Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-04-06

nSte uOugnt OF lCI IL u cef78lny novel 6p0ctAclo
It reminds US Of the days Of Didiass Jalianu, IN
the decline Of the Roman empire, when theinpssial
purple was exposed to public sale By the PrsetMan
Guards, or OF later period, Hhen ambitious Gen
erals looked to their commands as the sursst road
to imperial honors. But fortunately for the coun-
ny, eur soldiers are too intelligent and patriotic to
be made the instruments of any mans ambition.
They will hear, and read and think and thea decide
for themselves They are citizen soldiers, not mer
cenaries; and they have as deep an interest in the
management Of affairs at home a. any among us
ana st'l deeper interest in the question Of peace
tor IT the war is to be prolonged indefinitely it is
tAssT bosoms and not those of the politicians who
arc soliciting their votes, that must be exposed
to the fire Of battle. But the; Cammandsr-is- 4
chisf invited BY officers many Of whom hold their
commissions under his hand, addresses the troops
ana asks them for their votes Two years ego these
very soldiers or those of them then living, voted
for bm BY large majority. What has occurred
to cause the Governor to fear they will not yosfor
him again! Has he changed! Have thsy chaa9edi
1t be has not changed, they have, for . largana-
J0rlty OF them are now against him. But Is 1t res
sonabls to suppose that intelligent person like
the Governor should have remained what he was,
while thousands Of intelligent persons have ehangedf
think not The soldiers are what they were-it
y the Gorernor Uho has changed Two years ago
many OF the officers who now favor his election not
only voted against him, but electoneered in their
commands against him They were Destruetises
Then, they are Desire elSes now Then they were
against the Governor, 'fhey are for him. What
The soldiers want pe4ee. They ara fighting for
peace. They know that there can be no peace
without negotiations But the Governor says
sight it out" The Destructive leaders at home
who are supporting him say that those who propose
Convention as step towards peace, are traitors.
The Governor says they are seceders, and ought to
be coerced What do the soldiers say3 They are
willing to Eight it out" if 1t can be done. They
are not going to lay down their arms but they look
to the pen as well as to the bayonet to elese the
war. They do not believe that mere fighting will
close it They have tried this nearly three years.
and the end seems as far off as ever. They are
fighting for peace and it is natural that they should
wish to live to enjoy it when it comes. Many Of
them who will listen to the Governors harangues,
and some whose votes he will expect to get will be
cold in death or shattered by wounds, long before
the election in August The minnie ball. the shell,
corruption and the will have done their work,
and the soul of the gallant soldier released from its
suffering body, and summoned to the tattoo of the
skies, will "roam, unfettercd, through serener.
realms"
'Alas! nor wife children more shall be behold
Nor friends, nor sacred home"
But the Governor would like to have the votes Of
the survivors, and he is now IN Virginia on this
business. wish him as good luck III this business
as he is fairly entitled to, but trust that after
every effort shall have been exhausted to change
the minds of our noble defenders they will be al
lowed TO- vote as they please. Fair play is,
Jewell" especially in these times. Let the soldiers
vote, and no matter how they vote the people at
home with respect their voice; but let them cote,
and let oil their cotes be returned and counted
The advice or orders of Gov. Vance will be potent
in this matter II he desires full and fair vote Of
the soldiers as of course he must let him not only
say so, but let him see to it as Commander in Chief
that full and fair vote is allowed and that the
vote is returned in time, and counted This is oil
the Conservatives ask.
The Governor is an ardent war mamie wants
to "fgheis out" He is now at the seat of war.
1t is true the situation" just now is nearly IS
"peaceable" as secession was; but if cloud of
battle should suddenly RISE as possibly it may
while the Governor is at the seat, he would have
fine opportunity to furnish practical illustration
of his motto. He has fought and doubtless he
would fight again. Being 1t the seat sud making
war speeches, he would not say "go boys" but
better for it They would say he came to speak,
but staid to fight He is too sensible person to
be "spoiling" for such an amusement, but if he
had only postponed his visit until May he would
have been sure of fight As it is he may get 3
nibble, but he will catch no fish, Let him try
again in May or june, when the water is in better
condition. The TACT that living Governor with
his staff had fought the enemy for four or five days
at the head of his troops, would be prime news,
and would secure more votes for him than five hun:
drcd Buncombe harangues. Let US light 1t out,
says the Governor. Let us Eight it out" say the
Destructive Editors and orators at home who are
urging his reelection. Let US Eight it out" says
the original, who has already sacrificed his uncle
IN the contest and stands ready to sacrifice his
brother. in-law rather than not light it out" aud
who will expend any night ten dollars in old issue
to purchase dirty candles to light up Destructive
meeting in which Conservatives are to be abused.
Hurrah boysl-"fght it out" Negotiation is Oh.
soleta The longer we fight the longer we shall
hold the Offices and the longer we hold the offices
the more the country will prosper. Any man al
iozse who says don't flight it out," bat wants to
treat and fight at the same time, is Lncolnlte and
= traitor. The boys at home are the boys to tight
They understand war; They study it at . safe dis
lance. When they 60 there will be lighting They
are going after awhile. But they want TO "make
finish Of it" when they do 60. lis to last seven
years. least as long Frederick of Prussia fought
and the hard fighting will take place during the
seventh year. Four years hence, therefore, they
will be there. By that time France will intervene
England will reestablish slavery, Macmillan vii
cross the Rio Grande with formidable army to aid
u.s. cotton will be King, Russia will be at war with
the United States on account OF ner northwestern
possessions, Ireland and Hungary will revolt snd
JOIN US, and the seceders who are now at home
nursing their courage and holding each other back
by man force, will be ready for the conflict w,
shall then light it out" 50 mote it be.
The Governor will no doubt utter many goot
words to the soldiers with the exception Of the
| fortunate substitute men, for whom he seems t.
have no sympathy. Indeed, he thinks they ough
to be thankful that they have not been "shot du
ring the last two years. He will tell the soldiers
fight it out" but will he convince them that thei
4 families at home have been cared for by him q
i they should have beeni The Counties are now ex
pending forty millions of dollars per anuum for th
support of soldiers families, and every just and pa
trotic person would expend all zoe hGoe before thei
families should suffer; but what has the Governo
done for those familiesa Where is that "last dus
of meal" and that 'last pound Of bacon" whicl
be promised to divide among the soldiers families