Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-07-06
From the Peoples Press.

A
From the Peoples Press.
To the Voters of Stokes aud Forsyth Counties.
Fellow CITIZENS At the earnest solicitations
Ct ruany political friends. announce myself can
didate To represent the people OF Stokes and For
sylh counties in the Senate of The next Leglsa-
turc Of North Carolina .,.
10 many citizens Of the district am not stran-
ger, as ny lot has been cast among them for more
than 50 years past ard my political writings
through the columns of the Peoples Press have
constantly assured the public, that | was utterly
opposed to secession and to the s0ar, which pTcdc
ted would be the necessary consequence
After this unnatural war had made fearful IN
roads on the peace and quiet Of people, and with
the purpose Of ascertaining whether some method
short of fighting could be adopted, that would stop
this war and the shedding Of more human blood,
advocated ga call for CoarentioH;;" nu, in
deed, for the alleged purpose of destroying the
Government" but with the honest and sincere
desire to 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 on the subject OF hav-
ing Convention, is 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 q Convention, wished to sccede
from the Confederate States. | denounced Seces.
sion in 1861; and am opposed to it 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, bnt 10 aid AID strengthen the General
Government by granting it needful powers in eve.
~ emergency, which, if assumed without tho con-
sent of the States, would be nsurpat;on and IN.
wa-rentable authority. Neither the Legislature
nor the Governor possess sovereign power; but a
Convention would possess such power. And while
it could grant all neelful powers to the General
Government and check usprpations, it would see
to It that our present form of government is not
changed. There are those who are constantly en-
ceavcring 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-wltha all the
rights Of q 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 Go not meet in Convention or conference
with US, nor heed our voice for peace, we 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 people at home and our soldiers in the
army Our boys in the army arc longing for peace;
they are tired Of the war, and arc anxious to re-
turn to the bosom Of their families 1t has long
since been conceded, that fighting will not procure
peace; therefore, the pen, which is more powerful
than he sword must do what the latter has failed
to accomplish.
When, latterly, the writ of habeas corpus was
suspended, held that action as unnecessary and
unconstitutional and expressly enacted for the pur
pose Of "muzzllng certain presses and putting
bit in the mouth Of certain prominent speakers in
this State" still hold, that the act suspending
the writ is utterly at war in many Of its essential
features with the Constitution Of these Confederate
States that there was not at the time it was
enacted, any such emergency as required its pas
sage,-and that there is not now any occasion for
its being continued i'll force. THIS denial to she
citizen Of the great wit 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, people so united
on that question, that it is useless to waste words
OIL the subject. North Carolina has shown Der
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 pe6
pie at home, that this matter should te strictly
looked into, and if elected pledge myself to vote
against sending forward moro men TIL 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 be votes on all, questions at.
fectng the public interests If elected shall not
fail to do all in my power to advance the nta:e sts
of my constituents, and the good and we'll being of
my State,-to warn tine Confederate States Govern
mert of all entertainments upon her rights as
sovereign State.-to see 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 it as the representative of
free people Of a sovereign State, to negotiate a
treaty Of peace.
There are other grave questions that ight 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 then, I
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 l have farm to superintend, my farming inter
| 0S'o Woul4 o0 HeSteCteu were L 10 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 years past
and as my conservative political principles have
never been changed, most respectfully appeal t.
the citizens of the district and especially ,tp tn,
good people Of Stokes county, to sustain me in tn,
course have adopted. If you grant this privilcg,
to W. W. Holden, Esq, then please go to the polls
and by voting for me, signify your approval of my
my principles are widely disseminated; and til,
cards have had published, will readily enable then
to attend to this request.
Yours, very respectfully, .-.
JOSHUA BONER.
Salem, June %, 1864
from the Peoples Press
No Trouble in Forsyth.
The Greensborough Daily Citizen says it " hear
there il trouble among the&IoIdenites of FORSYTH