The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-09-14
Correspondence of the Standard.
UNION LEAGUES VS.. MIDNIGHT C0HeLAVES


CoLUMBIA, 8. @, Sept. 18th, 1857.
!, l. MEssRs. EDIToRs 1T. having been my
pleasing duty while visiting Western North
4 Carolina, to organize Councils of the Union
81 League of America / can for the informa-
ton Of the curious, detail some of my expe-
rience in that interesting country. We had
no midnight conclaves. We had our meetings
in the primeval forests; on mountain tops !;
on hillsides in the fMt7woods; by the side
of ripping streams; and around the crystal
springs with Gods free sun above in the
azure dome and the varied beauties of nature
all around. Sometimes, when convenient,
we met under mii-shetls, in school-houses,:
in churches, and many time in the room
which I occupied. In all these various
places, and under great variety of circum-
stances, the reception of the justice of, and
obligation to the Republican party was the
same My heart swells with patriotic pride
when call to mind the eager attention, the
glowing countenances and glistening eyes,
with which the truth was received. These
children of nature need but have confidence
in their brother man to join with him in re-
generating our country and exertlng their
UTMOST efforts to crush the designs OF traitors
to plunge the country in another CIVIL war
The people of North-Carolina have no in
terests now antagonistic to those OF the other
States of the Union. They are willing to
admit the truths set forth in the Declaration
of Independence and acknowledge that
their highest earthly allegiance is due to the
government of the United States, and are
willing to pledge themselves to resist all at
tempts to subvert or overthrow the govern
ment which they love. 1t needs but to give
them the assurance that they will be protec-
ted by the government against the rebel of
ficials to secure their adherence to the Union
party. Many cannot understand how tri-
umphant government should allow traitors
and enemies to hold office, and use their Of
fetal influence to thwart the designs of Con-
gress in reconstructing the Union. But when
the fact is explained that it is from motives
of benevoence that the government wishes
to interfere as little as possible with local at
fairs, and leaves the people in their sover-
eign capacity at the next elections to choose
their own officials, that they comprehend the
truth, and are determined to exercise their
privileges.
From Burke County, as a centre, the
League has spread into all the surrounding
Counties east of the Ridge down to the
South Carolina line. From Buncombe it has
radiated throughout the extreme western
Counties from South Carolina and Virginia.
Six weeks since there were nineteen Coun-
ellis and eighteen hundred Leaguers in Bun
have large Republican ma ority, and it may
be safely assumed that the entire State will
be largely Republican at the next election.
In most of the County towns, the unrecon-
structed are most rumerous-for here reside
the Weather class and the officials and those
who depend on these for patronage and ia
vors. If proper white deputies were sent to
these foci of rebelism to make public lee
lures, many might be reclaimed from their
decisions and brought into the ark of safety.
Turning from the gratifying prospects of
The Old North State, it is painful to cOntem-
plate the condition of things in her sister
Carolina. A general apathy prevails among
he whites throughout the Northern Dis
riots which Itraversed; still there are few
earnest men either in the Leagues or work
ng for it in every town and village through
which passed. The colored people, however,
ire active, and they have Councils in every
from which have heard
They appear very much gratifed to meet
With a white man who is friend to the gov
rnment which has done SO much for them,
nd express much anxiety to know what is
equired of them. The most of them would
'refer white man for the Chief Offices, if
hey knew him to be a Republican and their
riend, as they honestly distrust their ability
o serve their people as we'll as a white friend
rould.
Not yet recovered from the fatigue of my
and being about to set out again,
must close this imperfect sketch, reserving
Or IL more leasurc time some general consid-
ratiOns on the same subject. FELIX.
/