Year: 1864

ne continued IN this course, opposing the peace
movement and sympathizing with the Destructiyes,
appointing Destructlves to Office and favoring the
election of members to Congress who were support
ed by DeStructiVes, and prostrating himself at the
foetstool of Executive power in Richmond and at
the ootsoOl of Confederate military power here at
home, until at length he was abandoned by the
great body of those who elected him, and found
himself the choice for Governor of the Destructive
leaders. did lot announce myself for Governor
until perceived, that unless some true Conserva.
tive announced himself Gov Vance would 7yLerise
and destroy the party. 1 am in the field at the
earnest solicitations of many citizens and soldiers,
and l will not withdraw. Ny Conservatism is
above suspicion. There is no cause why should
repent and do my first works over" lam not
put to the necessity of obtaining re obtaining the
confidence of the Conservative party, for have it
already.


am opposed to caucuses and conventions. The
people alone have the right to rule through mass
meetings and through the ballot box. CaucuseS
and conventions were more or less instrumental in
destroying the old government and they should be
avoided under the new l have right to agree
to any compromise which withdraws this man and
puts up that man, and ASST gns one Office to man
and another Office TO another. These things belong
to the people at the ballot box The Conservative
party cannot succeed under an effort to commit it
to Gov. Vance, who has departed from it's prnci-
ples and made war upon the great body of the par
ty and even if it could, its success would enure
substantially to political enemies, who now con-
sdtute the bulk of his supporters,-and such sue
cess, if it can be called so, would necessarily entail
upon the party endless feuds heart burnings, and
divisions There is no ground for hope exaept in
"the straiteSt sect" Nor does it follow, because
Gov. Vance despairs of his election and is prepared
TO withdraw from the contest, that | should with
draw also. On the contrary it furnishes the strong
est reason why should remain in the field, for it
is virtual admission that will be elected, and
hat fha hat 7 o,,1I Lo


Gov Vance has claims me personally
politically. He endeavored, in his Fayetteville
speech, IN his allusion to the mob, to degrade me
personally and destroy my good name, aud that by
witully false statement to what occurred at his
own house. He said, in his recent speech in Raj
egh, that ran like scared dog" to his house
the night of the mob. He also said, that if was
not tory all the tories and deserters in the State
were my frends-the same charge which was made
against him by the Destructives in 1862 and against
which defended him; and he repeated the cast
off calumny of SpelmanS press that the Yankee pri
sonerS taken at Plymouth cheered fof the Rail
road. have no more sympathy with the invaders
of my country than he has; and if such thing hap
peneA which do not believe, the prisoners refer
red to were bribed to do it by some INSCRIPTIONS
Destructive. He encourages the Confederate, of
this City, in its defamatory attacks mc; and he
has procured to be established by his official ntlu
another Journal the Conservative, which is





crimnate praise Of himself One of his Aids Col
Little, who epjoys the special privilege of sending off
his cotton on the Advance and gettng eXchangeior
it the luxuries of the Yankee and English markets.
is known to be an active manager of the CJHserDG
tire establishment and devotes much Of his time in
the Executive office and the street to eectiOneer
ing against me. He is using the patronage of his
office without stint" to build up Vance party to
reflect himself and to PROSTATE the ConseI vatve
party; and even if | were to Withdraw. and thus
abandon the principles of the party 10 his tender
mercieS and those of Spelman Little, McRae,
Ezekiel Jones' and jim Morris, he and his
minohs would still pursue me with malice
which would have no bounds. And yet he says
he is friendly with me, and wants a compro-
mise! Yes, such compromise as the wolf gives
- he lamb or the kite to the dove. verify be-
lieve that he and many of those who are about
him and do his work for him, dislike me so much
because | am true to the people and the soldiers,
and have their confidence, and AN honest man,
that if they had me in their power, and could do it
without fear of punishment they weuld not only
render me Infamous personally, but they would con-
fScate my property and then "bresk me on the
wheel" But my trust is in the Conservative people
of the State. am an humble newspaper Editor,
possessed of no patronage, and Surrounded By no
troops of favorites to urge my claims but if
possessed all these things, would scorn to use them
to deceive and mislead the people and secure
my election. Thank God l can say with Mr.
Burke, II have no arts out honest arts" Strong
in the consciousness-uf right panoplied with truth
and justice, and standing principle, can defy
alike the'stratagems and threats oil my enemies. |
appeal to my friends the true Conservatives in all
parts of the State, to stand firm. Ny election is
certain if my friends will but stand by their prnci
pies and go to the polls. The Conservative party
will thus be saved from the disorganizaton which
threatens it through the treachery Of Gov. Vance;
the party will be purified, its great principles will





the cause Of blessed peace will be promoted and
finally established on lasting foundations.


W. W. HOLDEN.


May 19, 1864.