davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

H
Mr.. Botts's inference was that Mr. Lincoln
was assuming responsibility which would
at that day have been extremely distasteful
to those who had elevated him to the Presi-
dency; but he thought it duenoy to history
and to the character Of Mr.. Lincoln, to make
it known.
Mr.. Bolts was here asked:
Q. Are you perfectly sure, according to
your best recollection, that Mr. Lincoln told
you that he had made that proposition to
Mr.. Baldwin to evacuate Fort Sumter on this
condition? A. know it as well as / know
you are standing before me and that | am
answering your question.
Mr.. Bolts related that some weeks after
ward he returned to Richmond and men
toned one evening to Mr.. John F. Lewis.
Union member of the Convention, the sub
stance of the conversation he had with Mr..
Lincoln. and next morning Mr.. Lewis and
Mr.. Baldwin drove to his house and had an
interview with him, (which he narrates as
follows:
Well, Mr. Baldwin" said Bolts, sis it
true that Mr.. Lincoln did propose to you
that If the Convention would adjourn and
go home without passing the ordinance of
secession he would evacuate Fort Sumter?"
Yes, said Mr.. Baldwin, she did,
my God, Mr. Baldwin" said Bolts. why
did you reject such a proposition as thatl"
The only answer that Baldwin made was
by taking out his watch and saying:
1t only wants twenty minutes of the hour
nj meeting of the Convention, when most
important vote is to be taken Qneaning the
vote on the ordinance of secession). "I am
obliged to be there punctually at the hour.
and have not time to make the explanation
desire, but will avail myself of the earliest
opportunity to make full explanation of the
whole of itn
From that day to this, Bolts says, he never.
laid bis eyes on Mr.. Baldwin,nor heard any
any explanation from him, nor had directly
any communication with him, but he had
been informed that Mr. Baldwin gets very
much excited whenever the subject is men
toned in his presence.
Further on in the testimony Mr.. Bolts was
asked @. If this whole proposition had
been communicated to the Unionists of the
Virginia Convention, together with call for
National Convention, would that have pre-
vented the breaking out of civil war 2 A.
think it would, for the reasvn that, although
the Democracy which never meant to be sat
istied with anything but war; despairing Of
being able to carry the ordinance, would have
voted torthe adjournment, while the Union
men, who wanted peace, would also have vo-
ted for an adjournment. The testimony in
relation to this interesting historical episode
is confined to the three witnesses-Lewis,
Baldwin and Bolts. Il is quite volumnous,
but the foregoing extracts contain the pith
and marrow of it.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04
The Connecticut Election.

This election, now close at hand, is excit-
ing much attention. Gen. Hawley is the
Republican or Union candidate for Governor,
and Mr. English is the Democratic can
didate.
We have seen several versions of CONVEX
sations between the President and leading
public men in relation to this election, and
these versions would appear to be contradic-
tory if not taken with reference to the known
views of the President. The Presidents po-
sition seems to be this He is a member of
the Republican or Union party. He does
not belong to the Democratic party. But
he regards his policy for restoring the Union
as paramount to everything else. While he
does not wish to interfere in the elections,
and while he is not disposed to play the par
titan, yet, when his opinion is asked, he
frankly states that he desires the election of
those candidates who sustain his policy
What more or what less could he say?
The people of the North, having conquered
the South through the instrumentaity of the
common government, are now engaged in
settling among themselves the terms on
which the conquered States shall be restored
to the Union. We trust that these terms,
when settled, will be in accordance with the
Constitution. This is all we ask. On the
other hand, the people of the North have a
right to expect that the States will return to
the Union in good faith, through the instru-
mentality of unmistakably" loyal men,
This is reasonable on their part, and we can
not expect to be admitted until this expec-
tation is realized
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04
The Presidents Veto Message.


