The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1868-04-15
Forthe Standard.
&. w. ASHBURN, OF GEORGIA.

u. w. ASHBUhN, or UEOAsAA'
MEssRs. EDITORS Il notice IN your
issue of the 3rd inst, statement that
G. W. Ashburn, of the Georgia Con-
vention, had been assassinatcd by the
rebels. Itmav not be improper ut this
time. for an old friend of Mr.. Ashburn,
to offer few remarks upon the man
who hls fallen victim to rebel hate,
and in regard to the motives, intenslonS,
and affiliations of his murderers. 1t
was in 1862, that | first met Geo. w.
Ashburn, then loyal Georgian, in the
army of the Cumberland. When Gen.
Rosencranz assumed command OF that
Department, Col Ashburn was given
a place upon his staff, and we were fire
qaent comrades during the subsequent
campaigns of that army. In this long
association, I found little to blame, and
much to admire, in the character of Mr.
Ashburn: man of earnest sentiment
and inhexible will rugged, strong and
self-reliant, he seemed to have but one
aim in life, and that was to restore the
government ofthe old flag to the State
of Georgia. l haye never known a man
whose State love and pride were more
intense than his. Georgia, he said to
the writer few months since, Georgia,
reconstructed by loyal men, will be
nohlest State in the American Union"
az only hope, said he, upon another oc-
casion, to live to see Georgia recon-
structed and to lay my homes in soil,
consecrated to liberty, within her Dor,
ders." Noble and unwavering has been
thy struggle, old friend and comrade,
in our holy cause. The battle left thy
venerable head unscathed, and from
many a hard fought field, thou did'st
return unharmed. But the brutal hate
of cowardly fiends, spared not thy age;
regarded not thy noble earnest man.
hood, nor the tears of bereaved tami-
". And, alas that We must write the
truth, the nation for whose glory, thou
hast so often risked thy life, was too
impotent or too ungratetul to protect
thee from rebel hate, even upon her
own soil. And here let me ask, if our
military commanders are to be held
biameless when such outrages are COM
mitted in their districts ? 1t really
seems as if the disposition of troops in
these rebel States, was in many instan-
ces, intended to invite lawlessness and
mob violence. | have always under
stood it to be principle of military art,
that in conquered country, the canton
ments should he numerous, though
small, in order that the inception of tu-
multi may be promptly checked. In
many parts of these States, however,
days, and even weeks must elapse, be-
fore military authority can be exerted
upon murderers and assassins. 1t may
be said, that the military authority can
be exercised through the civil officials
How exercised? The question will
not bear reply. Six or eight posts in
each State, may be the most economi-
cal plan, but three or four times that
number would prevent any possible vi
olence, and give confidence and security
to the people. 1t seems strange that
our military commanders have not more
carefully noted the Importance of a
greater number of posts, especially dur
ing an exciting political campaign like
the present.
Col. Ashhurn was loyal Southern
gentleman, had fought for the old flag
bravely, and was hated accordingly
The spirit which animated his MUIR
derers, was hatred to the American
Union. Kindred spirits in North Car
olina are you now striving to incite
revolution and bloodshed among our
people, by declaring that such men as
Col. Ashburn, should not be allowed to
live in the State every white Republi-
can should be hung higher than Haman,
and every negro " fossilized," killed, or
driven out of the country
WENCKAR.