The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-10-12

OF your Communication Of the I'm inst requesting
that troops may be sent to Wilmington, N. O. and
stating that you have 0fcial Information that lot
OF Ended rides mas been found secreted in Newbern
also that you have reason to believe that have
been sent to Charlotte N o. and several other points,
DC. have forwarded your letter TO General Meade
for his information.
have received reliable reports legally substantial
rnes many Of them sixteen shooters, With sccoa
trements, &C., complete, have been received at Will
mIngton and thence distributed to organizations In
Clubs, and TX. K. K'a0 From other points ofiicers
report similar movements the object Of which has
n9s
have no doubt he will take proper action IN the mat
ter While therefore, these occurrences give rise to
questions which may possibly produce serious re-
Suits STILL action in the nrst instance should be taken
by the civil authorities which, In my opinion, can be
s o 1 ts ~ s
spring Of persons by force or otherwise to prevent
the execution Of the laws Of the State ana making It
against the authority thereof.
The constitutional right Of all citizens to the pos
session 81 arms for proper purposes does not ex.
weapons OF purely military character, such as
those reported as having been received In such unu
sual quantities at Wilmington and other points,
otherwise batteries and regiments may be formed
with equal propriety, inimical to the government,
while it calmly awaits the fate intended by those
who In 1860 pursued similar course. IL Will I'M
doubleday be claimed by these parties that their mo
tves are perfectly good and as indicating no nten-
VIII FcSlSb law OF otntTWisc
with the peace and quiet Of their respective ocali-
ties. This cannot be granted. In 1881 professions
OF intense loyalty to the constitution and laws went
hand in hand with concealed preparations
for war. Many OF these men are par0led
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 re-
organized under acts OF Congress, the sequence OF
the rebellion and any attemptto disturb Its laws and
prevent the reestablishng OF tts authority Is in my
opinion an act OF hostility and violation or their
solemn obligations, which may justly excite action
on the part OF the general government. Their rights
In asserting and maintaining political preferences
cannot be questioned but when pushed to the present
extremity, assuming hostile positions towards the
government, prompt condemnation on the part OF
all good citizens should follow.
This apparent purpose and readiness to appeal
to arms after the experience OF the past years.
Ii inexplicable. 1t Is strange that many OF the
citizens Of this State should SO far forget
their interests as to court another collision
which cannot but be more disastrous than
that recently ended. There il nothing In the
present political contest to excite apprehens0ns 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 creditabe to all concerned and any attempts
to excite disturbances by parties under any pre-
tence whatsoever, are alike fO0lhardy and criminal.
1t probably requires no discussion to prove the en-
tire futity OF attempting any resistance OF the
eminent In Its efforts to perfect and complete the
questions arising from the late war. Its whole power
Is guaranteed for the maintenance or the laws as
should and must be respected.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NELSON A. MILES,
Bvt. Maj. Gen. q. 8. A., C0md'g. Dist.