Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-03-03
For the Standard.
Hon. ynO. 4. GInaer :

Hon. JnO. a. G1tnler:
S1R:-In the Conservative of the 18th
instant, I find an abstract of your Rich
mond mass meeting speech taken from the
Richmond Dispatch, of which ominous
rumors had reached MS for several days.
[ presume you are correctly if not fully
reported, for the positions and views ac-
cord with your speech made at Green's
boro' when you announced yourself cam
didate for seat in the present Congress.
1t is true that the motto you so proudly
inscribed on your banner then, 4" zoe must
fight it out" was blotted out when you
found the people were about to oppose
you with the name of that veteran Demo
GRAFT, that friend Of the people-Bedford
Brown-and at Graham you were as gentle
as sucking dove and all for peace; yet
we now find that old motto on your shield
again! and your war cry is, are must
rtOa0 fight it out" 1t is matter of surprise
to some, vi regret to others, that yuu
should have made aspeech at such a 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 secessionists,
government officials, the nHnions of pow
er, members of Congress minus constt-
uencies, spectators, 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 speech
at such meetingl Was it to inaugurate
series of war meetings all over the Con
federacy? Or was it to remind your con-
stituents of the peace meeting at Green's
borough? But it has served one end. 1t
enabled you to define your position be-
you'd a. doubt If your heart and interest
are with the Destructive party, it is well
that the people of North Carolina know
it. That they were apprehensive of your
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. It is possible
that the apprehension thus expressed has
precipitated your fall into the embraces of
Jeff. Davis and his associates in success
sion.
But it is your speech that claims atten-
ton. 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 sem
fences are very positive and daring. They
prove the wisdom of the selection when
you were called to address that lnongrel
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-
ments of the people you represent or
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 accord
with facts. Perhaps, Mr.. Gilmer, you
have basked so long under the sun of Ex-
ecutiye greatness at Richmond, that you
have forgotten the honest common people
at home and the harrassed soldier at the
front. 1t is not probable, that you could
have made such assertions had you Just re-
turned from a confidential interview with
the rank and file in the trenches near the
capitol nor could you have so asserted,
did you know familiarity the workings of
the hearts of those yet at home, whose
soul the anguish of inconSohble grief has
pierced. |
I may be told that am in the dark |
behind the times-that the refusal of the |
federal government to accede to the de- !
lnands of President Davis has reused and |
nnited the people, and the soldiers in the
to " fight it out" You de-
ceive yourself, and so do those at whose
bidding you appeared in that meeting
The people know that all that effort for
peace en- the part of the government was
a farce. No man of sense expected that
demand TO be acceded to. Such an effort
or peace in its failure does not assure the
soldier that the authorities are anxious for i.
peace. There is no more union now, nor
more enthusiasm than there was before
hat mission to Fortress Monroe. You