Year: 1863

From the outset of this war the Editor of the
Standard has strained every nerve to render it
OdiouS to the people, and now believe, has had
settled purpose to bring about the reconstruction of
the UniOn.-RegiSter


1t is not true that we have endeavored to render
the war odous to the people On the contrary, we
voted in the Convention for and means to pros
ecute the war; and up to the last call for conscrpts
by the President we have invariably encouraged our
felowcitizens to enter the service, to endure its
hardShps and privatons, and to die if needs be, in
defence OF the country. Our readers recollect the
appeals we have frequently made to absentces and
deserters to return to their regiments. Does that
look like "straining every nerve to render the
odious to the people?" But the cause has been in
jured and the administration at Richmond has
dered itself odous TO our people by its incapacty
its msmanagement of our affairs, and by its prodi
gal and waSeful use and miSapplication Of our re.
sources as we'll as by the naughty manner in which
it has insulted and trampled on North Carolina
We have complained of and resented this, and en-
deavOred to change it; and because We have done
So for the good of our cause and on account of our
own State and people, we have been maligned, mis-
represented, and abused, not only by the Register,





If our votes in the Convention could have prevailed
ard if the policy in relation to State defence advo-
Gated by this paper had been adopted, Eastern Car
olina would not have been desolated, nor would the
enemy have been tearing up the Weldon and Will
mington Road, and burning property along its line
at pleasure. 1t is the policy Of the Register and its
friends in this State and of the administration at
Richmond, which has rendered the war unpopular,
and opened Eastern Carolina as far west as the Rail-
road mentioned, to the ravages of the enemy.


Nor is it true that we have I" settled purpose to
bring about reconstruction of the Union" Every
purpose of a political nature which we have, is
frankly announced to our readers. Does not the
Register know that in the event Of being overrun
and conquered by the enemy, reconstruction would
be impossible? Does he not know that Mr.. Lin
coin would say, Gentlemen, you cannot recon-
struct what you have not destroyed. Indeed, you
have never been out of the Union. You thought
you were but you mistaken. Resume your
duties as members of the Union, on footing with
the most favored States2" We tell the Register
that we have been and still devoted to the cause
of independence; but we stated in the article on
the subject of peace we fear that the chances are
against US. We did not make those chances and
we cannot change them. We are Respondent, but
we are not in despair. We Tell the people the
truth, and for this we are censured. We should
feel the humiliation of restoration of the old gov
ernment as profoundly and as acutey as would the
Editor of the Register; but if the people of this
State with subugation or restoration staring them
in the face as alternatives should sadly and reluct
antly accept the latter it would not be in power
to prevent it. even if we would II the cause of
Southern independence fails it will not be our fault
but the fault of the administration at Richmond and
its partizans The Conservatives of this State have
done their whole duty in the war, and they have
anxously abored to unite the people, to repel the
invader, and TO achieve independence, at the same
time insisting on the preservation of liberty among
ourselves; but the Register and its party have pur
sued different course-have done all they could to
divide our people-to fan the fame of internal dis
cord and to encourage our enemies by falsely rep
resenting to them that large majority of cti-
zens are their friends. All governments on this
continent belong to the people. They can put up
and put down when and as they choose. And
whatever may happen will be proyIdential. The
hand of Providence is continually engaged directing
the affairs of nations. Nations rise and fall accord
ing to His direction. There is no doubt about that
Whatever, therefore, may happen, will rebound in
the long run to our good and to the good of man.
kind. And this we are bound to believe as Chris
tians.