The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-02
The Rev. VIM. E. Pell and the Hon.
John Pool.

The Rev. VIM. E. Pell and the Hon.
John Pool.
The late venomous attacks upon Hon.
John Pool, by the Reverend Editor Of the
Sentinel are easily accounted for; and they
have been carried to such an extent, that a
reply somewhat in detail seems to be called
for. We have never known Mr.. Pool to no
tice any newspaper attacks upon him. But
we cannot allow the people to be deceivedin
regard to one of our leading public men by
ISLANDERS emanating from private hate, and
therefore propose to explain the moving mo-
tive of those base attacks, and to answer them.
Up to the evening preceding the election
for United States Senator, the failure of the
Sentinel to abuse Mr.. Pool had done him in
jury with the Union men of the State. But
on that evening, the Sentinel published re-
hash of all the falsehoods and misrepresen-
tations that had ever been started against
him, and endorsed them, in most insidious
and malicious manner. The purpose was
plain, and the meanness of doing so, just at
that time, so as to preclude any defence pre-
vious to the election, was in keeping with
the character and low trickery of the Rev
erend Editor Mr. Pool was in the City at
the time, and upon the matter being brought
to his attention, he remarked, in the pres
ence of many gentlemen, that "when
preacher of the gospel descended from his
high calling to become dabbler in politics
and retailer of ISLANDERS, he quickly became
the meanest of men, and he supposed no
other character capable of the meanness dis
played by the article in question" Now,
some of the Ransy Sniffles who hang around
the Sentinel office, probably heard of this re-
mark, and straightway bore it to the corpu-
lent embodiment of divinity and politics.
The remark was pointed with truth and ap-
propriateness. 1t stung and ranked in the
heart that had substituted party bitterness in
the place of Christian charity and good will.
This explains the subsequent fury and ven
ON that has characterized the articles in the
Sentinel in regard to Mr.. Pool.
We now proceed to state the true position
of Mr. Pool during the war, and at the pres
emit time, in connection with the charges and
Misrepresentation of the Sentinel and its CO.
laborers in treason and malice 1t is known
to every intelligent man in North Carolina,
that he was, at all times, opposed to the at
tempted secession of the State under any
After the ordinance of Sc
cession was passed, he decided to remain in
the State and to demean himself as peace
able citizen, obeying the laws and authority
that might be over him, as long as it was
possible without taking up arms against the
lawful government of his country. Having
been, in 1860, the nominee Of the Wing
party for Governor, and having canvassed
the State thoroughly, he was supposed to
possess some influence; and his friends in
many sections sought to call him out in sup
port of the Confederate cause. His refusal
to comply with their wishes gave offence to
many whose confidence and esteem he then
valued, and whose former kindness and sup
port he still recollects with gratitude.
In the Presidential election of 1861, two
tickets for Electors were presented to the
people of North Carolina. Without con-
sulting him at all, the name of Mr.. Pool was
placed on each of these tickets. Hisfriends
prevailed with him not to expose himself to
the disapprobation of his former supporters
and the vengeance of his enemies in the then
excited state Of the public mind, by the use
less parade of demanding from all parties
the withdrawal of his name. But he took
no part in the canvass-advised no man to
vote for Mr.. Davis or any one else, and de-
clined himself to vote at the election. Be-
ing upon both the tickets, he received the
unanimous vote of the State, or nearly So
The law required him to act under heavy
penalty for refusal; and provided in case Of
refusal, that his place should be supplied by
the other Electors. He submitted to what
seemed to be the unanimous wish of the
State, and obeyed the law, because no posi-
BILE good could have resulted from refusal
to do SO. He frequently expressed during the
war his regret that his friends used his name
on the Electoral tickets, but he has never
expressed any regret at the course he pur.
sued in regard to it.
In the summer Of 1861, he was requested
by the commissioners for North Carolina to
act with two other gentlemen residing in his
vicinity to make known the proposition Of
the Confederate government for a loan Of
$15,OOO,OOO, and to receive subscriptions in
the Counties around him. He made known
the proposition at three of his Courts; but
at the third one he was called out in such a
manner, that he found it necessary to do one
of three things-either to espouse the Con-
federate cause, or to endanger his personal
safety by expressing candidly his views, OF
to abandon the undertaking altogether He
pursued the latter course, and never after.
wards spoke or acted in the matter. HI
declined, at all times, to receive any sub
scriptions that were rendered to him. He has
always expressed regret that he acted at al
even in making known the proposition O.
the Confederate government
1t is further charged that Mr.. Pool applied
for commission as Brigadier-General in thu
Confederate army We are authorized t.
say that this is simply false. There neve