We publish to-day President Johnson's
veto of what is called the Civil Rights Bill.
We have never read a more compact or
conclusive argument than this message pre-
sents. 1t shows that the bill in question is
not only in conflict with the Constitution,
the theory of the government, and the rights
of the States, but that, in its consequences,
it could not fail, if it should become law,
to operate disastrously to the very race it was
designed to protect.
We do not propose any extended COM
ment on this admirable document 1t is be-
fore our readers, and speaks for ITSELF Let
it be carefully read, and then laid away and
preserved as another one of those mastery
expositions of the Constitution which have
proceeded from the President.
The annual message of President johnson,
at the opening of the present Congress, was
received by the American people with almost
universal approval. No document, perhaps.
of similar character, was ever more en-
phatically Or cordially approved. The peo-
pie in all portions of the country felt that it
contained the true principles ofthe Constitu-
platform on which the Union could be re-
stored In no important particular has the
President departed from the principles of
that message. Those principles will yet pre-
vail. The President has won for himself,
equally with Mr.. Webster, the proud title of
Defender Of tile Constitution. We trust the
people everywhere will hold up his hands
and encourage him in his arduous task The
great body of the Republican or Union
party of the North and West owe it to their
principles, and to the sacred cause of the
Union itself, to sustain him; for if they should
separate from him, or permit extreme views
to disorganize and divide their ranks, they
will fall before the recuperating forces of the
Democrats, and the control of public affairs
may thus pass into the hands of those who
have not been foremost in the work of pre-
serving the Union. And the Southern peo-
pie will find, in the end, if they do not real
ize the fact now, that there is no hope for
them unless they strengthen and uphold the
President by carrying out in good faith, Gas
we are sorry to say they have not done thus
far his policy of restoration. This policy
must be adhered to in spirit as well as in
letter; and if it should not be, the President
will be gradually shorn of his influence, and
extreme views will prevail.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

A correspondent of the Sentinel char
ges that. while Provisional Governor,
we removed that is, stole--certaln
Standard files from the State library.
Mr.. Perry, the present Librarian, has
voluntarily and very kindly informed
us that the missing files have been
found. We visited the library but
once while employed in the Capitol,
and that was for the purpose of obtain
ing a copy of the Star file containing
notice of the death of the father of Pres
ident johnson. We positively declare
that we are not thief! We solemly
aver that we stole nothing from the
State library while acting as Governor.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

1t is very fortunate for the best inter
ests of the whole country that the Ex-
ecutive chair is filled with man Of Ro-
man virtue and iron firmness of char
acter. Andrew Johnson is that man.
His late veto message has been received
every where, by the thinking, conserva-
tive masses of the people, with the
warmest approval. 1t cannot be that
the American people will strike down
such servant. The present aspect of
things may be gloomy, but we are fixed
in the belief that his policy will at last
prevail.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

The Sentinel says, though we were OPP
posed on principle to the reputation of the
State war debt, because Of our anxiety to
preserve the fair fame of the States integrity,
and her pledge to parties, widows and or
phans and Others, not at all involved in the
revolution, we readily yielded the question
when we ascertained the President demanded
it." The Sentinel then implicitly asserts that
the President violated principle, cast re-
proach on the fair fame Of the State, and in
ficted wrong on widows and orphans.
The Sentinel did not want to do this, but
when the President made the demand it
yielded. If the Sentinel feels and believes all
this, how is it possible for that paper to be a
friend Of the President
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

