Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-03-01
REMARKS OF MR.. DICK,
OF GUufoRl

REMARKS OF Mr. DICK,
OF aunroRD,
In the Senate Of NortE Caroline, Nonday, FED.
9Th, 1866, on the bill to authorize the Gosernor
to send the State troops beyond taS Hmiss Of the
Stdts =
Mr. Dick being sntitlsd to the floor, said that he
regretted that be had been prevented, on former
occasion, from concluding his remarks upon the
question now under consideration, q the points of
discussion were then fresh in his memory. He was
now 10th to consume the valua5Ie time of the
senate nor would he do 20 but for the personal al
lustons made tohim by the Senator from Columbus.
however, before he proceeded to the vindcation OF
himself he desired to restate his objections to the
Dill, which he had heretofore fully discussed
In the first place, said he the Legislature cannot
rghtfully confsf the power upon the Governor t6
carry troops into the limits of another State North
Carolina has delegated the war.making power to
the Confederate government, and she has now no
reserved right to raise troops except in self defsnce
IN case OF insurrectien and invasion. Neither have
we any official information that other !as Cotheve
asked our assistance, nor have We givst ssa.ofen
sent for such States to march troops into op exor:
ders. 1t is the duty ofthe Confederate government
to defend North Carolina. The existence of that
government depends upon her successful defence
Why, then, should the StaIe assume unwarranted
power and incur unnecessary expense? North.
Carolina had already spent more money and fur.
nlshed more men than any other State, and there
certainly ought to be some limit to her extravagance
in the treasure and blood of her people, Her troops
were clothed by her iberalty and fed from her
storehonses, and If she continued to assume the du
ties and responsibilities Of the Confederate govern
ment, she would exhsust herself of men and bank
rupt her credit If our Home Guards and State
troops are marched out Of our borders' it must be
done under the authority of the Confederate gov
ernmsnt, and her forces would thus at once become
subject to its CONTROL and the State be deprived of
all military strength, and surrender at once hsr
sovereignty and the liberties of her people, Who
could then enforce her hwsl Who resist the en-
croachments Of powerP The Home Guards and
State troops are needed At home to preserve the
peace by the enforcement Of law to meet the sudden
emergencies Of local defence to keep the slaves in
proper subordinaton, to raise supplies for the army
and the starving population. North Carolina can
not be just to herself if she furnish another man to
this war.
The State troops continued the Senator, we're
raised upon the express condition that they were
not to be sent OUT of the State Must that contract
be violateds Must the State, for the first tune, dis
regard her plghted faith, and that too to her own
citizens Most of the State troops were not liable
to eonscrption, and many Of them came from their
homes within the enemys lines. Must such unset
fish patriotism be rewarded by State perfdy
North. Carolina may be overrun, her fields may De
.desolsted and her people slaughtered but shs ought
at every hazard to preserve her faith unbroken and
her honor untarnished.
1t would be unjust to the Home Guards said be,
to take them from their peaceful pursuits, and
without military training place them in the front
of veteran armies. They could not make success
full resistance, and theE undiscliplined valor would
but lead them to slaughter. A msA msy be brave,
but it is discipline alone that makes the soldier.
Mr. Dick said that he had fully set forth his OBJ
jections to the resolutions on former occasion,
and having now re.stated the prominent points that
they might be fresh in the memory of Senators, he
would briefly reply to some of the personal alu.
sions made in the previous discussion. :
1t was charged that he was responsible for this
war, having voted for the secession of North Caro-.
lima. He never believed in the right 3t accession
and he could never have any confidence in a gov
ernment which recognised ssoh = principle. 1t
was an elementof ofdisorganzation, and would always
be destructive TO any form Of government He had
always regarded the preservation of the Union, as
the surest means of securing the slavery of the
gro and the liberty of the white man, and the start
ling events consequent upon dsunion had not
changed his opinions. He went for disunion not
from choice but stern necessity. He had spoken
and voted against disunion before the dread catas-
trophe came He never had justified the precipi:
tate action of the Cotton States and he never would
glnia seeded, the geographical position of North
Carolina required her to take sides with the other
| Southern States. If she had remained neutral she
would have been the battle ground of the contend
ing parties, and have been utterly desolated.-
North Carolina was firm in her devotion to the
| Union. She had no wrongs to redress by revolu'
tion but the law self preservation forced
her to leave the government which she had 50 long
maintained and honored. can never forget said the
Senator, the scene in the State Convention when
the ordinance of secession was passed A meme
of the secession party proposed that three chez
be given to South Carolina. On that side of the
House the proposition was vociferousy executed
but the Conservative men gave no sign or voice o
approval They were cool and calm, but sorrow
| was depicted in their faces. They were thinking o
the many fond associations they we're compelled Il
break, and were looking with anxiety and appre
hension to the terrible consequences which the flu
ture might disclose.
Since that time the Conservative party has en-
deayored by wise counsels to preserve the Liberties
OF the country, and bring the revolution to sue
cessful termination. But their counsels have bee,
been slienated from the government by repeate
outragss upon their dearest rights, and the coun
try has been brought to the very verge Of ruin
Tho men who commenced the war have show
themselves utterly incapable of controlling tn
storm.
1t had been said by the Senator from Columbus
upon this floor, that he desired 40 informato,
upon the state Of the country-he was ready to &C
and act now, That Senator is a representative
of mis- party, continued the speaker, and is trul!
consistent Upon all great questions, he ha
spoken and voted for Che government and agans
the liberties of the people. Such Spirit had bss'
manifested BY the administration at Richmond, Ant
its fruits have been misfortune and disaster MT
Davis had recently exhibited more nlghtene'
spirit in public affairs, which might result in grea
benefit to the country. The light Of reason is be
ginning to break upon the top Of the mountain, ba