The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-03-20
For the Standard.

lieuuo VI OieChlnrluge IN tne OOutn, anu
lew Others mad Immediately after his defeat
IS candidate for President in 1860. Since
that time, after running themselves and so
many Others by their conduct, it would seem
that like the prodigal son, they would come
to themselves" again. Especially would it
seem so in view of the Congressional events
just developed, reducing them to such straits.
But not SO. The occurrence at our Court on
Monday last, which / shall communicate, is
sufficient to remove all doubt upon the SUBJ
ject of their political insanity. /
Sixteen gentlemen recently appointed by |
the Legislature were sworn into office as
All were either original seces-
sionists or such as vote with them except |
two or three, believe. The justices of the |
peace were called into the courthouse. Of |
course the destructives, as they are sometimes |
denominated, greatly pretlominated. The
Chairman brought one or two matters to
their attention, when he asked magistrate
to take the Chair, as he was compelled to at
tend to some business without A special
court was then elected. If integrity and ju-
dicial ability alone influenced all in choosing
men to sit as judges, then these qualities
too, we're found to predominant on the de-
structive side. The special court, however,
is a good one, and nobody complains for
any thing done up to this period. But when
a motion was made, put and carried to 90
into an election for Chairman, "a majority of
the magistrates being presently which result
ted in turning out q good Union man and
putting in prominent, former secessionist,a a
more manifest and unusual case of proscrip-
ton on account of ones political views was
never exhibited in or out of court. The law
provides that a Chairman shall hold his Of
fec until successor appointed. Dr.. VIM.
Barrow was elected Chairman twenty years
ago. No election for such officer has been
held since. He was willing to act as such
longer, SO far as any body knows, although
he was not consulted about the matter as be
knew nothing of the election until it was
over. For so long period through all the
mutations of parties and political crecds, no
one eveSthought before of going into such
an election. Without making any invidious
comparison or distinction myself, think 1
hazard nothing in saying that in the opinion
of majority of the people in the County,
he stands higher than any other magistrate
in judicial and administrative ability. He
was raised here, and possesses q moral char
acter as white as snow. Of four candidates
as delegates for the Convention of 1866, his
fellow citizens gave him the largest vote;
yet such man on account of his strorfg
Union sentiments must be prescribed by
those who were formerly strong secessionists
and their prese mt sympathizers. There was
no candidate for the office. Even the gentle
man who was elected begged that his name
should not be used. But so eager were they,
or large majofity, to get such q man ont of
office, however undesirable, that they threw
in another nolens rolens Their action re-
minds me of the old Parsons views on sin
ming by the profane. Satan, said he, caught
sinners by fishing with a hook, and using
different bats. For illustration, if he wan
ted to catch drunkarfl, he baited his hook
with bottle of whisky. But the habitual
swearer, said he, needed no bait, for he al
ways bit at the naked hook. In this case,
they have not the usual excuse for removing
faithful public officer by pleading that they
felt under obligations to confer favor on
personal as well as political friend. The Of
flee is one of some labor without any remu-
neration, and therefore, no one wanted it.
They went out of the way to make up
case of prescription. They sinned without
sufficient incentive. They bit at the ma
ked hook.
This whole matter may seem uninportant,
but "straws show which way the wind
blows" The very insignifcance of the case
makes the display of that hatred which ran
kles in the bosOms of some towards uncon-
ditional Union men the more glaring. If
further proof of a thirst for vengeance were
wanting, the time selected for its wreaking
would tear away the last veil of doubt-a
time when the edict had virtually gone forth
that many of them can no longer vote or
hold office unless an unmistakable record of
loyalty to the Union is exhibited. If men
will "do these things in green tree, what
shall be done in the drya" Of course their
right to act is not questioned The animus
alone which have alluded to must appear
| to all conservative men to be wrong. If ]
am mistaken as to the controlling motive,
| then the people too are, who are cognizant
| of the circumstances.
| What guet sin have Union men commit.
ted, that they should be prescribed and de
spised2 Ispeak not of bufaloes, as certain
men are called in this section of the country
l speak now especially of such men as were
called conservatives in this State during the
war-men who originally opposed secession
but became separationists after the war com.
menced, through necessity. Men who went
along down with the great popular current,
making no resistance-giving sympathy to
their kith and kin, and aid to their friends
and the war. But ever and anon, from the
most patriotic motives, they warned theil
countrymen of that whirlpool of destruction
to which they were probably tending, and
begged those who governed to pause, to con
slider. to compromise. Has not time demon
strated that such men were right2 There
are now too wings of this class. One ha.
coalesced with the original secessionists, Oh
uice uersa, making them as strong to-day
whether they designed it or not, as they wer,
during the war. The termination of the
war has given those of the other wing al
opportunity of taking their true position
and planting themselves, where they love Il
stand, ON the solid foundation of the Union
with gulf rolling between them and thos
demented, if not wicked men, who original
ly advised that the life blood of the best gov
ernment on which the sun ever shone, shoult
be taken. Iprofess to belong to this wing
acknowledge myself to be rebel, and lik
the guilty Irishman on trial, ask for mercy
and not for justice. If I am to be proscril
ed by the movers and origInators of the N
bellion, because, heretofore, I have no
shouted that they were right; if they AM
their late sympathizers are to place me undo
ban on account of inc position which no,
occupy, and Of the fact that ! do not hu
anathemas on the heads of all yankees, the
! say, for the sake of protection, Iprefer mi
itary rule, notwithstanding my antipathi
early imbibsd against military .despotism.
This hatred towards Union men shou
not h, nourished. We are again to live
| I'm an M,,of a mon uavor ooaiu Qov that