been as thoroughly committed to seces-
sion as were South Carolina and Missis-
sippi. We foresaw, after the bolt in Bal
tinore, in which we refused to take part,
that Mr.. Lincoln would be elected, and
we determined to advise the people, as
we did in the most earnest terms, to sub
NIT to his administration. We have the
consolation of remembering that we
endorsed bis first inaugural speech, and
begged our people to stand by him in
his efforts to preserve the government.
But, when that fatal gun was fred at
Charleston, when his proclamation came
calling for troops to coerce the cotton
States, and when Virginia seeded, the
storm of sectionalism rose in this State
to a height that swept everything before
it. We went reluctantly and sadly
with our State, but with the fixed de-
termination to avail ourself of the first
suitable opportunity to strike for peace.
This opportunity was presented in July,
1868. We urged the people Of the State
to call a Convention, and to take steps
through that body to arrest the war,
and, if necessary, to reconstruct the
Union of the States. If our advice had
been taken, all our subsequent losses
and suferings would have been avoided,
and five hundred thousand lives would
have been saved. We were at first
warned by the authorities, and then
fercely denounced and threatened; and,
as practical caution to us, on the night
of the 9th September, 1863. our Office
was sacked by company Of Georgia
troops fresh from Richmond. As a
specimen of the manner in which free
press was handled in those days, we
give below a copy Of letter addressed
to us by Col. Seago, of Atlanta, Ga, a
portion of whose regiment took part in
the mob:
RALEIGH, N. c., Sept. 0, 1885,
Mr.. HOLDEN One of the soldiers
of this regiment brought into camp this
package of paper, and offered it for sale. |
do not think the object of the party was to
make money out of the attack on your office.
Therefore return it to you.
From what learn, considerable injury has
been done to your Office. hope this will be
warning to you and all Others, not to pur-
sue course calculated to encourage the enc
my either by words or acts. The motive OF
this party was patriotic. They believe you to
be opposed to our course, and that you desire
to betray us into the hands of the enemies
of our peace, our property, and our indepen-
dence. am very respectfully,
E. M. SEAGO, 1t. COL goth Ga. Reg
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

IF the Senior Editor of this journal
were to regard himself as fortunate
when praised, and unfortunate when
abused by the secession leaders, like St.
Paul he would be "of all men most
miserable" During the rebellion these
leaders denounced us as a traitor to
the Confederacy, mobbed us, and put
Wheeler's cavalry after us; and now,
when the rebellion has been suppressed,
they call us secessionist and pretend
ed Union man!
No citizen of North Carolina labored
as we did, in 1860 and 1861, to prevent
disunion. 1t is true we supported the
Breckenridge Electors, but we did this
as Andrew johnson did it in Tennessee,
with no other view than to carry with
us as many Democrats as we could for
the Union, in the crisis which we knew
was close at hand. The result was,
some thirty thousand Democrats in this
State united in 1861 with the majority
of the old Wing party in forming the
Conservative or Union party. If the
STANDARD had supported Douglas out
and out, and had made war on these
Breckenridge Democrats, the bulk of
them would have gone for disunion, and
with the detection from the old Wing
ranks to the disunionists, this State
would have gone forthe latter in Febru-
rya, 1861, and our people would have
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

Gen Malone, late of the Confederate ar
nv, is President of the Southside Railroad,
and receives salary of $4,000. He is also
President and Superintendent of the Norfolk
and Petersburg road, for which he receives q
salary of $4,000 per annum.
"A private letter from Aiken, S. c., dated
March I'd, says that the Express wagon was
robbed near Williston, by highwaymen on
the night of the I'd, three horses and all the
money were taken. A driver of stage was
robbed of his horses and murdered eight miles
from Aiken
Henry johnson, negro living in the
freedmen's village near Mobile, has recently
been paying his addresses to Miss Ellen
Whitehead, (colored, and it appears that she
refused his heart and hand. On Friday night
johnson shot the girl with an Enfield rifle,
infiicting serious if not fatal wound. The
negro man was arrested, and the examination
will take place as soon as the condition of
the girl is satisfactorily ascertained.
The General Conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South. composed of
delegates from all the Annual Conferences Of
the entire church, will meet in New Orleans,
on the first Wednesday in April. The Gen
eraI Assembly has rendered the Legislative
Hall for the use of the Conference. Nearly
two hundred ministers will be present from
every section of the South, and the session
will probably continue one month
One of the clearest proofs of the return
ing prosperity Of the port of Charleston, S.
c., is that the receipts from customs from
that port in the mon'ih of February last was
$31 ,618 II.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04


