Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-20
WHOLE NuM,a1BsEl,R, !, 1906:
For the Standard.
Public heating in Johp..o. ce..,v.

Public Mestiug In Johnston County.
On Thursday, the 7th inst, public meeting was
held It the Courthouse in Smithfield and, on mo-
ton .M Mi. W.; A. Smith, Simon Goodwin, ESQ,
was called to-ths Chair, and Col B. A. Wooda!l and
Capt s. O. L'ssssF were requested to act IS seore
+ . 5 aYetion ii MJ, W. a. Smith, l. R w.ddsll,
s.m'i s: Wood, Wood BENZ Goodwin, Thos .. sneed and
70 draft resolutions xsrs T sPpe'nssed COMMITTEES
During the absence Of ffke~amn;tto. ths meas;no
was addressed in spirited and psni4;c .Sdrss.ss hS
Dr. .. t. Leach and Maj. w. A Snifh.I
The COMMITTEES returned and through A.ir chair.
man, l. r Waddsll, Esq, reported The foller;ne
preamble and resolutions, yiz:.. +, l. -.
wM.sAA The alarming and fearful tendency Of
sne confederate government towards military des-
potis.n by the enactment Of unjust and oppressive
laws to her citizens is just cause OF complaint and
whereas an earnest desire on our part a. citizens of
sovereign and independent State to restore Justice
secure domestic tranquility, and perpetuate the
blessings of civil and religious liberty to ourselves
and our posterty, is just cause for assembling to-
gether, consulting for our common good, instructng
our representatives, and petitionng the Legislature
tor redress of grievances; therefore be it
hesoteed, As all political power is vested in and
derived from the people only, and that any legsls
ton by the Confederate Congress or decision Of the
judiciary denying or abridglng their rights, would
De unconstitutional, unjust and oppressive, and
ought to be resisted by all constitutional and legal
means.
Rssotced, That clear and strict subordination of
the military to the civil law is one of the pillars of
republican liberty, and any attempt to suspend the
writ OF habeas corpus, or to supercede the civil law
upon the plea of military necessity, or to institute
a"supreme law power" would be revolutionary
and despotic
ResoLre1 Tbot tba ,.to ..t oe r... ...
ing those who had put substitutes in the army. was
gross violation Of plghted faith between the gov.
eminent and her citizens, and is well calculated to
destroy the confidence of the people in the stability
OF the government, the wisdom and honesty of Con.
gress and the administration
Resolred, That North. Carolina as a sovereign and
independent State has the right to consult the pre-,
sent good and future happiness of her citizens and
when she is forced to decide between military des
potism and her sovereignty for the good of her
pie, she will choose the latter through a Oonyen.
ton of her citizens.
Resotred, That the prompt and decided course Of
Gov. Vance in maintaining the rights of the people
and the supremacy of the civil over the military
law, meets our unqualified appreciation, and We eur
brace the present fit occasion to assure him that
the people will sustain him in the protection Of
their rights and the discharge Of his duties as the
Executive Of North Carolina and that We most re-
spectfuy and earnestly request him to convene thu
Legislature at an early day, if in his judgment thu
interest of the people and the maintenance of ou,
rights as sovereign and Independent State re
! quire it e
+ Reso1esd, That We ara opposed to the ooascsip
tim 81 more men in stxse Of Nprth. .CaroIina
u1til ID psrsons Tssidinl nGag qs, who slai@ nc
FallsgianeHsare either conSptsd q ssnt oaf q ID
/ country.
Rsssiusd, That We are opposed to, the impress
ment law as it now exista, and we do hereby reques
our members in Congress to use their influence ir
modifying it; and do further request them to urg,
the authorities to permit the people in North Caro-
lima to retain the grain grown in the State for th
, sustenance of her citizens
Resotced, That we regard this as q favorable op
portunlty to reassure our brave soldiers in the field
that no effort will be spared to provide for the
wives and children, and that We exhort them not t,
desert their comrades in arms, but to stand by the
rights hoping that speedy peace may be the frui
, of their toll and danger.
Resoloed, That copy of these resolutions be sen
to the Raleigh Standard for publication, and tha
other papers in the State favorable to peace, be re
quested to copy.
The foregoing resolutions were separately reat
and unanimously adopted.
After the adoption of the resolutions, L. R. Wad
dell being called upon, made brief speech ID sup
port of the resolutions
: On motion, the meeting adjourned
SIMON GOODWIN, Chm.
! 3 3: 4; A.ss1ess W9esA''' sarss.ris..