The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Fayetteville, N.C.) 1864-186?, 1864-03-08


and pu; INTO saaks rs private. ana If q non
comEi ioned ots.rr private IL, shall suffer
such punishment ~ shccnsis e.nt ",'a military
] Ia "a Iz1e co:s-. - - de1.ei .
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From tn, Raleigh Progress
ADDRESS OF GOV. VANCE.
| CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY,
DELIVERED AT w1Lksao2o. y. c., FEB. %. 1864
/ ii s.ori-handrep ty -. Clinton ,S!ednsaa. J
Fellow CITIZENS, LAnIEs AND GENTLE
MEN i do not know how it is possible for
me to make myself heard by this large -udi-
ence unless I Adopt the plan of the one
armed soldier whocould not hug his sweat
heart all the way round, and was forced to
chalk the distance he could reach on one
side, and then turn and hug as far on the
other. G-aughter.l 1t is scarcely possible
i for to tell you, fellow citizens, what my
feelings arc on once more visiting the people
, OF Wilkes county | we'll remember, and per-
maps some of you do likewise. the first time
! / ever made my appearance before you. IN
the summer Of s55, a. tranger. boy in years
and experience came among you seeking one
Of the highest Offices within your gift having
nothing in the world to recommend him
you having never even heard of bis nasnc be-
fore. Yet | was 50 fortunate in making a
favorable impression upon you, that ycu took
me up, and from that day to this have never
/ failed TO heap honors upon my head. | would
De worse than ungrateful, especially when I
~; -
the fact that an still remembered bv the
people Of Wilkes county, if I were not devo-
! ted TO your intcrcst-nay, if I were not will
ling e lay down my life for you, May God
bless you, fcllow-citzsns, for your Kindness
! to me- 1t affords ne great pleasure indeed to
meet so large al assembly from this and adj
Joining counties. | rejoice to know that even
/ in the midst Of great and desolating war.
the people, in sHch a large number, can yet
lcese their homes and business to listen to one
speak upon the condition. of their public af-
fairs, ssiGla from The qualification which pro-
ceeds from recognition Of the personal COM
phmcnt you pay me, expressed by tue
large audience that honors me with its pres
ence and attention. / shall endeavor to justify
both the public interest you display and the
compliment you bestow, ey to-day don e
something which is-yery rare in politician
by telling the truth.
Why have you, my fellow-citizens, invited
me to speak to you on this natal day of the
great Washington =? What is it YOU want :?
OF course you desire to hear about the con-
dtion Of the country Of course you want
the plain, unadulterated, undguised facts ::
not that which would be most pleasing to you,
but TINT which is true. Most likely you would
be able to find a demagogue VINO coald COM
| ply with this requirement, because with him
the habit of telling the people that which fiat
ters their vanity and carefully avoiding any
painful truth which might shock their tender
sensiblities has grown into a second nature
from which we may anticipate no substantial
food for the body polite, such these trying
times inlperativaly demand. In an hour like
jtbls, and on such occasion as the present
especially is 1t Of the most profound import
ance that no considerations should influence.
save those affecting your deepest and most
lasting interests. l am not SO hypocrltlcai
as to boast that in all my past career | have
never once talked :" soft nonsence' to the
dear people, On the contrary, / am free
to confess that otherwise / would not haze
been such successful sutor for political IA
vors. G.aughter.( But flatter myself
have preserved enough honor and candor to
prevent me- when SO urgent necessity re-
uires it, from telling that which IS most true
in preference to what is most pleasant and
from trifing with the destines Of my country.
esteem myself very fortunate in having
saved 50 much as this from the breakers
whereon Sc mary craft 50 to pieces in the
yea>Sy waves Of political life. IHdded / may
say am as lucky as Paddy Mcguire. an old
acquaintance Of my friend, Judge Il,
who, in reply to The friendly inquiry of the
latter, how lie got on, exclaimed "Well may
it plase yer ho.s5-, I've bin upon yer State
'dockitt, an bin drunk, an got foggin' at
the whipp;n' post since ye was here; but
thanks bc to the Vargn, amid all me wicked
ness and raskhality I've preserved me relgin'
;ntire" {ff,afIchtcrl And SO amid all my
political shortcomings l have preserved hon
csty enough, hoYe, to tell you what | con-
ceive to be true about the condition Of the
country, the aspect Of its civil and military
affairs, tie prospects OF the future, and the
duties that devolve upon as ii the accom-
plishment of the work before us.
A people who have been afflicted as you
have been afflicted; a people who suffer as
you suffer; people whose gallant boys have
been slaughtered as your-sons have fallen on
the battle field; whose darlings now languish /
in Northern prisoners; wives whose husbands
are wasting in far distant camps weary
months Of flistless inactivity, while the weeds
choke the soanty harvest, and the children
pine for the presence and support of their
natural protector; old men; who, in feverish
anxiety await intelligence which each sue
ceeding mail may bring of the slaughter of
their pride and support Of their declining
years-al are liable to reach out, with the
spirit of a drowing man, to grasp any pass
ing straw, which, for the moment, may keep
their heads above the roaring food, loosing
Isight meanwhile of the firm, though perhaps
distant shore which calm, determined and