Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-07
Isoxnl "Reminiscences.

We hear much of the former politica
history of certain would-be leaders OF the
Radical party in North Carolina. The press
has frequently extolled the gallant military
exploits of Colonel Carter and Captain Set
tie, two of the earliest volunteers to respond
to the call of Governor ELLIS in the Spring
of 1861, the latter holding commission in
the third gol,nteer regiment formed, and
the former rising from the rank of Captain
to Lieutenant Colonel in the fo"''M rar
regiment which left the State. His active
military career being checked by severe
wound in the Spring of 1862, he patriot
caily sought aud did the Confederate States
much valuable service as member, and Fl
nalIy as the President of, one ofthe most i'm
portant and responsible Military Courts, in
sentencing to death deserters and towards
and melting out proper punishment to
malefactors of less degree.
We learn, too, by reference to our old
files, that the Hon. John Pool was the cleo
tor in the first congressional district on the
DAVIS AND STEPHENS ticket, and being cleo
ted, cast his vote at the meeting ofthe Elec-
toral College for those gentlemen. We have
heard from reliable sources that the same
sought the position of Brigadie&' General
in the "rebel" army, but possibly the same
honorable purposes influenced him then as
did afterward, when, according to his own
confession, he took an oath to support the
Constitution of the Confederate States, as
State Senator in order to embarrass the
Confederate Government
The same honorable and manly objects in
fuenced the Hon. G. ". Logan to take the
oath as member of the Confederate Con-
gress, according to his confession in the
House of Commons last winter, when press
ed home on the subject by the talented
member from Guilford, Colonel MORE
HEAD.
These are few of the shining lights !"
of the ''party of progress and moral ideas"
in North Carolina.
The recent opinion of the Attorney Gen
eral upon the Reconstruction Acts of Con-
gress in referring to certain Conventions
held in the Southern States in 1861, brings
back very forcibly to the minds of some of
us the position and opinions then held by
some of the most eminent and Jealous
North Carolina Republicans of the present
day. Says Mr.. STANBERY, "But as to
"those Legislative bodies which passed what
"are called ordinances of secession, by
whatever name they may have been call
led, am of the opinion that their mem
"bers are properly comprehended within
"this disqualifying clause, for I can ina
/" CINE no otfciaL legislative position IN sChich
" tie duty Of allegiance tcas more distinctly
IS uiolated.''
In glancing our eyes over the list of del
egates assembled in Raleigh on the lever
memorable twentieth day of May" eager
to record their names in favor of the " Or
dinance of Separation, we find some which
latterly have been before the public in diff
ferent role. The Ordinance of Separation
was passed the first day, and, we quote
from the journal of that body for the next
day, 2lst May, o'clock, P. NJ:
"On motion by Mr.. Venable, the order
"of the Convention this morning was SO
''changed that the counties should appear
"on the parchment in alphabetical order. "
cat s o'clock, as agreed upon, in open
Convention, the members proceeded to
"affix their names and places of residence
"to the Ordinance of Separation and one
hundred and t,0enty-the tcAole number pro-
"vided for by the act Of the General Assem-
"6ly-canne .f01 eCdrd and signed the ihStru-
"maent." Among these names we find
CHARLES r. THOMAS, of Carteret, ROBERT
P. DICK, of Guilford, and W. w. HOLDEN,
of Wake. Among many other ordinances
adopted by this Convention, were several
raising troops and appropriating money
to carry ON the war.
This Convention held four different ses-
sions, and did not adjourn finally until the
18th Of May, 1862. Among the very last
things done, after the usual vote of thanks
to the President, was the unanimous adop'
ton of the following resolution, introduced
by that gallant gentleman and patriotie
Confederate, the delegate from Wake, Mr..
HOLDEN:
Z" ReSolUed, unanimously, by HiS COnCeistion
That the thanks of the people of North CarOlins
are due and are hereby rendered to the ladies o.
the State for the contributions which they have
made to the Confederate cause, and for the patri
otto ardOr which they have exhibited i'll behalf o.
the country in the prosecution of the war"
We must candidly confess, though some
what of youth at that time, and entirely
unused to the politicians wiles, that we
thought that these gentlemen were in earn
est that if they were able to deceive theil
constituents and the people of the State
they would shrink from attempting tc
prove false to the oath by which they called
upon their Maker to witness the honesty Of
their conduct, if for no more noble reason
than the divine warning in the doom Of
Ananias and Sapphire. We believe YET
that they were in earnest we believe the
Ordinance of Secession was voted for hon.
estly and with the intention to abide by il
faithfully we believe that when these gen
tlemen called for troops, voted supplies