Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-09-28

And now let US say few words to the people of
North Carolina and to her authorities That little
army have been for the last ninety days engaged in
one continuous fight and one continuous march
marching and fghting-laboring all the timex
posed all the time-confronting on frontier for
purposes of absolute necessity, greatly Superior
force. These North, Carolina regiments, of which
the main body of that army Is composed, are the
veteran regiments of the war; and their numbers are
sadly diminished. They are scarce perhaps more
than skeletons In this late battle, without doubt,
the infantry fought three to one-the cavairy per-
haps five or more to one. 1t was beyond question
contest of the valiant few against overwhelming
numbers; and the consequence is, that we have been
obliged to give back losing guns and losing vaua-
BILE lives Whose fault is it that our sons and bro
theirs are thus obliged to meet and fight the savage
enemy at this immense odds /?
Can Gov. Vance clear his skirts of all response.
bility IN this matter? Are there no men that he
could safely have spared out of the long list of his
official certificates? We leave the interrogation
unanswered, to Dwell upon his mind. How with
the last Legislature Look around on the streets Of
Raleigh in the county of Wake in every town and
county in the State! Behold the strong active,
healthy, capable soldiers See them-owners ofreai
estate, sellers at enormous speculative prices owners
of slaves by the hundreds, the very men who should
not stand back and should not be allowed to stand
back-see them, and others, who have Fever given
q day to the cause-some Of them holding one office
some dropping one and picking up another
seat in the Legislature, perchance, and even then
still holding on 70 two, and ready with one hand to
press the holy book and swear to support the con-
sttution, and Immediately to lay violent hands on
their oaths and on the constitutional Look and see
the general disposition to evade and shrk and then
wonder not that force is small; that it fights i'm.
mense odds that best and most gallant are SLAIN
for the best and most gallant there Look again
how q common purpose seems to help those whe try
to keep out: officers of the highest responsibility
engaging in it, and Judges-Judges whose own
offspring have faced the foe again and again-they,
these Judges, sounding every depth Of legal techni.
callty to keep away from few but brave soldiers
the reinforcements soimperiously needed
Who are responsible, then for these reverses and
our loss of life? Who but they who fail in duty
those who help the willing to shirk. Andlet not
those authors of this consummate Distress and these
sad and perous disasters let them not suppose that
their part in the responsibility lost sight Of We
know the fact that Gov. Vances election by so large
vote is not the tribute alone to his personal off,
cial qualities, which his friends claim. There was
much in bis political as in his personal character to
approve; but there had been also much to condemn
and especially In the army was it felt that he had
not given to the soldier tae strength of full and,
deserved support and it is useless for his friends
to pretend otherwise. We are in possession Of the
proofs that many, very many voted for him as the
ohy CtOCo lucy udu. We UO uOt C1f0 10 press ILlS
matter. He may have been hampered-we admit
he was, to a certain extent, and we have given bin
the benefit it Of and disposed look the
past though we can hardly avert our eyes atogeth.
err when the graves of our dead heroes arise upon
our vision, ard claim the mournful remembrance
of how many might have been saved, if North Car
]ina-the authorities of North Carolina-had done
their duty. For the SAKE then, of our depleted reg
iments-in supporter our faithful soldiers to help
them stand the trials this severe contest to weak
en- the heavy odds Of the enemy-let the Governor
put forth his official strength-let him revoke every
useless detai-surrender every unnecessary eerti6:
cateet hitn call the Legislature at once invoke its
aid awake it to sense of its solemn and high duty,
and putting aside all aspirations fer SELF think only
of his country-her needs, and how to supply them.
And God grant that this Legislature may be bless
ed with sprinkle Of common sense that it may in
the beginning purify itself of unworthy members,
drive out the "reistrngs" and along with them all
that consorted with them, and all who for want of
legal qualification, or who hold other Offices and
not entitled to be there and then that they will
place in the lead practical and patriotic men, who
will engage the attention of the Legislature to the
grand behests of the State.
By such course can the Governor and the Legis-
lature endear to Them and rghully endear to them,
the soldiers and the people. Let the Legsture be
oalled-there is immediate use for it-Raleigh Con-
federate.
We publish the Shove without endorsing it to
show how the wind is setting. We shall have
STERN by and BY.