Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-15
"TOo Fond of Power.a'

1t was admitted by Mr.. Miles, in some remarks
in the House Of Representatives few days since,
that President Davis is too fond of poDsr." Mr..
Miles is 3 friend of the President, and one Of his
sp6kesmen in the House.
Too fond of power" Such has been the char
actsristie of every tyrant and usurper from Caesar
to Napoleon Good men are not " fond of power"
GEORGE WASHINGTON might have made himself by
a word Dictator, but he rejected the very thought
as degrading to his peerless fame. When the war
was over he laid all his power at the feet Of the
Congress at Annapolis, and declared that in dvest-
ing himself Of it he experienced great relief and
pleasure.
President Davis has filled the land with his party
favorites, who look TO him as the source of their
privileges and exemptions from active military SER
vice, and who, in most instances, are prepared to
surrender the liberty for which we are contending
in order to crafty their own selfish views II we
were sure, as we cannot be- judging by the past.
that he would WELD the immense power which he
already has, and which he is evidently seeking to
increase for the good of the country our fears for
the future would be lessened but we would not be
willing to trust even good man with the exercise
of arbitrary power. A good man entrusted with
despotic power, would soon become q bad man.
We concur with the Charleston Mercury that
violations of the Constitution. DISREGARD "f st.ta
rights, and such measures as would result in Cen.
tral Dictatorship, are fraught with ipcaculabIe In,
jury
IL 6oNOeEIPr ALL MEN-TAx ALL PRoPERrY-
SUSPEND aABRAs CoRPUs.-It is bad sign when,
N place OF the steady selEpossesslon and calm ex-
ercise of wisdom displayed by the Roman Senate
after the battle Of Oann the recklessness of alarm
and the desperation Of dsmsgnsulRm show their pres
enee in the Congress Of the Confederate States.
Propositions TO tFappls upon the Constitution un-
der which the legislative and executive branches Of
the Confederate government hold their seats in Rich
mond-to violate the oaths of Office, and, underthe
plea of necessity, without authority of Law, and
against State Rights, to place all persons and all
property and all liberty under Central Dictator
ship. may be. thought by some to be fraught with
safety and peace But it becomes the patriotic in
tellgent and unterrihed representatives Of States
and peoples to comprehend the true causes OF our
DANGER and to apply such remedies as the great leg
isiative powers of the country afford. Not want
OF power, but failure to employ the best agents
and to use efficiently the powers conferred, mas
brought us into present condition oil peril 1ne
acknowledgement of our financial affairs and military
resources, with the inefficient execution OF impor,
ttnt laws indicate the source Of our weakness ano
ths direction where the legislative attention Is mos'
neelled. Instead of going into wild revolutionary
talk like some that he been uttered, ana propoSas
to acculpulate all po, ler in the same hands, Con
gress NAV bend its forts to infusing competency
and viz 5r in the bur eAax and departments OF tn
sln,inis ration, without upsetting our governmen
or oyeJ riding laws uuder the Constitution. Con
gress as pow sr enough, if it viii but use WISDOM
Tie Executive has power enough, y use9 WIN ), 81
ergy q nd wisdom. Anything else IS RAoneSs