Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-08
Hard Run..More Humbusgery.

could "prove, by two or three as respectable MEM
bers as there are in the Legislature, that We had
made propositions to them to introduce resolutions
calling for Convention for the purpose of seeding
from the Confederacy." And also the charge by
correspondent in the Conservative that Gov. Vance
said that Mr. Holden had declared to two or three
members of the Legislature that he advocated
Convention of the State for the purpose OF carrying
the State out of the Southern Confederacy." We
could not imagine what could DO the foundation for
this charge We simply denied it, stating that
when we saw the certificates we should be better
able to comprehend and characterize it. And 10,
the mountain has labored and the mouse has ap-
peared A batch of certificates has been publish
ed gotten up by Gov. Vance, and based, as a mat
ter of course, on an alleged private conversation in
one of which certificates Mr. W. W. Hampton, one
Of the CoEmoners from the County of Wilkes, says
that ION one occasion, during the session Of the
Legislature last November, in the Commons Hall,
near the fireplace to the left of the Speakers desk,
he heard "W. W. Holden say, that the Legislature
should call a Convention of the State Immediately,
and take the State out of the Confederacy," and
says be, "mark my prediction, in less than six
months you will see that am right" Mr.. Horton,
of Watauga, says he "happened to be near and
overheard something that was SAID about the Con-
federate government but what particular subject
was spoken of did not understand and he then
repeats that we uttered substantially the language
attributed to US by Mr.. Hampton. Col. Gentry, of
Ashe, and Mr.. Wellborn, of Wilkes, are introduced
to prove that Mr.. Hampton repeated this alleged
expression of ours soon afterwards to Col. Gentry.
Yhis is the substance of the charge.
And now, what does it amount to? In the first
place we declare most emphatically that we have
no recollection of any such conversation; and sec
ondly, that if any such conversation occurred, We
used no language the meaning or purpose OF which
was to call Convention to seccde from the govern
ment. Mr. Horton, who is an intelligent gentle
man, admits that "he overheard something that was
said about the Confederate government, but what
particular subject was spoken of he did not under
stand" thus leaving the Inference if such conver'
saton took place, that much more was said than
that repeated in aparrotlike manner BY Mr.. Hamp
ton. But Mr.. Hampton who is stupid, uninform
ed person, and incapable of comprehending either
long sentence, or contingency, or even state
ment in an argument would have the public believe
that.we rushed into his presence near the fireplace
and made the declaration attributed to us. How ab
surd 1t is our habit, and indeed our business t.
talk as we'll write. We engage in hundreds of con
yersations during month of which we retain nc
distinct recollection, and We cannot, therefore, be
sure, as no can be sure, that we have not used
certain words or expressions. 1t would be wonder
full indeed if We could recollect all that we say in
these conversations among friends, or all that is
said to US. But the gist of the charge is that we
desired Convention to secede from the govern
ment This we solemnly deny. There is no truth
in the charge Our whole record and al our con-
versations with intimate friends have been the
other way. We desired Convention to saue, not to
destroy the government We may mention, as among
our intimate political and personal friends Col Russ
Secretary of State Mr. Pennington, of the Progress,
DR.. J. T. Leach Calvin j. Rogers, Esq, Green H.
Afford Esq, Maj W. D. Jones' Maj. W. A. Smith,
of Johnston, Col. Harris and Mr.. Carpenter, Of
Rutherford, and we can confidently appeal to them
to say if we have ever proposed to them to call a
Convention to secede from the government. And
we can 90 further, and remind the Hon. Sion H.
Rogers and Williams Laws, Esq, of this County,
of conversation which occurred between us in
our Office, about the 22d Of January last, and we
could appeal to them to say if in that conversation
we breathed a word which showed purpose on
our part to secede from the government Is it at
all probable that we should have concealed the
views attributed to us by Mr.. Hampton from all
our readers, and from all our intimate friends and
should have. chosen the lobby of the House of Com
sci into which to empty these views? Why, fellow.
citizens, the charge will not bear stating 1t is
rdiculously false upon its face. 1t is not for us to
refresh the leaden memory of Mr.. Hampton; we
could not do if We would; for We have no recollec.
-tion Of the conversation; but We say to him that
the statement of man of honor ought to be as
carefully made as if delivered under oath and that
when he comes forward to act again as willing
witness for Executive power, he should bear in
mind the solemn injunction of the oath ITSELF tn
"tell the truth, the uhole TRUTH and nothing but
the truth" The "whole truth is never told
when statement is garbled or perverted from its
real meaning.
And if there be any thing in this charge why
has it slept so long? If it be true, and if it be
reasonable, why does not Gov. Vance arrest US
No. fellow citizens you will hear no more of it afte,
the election 1t is used for two purposes one to
put us on the deensive-the other we will not state
Gov. Vance knew that he had committed himself to
secession in a certain event. in his Fayetteville
Speech and to break the force of this admission he
trumped up this alleged private conversation against
us. In that speech he said:
The people of North. Carolina went into this
thing reluctantly, and will not go out of the Con
federacy. can conceive Of circumstances unde,
which it might be necessary. IF THE FOR
TUNES OF WAR TURN AGAINST US. IT
MAY BE NECESSARY" See his Fayetteville
l anaach Nc nnhlishea in the Ganfedernke and WI