The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-02
For the Standard.
A CARD.
versation.
New ORLEANS, 18th April, 1866.


SIR:-Two friends have sent me copies of
your editorial containing many allegations
against me, made positively as of your own
knowledge, each of which the facts of my
history as known in North-C Carolina will, 1
think, abundantly refute.
The statement which my friends think 1
ought specially to notice is this, which you
make on the authority of another, that "he
[Dr Deems] declared in substance frequently,
as we have been informed. that he would as
soon doubt the Christian religion as the
success of the Confederate cause"
have no doubt you were so informed, but
Iregret that you allowed any pressure, per-
sonal or political, to make you publish
statement so utterly without foundation in
fact and against one who has never shown
anything but kindness towards you. 1never
had such sentiment as you assign, and nev
er made such statement, to the best of my
recollection and belief Please publish this
Card in simple justice; and as 1 know not
the extent of this calumny, 1 respectfully ask
my brethren of the press in North Carolina
to copy it.
Respectfully yours,
CHARLES F. DEEMS,
Editor Of the Watehman.
Hon. W. W. HOLDEN.
In reply to the above we invite at
tention to the following statement, by
Col. G. L. Harris, one of the members
of the Convention, and also State Sena-
tor from the County Of Rutherford, who
is sojourning in Raleigh:
RALEIGH, April 20, 1866.
In June or July, 1864, heard the Rev. c.
F. Deems deliver a speech in the town of
Rutherfordton, North Carolina, in which he
said among other things, that he would as
soon doubt the Christian religion as the
success or Righteousness of the Confederate
cause am quite certain DR.. Deems used
this language. He preceded Gov. Vance
on the occasion. The latter was at that time
candidate for the office of Governor
C. L. HARRIS.
1t is uot necessary that we should
add anything to what Col. Harris has
said. We have proved the charge.
We can assure DR.. Deems that no
pressure, personal or POLITICAL" has
iihuCHCcu us Ill our COURSE UOWdTuS
him. We think his paper, The Watch-
man, is one Of the many serious him
drances to the work of restoration. 1t
is scattering among the people " fire
brands, arrows and DEATH" Our pur-
pose was to show that DR.. D. has not
materially changed from what he was
during the rebellion; and that, conse-
quently, he is not fit person to advise
the people what should be done to re-
store the Union on lasting basis. We
sincerely believe that if the teachings
Of THE Watchnaan should be received
aud put in practice, these States would
be involved again in civil war.
If DR.. Deems has ever shown us any
kindness we do not know it. If we
could be convinced that he had, we
would write it in marble; and if he has
injured us, we would write that in
sand. If we have ever shown him any
kindness, we have forgotten it. We
would not willingly injure him, but we
must do our duty as Union man,
We beg leave further to add that that
must be strange faith, especially in a
Christian minister, which is as strong
in temporal as it is in eternal things. :
The following is photograph, said to
have been made by the concentrated
rays of truth. 1t is the work of the
San Francisco Commercial Bulletin:
"There does not exist a more repulsive
spectacle than debauched parson. He can
dive deeper into the mire of politics and
come up dirtier than any other creature we
know Of. He adds to the unscrupulousness
OF the common partisan and the yenality of
the vulgar broker inlegislation, an undefina-
BILE spirit of meanness and an unction of de-
prayity that render him altogether unique
He seems to run to evil from pure love of it.
He hungers and thirsts after unrigheousness
with an avidity that astonishes and disgusts
even the most hardened political stagers. If
he gets into Congress, he is conspicuous for
his venality, or if into the Legislature, he is
certain to be a ring. leader in every thieving