Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-07
For The STANDARD.

=
Mr. DIToR:-Are you aware that the knights Of
the Golden Circle are yet thqsacshts k%sanizsdL
and in full working order, lab0fins .agfess,
in secret session, light and day, To- orrY on The
present revolution which, after Iourteen years Of
unremittrng toll and effort they have managed to
precpitate upon the couutry1 No one uuacquain
ted with the order has any adequate idea of its
strength, numbers and influence, or the reckless
desperation that is now urging it to hesiege the
authorities at Richmond to emsncpate all our slaves
and place them in the army. They not only intend
freeing them at once but propose give them large
bounues Of land, wbiskey, clothing &c, to in6uce
them to fight Some Of your readers may, as many
have done laugh at the ridiculous absurdity Of this
most anatical proposition, and fancy that it con-
tainS antidote sufficient to extract s the poison
in it. Such admit would be the case were the
people, press and ballot box free they once
bat such IS noSthe fact, or this revolution would
long nee have been brought to an honorable ter
mination. | do not desire at this critical time to
croak predict evils, which do not even threaten
our safety, TO say nothing Of our civil cation and
Christianity; nor will | cast a shade of doubt on
the bright hopes cherished by some of seeing an
early peace restored to this country. But hope
that may be pardoned for saying that the sending
of the Peace Commissioners 10 Washington may be
the prelude to seizing aud armng the neg roes and
sending them to the front for the NEXT and subse-
quent campaigns. If am not mistaken in this
great peace movement, we shall sooon see Mai Gen.
d. H. Hill impressng all the male slaves from 10 to
so for military purposes under the plea of neces-
sty, should results grow out of the present efforts
to negotiate peace.
What will be most likely the results that will
follow? First it will le2d to the general demOra-
cation of our slaves within our lines. Secondly,
as most of the large slave districts are, or soon viii
be, in the enemy's lines, they will have more in
centves and greater facilities to conseribe enroll
and discipline the negroes than we will, for they
Thousands 0f hlv
trained and in the field as soldiers and feel as
sured when the fact becomes generally known that
the negro has to fight on our side or on the other,
he will not be long in taking sides against us. In
deed this fact is tacity acknowledged by all WHOM
| have heard speak upon this matter when they
propose not only to free him. but also promise Large
and snowy bonnties. If am not mistaken this is,
the position taken by Gen. Lee But waving this
point doubtful, let what results are Ikaly
to follow should we succeed in emaucjnlAfg ffe'
slaves and putting them in the army, if By so do
ing could succeeded in establishing our indepenl
dence and the sudden freedom of all slave pop
ulation. What then would our independence be,
worth? What would the poor, warworn nanglsd
soldier have gained All who know that class of
our people, which have been drawn most freely to-
fill up the army, and the condition of their wives,
and children at the present time, need not be told
what would be the results. Ny word for it, the.
Knights of the Golden Circle, now so nightly
working in secret conclave to make the negro an
equal Of the poor white man and veteran soldier,
will not he at all shocked to their gallant negro
heroes leading poor white soldiers daughters to the
hymeneaf altar, and sharing the honors and festivi
ties of the occasion with fair, young brides. So
this idea is too horrible to be thought OFF, By no
means. These contingencies have all been thought
of and partially discussed, but not in public
1t is true we have been gravely informed by the
leading Destructive paper in this State how many
poor white laboring women are capable of doing
field work. Yet no one has yet told US to what
depth of degradation We may sink our humber
classes of white population this new commenced
and continued sally for, account OF, the negro
sly advice to these valorous Knights of the Golden
Circle is not to undertake the discussion Of these
matters outside their secret concayes, for fear Ok
damaging the sacred cause of the Southern Oonfed-
eracy.
I | appeal as STAKEHOLDER to these property
holders and PATRIOTS if they be so, to aid me
10 entering an indignant protest against such
.uoguarded and reckless proceedings Surely none
Ril deny that it is now time for the shareholders
of North Carolina and elsewhere, to speak out In
the most emphatic terms. We have for long time,
aye too long, been for prudential reasons the vic.
tins of corrupt clans of reckless, and in many in
stances, bankrupt politicians. The last feather has
been laid upon US that we ought to bear. Longer
;forbearance will bat ensure the evils have lpor