Year: 1863

nounce this journal, and generally to pass resolu-
tions of political nature Col. Bryan. Grimes, De-
structive, presided with number of Secretaries of
the same stamp, so far as we are able to learn A
committee, composed of such Destructives as Sam
uel P. Hill, R. H. Singeltary, and Others reported
resolutions. These resolutions denounce the pub
lie meetings recently held in this State as taUOr
ing the cause of our enemies" and also denounce
the Standard, and declare that if "true patriotism
in North Carolina has so far lost its hold upon the
minds and hearts Of her people as to be unable to
check the course of the Standard and other papers
which are giving utterance to such sentiments, then
the public authorities would be recreant to the cause
of the country if they should fail to take measures
for their suppression"


The patriotism of large majority of the people
of the State is questioned and the authorities are
called upon to violate their oaths and violate the
Constitution by suppressing freedom of speech and
of the press We had thought these officers Qor


riUates were not tolerated in the convention were
fighting for liberty and law; but it seems, from
their own showing, that they contending for
the right to trample down law and extnguish lib
erty! They tseems are the self constituted judges
of what "trus patriotism" is in North-Carolina;
and if the people of the State who made them what
they are-who put stars on their coats and stripes
on their breeches, and commissioned them to tight
against arbitrary power-do not happen to think
asthey do they are to be dealt with by 1.-THE author
tiles" and the newspapers that speak for them are
to be suppressed and then the people themselves are
to be suppressed if they resist this attempt to tram
pie on the Constitution and deprive them of their
L-:.f Al of
seleconstituted convention. 1t Gscloses disposi-
ton and purpose on the part of officers in the
army, which is alarming; and if this disposition and
purpose should increase and become general among
officers and men, public liberty and the sovereignty
of the States will be placed in imminent peril
military power will overshaiow every thing and
the people will be ridden over and trampled down
by military iespots


But this feeling is not general in the army, nor
is it likely to become so. We have letters N our
possession from officers and privates in the army,
which show this movement to be one of the most
thorough farces and impositions ever enacted. The
privates in the regiments were ignored both in Sc
lecting the delegates and in the convention referred
to. Every person who figured in the convention is
an officer, and the inference is that private was
allowed seat in that body. The poor privates were
confined to the kitchen, and not allowed a seat in
the big house But have heard from the privates,
and they inform US that large majority in all our
regiments endorse the course of the Standard. 1t
seems that meetings were held in the various regi
ments to appoint delegates to the convention. The
following extract will furnish insight into the
manner in which these meetings were gotten up and
conducted. a soldier writing from Pettigrew's br.
gade says:


sAda- fonoxed by the drafting of resolutions repu-
dating the action OF the public meetings hvlI In
| Wake and other Counties These resolutions were
| submitted to vote OF the men, but in such waY
that they could not vote their sentiments The res
Outions were adopted unanimously apparently,
twelve or fifteen in our regiment voting aye and no
one renturiHg to cote nay. But the feeling of the
men is far from being correctly represented. The
| vote was put in this way whether they were in
favor of still fighting, or of laying down their arms
and going back into the Union under any circum-
! stances we might have imposed upon US. Whilst
some would accept peace on any terms the great
majority would not agree to this but are certainly
in favor of attempt at compromise and concilla-
ton. If nothing honorable can be secured then
tight on; but If peace is to be had on any terms
that not degrading, let US have it by all means
before our men are all killed and our whole country
ruined. am told that the 44th regiment voted to
man for peace at all hazards. Our men were ta-
king second vote in the companies yesterday. The
whole affair is calculated to do much more harm
than good. 1t will teach the men the strength of
the peace sentiment; and will but give to other
States better opportunity to heap their slanders
and calumnes on our noble old State"
Observe the wicked fraud practiced on the SOL
diers. They were asked whether they were still
for fighting, or for laying down their arms and sub
mitting to any terms that might be imposed! Of
course they would all say no. The people of the
State who have held the meetings referred to- have
never even thought Of such base submission to their
enemies


Another friend writes US from Pettigrew's brig
ade as follows:


"The whole thing was managed through hum
buggery and secresy. l am confident that eight
cut of ten in this brigade sustains YOU in your
course. l have been in the army twenty.seven
months, and have right 10 speak While
the meetings, gotten up by some of the officers
were being held, the Standard could not be found
so they had to get the Richmond Enquirer and read
garbled extracts from the Standard. The meet
ings were of short DURATION and not onet third of
the priVates knew any thing of them till they were
over. | will close by saying l am peace private
of the 26th, and twotardS of the regiment are the
same way"


number of soldiers in the 47th regiment have
written as follows:


"Ths morning the commissioned officers were
summoned to the tent of the commanding officer to
appoint delegates to convention at Orange Court.
house the priyates were not consulted at all.
We agree with you fully, and if the men of this
army had the privilege of speaking, you would hear
very different voice from that of few off ers" "


Another soldier writes us as follows:


81 have conVersed with the soldiers of three
brigades. They say they do not want these packed
meetings controlled by the officers but fair vote
by ballot The meetings held are all one sided
the private soldier has no voice. ! think these
meetings will confuse and demoralize the men, We
want our rights, and we want the Standard to con-
tIuue Is it possible we cannot have free press
in our State? If so, l will leave this place"


eoIJ;,r O( tIa 18th reOiment writes as follows: