Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-25

and Shelley suffered, and die as Burns and
Byron died, would it not be better to
watch focks through life and die as did the
hind who thought the world was bounded
by his native hills
For the Standard.
Mr. EDIror:-With your permission propose to
make few remarks for publication in your paper
have been constant reader of events now in pro
gress, both Of public and private character, and
as it is not yet treason to think or speak, ask the
insertion of this article in the Standard. The PEG
pie are entitled to be beard am one of the people,
interested in common with my fellow-men in all
matters Of principle or policy at issue, and claim
the right to discuss all measures as well the acts
of public men, who the agents only Of the peo-
PIE and Of sequence bound to respect their wishes
OF the present Congress Of the Confederate States
do not propose to say much. From that body the
people have but little to hope judging the future
by their past conduct legislators The people have
mercy, or at least the dominant party therein
whose sole aim seems to be to execute the will of
relentless Executive, and to enact laws alike repug
nant to justice and common sense. What people can
entertain respect for the patriotism and judgment
of any set of men who pass laws unequal in their
application to men, dishonest both in theory and
practice that revenue bill of last Congress? For
ed off the owner of rented lands, while his more for
tuna.e neighbor who owns slaves enough to cult.
vatc all his land has only the 1.-THE or tax in kind
to pay, but the man who is unable to procure Ia
borers to cultivate his land is charged six per cent
money tax and the 1.-THE or tax-in-kind Also Call
you this justice?
Again, tho man who makes one hundred and
ninety nine bushels of corn is an exempt and en-
titled to government charity, while he who raises
rWo Hrpd I'm If cnrn in fha nUnC f ~ Law
is wealthy man and has to pay the government
twenty bushels Of his crop the latter may be sol
dier's wife CT widow and the corn have been made
by herself and little children, while the former is
an athletic boEb-broofoihcer holding some obsolete
Commission. Qn my neighborhood find case in
pont) Call you this justice?
The same principle applies to all property exemp-
tons, and refer to them only to show. the absurd
ity of the acts Of Congress-the total lack of
nonsense and ignorance of human nature on the
part Of those who make the law, for if as we sup
pose land no other suppositon is reasonably this
class of legislation IS prompted by the weak and
wicked motive bride to win men to the support
of the government Of that class of our people who
are called poor, the trick is so papable and bald
that it disgusts those attempted to be bought Such
laws aresobnoxious to all honest people Whether
poor or rich, and any government that adopts them
will ultimately become odOus and full of reproach
still greater objection lies against the theory or
perhaps more properly the practice of our govern
ment in its revenue laws Is their tendency to cor
rupt and demoralize the country-owing to the sad
example the part of the government to keep faith
with the people, man accept it as license to de-
fraud the treasury of its dues 1t is to be feared and
and if may be pardoned the expression, look up
on the whole concern as q vast engine of corrup.
ton.
But I am happy to be able to say that the present
Legislature of North Carolina exhibits marked diff.
ference in its legislation to that of the Congress at
| Richmond. The evidence of a return to common
sense is quite apparent. While regret to see the
votes OF some men recorded as between individuals,
and also subjects of vital principle, still there is
abundant proof That the madness that once govern
ed the land is fast disappearing In the name Of the
people, hail this suspicious event with unbounded
gratitude, and in the and behalf Of suffering
people, urge the brave in the Legislature moi
to renquish one ot nor title of the rights of North
Carolina to the despUDm at Richmond Your re
ward will be that of the good and faithful servant
certainly felt deeply mortified, at the defeat Of
Judge Reade for Senator. 1 have no acquaintance
with or prejudice against the honorable gentleman
who was elected over him. but could not appre-
cate the motives of those'w preferred any Other
man for that position to Judge Reade. True ne
one expected the Destructive war party to vote fol
him, but humbly contend there is no sufficient ex
cuse for any Conservative withholding his vote frou
e. G. Reade.
After all, Mr.. Editor, it may be fortunate thing
that Judge Reade was defeated, if in the event O
his election to the Senate of the Confederate States
he should have followed the footprints of some
his illustrious predecessors there and elsewhere
for one had much rather know him defeated in or
der that North Carolina may still claim him as bel
own. Others as we'll as your humble eorrespon
dent, have often wondered what magic power Their,
! is in the city of Richmond to win men from tn
support of principles always held sacred and para
mount? What fatal and malign influence prevails
in that fated atmosphere to cause 80 many mel
when once there to ignore the people and life lon.
principles, and to turn cold and Indifferent Tool
on those indoctrinated in conservative truths b,
themselves? Why is it that men at home and GU
of office enunciate great and good political mea
sures, shO1ld so soon forget them in the halls o
legislation Is it terror at the approach of SOM
great and terrible power whose influence is felt, tu
not seen by the peoplei
do not know how it may be in towns, but an
convinced the people all over the land saved in Ger
tain localities where government officers and larg
spectators prevail the earnest voice Of the pcopl
is peace, arD they desire peace founded upon .
reconciliation with the people of the United State
government that will result in treaty defensive
defensive and commercial" between the two sec
tons and people. You may call such peace re
construction Of the Union or what ever you please
such is the wish of the people and no mistake. Fo
in that alone they look for cessation in some dc
gree of their troubles
know, Mr.. Editor, short while ago, such q,
idea was held reasonable by stuck up officials VIII
ira SC in human gore, and breathed in whispers on
y. Now it is out spoken, and our public men hav
triaed long enough with the people-they will learr
ere long that am speaking the words Of sobernes
and truth. The trade of politicians in blood an,
human rights will soon cease. So mote it be.
all reasonable men now see and believe that
this war goes on year or two longer, the land. o
the sunny South will be the scene of unimarn
able horrors-a guerilla cut.throat warfare (nov
upon US in many places) will usurp the. abode &
civilization and Christianity, and the ties of kin
dred and friendship will be blotted from the pag
OF our history. Oh, terrible thought! 1t is eve