Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-08-16

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II H4k:kH5 y To the Public k55t =
In some remarks which made In Raleigh on the
th day OF august 1864 returning thanks to nv
lends for the lshpport they had giveh me for the
Hce Of sheriff of Wake county, said, among other
hngs that had had to contend with the whole DOW.
" Of both the Confederate and StAte governments,
those officials are the most corrupt Of any on the
ace OF God ,Almighty.s earth. This declxfation
Vas made IN connection with the hct which, had
Ist stated, that universal couscription and free
IalSot could not exist together - =.
The Conservative caught up ti1is rensfk Of mine
about the governments and their officials. and e.,
deavored to show that i assailed the 9overnments
as corrupt and then proceeded to characterze
disloyal person. To this the Standard replied set
ting forth correctly the language winch used and
It's meaning and vindicating me against the charge
OF disloyalty. Here had hoped and had right
70 oeeve the matter would rest; but the GonSsr.
vdtIrs OF the llth instant repeats the charge and
brings forwards certificate signed by eight persons
10 suostantlate it These persons say theY under.
stood me as charging the Confederate and State
goVernments with corruption, as well as govern
ment officials And the Editor Of the ConserDa-
ttce says, Is true Col Russ brought in the off,
Gals after using the language about the govern.
ments, but we regarded this more of an enlargement
than modification of his tirade against. the gov
ernments.' There IS then, no su5stantiaI diiF.r.
enee between my asssilants and myself as to the
language which used, and the only question is as
to its construction. The sgners being u1y enemies
and therefore unjust judges, say that denounced
the governments as corrupt but declare that such
was hot my purpose, but that intended my re.
marks to apply to those who administered Che gov
ernments. Indeed, | was careful to qualify nv al
lnsion to the governments, as the Editor of the
Conservative himself admits, lest it might be infer.
red by uncharitable persons that was hostile to
the governments themselves l regard the govern
ments apart from many of those who conduct them,
as excellent in their character: they are my gov
ernments as much as they are the governments of
my assailants 1 contribute as much of nv prop.
erty as others do in proportion 10 what have, to
carry them on; and am deeply interested in their
preservation and Success as the Editor of the
CoRser ratiUe and bis eight active and willing certi-
Tiers So far as President Davis is concerned did
not deem it necessary to allude to him during nv
entire campaign; and as to Gov. Vance, while
Uttered with him as Conservative on principle I
always spoke of him in terms of respect but when.
at the end of the contest saw and felt the means
which had been used by their subordinates and de-
pendents, to defeat me- and to blast if it were DOS
sibe 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 forced
construction of language used under such crcum-
Stances and that too with as much strictness as if
had been carefully measuring and uttering my
feelings under oath.
The character of the certifers, and the relation
nearly all of them, SO far know them, hold to-
wards the governments affords the strongest conr-
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 me
before the people, anathus misused 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 seditious, dis.
/ knnx ha1 han, 4. r
years past in this State to represent true Oonserva
tives, Is traitors to their section The *6ideous
mark has been placed on as true men as eSer4ived
simply because they could not perceive the vision
OF seeding from the old government when the cot
ton States seeded. This was done, in the outset,
oy the leaders and tools of the secessonists them
selves but it seems that this spirit of prescription
and intolerance is growing and spreading, and that
professed Conservatives, having taken lessons from
their former enemies, are engaged in the work of
placing this mark on some of their own breth-
ren No man has yet dared in my presence to hint
even that L am-dislOyal. have only TO say, and I
mean what say to be understood and received in a
personal sense, that if any intimaes even, that
am disloyal or untrue to my country, that man is
guilty of gross, wilful, unmitigated falsehood.
The political contest in this State is over, and
had hoped that the enSrangement and bitterness oi
feeling between Conservatives was at an end
have no regrets at my course. did what believed
W oe my ouIy 10 my principles ana my rlenos
and would pursue the same course again under
similar circumstances. But feel that the main and
the great hope of the country is in the Conservative
party, and am anxious to see it again unit II
1t is the pleasure of the Conservative and those for
whom it speaks, to continue the strife and thus wi
den the breach, that purpose should be frankly
avowed but if they wish harmony, and are disposed
to bury the past, and to look to the future and
thorough union Of the Conservatives Of the State
it will be indspeusabe that they as well as those
who agree with me, shall show this wish, this dis
position, and this hope to the future by their
acts. Very Respectfully,
JNO. P. H. RUSS.
Raleigh, N. c., Aug. IL, 1854 -'-