The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-24

Rebellion to force every body into the fight,
except themselves, but the following from
the Conservative of June LIST, 1864, is so much
to the point that We copy it:
1--WE appeal to the patriotism of every
man in the State, who is ablebodied and can
use musket to go to the front The services
of one man may seem small in armies COM
posed of tens of thousands, and yet the SER
vices of one man may decide the question
whether we shall be slaues or treenaen. We
repealed every ablebodied man, whatever
be his vocation, or cause of exemption, who
would be more useful in the army than at
home, go to the JrontF'
The foolishness OF the above "appeal,"
basing the salvation of the Confederacy on
the services of one man, was no less appa-
rent in 1864 than at the present time, and
the more so then, because the writer thereof
was an "able-bodied man" sOho didn't go to
thetront. Consequently, according to his
own logic, the rebel armies were defeated and
he is slave. His heart must now be filled
with great remorse. Other able-bodied Sc
cessionists, who preached the same doctrine,
but didntgo to the front, are no doubt prepar-
ed to weep at the memory Of the surrender
of the gallant Lee" They are slaves also.
q. B. Vance in his Wilkesboro' speech thus
spoke of peace negotiations. He was then
as full of fight as other able-bodied seces-
sionists who said 'go boys" but exclaimed
not, "come boys" He was then disposed to
treat Mr.. Lincoln as ruffian, and his SOL
diers as band of cut threats. He said:
eff you want to negotiate with a ruffian,
you must hold your weapons in your hand.
If you would negotiate with brutal and
INSCRIPTIONS foe, do not disband your armies;
do not discourage them; keep them clothed,
ted-and regiments in line of battle-tinger
upon the trigger-place your cannon in po-
sition- loaded, primed-the gunners with
linstock ablaze-then hold up your olive
branch and say to Mr.. Lincoln, 1--WE want
peace, what say you?" If he has nothing
to say, then fire, by the gods, fire! Great
applause)
That was the way in which the question
Of reconstruction was then argued They
fought it with ballot and gun-and now that
their arms are taken, they still resist with the
ballot. There will, therefore, be no peace
until that is also taken away, and they are
left without one weapon of offence.
But Gov. Vance not only counselled the
most desperate resistance to the Union armies,
he also advised the conJiscation of the pro-
perty Of Union refugees, or their punishment
otherwise In his message to the last rebel
Legislature of this State, at its first session,
he said:
II feel quite ashamed also to add that
number of Home Guards in certain interior
Counties, holding both civil and military
offices, actuated either by treason or coward
ice, or perhaps by both, have recently deser-
ted and fled to the enemy. l earnestly re-
commend that you take such steps for the
punishment of such crime by confscation
or otherwise, as may deter Others from such
cowardiy and degrading treason. There
should he no more trifiing in this matter
Those nho seek the aid of our enemies should
share the fate Of our enemies The blood of
our dead heroes as well as the living, who
carry their lives in their hands every day, de-
mands that punishment should be meted out
to traitors. If there is to be no punishment
for this kind of treason, loyal men are enti-
tied to know it. Whenever we quietly suf-
fer treason to attain greater immunity from
dangers and hardships than patriotism, we
may expect the cause to perish"
Those Home Guard officers had taken Of
flee for protection from the CONSUMPTION law,
and their loyal sentiments becoming known,
probably because they voted for Holden
against Vance, when the issue was submits
sion to the Union or resistance, as stated by
the Conservative of June 22nd, 1s6s,-and
being therefore threatened with arrest and
impressment into the rebel armies, they left
the State. But that was not enough hav-
ing escaped the clutches of Vance and Da-
Wis, the former appealed to the Legislature
for vengeance upon their unoffending fami-
lies. Let their property be coniscated, he
said, for those who seek the aid of our enc.
mics should share the fate of our enemies"
Why does Congress hesitate to act9
Truly the loyal people Of America are
ong-suffering and slow to anger; but it Is
not too late, and traitors, who dug the pit
for their own neighbors, shall yet be hurled
headlong into the same abyss ,---.---------...-
Echoing the sentiments of its master, the
Conservative of Dec. 21st, 1864, said:
"All bushwhackers and tories should be
tried by court martial, and dealt soith Accord
ing to the rigors Of military lao n'
About eighteen months previous to this
publication, the people of North Carolina
were thrilled with the intelligence of the
Laurel massacre, where tories were dealt
with according to the rigors ofmilitary law!'
But other murders followed in quick success
sion, and at length the public ear became
callous to the appeals of humanity. Thus,
also, the rebel Governor and his organ had
steeled their hearts against the cries of the
people for peace they threatened to coerce
them into further vigorous prosecution of
the war, and having succeeded, at length
publicly advised and connived at the muir
der of Union men in cold blood, "under the
rigors of military laww
Most certainly there is great and pressing
necessity for a General Amnesty. Who can
now escape that conclusion? However if
the President or any one else grants it, which
nay just God forbid, no words which the
English language contains can wipe away
the stains of blood upon the consciences of
these men, or lift the veil of dishonor from
their past conduct.