Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-12-23


he, afterwards, ask our advice in relation to his let
ter to Mr.. Haughton and take our advice, by sub
mItting the letter to Mr. Graham? II, just before
the mob referred to- aud after the consultation
which resulted in his last proclamation, he had
separated himself from the Standard" why did
he furnish US, as be did, with a copy Of that pro-
clamation under his own hand for publication? :?
The peace meetings going all this time, the
Standard vas publishing the proceedings, and still
Gov. Vance and the Standard were apparently on
good terms. We say apparently, and we mean this
for him, for we have since learned that Goy Vance
was even then engaged in stabbing in the dark,
by writing letters to his particular friends warning
them against US, and advising the formation of
Vance party. We acted in good faith. We treated
him with frankness and caudor. We said nothing
behind his back that we did not say to his face
and we labored for months, with the utmost SINGER
ity and singlensss of purpose, to save him to the
Conservative party and to his real friends. If we
failed to do So it fault of ours. But for US,
! his letter to Mr.. Haughton would have been pub
lshed and if it had been, he would have been po
ltcay dead and buried long before his WilkesbOr-
ough speech. 1t is our opinion that he returned
from his visit to Richmond a changed man. What
/! wrought the change We cannot tell 1t may have
been Aattery, or it may have been patriotism or it
may have been the glittering reward of the Presi-
dency after Mr.. Davis which flashed before his
vision. He went there to demand justice for his
State, and he returned with his views this sub
ect materially modified. He went there inclined to
| peace and returned red hot war man. He went
there an antDav man, and returned more or less
| a Davis man. These are facts known to Gov.
Vances intimate friends at the time, and he cannot
truthfGlly deny them.
| But the Conservative says Gov. Vance set his
face against the "socalled peace meetings" in 1862
| and denounced them as hostile to the cause Grant
| this and what then? Gov Vance was opposed to
the peace meetings and to State intervention for
! peace Is that so The Governors own pewspa-
per says it is. Then VIC reply, he played double
game on this subject, for we believe could prove
that he endorsed the pence movements in July, Au
gust, and September, 1858, in the most emphatic
manner. Gov. Vance cannot truthfully deny this
statement. He cannot deny that he penned a reso-
luton for friend in August 1868, containing his
sentiments the subject OF peace, which was adopt
ed at more than one meeting, and which declared
it to De ''our duty, Christians and patriots, to
neglect Of negotiation which may effect
a settlement of our difficulties, and stay the she'd
ding of blood" This was while the $50 called
peace meetings" were going on. Afterwards, in
January, 1864, he endorsed the proposition for a
State Convention as contained in the Johnston Coun-
ty resolutions and no doubt Mr.. Senator Boyle
could state that but day or two before Gov. Vance
made his Wi.kesborough speech in which he de-
L.
endorsed Convention resolutions which had just
been passed by meeting in Alexander Connty!-
What do these things prove? Why, that Gov.
Vance is utterly unreliable as a public man-that
he endorses proposition in one breath, and denoun-
ces it in another-that he is not " crooked " long
enough to be {" crooked" nor strait" long enough
to be strait" The truth is, Gov. Vance is essen
TALLY Destructive in his temperament and character
He is violent dOmineering, dogmatical public
man. He is guided by passion instead of judgment.
The consequence is he cannot even rely upon him.
self much less obtain the entire confidence of 9TH
ers. 1t is every. day remark that he has not
kept faith with this one or that, or that be has
made pledges and then broken them. This is be,
cause he cOnsults his passions instead Of his udg
ment and because his temperament is Destructive.
And verify believe, that but for the fact that his
mind is somewhat imbued with the writings o
Blackstone, and but for the further fact that he
educated politically far he could be- in the school
of Story, Clay, and Webster, he would have been
from his youth up Of the most violent and radi
cal Destructives in the State. Conservatism, with
him, means his way of thinking and deciding gless
ed over with show Of respect in the abstract fol
constitutions and laws.
Nor is it true, as stated by the Governors news
paper, that the Conservatives of the State disap
proved the I" so called peace meetings" They were
approved by vast majority of them. And the de
claration that the people endorsed Gov. Vance,
views IN the late election, adds insult to injury
The truth is it was no election at ALL so far as thu
army and two thirds of the Counties were concern
ed. Gov Vance was re elected by the patronage o
the Confederate and State governments, and by th'
bayonet 1t was no free election. Every body
knows this.
Gov. Vance "suspects our fidelity" to the Con
federate government! All our interests, attach
ments, and affections are in and with the South
We have performed all our duties as a loyal, law
abiding citizen, from the time the war commenced
to the present moment We are as true to th
South as Gov. Vance is, and we are truer, thanl
God, to North. Carolina than he is If we are "sus
pected" because are the unanching advocate o
civil liberty, and because we want peace, then ar
we proud that We thus suspected" We wer
among the first to suggest State intervention as th
only mode of securing an honorable peace; and VI
hope to see the day, not now far distant when thi
mode will receive almost universal approval
We have no apprehensions as to the future. On
Conservatism needs no defence No pensionet
press is required to whtewash US. If we had beer
as true to Gov. Vance We have been to principle
the Conservative party would now have been
thorough wreck, with no rallying point for thos
who love liberty and desire peace, and Destruetiu