Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-08
For the Standard.
Hon. yao. 4. Giln1er:

S1R:-In the Conservative OF the 14th
instant, l find an abstract of yonr Rich
mond mass meeting speech taken from the
Richmond Dispatch, Of which ominous
rumors had reached us for several days:
| presume you are correctly if not fully
reported, for the positions and views &C.
cord with your speech made at Greens
boro' when You announced yourself can
didate for seat in the present Congress.
1t is true that the motto you so proudly
inscribed on yonr banner then, -" zoe must
fight it out" was blotted out when you
fund the people were about to oppose
you with the name of that veteran Demo
crat, that friend of the people-Bedford
Brown-and at Graham yon were as gentle
as sucking dove and all for peace yet
we now find that old motto on yonr shield
again! and your war cry is, "soe must
mow fight it out" 1t is matter of surprise
to some, of regret to Others, that you
should have made aspeech at such meet
ing-associated with such men. But, per-
haps, there is no real cause for surprise or
regret in all this A war meeting in the
city of acknowledgement secsssionists,
government officials, the minions of pow
er, members of.Congress minus constit-
neutrality-suspicious., Jews and gamblers,
all in for the war to the bitter end, could
be found then to fill the African and all
the other churches in the city. What
good was to be accomplished by aspeech
at such meetingl Was it to inaugurate
series of war meetings all over the Con-
federacy9 Or was it to remind your con-
stituents of the peace meeting at Green's
borough? But it has served one end. It
euablcd you to define your position be-
You'd doubt. If your heart and interest
are with the Destructive party, it is we'll
that the people: of North Carolina know
it. That they were apprehensive of yonr
DETECTION is evident from the vote you re-
ceived from the people for your present
position, and in the Legislature for seat
in the Confederate Senate. 1t is possible
that the apprehension thus expressed has
preciptated your fall into the embraces of
- jeff. Davis and his associates in success
sion.
But it is your speech that claims atten-
ton. I should be unwilling to hold you
responsible for the utterances there attrib-
uted to you, did they not so fully accord
with what has, at other times and places,
been said by You. Your first two SEN
fences are very positive and daring. They
prove the wisdom of the selection when
you were called to address that mongrel
meeting No other man from North Car
DINA could have attained to your state OF
, assurance. These bold assertions rouse a
doubt as to whether You know the senti.
meats of the people. you represent OF
whether you intended TO ignore their ex
istence and views. both at the same time
To some the assertions do appear sweeping
and must be. greatly modified to accorc
with facts. Perhaps, Mr., Gilmer, yor
have basked SO long under the sun of tx
=, ecutive greatness at Richmond, that 20,
have forgotten the honest common people
at home and tile harrassed soldier at thu
front. 1t is not probable, that you coult
have made such assertions had you lust re
turned from a con7Sdentia1 interview will
the rank and file in the trenches near tin
capitol; nor could you have SO asserted
did you know Familiarity the workings o
the hearts of those yet at home, who's
soul the anguish of inconsolable grief ha
pierced.
may be told that am in the dark
behind the times-that the refusal of tn
federal government to accede to the dc
mands of President Davis has reused an
united the people, and the soldiers in tn
determination Eight it out" You dc
celve yourself; and so do those at who's
bidding you appeared in that meeting
Inc people, know that all that effort fo
peace ON the part of the government wa
"A force. No man of sense expected this
demand to be acceded to. Such an effo,
aol peace IN Its failure does not assure til
so, oa mat the authorities are anxious fo
Y, p 100 on there is no more union now, nc
II that , Enthusiasm than there was befor
n '''"' mission to Fortress Monroe. 70