The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-23
Thursday Morning, Feb. 2s, 1866.
,v, Front the Raleigh ". C) Progress, Feb 81
Another Ground Swelp from the Old Tur
"a pentize State. 81 ai9s

r-t4uObu6r 0IUuuu bWc-1 lrUlu bu6 Vlu i ur-
q penti2e State. aiss
Both the 'loyap organs up the street are
anxious TO impress the press and people OF
Georgia that there is no desire for conVen-
ton in North Carolina, and that all the fuss is
made by the Standard and Progress. Well,
then. Monsieurs, we just dare your represen-
tatiVes, the patriots and property holders" in
the Legislature, to vote to submit the question
OF convention to the people. Ii the people
don't want convention no harm can come of
submitting the question TO them; and then
the voting down the proposition will effectual-
ly close the mouths OF those who are keeping
up the clamor. 6,i s.a-e5
We think we know something of the senti-
ment OF the people of North Carolina, and we
Insist that they do want convention, and if
the Legislature will only submit the question,
and remove all the instruments or terror
which were used in the last August election,
the State will go for convention by an i'm
mense majority. Stack arms, sheathe the
sword, use no threats toward detailed men,
keep the military from interfering with the
voting, and, above all, use honest white tick
cts. and the result will be at least three to
one. 8Hfs8 fssaGf Tga 4rssstg esk
Ine patriot who turns the organ crank of
the Governors newspaper, says the people OF
the State do not want convention. We un-
dertake 10 say that he knows nothing about
it. He thought last summer that the good
people of Randolph wanted him; but even the
yellow ticket would not put him through, and
he fell back upon the Executive for bomb
proof Well, Friday" got his reward He
canvassed Randolph for his master, the yellow
ticket and the "red string;;" and when con
scription and the trenches loomed up before
his patriotic vision, he appealed to Zebulon,
and was saved. And SO well was he pleased,
"my lord" that he has been promoted to the
chief crank of the ''couTt" organ. He is a
willing and obedient servant and we doubt
not but he turns with all his might; but the
music that proceeds from the instrument is
not such as was pleasing to the delicate ears
of the courtiers, and lords and ladies who
composed the kings household of yore.
We are glad to be able to say to the friends
of peace in Georgia, that there is an immense
pressure in North Carolina for convention
and, if the present Legislature shall refuse TO
call one, but few Of them will ever get back
there. But for the discordant Vance faction
in the body, the Legislature would have no
difficulty in passing convention bill; and, as
it is, there is some, probability of their doing
it, ior that functionary is rapidly losing the in
fiuence he had over the body at the beginning
of the session.
The patriots and property-holders," the
political advisers and supporters of Governor
Vance and President DaYis, and all others who
are urging an indefinite protraction of this de-
structive war, will find before July whether
the people of North Carolina are in favor of ..
convention or not.
There are set Of bomb-proof politicians
and Government organs that endeavor to
hold out the impression that the private sol
diers are for fighting until, in the euphonious
and classic language of his Excellency, hell
franzaa- oVer - hut aunrU man woman and
child who has had an opportunity of seeing
and conversing with the battle SCARED veter-
ans, know their assertions to be untrue OF
all the people in the South there is no class
who so much desire peace as the soldiers, for
the reason that no class of persons are called
on to make such sacrifices and endure such
hardships. We see many soldiers, and receive
many letters from soldiers, and we find them
all for peace. We received letter from the
army yesterday, from a private soldier, in
which he says: e.sg
II hope you will go on pleading for peace
until it comes, for that is the only balm that
can cure our wounded country, and satisfy
the great mass of the people, especially those
who have left all that was sacred and dear to
them at home, and gone out to Endure the
hardships of camp and the dangers of the
field"
"Another one writing us from the field, near
Wilmington, says:
"The tone o. your recent editorials has in.
duced me to become subscriber for the Pro
eress. Your sentiments are exactly mine in
regard to peace. [ can truthfully say that
quite a majority OF the command to which
belong have been greatly revived by The tone
of your paper. Peace is all that we desire
OF course we would be glad to have it on the
best terms possible; but, if we cannot have
all that we wish, we are willing to and had
much rather have half, than to struggle on till
we are completely exhausted, and lose every
thing. Why continue this war under such
circumstances?
We do earnestly hope that you may contin-
ue to plead for the earnest desire of not on
ly the soldiers, but the wives, mothers, and
sisters at home. We hope that the authorities
will soon see that your noble appeals are ex-
acty in accordance with those who have been
necessarily engaged in all the privations and
hardships connected with soldiers life.-
Why is it that our authorities do not take
some steps before it is too late? Why will
they suffer the country to be brought to des-
truction when they could SO easily avoid it.?
Surely they cannot be guided by the dictates
of reason, or they would come to some condi-
tions to alleviate the unpleasant sensations of
many poor, distressed soldier. When all
are in favor Of peace, why not have it? Must
the whole mass of the people be deprived of
peace because few say continue the war /?
Why not let the majority rule? If there are
not soma suggestions in regard to peace made
by those in authority, there will, in my opin-
ion, be something done by the solders.',
Such is the tone and character of the let
ters that are reaching us constantly from the
battle-searred veterans of four years, and we
only state what is tru9 when we saw that the
voice OF the army is almost unanim ous for
peace.
Both Houses of the General Assembly have
agreed to adjourn on Tuesday next. The
country may plead, women and children NAV
suffer, starve and die on account of pro-
traction of this fratricidal war, but the men,
bers of the North Carolina Legislature mean
to go home. We shall call upon the peolpe to
remember them, and reward them according
to their deservings.
The commissioners sent to Richmond tele
graphed that they will be here to day or to.
morrow, and the body has graciously consent
ed to await their coming. Besides Mr.. Pool
telegraphs that they have something impor-
tant to communicate. We hope so, and we
trust that it will he Communicated in omen
session, so the people may know what it is.
The people are tired of being trjfed with
they are thoroughly disgusted with the i'm,
portance which small men are attemntino IN
give themselves, both here and at Richmond
by this secret legislation, and they demand
that it cease. Shall the popular voice he
heard, or will these demagogues and petty
tyrants continue 10 impose upon patience, al
ready threadbare, until the wronged and in
suited masses rise in their might and striko q
them down? The people demand to know
what is going on, and to know all about those
grave questions which concern them most
and those who attempt to defy and oppose the
people had better beware. Let the resplt ~