The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-03
The ReYOlted Spirits.
"What though the field be lost?
III is not lost: the unconquerable will,
md study of revenge, immortal hate,

uC IlCtOltCu SpI1ISs
"What though the field be lost:
All is not lost: the unconquerable will,
And study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or yield.''
We had heard the rumor that number of
! Confederatcs, drawn to this City by the Fed
! eral Court and bya previous political under
standing, were engaged in caucusing as to
| the best means of defeating the new Consti-
tuition to be adopted by the approaching
Constitutional Convention. The result of
this caucusing is seen in the Sentinel of Sat-
urday last. The proposed Confederate or
| so-called Conservative State Convention,
which was to have been held on the 18th of
this month, has again been indefinitely post
poned, and State Executive Committee has
been appointed, embracing the leading Con-
federates or traitors of the State We give
some samples of this Committee, that our rea-
ders may know who are conspicuous in con-
tinuing the work of strife and disunon among
our people: William A. Graham, George
Howard, Daniel G. Fowle, Thomas Bragg,
A. S. Merrimon ]. r. Mclean, T. B. Vance,
| S. j. Person, ]. NJ Leach, Bedford Brown, C?)
E. d. Hall, &c.
These gentlemen have Just been voted
down at the polls by majority of $4,000
of our people. Some of them were willing
and active parties in the work of secession.
which was accomplished, as far as it could
be, equally against the will of the people;
some of them were ready and anxious to
light it out" even with the aid of colored
troops, urging all our people-nay, forcing
them at the point of the bayonet up to the
last moment into the horrors of the struggle,
in the vain hope of saving slavery and of Sc
curing that vicious bubble, Southern indie
pendence." At the close OF the rebellion
they were unwilling, as they are now, to re-
| turn to the Union, except on their own
terms, with all the offices and honors in their
own hands; and from that day to the pres
ent they have been as factious, as selfish and
as persistent in their opposition to recon-
struction as they were desperate and bloody
IN prosecuting the war against the United
States. Their conduct proves that they are
determined necer to submit in good faith to
the rightful authority of the government;
and it will, therefore, be the duty of the
people of the State to vote them down and
gooern them in the future as in the past.
The factious and selfish disposition of
these leaders is most manifest, in that they
do not propose to wait to see what sort OF a
Constitution the Convention will make, but
they are organizing ir advance to defeat it,
whatever it may be. 1t is enough that they
will not make the instrument-that it will
not provide especially for them and their
followers-that it will be Constitution by
the people, Of the people, and for the peo-
pie, and therefore it must be rejected. But
we have no fears on this score, if the Repub-
lican masses of the State are only true to
themselves and their principles. We rather
rejoice than otherwise at the course pursued
by these leaders, for, in the first place, they
have shown their hand in time to enable the
loyal masses to circumvert them; and in the
second place, the agitation they are deter
mined on continuing will band together still
more compactly, if possible, the loyal voters
of the State. Let the conflict go on. Let
the battle be fought out to the bitter end
|
and gloriously for the Union cause and for
the best interests of our people.
These bad spirits cluster in their revolt
around Gov. Graham as their chosen leader
| "He above the rest
In shape s;i ana gesture, proudly eminent,
In contemplating this leader of these re-
volted spirits we are forcibly reminded of
the description given by Milton of Satan
himself: ......
ga "Darken'd go, yet shone t-A-
! Above them all, tn archangel: but his face
| Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
| OF dauntess courage, and consderate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
| Signs OF remorse and passion to behold
| The fellows of his crime the followers rather,
Gar other once beheld in bss,) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of spirits for his fault amercd
Soc OF heav' and from eternal splendours flung
| For his revolt. yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd" .....
|