Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-04
For the Standard
Houss OF OoaukoNst
RALEIGH. Dec. 18th, 1854

HOUSE OF OOA0UNeS
RALEIGH, Dec. 18th, 1864 :.
Mr.. HeLDxN IL observe that the O0vsdsrote o.
December 10th, is disposed to be witty and tmpes-
tinent in notice which it takes Of some Teeoiu7
tons introduced by me in the House Of UonmonAs
protesting against the destruction Of STATE soves
eighty and civil liberty. ! sm not aceonntaose so
that paper for the manner in which dascoafee ny
duties q member Of the House; but Lest tine N'',
tor should presume hereafter on my silence ana
lest his article should mislead some honest well.
disposed person who does not know him, deem Il
proper to offer reply. -.
The resolutions which offered contain the only
principles on which free government can be success
fully administered Just in proportion IS we %.
here to these principles will We prosper, and just in
decline No man who is fit to enjoy free govern
ment will object to these principles; and they who
would trample them under foot. for any purpose or
to advance any cause, are already slaves. These
resolutions, Sir, speak the sentiments of large
maj ,rity of my constituents, and considered it
duty owed to them to offer them in the House
portion of them, as the resolutions themselves
show, were adopted by tho last Legislature; but
events have since occurred which rendered It PROD
er and necessary, in my Judgment that . still fur
Their and stronger protest should be made against
the assumption of unauthorized and may say,
despotic power by the Confederate government |;
and hence the addition l ventured to make to the
resolutions of former session. The Editor Of the
Confederate, like q narrow minded psrtizsn as: he
assails the resolutions or at least part Of them
and attempts to ridicule me as the introducer of
them bat It seems he had no sense of justice, and
not even the common fairness to induce him to pub
lsh them in his paper, so that his readers could
judge for themselves as to the propfiety and force
of his comments But do not complain. ask
him no odds 1t is clear that be is afraid to trust
his own readers with the truth but conceas It from
them, while he gives his own version Of what is
done in the Legislature If this is not his general
course, it is certainly the course he has pursued
towards me- If my resolutions are not proper in
themselves, let the Editor show t. If they are not
patriotic, let him demonstrate the fact If il was
not expedient to offer them, let him submit an ar.
gument to prove that it was not expedient. II they
are not true, let MIN show wherein they are false
but if true, as hold them to be, and as believe
my constituents and the country will regard them,
it does not become him, unless Is Z partizan Of
power and an enemy truth and civil liberty to OBJ
ject to them. l repeat what said in my resolu-
tons, if Congress should confer on the President
"despstc powers, alike destructive of the liberty of
the citizen and sovereignty Of the State our mem
bers ought to be instructed to withdraw from Con-
gress and return to their homes" would not ut
ter this as a threat, but as an admonition NV OBJ
Ject Is to save the government and not to stand by
and see it destroyed by the establishment Of des-
potism in its stead. Am not righti
But the Editor, with sharpness which he must
have acquired in the County Courts draws . dis
tnction between withdrawing from Congress aud
resagasag; and says if the members should with.
draw they will be sent for by Confederate power and
compelled to return to their seats orto resist that
P0"el. take tae CONSEQUENCES What non
sensei The State power TIM Light instruct them
to return home, could protect them, even though |
the gallant Editor himself should again buckle on
his sword and aid in their arrest II am not mis-
taken, the Editor took off his sword and repudated
the Confederate government in . much better |
cause than this, when he resigned his place as Col
onel because he was not promoted; ind his repu- |
tation, which he made in fighting the common enc
my, would not be increased by his advising or TAX.
ing part in fight here at home, between citizens
OF his own State, in silly effort to compel mem
bers OF Congress to return to their seats. If the
Editor cannot get up more reasonable sensible
ground of fight than this, l would advise him to |
break his sword and throw away his pistols.
But taking another view of the case the Editor of
the Confederate is very much pleased at the idea
that OFT members Of Congress may resign. He !
wants new election He reminds me of lot of |
old French war horses, that in their worst days of
skin and bone long after the wars were over, and
they we're turned out to grass heard the war.
bugle sound but they pricked up their ears formed
into squadrons, and charged an imaginary enemy. |
1t is just so with the Editor He is so used to it.
that he never hears of election but he pricks up
his ears, places himself in the position of cand.
date and is ready to run. No doubt it would give
him "intinite joy" to find vacancy in Congress,
SO that he might try his chance ono time more for
| seat
| The Editor says he entertains no nunkind feel.
ings" towards me, and he is not sure he has the
pleasure OF my acquaintance" Well, Ihave no
unkind feelings towards him; and if he desires to
become acquainted" with me, have no objection.
He will find me a thorough Conservative the friend
of civil liberty, and the friend Of peace Such is
my platform. He will find also, trust, that am
not afraid to DO my duty here or elsewhere; and
that am ready at all times aud in all places, to
defend my own rights aud the rights and honor Of
my constituents. l make no objection to fair and
just comments on my conduct as representative :;
but have right to expect, when l am assailed
and what do, or attempt to do IS representative
msstated or perverted that tho grounds for these
misstatements and perversions, as laid down by nv.
Sell, should be placed before the public by those
| who thus unjustly treat me. No man ever had .
more honest, more upright. or = more patriotic
constituency than have; They have honored me
far beyond my merits, by oenfding their interests
in part to my hands and Lintend, to the extent of
my humbly ability, to maintain and advance those
interests. am accountable to them, and to them
only. shall endeavor to. redeem every pledge l
made to them while before them as candidate; and
if fail in any respect to- serve them acceptaby It
will not be for the want of disposition to do So
! but from some other cause am not to be deter.
red by patronage or power, or any outside pres.
sure, from asserting my principles, or from main.
tanning, as far as may be able the interests ofhose
| who sent me here. W. B. STIPE.
We notice, in recent issues of the Wilmington
.Journaland Raleigh G1naerrdtios, articles complain
ing against the policy Of officials in refusing trans
portation Of supplies from one section to another.
We most cordially endorse the sentiments express
ed by those papers, IS we know something Of the
operation Of the system alluded to, here at home.
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