Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-02-10
! Aome Plain Talk. .

The Editor Of this paper is still and has bes1 for
two years, an object Of the bitterest and most un.
just political persecuion and not only this, nc
is socially assailed, and is constantly threatened
with personal violence. Why IS this? What have
we donel .r...,T ,.,..rg ,,..gleu ID ..-l ..af,
/ . We were Union man up to Lincoln's proclama.
tion. We have since been war man, and we are
nowSin hvor of fighting and negotiating at the
same time for pesce.. At the beginning Of the war,
. when volunteer companies were being equipped by
private subscriptions We contributed to this object
as freely and as much In proportion to our means
any citizen Of the State, Our only regret is. that
We xsrs not able 70 give more. We have uniform
lily submitted to the laws advised others to submit
to them, paid our taxes and labored to ensure the
independence Of the Confederate States. We have
never refused to aid soldier when he appeared to
need it. or to aid the soldiers families when
called upon to do So We Lave cheerfully part
ed with our property for government use, at q low
price, when others in this community who pretend
to be war men gave up their property reluctantly,
or retained it by making special appeals to the de-
partment at Richmond We have uniformly re-
ceived Confederate money in payment of old as well
IS new debts while many Destructives have refused
it on old debts, and even for grain and meat for
soldiers families We have never entertained
thought nor breathed q word, rcr printed a line
with the view or intention of injuring the Southern
cause. Wherefore, then, this persecution these
threatss We will tell you, reader. We have ur
ged the people to maintain their liberties while
they we're contending against the common foe.-
We have insisted on . strict construction Of the
Constitution, and on the perpetual, unremitting
force of the civil law. We have exposed corrup-
tion in high places, and demanded reform, not for
factious purposes, but for the good of the Cause
We have contended for the rights of the States and
resisted the tendency to establish military despo
tism. We have taken the part Of the private SOL
der when he has been unjustly treated and impo-
sed upon; and we have called time and again on
those who promised the volunteers that they would
provide for their families inheir absence to redeem
their pledge We have insisted on the right Of the
private soldiers to have the companies and regi-
! nents recognized when they shall be again con-
scrpted in the spring. with the privilege Of eecting
their own officers We have published complaints
from citizens whose rights have been disregarded
by the military, and have insisted that property
shall not be taken or destroyed by order of COM
manding officers, without just compensation. We
have protested against the arrest of our citizens
without civil warrant aud have Insisted that every
one thus arrested and thrown into military prison,
is entitled to = speedy tral-to be released if no
sufficient grounds exist for holding him, or to be
turned over, if sufficient grounds exist, to be tried
by jury Of his country. Wehaye advocated every
measure which was calculated to recdanosr armies
efficient; we have rejoiced when IRn-
ed our arms and We have mou.i Ter
has fallen on our banners, But we iva
tive-we believe in the right of the people to gov
| ern themselves-we have favored such steps as
promised to lead to an honorable peace-we have
insisted tina. the Confederate States should not fight
on bhrdly 10 the verge Of ruin for States that are
against us, as for example, Maryland, Missouri, and
Kentucky, but that the olive branch should be car
rled in one hand and the sword in the other; and
We have favored Convention of our people, not
for factious or selfish purposes-not to DESTROY or
even embarrass the common government, but to
aid it in its efforts to obtain just and honorable
psace Sour offence hath this extent-no more !"
Still We are called traitor, and every effort is made
by our enemies to prejudice the people against us,
and to destroy US socially, politically, and person.
ally. Our fault is that the people are with US, and
that We are true to beth soldiers and people. If
this be our fault, then are We proud of it; and We
tell our assaiants whether they be Destructives or
professed Conservatives that if they are against th
people of this State-f they disposed to thwart
the Will OF the people, or stiAe it. if they consent
to any measures that may be resorted to to stife
that will, or to interfere with its free ard full ex
preston, then we are against them If we are false
to the Confederate government then it has bu. few
friends in this State for vast majority of our peo
pie agree with ua But We are not false, Phe real
traitors are those who aided in bringing on the war,
but who refuse to 6ght in it, and who are at home
growing rich out Of it while their ne,ghbors and
neighbsrs' children, who were opposed to the action
which produced the war; are barring their breasts to
the storm Of battle. These the traitors, fellow
citizens to their own pledged word trait
ors to their neighbors, their country, and theii,
God /; and these are the men who are themselve,
engaged, or engaged as the Instruments of others
In assaliing, villifylng, and threatening u.s.
3 We now say to oar friends, obce for all. ths: VI
arc calm and aFm snd intend to do our duty at n
hazards We shall net swerve under any eircuu
Stances from Conservative principles, nor turn on
back on the people. But we advise moderation il !
all things We must not forge. our duty to or @
States, TO the common government or to the hsss
army Of the Confederate States now. in the fsN
welding the mailed hand Of war while those al hen
in the civil councils are presenting the ungfey.
hand et peace. We must fight and talk for pe.e
At the same time; and the effectiveness Of the lstsr
whether by public meetings, or public journals.
members OF Congress or Of State Legislatures,
fonyentions 9; the States, depends on the visur,
the former. Rs must treat soitA urnas in our AsaI
These viauc hold and .