The Sentinel, with its usual utter disregard
of truth, states that only tone affidavit has
been required to close the case against North
Carolina and shut the doors of representa-
ton against million of people, and that the
affidavit Of a sojourner from one of the Eas
tern States" Now the truth is, four mem
befs of the reconstruction committee be-
sides Mr.. Fessenden, have declared in their
places, that every witness rendered by Gov,
Graham and other claimants has been exam
ined !; and Mr.. Fessenden has stated that the
testimony as to this State has not been closed
The Sentinel knows this to be so. vet con-
ceals the fact, and makes statement directly
to the contrary. The object of this is appa-
rent. 1t is to infame the people against the
Congress, and to have them ready for any
convulsion that may follow.
If the door is closed against North Caro-
lima. it has been done by the Sentinel and its
faction. Congress is more radical than the
President, and how can the Sentinel expect
the State to be admitted when it has not even
complied with the Presidents plano
1t is to be regretted that Gov Graham
selected as his spokesman in the Senate, Mr..
Davis, Of Kentucky, who is the author OF
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

DEATH OF KdBRoUGH JoNEs.-We
learn that this worthy and venerable
citizen expired at his residence near this
City, on Saturday night last. Mr..
Jones, we presume, had passed his
eightieth year. He was member of
the Convention of 1885, and had fire.
quently served the people of Wake
County in the General Assembly.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

The following letter was written by gen
tlenan whose Union principles rendered the
climate of Florida rather uncongenial to lin
during the late rebellion, in consequence of
which he left the state and was appointed by
President Lincoln Consul at Matamoras,
Mexico. The letter was addressed to Hon.
David s. Walker, Governor of Florida, and
was published in the Commonwealth, Quincy,
Fla, and we copy it because it refers TO the
trial of Maj. John 81. Gee, now progressing
before Military Commission in this City,
when anthing connected with the trial, or
with the prisoner, are listened to with inter
est =
TALLAHASSEE, March nth, 1866.
To His Ercellency:
DAVID S. WALKER {.
Governor of Florida:
Sir :-Onmy recent return from being refugee
on account of the late wicked rebellion, was
grieved to learn that DR.. John Gee, of Gladsden
county, was being tried for his cruelty to Federal
prisoners, while in command at the military
prison, Salisbury, N. c. know nothing of the
facts, but know the man, have known him sUel
and long. He was Assistant Surgeon in Gen. LEIGH
Reads brigade, Florida war, in 1910 and Al, and
beloved by all that shared his acquaintance In
the fall of 1850, when abont to return from Cali
fomia, the cholera was raging fearfully at Sacra-
mento City. (Such distress never knew.) DIR.
John Gee threw himself and his fortune into the
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

ZION, With an EdlCOr1al reference, In
which the Senior Editor of this paperis
charged with completely with Booth in
the assassination Of Mr.. Lincoln Could
party malevolence 60 further than this
Before the war, when we were strug-
Cling to preserve the Union, we were
called a Lincolnite and traitor to the
South. During the war we were called
Lincolnite, because we advocated
peace, and spoke of the then President
as Mr.. Lincoln, and not as cold Abe"
Now we are a secessionist, according to
our assailants, and took part with Booth
in assassinating Mr.. Lincoln. If we
were disposed to do SO, we might sue
the Sentinel for publishing the commu-
nication referred to. But we do not
approve of suits of this character among
public men. Such charges cannot af-
feet our standing with good men, and
we do not care for the confidence or
friendship Of the vicious and unprin-
cipled.
During the rebellion those with whom
the Editors Of the Sentinel are now ac-
ting, spoke of Mr. Lincoln as Abel
Hucks, and they called Andrew john
son thief and "vagabond. 1t
was more than any Union man dared
to do to defend them. We were marked
as traitor because we wrote and said,
Mr.. Lincoln. We were marked because
we said federals in our columns, and
not Yankees" Early in the war Mr.
Davis made speech in Richmond, in
which he characterized the whole North
ern people as a 6" set of hyenas." We
rebuked and denounced that, but we
did so at serious personal risk.
We did full justice to Abraham Lin
coin and Andrew Johnson as long as
we dared to attempt it. One Of our
last articles, before we were involved
in the maelstrom of the rebellion, con-
tanned an indignant protest against that
naughty, aristocratical Southern senti-
ment which held the " rail-splitter "and
the "tailor" in aversion and contempt.
We have been an Andrew johnson man
ever since 1914, when he made his great
speech in Raleigh, and fayed certain
public men in this State who had at
tempted to crush him in Tennessee, by
holding him responsible for the unfor-
tunate conduct of one of his relations.
The same aristocrasy which now pur-
sues us, and which has been pursuing
us for years because we are true to the
people, followed him to Tennessee, and
tried to destroy the hard-earned reputa-
ton of the poor tailor boy, by throwing
in his face the conduct of one of his
kinsmen. True to their vulgar and
cowardly instincts, this same arlstocrasy
which clutched at him and tried to pull
him back as he was ascending fame's
proud summit, now grovel at his feet,
and for the present, there is no such man
in their estimation as Andrew johnson.
They are as hollow and insincere now
as they were mean and malignant then.
But no decent person can gain any
/ thing by engaging in controversy
with the Sentinel. With the exception
of the State Journal, which it has sue
ceeded, it is the most malicious, un-
truthful, and unprincipled paper we
have ever seen. Its Editors seem to be
lost to all sense of shame or decency.
|
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

