The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-02-19

No act of the President of the Conven-
ton. Mr.. Cuwles, is. in our estimation. SO
highly censurahle, as the selection he has
made of the Committee to investigate the
rumors in regard to bMck null demanded
by Mr.. Durllam's resolution. The Commit
tee, as named by him. consists of Mr.. Dur
ham, Ashley. the Pilgrim, and Harris, the
negro delegate from Wake. 1t is perfectly
manifest that the object of putting Ashley
and Harris on the Committee with Mr. Dur
ham, is to defeat and prevent the invcstiga-
tion. After what has transpired. it must he
apparent to every one that Mr. Durham's re-
latons to Ashley are such, that he can have
no conference with him. Mr.. A. forced up
on Mr.. Durham the necessity of denouncing
him us having been guilty of papable
falsehood; and Harris, Mr.. Durham could
not touch with pair of oyster tongs.-'Sen-
tineL
The conclusive reply to the above is, that
Mr. Cowles appointed Mr.. Durham, the
mover of the resolution, Chairman of the
Committee of the proposed investigation; !;
and he appointed on the Committee two of
the worthlest members of the Convention,
to act with Mr.. Durham. In addition to
this we may say, that Mr.. Cowles has, since
this, treated Mr.. Durham with marked for
bearance, in that he has allowed him to re-
main at the head of Committee raised to
investigate alleged crime. when it is noto-
rious that Mr.. Durham is himself liable at
any moment to be brought before Com
mittee of the Convention to answer the
charge of having acted in manner in his
campaign which, if clearly proved, would
result in his expulsion from the body. This
is all that Mr. Cowlcs has done. Is there
any thing censurahle in it? Clearly not
On the contrary. Mr.. Cowle's friends might
justly claim credit for him for his lberality
and forhearance towards Mr. Durham
So far as personal feeling between men,
bers is concerned, Mr.. Cowles is not presum-
ed as presiding officer to take notice of that.
If Mr. Durham, who is an active and hearty
young man, were disposed to boast, as we
believe lie is not, that he gave the lie palpa-
bile to the delegate from New Hanover who
is Minister Of the Gospel, and probably
fifteen or twenty years his senior, the Senti-
mel is welcome to all the advantage thus to
he gained for its cause If Mr. Durham will
say that he will not meet Mr. Ashley and
Mr. Harris on the Committee. it is our opin-
ion that he will not meet any members who
might he placed on it in their stead; for we
take it for granted that no Republican men,
ber would care to make himself more agree
able to Mr. Durham than Messrs. Ashley and
Harris may he to him. The objection to
Mr. Ashley is that Mr.. Durham treated him
most rudely and uncivilly for words spoken
IN debate; or. in other words. that he forgot
his own character as delegate. and wronged
Mr.. Ashley grievously. and therefore, will
not meet him on the Committee Thatfs
the plain English of it. He could not
touch" Mr.. Harris with a pair of oyster
tongs," because he is a colored man; and
therefore, he will not meet him! What non
sensel
We are not surprised at the course of the
Sentinel in thus assailing some of our worth
lest citizens. Mr.. Ashley is every way the
superior Of the Editors of that paper. He
has more intellect, more knowledge, more
character, and m"rc patriotism than score
of such men. These assaults upon him,
coming from the source they do. Will only
serve to endear him the more to his con
stituents and to the good people of the State
in general.
P. S.-Since the above was put in type.
We learn that Mr. Durham has had meet
ing of the Committee, and that he treated
Mr.. Ashley and Mr.. Harris with all proper
courtesy. So it seems the Sentinel does not
speak for Mr.. Durham. t5
Let the investigation go on. The Sentinel
is most anxious to have something done to
save the sinking fortunes of its faction. 1t
knows its party can not succeed on its mer-
Its, but must rely solely ON destroying its op-
ponents by caiumny and unjust suspicious.
Read the admirable letter of the Hon. A.
b. Jones, in the Standard to-day.