The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-09-09
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The Militia.

The Sentinel would like very much to
make little capital for its sinking cause
out Of the organization of the militia. 1t
complains of expenses to be incurred on this
score. The answer is, the militia viii be
entirely under the control of the civil power,
and there will be no extraordinary expense,
unless the turbulence of the Sentiners fol-
lowers should oblige the civil power to call,
out the militia, If the Sentinel desires to.
avoid expense, let it counsel its partizans to
be quiet, to obey the law, and to respect the
rights of Others. If the militia should be
called out, the responsibility for it will not
rest on the Republicans, or on the Governor
of the State.
1t is the duty Of every free government
like ours to organize its militia. This duty
is incumbent and important even in ortlI-
nary times, but it is especially important
now, when the very government itself is
threatened by combination avowetlly
formed to overturn and destroy it. The
New York rebel Democratic platform, on
which the ,partizans of the Sentinel are
standing, declares the existing government
of North Carolina unconstitutional and
void; and Gen. Blair, the rebel candidate
for Vice President, gives it as his opinion
that if Mr.. Seymour should be elected, it
will be his duty to .ramplc the reconstruc-
ton acts and the government of this State
| under foot. The Sentinel itself, and all its
leading friends. not only endorse these views,
but they arc pledged to carry them out
If the Legislature Of this State, and Gov
Holden, in view of these threats, had folded
their arms and made no preparations for
the future. they would have made criminal
surrender of liberty and justice, and would
have been false to themselves, their country
and their God. They oi1 make no surrender
They will he ready when the time comes, il
bad men should attempt to involve our peo.
pie in war and bloodshed. North Carolina
is as much in and Of the Union as the State
OF New York. Her people havo the same
right to control their internal government
and police us the people of New York
have. Any attempt by Mr.. Seymour to
trample the government of North Carolins
would be resisted by Governor Holden at tho
head of one hundred thousand men anf
any attempt here at home, by the leaders o
the rebellion, to resist or subvert the STATE
government. would be visited by punishment
which would not stop on the field of battle
but would reach to executions for treason and
the confiscation of estates The present
government of North Carolina will endure
and every step that may be necessary vii
be taken to ensure its perpetuity. Let tn
militia be organized. Let the six thousan,
volunteers provided for by the act, be ten
dercd and accepted. Let the necessar,
steps be taken in every County to ensure
free and fair election. That is all the Re
publicans ask, and they intend to have it a
the point of the bayonet, if necessary. TIL
Governor will do his duty. He is not to b
wheedled, or caioled, or inundated. H
has seen hotter times than these, and Ii
: does not fear consequences so long as
feels that hcls in tile path of duty. +.