Major Ficklin has taken in the sail of
the National Express Company. He has dis
missed great number of clerks, abolishe d a
number of on-paying routes, dc. The sal
airy of the President is reduced from $4,000.
to $4,000.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

The Acting Commissioner of Interna
Revenue has decided that the receipt given
to an express company, by party receiving
goods by express, is subject to stamp duty
oftwo cents, as receipt for property.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04
Destructive Fire in DanvilIe.-rne n,

Destructive Fire in DanviIIe.-The Dam
vile Semi Weekly Times gives an account of
destructive fire in Danville, on Monday night of
last week, by which large woollen factory, sew
erai stores, shops. and large amount of other
property was consumed. The loss, exclusive of
steaage, is estimated by the Times at from $3.50.
Voo TO ssoVooo A colored man, named Ned Hol-
land was caught in one of the burning houses.
and persisted in the flames.
We gather an instructive hint from the account
OF this fire; the Times says, speaking of the ETA
Gent aid OF one of the fire companies In stopping
the ravages OF the flames, the fire engine has al,
ready paid for itself a hundred fold. and the In
surance Offices may well bless it." Let our peo-
pie here in Raleigh reflect little on this declara.
tion.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04
City and State Items.

Superior COurt.-The Spring Term of the
Superior Court of Law and Equity, for Wake
county, Judged. G. Fowle presiding, commenced
at the Court House in this city, yesterday
The charge of His Honor to the Grand jury.
which embraced the usual points, was able, clear
and earnest We have not listened to an ADLER or
more perspicuous charge to Grand Jury for
many years. He particularly dwelt upon the
crimes of larceny and robbery, which, since the
close of the war, have become so common through
out the country. He alluded to the changed
status of the negro race and stated that they were
by an understanding between the officers of the
Freedman's Bereau, turned over to the civil
Courts for the trial of such offenses against the
laws, as they may be charged with, while the law
makes no discrimination in the award of penal
ties, between them and the whites; and that should
any controversy arise, it would be between the
Bureau and the Court, and not with the Grand
Jury. 1t is, therefore, their duty to make pre-
sentiment of all cases of breach of law, whether
by whites or blacks.
There appeared to be goodly number of pre
sentiments preparing to go before the Grand jury.
and we have no doubt, there will be pretty full
docket.
The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-04-04

Connection Completed trains passed
over the Railroad Bridge, at Weldon, we learn.
on yesterday, for the first time since the bridge
at that point was burned last Spring. This com.
pletes the connection, by railroad, between Ra-
leigh and Petersburg, and between Raleigh and
Norfolk, convenience that will be appreciated
by travellers and traders
We learn from the Charlotte Times that the
bridge over the Catawba river between Charlotte
and Columbia, will be finished by the 10th of
May, by which time laying of thetract near Co.
lumola will be completed, thus filling the gaps
in the line to Charleston.
r. 6-After the above was written and in typ,.
yesterday, we received dispatch from Mr.
oBrien, the Gentlemanly Superintendent of the
Telegraph Company, stating that the trains pass.
cd over the bridge at Weldon, as stated, yester-
day morning.