The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1868-10-13

formation that lot of Enfield rifles has been
lound secreted In Newbern, also that you have
reason to believe that arms have been sent to
charlotte, n. c.. and several other points. &c.
L have forwarded your letter to Gen Meade for
his information
| [ have received reliable reports, legally sub
stantiated, that several hundreds of Henry and
/ Spencer rifles (many of them sixteen shootersl
with accoutrements, &c, complete, have been
received at Wilmington and thence distributed
to organizations in this State, STYLING themselves
Seymour and Blair" Clubs, and * K. Ks"
| From other points officers report similar move
ments: the object of which has as yet not been
made public These facts have also been re-
ported to the Department Commander and have
no doubt he will take proper action in the matter
" hlie, therefore, these occurrences give rise to
questions which may possibly produce serious
results still, action in the first instance should
be taken by the civil authorities, which, in nv
opinion can be done under the Act of the Gen
eral Assembly of this State ratified August 24th,
1868, torbidding the conspiring of persons by,
force or otherwise, to prevent the execution of
the laws OF the State and making it high crime
to engage III rebellion or instruction against the
authority thereof
The Constitutional right of all citizens to the
possession OF arms for proper purposes, does not
extend to the perfecting DETERMINATIONS, armed
with weapons of purely military character,
such as those reported as having been received
IN such unusual quantities at Wilmington and
other points, otherwise batteries and regiments
may be formed with equal propriety, ininical to
the government, while it calmly awaits the fate
intended by those, who in 1860, pursued SINH
lar course 1t will undoubtedly be claimed by
these parties that their motives are perfectly
good and as indicating intention to forcibly
resist the law or otherwise interfere with the
peace and quiet of their respective localities.
This cannot be granted In 1861, professions
of intense loyalty to the Constitution and laws
went hand in hand with the concealed prepare
tions for Many of these men arc parolcd
prisoners who have sworn to obey the laws in
force where they reside and not to bear arms
against the government, &c. This State has been
reorganized under acts of Congress, the sequence
of the rebellion, and any attempt to disturb its
laws and prevent the rc-establishing of its au-
thorlty Is In my opinion an act Of hostility and
violation of their solemn obligations, which
may justly excite action on the part of the gen
eral government, Their rights in asserting and
maintaining political preferences cannot De ques-
toned, but when pushed to the present extreni-
ty, assuming hostile positions towards the gov
eminent, prompt condemnation the part of
all good citizens should follow
In" apparent pun p'Se anu IcdolHeso W up
peal to arms, after the experience ofthe past
seven years. is inexplicabe. 1t is strange that
many of the citizens of this State should so far
forget their interests court another collision
which cannot but be more disastrous than that
recently ended. There is nothing in the present
political contest to excite apprehensions on the
part of any class or party. Two elections have
quietly occurred here within the past twelve
months as important as any that have taken
place in the history of North Carolina, and with
degree of good order crcdtable to all concern
ed, and any attempts to excite disturbances by
any parties, under any pretence whatsoever, are
alike foolhardy and criminal 1t probably re-
quircs discussion to prove the entire futility
of attempting any resistance Of the Government
in it's efforts to perfect and complete the ques-
tons arising from the late war. Its whole power
is guaranteed for the maintenance of the laws as
at present constituted. and until legally changed
they should and must be respected.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NELSON A. MILES,
Byt. Maj. Gen. U. S. A, Comd'g. Dist.