
prepare for another form of government Such
men need watching We need republican form
of government with all our rights as freemen
guaranteed to US by the Constitution-with all the
rights of sovereign State. A State Convention
could cooperate with the general government and
our sister States of the South in obtaining an
armistice, so that negotiations for peace may be
commenced. Let US do our duty; and if other
States do not meet in Convention or conference
with US, nor heed our voice for pesce VIC will have
done our duty to humanity, our country and our
God ; and the responsibilities Of the future will
not rest upon us. This course would greatly en-
courage our people at home and our soldiers in the
army. Our boys in the army are longing for peace;
they are tired of the war, and are anxious to re-
turn to the bosom Of their families. 1t has long
peace; therefore, the pen, which is more powerful
than he sword, must do what the latter has failed
to accomplish,
When, lattery, the writ of hd6eas corpus was
suspended I held that action as unnecessary and
unconstitutional and expressly enacted for the pur
pose Of "muzzling certain presses and putting a
bit in the mouth of certain prominent speakers in
this State" [ still hold, that the act SuSpending
the writ, is utterly at in many of its essential
features with the Constitution Of these Confederate
States that there was not, at the time il was
enacted, any such emergency as required its pas
sage,-and that there is not n0W any occasion for
its being continued in force. This denial to the
citizen of the great writ of right whereby he was
at all times and at all places secure against illegal
restraints on his personal freedom great outrage
and of sufficient moment to have the Constitution
of these Confederate States at once amended.
As regards the war ITSELF our people are so united
on that question, that it is useless to waste words
on the subject. North Carolina has shown her
devotion to the cause, by sending more troops into
the army, according to her population, than any
other Southern State, and she has less deSerters
from her ranks than any other State. Hence, it is
due our brave boys in the army, as we'll as the peo-
pie at home, that this matter should be strictly
looked into and if elected, pledge myself to vote
against sending forward more men till our sister
States have furnished their full quota of troops
hold that the representative should be held to a
strict accountability by his constituents they have
right to know how nc votes on all questions af
lectlng the public interests. If elected, shall not
fail to do all in my power to advance the interests
of my constituents, and the good and well being of
my State,-to warn the Confederate States Govern
ment OF all entertainments upon her rights as a
sovereign State,-to the liberty and freedom of
her citizens protected, to aid the common govern
ment in prosecuting the war,-and to urge upon
it and cooperate with il as the representative of
free people of sovereign State, to negotiate a
treaty Of peace.
There are other grave questions that might dis
cuSS but suffice it to say, that the principles put
forth by Gov. Brown, Vice President Stephens and
w. W. Holden, Esq, are my principles by them
am willing to be judged by the people of Stokes and
Forsyth
As to the matter of canvassing the district, am
free to state that believe it wrong in candidate
to add to the excitement which prevails in the
public mind by haranguing the people for their
votes. Our energies are taxed to the utmost to
provide means of subsistence for our families and
as have farm to supsrintend my farming inter.
ests would be materially neglected were to leave
home a. this time. All farmers will readily admit
the justice of my excuse and as have lived among
the citizens of the district for fifty four years past
and as my conservative political principles have
never been changed, most respectfully appeal tn
the citizens of the district and especially to the
good people of Stokes county, to sustain me in the
course have adopted. If you grant this privilege
to w. W. Holden, Esq, then please go to the polls
and by voting for Inc, signify your approval of NV
course. appeal to my friends to see to it that
my principles are widely disseminated; and the
cards have had published, will readily enable them
to attend to this request ..-: - -
Yours, very respectfully,
.. 80. JOSHUA BONER.
Salem, June %, 1864 49, =
From the Peoples. Press
No Trouble in FORSYTH,