Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-08-17
fRsom tho Coosrvvstive.1
10 the Public.

q
i =, :. From the Consrsvstive.I
70 the Public.
In some remarks which fnads in Raleigh on the
9TH day of August 1864, returning thanks to nv
friends for the support they had given me for the
otice of sheriff of Wake county, said among other
things that had had TO conteRd with the whole pow
CT Of both the Confederate and State governments,
whose officials are the most corrupt Of any on the
taee OF God Almighty,s earth. This declaration
was made in connection with the fact which had
just stated that universal conscription and free
ballot conld not exist together
The CONSERVATIVE caught up this remark Of mns
about the governments and their officials, add en-.
desvored 10 show that asssed the governments
corrupt and then proceeded to characterize measa
disloyal person To this the Standard replied Set
ting forth correctly the language which used aid
its meaning and indicating rde against the charge
of disloyaaty Here had hoped and had right
to believe the matter would rest; bnt the Conser
catce of the 18th instant repeats the charge, and
brings forwards certificate signed by eight persons
to substantiate it These persons say they under.
stood me as charging the Confederate and State
governments with corruption, as we'll IS govern
ment officials And the Editor of the Consss.pa.
ttre says, it rs true COL Russ brought in the off.
Gals, after using the language about the govern.
menfs, but We regarded this more Of an enlargement
than modification of his TRADE against the gov.
ernments.' There is, then, no substantial differ
ence between my assailants and myself as to the
language which used, and the only question is %
to It's construction. The signers, being my ensm.s
and therefore unjust judges say that denounced
the governments corrupt; but Ideclare that such
was rot my purpose, but that intended my re.
marks to apply to those who administered the gov.
ernments. Indeed, was careful to qualify my al.
fusion to the governments, as the Editor Of the
Conservative himself admits lest it might be infer
red by unch0rta HE 81 I
the governments themselves regard the govern.
ments apart from many Of those who conduct them,
as excellent in their character: they are nv GOV
ernments as much as they are the governments of
my assailants. I contribute As much of my prop.
erty as others do in proportion to what have. TO
carry them on; and am as deeply interested in their
preservation and SUCCESS. as the Editor Of the
Conservative and bis eight active and willing certi
fers. So far as President Davis is concerned, dill
not deem it necessary to allude to him durir. nv
entire campaign; and as to Gov. Vance, white I
differed with him Conservative or principle
always spoke of him in terms Of respect but when,
a: the end of the contest saw and felt the means
which Lad been used by their subordinates and de-.
peadents to defeat me- and to blast if it were p,.-
sioe the reputation Of many Of my friends by hold
ing them up as traitors to the country, confess
was indignant and spoke accordingly. But am
still pursued and held accountable for forcet
construction Of language used under such circum.
stances, and that too with much strictness IL if
had been carefully measuring and utteriog my
feelings under oath.
The character of the certi6ers, and the rel,tion
nearly all of them, 80 far as know them, hold 10.
wards the governments affords the strongest confir.
matory evidence that the whole power Of the gov.
ernments through its officials was brought to bear
to defeat me. They not only labored to defeat NO
before the people, and thus msused and perverted the
interest which my friends and myself have in com.
mon with them in the two governments, but they
seek, after they have thus defeated me, to destroy
my reputation by holding me up as q sedtious dis
loyal person. know it has been fashionable for
years past in this State. to represent true Oonservx
tives, as traitors to their section. Tho 'hidcous
mark has been placed on true as ever liyel,
simply because they could not perceive the wisdom
Of seeding from tine old government when the cot
ton States seeded. This was done, in the outset,
by the lea iers and tools Of the secessionsts them
selves but it seems that this spirit of prescription
and intolerance is growing and spreading and that
protested Conservatives having taken lessons from
their former enemies, ore engaged in the work Of
placing this mark on some of their own broth.
rem. No man has yet dared in my presence to mint
even that l am disloysl l have only TO say, and
mean what say to be understood and received in 4
personal sense that if any man intinates even, that
am dsloyal or untrue to roy country, that man is
guilty of gross, wilful, unmitigated falsehood
The political contest in this State is over and
had hoped that the enstrangement and bitterness d
feeling between Conservatives was at an end
have no regrets at my course. did what believed
to be my duty to my principles and my friends
| and I'would pursue the same course again unde,
similar circumstances But feel that the main and
the great hope Of the country is in the Conservatv.
party, and am anxious to see it again unit Il
1t is the pleasure of the Conservative and those FOL
whom It speaks, to continue the strife and thus vi
den the breach, that purpose should be frankl,
syowed but ifthey wish harmony, and are dispose
to bury the past, and to look to the future an.
thorough union of the Conserva Of the State
it will he Indispensable that they IS we'll % thns
who agree with me, shall show this wish, this dis
position, and this hope to the future, by thei'
acts. Very Respectfully,
Raleigh, N. c., Aug 70, 1864.
Col. Russ Again.
We give Col. Russ hearing by publishing hi
card ITO the Public" which will be found j.
another column. We shall dispose Of him in . fey
words, so far as further newspaper controversy
concerned. --
It will be remembered that we have made nj
charge of disloyalty against Col. Russ. We did ez
press q want Of confidence in such loyalty as b.
! has manifested; and we doubt not that large ma
iority of Conservatives will agree that the laDguag
employed by hun is not the exponent Of such re
spect for our government as comes up to tn
standard of true patriotism. We do not believe
and hive not said, that Col. Russ was = traitor
bat We esteem his language as seditions, and q
neither indicating sufficient interest in the success
of the Confederacy on his part nor as calculated
inspire the people with proper regard for it.
+ Ii, therefore, Col. Russ considers himself charge
with disloyalty by u.s. he must certainly know tina
for an accusation, which embodies the most pointe
insult and indgnitp that language can convey, b
has his remedy, inasnuch as we are personally re
spons;ble to him. as we are to all others for ever
wsrd concerning him or them, used in the Cense'
4 nntirs Wa shall not prostitute this journal by In