The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-01-19
MORE TROUBLE.

| SdiolHo Gle W W again agltated stliioo eP oho
excited this year by "public meetings. gotten
up by designing for the protested purpose OF
| consulting together for the common good,' but
really for the purpose of procuring the secession
| North Carolina from The Conteaeracy. Our reasons
for saying that the Raleigh Standard has fire.
quenty threatened that North Carolina would, on
the happening of certain contingencies the pas
| sage by Congress of certain war measures, resume
her sovereignty, that is secede from the Southern
Confederacy; and recently the Standard has been
advising the people to hold meetings. just it did
last summer. The first of these meetings held
this year, in accordance with the advice of the
Standard, met in Johnston county the 9th inst,
at which long string of uncaled for and unneces-
sary resolutions were adopted. winding up by adyis-
ing Gov. Vance to call the Legislature together.
The Standard endorses the edngs and advises
that such meetings be held in the other counties of
the State. In this way the peoples confidence in
national authorities is to be weakened, opposi-
ton aroused bad feeling and contention engendered
among people, and, we fear, bloodshed caused
between those who should be friends in common
cause. We beg those who want peace here at
home to abstain from participating in and oncourag
ing factious public meetings AS a friend, as one
who wants peace here in North Carolina as well as
elsewhere, we fe!low-citzen against a
course which will involve US in deeper trouble.
Now. what is the object in wanting Gov. Vance
to assemble the Legislature if it is to authorize
a Convention and to make an effort to secede! We
have no idea that the in this scheme ex-
pect the Legislature to be called together before
the regular day fixed for its re-assembling in May
next, but their object is to make show of public
opinion before that time to induce the Legis-
lature, when it does meet, to call Convention.
But suppose Convention were called and the
State Withdrawn from the Confederacy, would that
give US peace !? Not at all. 1t would involve US
in a more bloody and deeper trouble than
have yet experienced. 1t would cause our armies
to fall back from Virginia, and North Carolina would
become the battle ground of the contending forces,
her fields would be laid waste, the homes of her
people would be destroyed, and her women and
children made to suffer untold anguish. She can
not occupy neutral position in this war. Ken
lucky tried that, and Kentucky is now bleeding
and suffering for it.
We want secession. North Carolina
united her. destnes with the Confe6eracy and
gagged in the war of her own free will and accord,
and she must continue to help her sister States and
fight it out. 1t would be both disgracefur and dis
astrous to attempt to back out She cannot
attempt to back out of the contest without in
could not do so if she would, and we do not
believe her people would if they could. If more
secession is desired by any one, let him wait until
after honorable peace is established and .hen
agitate the question.
1t is we'll known that the public meetings held in
this State last summer (called peace meetngs'')
encouraged desertion from the army and opposition
to the Confederate authorities, necessitatng the
calling out of the Home Guards in many counties,
the sending of one two n. c. Regiments into
tain sections to enforce the laws and causing
trouble generally. This the result of the
factious public meetings" held last Spring and
Summer; and now, it seems. that more meetings are
to be held and further trouble brought upon US, all
to crafty the malice or ambition of some ono who
wants to be elected Governor, to array the feel
ings of the people against the Confederate Govern
ment.
We do not want the occasion to arise for order
ing out the Home Guards, and calling old men into
the field probably at ii busy season of the year;
therefore appeal to the people to discounenance
these meetings and frown upon all schemes to divide
us and produce discord. We raise warning voice
while these wicked schemes in their infan-
cy, and while they may be checked.
We do allude to this matter for the purpose of
getting UP a quarrel with any one-we protest
1eve they will lead to ruinous and distressing
sequences destroying peace among people
throughout the State and, sooner later, fear,
result in civil and boodshed 1t is the duty of
every public journalist to the people of ap
preaching danger and counsel harmony and concord
among those whose liberties, honor and lives
threatened and assaulted by brutal enemy. At
such time this it is the duty of every paper and
every public man to speak out for unity of action.
PREPARE FOR DANGER.-The visit of the Yam
kee cavalry to Salem, Va. perfect surprise,
and the result the destruction of large amount
of property. Now, is there not some danger that
the Yankees may give us here in Charlotte a call
some time. Stranger things than that have happen
ed since the commenced. There is good deal
of Government property and, stores at this point,
work hopsSlc., and the Yankees know it as we'll
as do. Yankee prisoners, on their way North,
have passed through streets and in full view of
most of the public property at this place, and they
we'll understand the Importance of raid in this di-
recton. 1t would not be hard matter for a raid
ing party to start from Eastern Tennessee and
reach Charlotte. at present, without serious obsta-
Gle. The country would be panic stricken by the
surprise
In view of this danger, professional military man
Of experience and ability, suggests that the Cataw
ba River ought to be fortified at the different Fords
leading to this place. He thinks it might be done
at but little trouble expenses while hands not