Year: 1861

The Offices.


We are sorry to see that there are those in
tbis our day of great peril who openly claim
oil the Offices at the disposal Of the appointing
nower in the organization of the military Of the
State for the original sScessio"fsts. This is
decidedly wrong, and if persisted in will ope-
rate seriously against the efficiency of the
service.


We abandoned the Union soon after the
election of Lincoln, believing that it was gone
and gone forever and openly and boldly de-
clared in favor of associating North Carolina
with the Southern Confederacy. We were BE-
hind some but ahead of many we claim how
ever no patriotism over those who continued
to battle for Union till the last moment, for
since the war of subjugation has been declared
bv the North we have seen these much abused
men all over the State offer themselves, their
means and all they have in the defense of the
South as freely and as cheerfully as the orjgin-
al secessionists themselves. Guilford David
son and Orange countless that gave heavy
Union maiorities in February, have offered as
MANY men for the defense of our rights homes
and families as Edgecome, Wayne and Dupin
that gave heavy secession majorities. Why
then. in the name of all that is fair, honorable
and patriotic talk about ,o0uthern Righks
Party now. or draw offensive distinctions
which do not exist? Z? Why claim all the Of
fees for the original secesst0nists, when ALL
regardless of all former political differences,
are now banded together to defend the South
against the common enemy. The original
secession party professed itself willing few
months ago to ignore self and sacrifice every
thing for principle; why do they not rush to
the ranks then? Is there not as much glory
and heroism in carrying musket as in WELD
inc sword? Cannot as good fighting be
done on foot as on horseback? IF those who
a few months ago were for Unon are unfit to
hold Office are they fit to fight the battles Of
our country in the ranks If they are not to
be trusted in the one position are they worthy
of confidence in the other.


Vance and Leach, gentlemen who were
among the strongest Union men in Congress,
are in the field with their men, both Of them
only holding Captains commissions, which
were first conferred upon them by their com
panies Gilmer has son at Fort Macon, in
company too which vas among the first to go
there. But where are the members of the late
I. S. Congress from this State who were
among the early secessionists? With the
exception Of Senator Bragg who we learn is a
private in one Of the companies at Raleigh, we
do not know of single one Of the members in
theservice unless it be those who have been Civ
en- fat offices and in justice to Governor Bragg
it is as well to state that he was not claimed
By the original secessioniSts as one Of their
number We dislike to speak Of these things
but We will not hear portion Of the people of
the State who are now acting a patriotic part
abused, and say nothing in their defense.


In ordinary times that to the yictors be
long the spoils is fair in politics we are will
ling to admit, but any man or set Of men who
attempt to have the Offices in our military
organization parcelled out among political ia
vorites at time like the present deserves and
will receive the execrations of an indignant
people We wifi not believe that Governor
Ellis can or will be Influenced in his high trust
by any such dict0tion. We have too much
confidence in his patriotism and integrity to
believe that he will for a moment swerVe from
the conscientious discharge Of his duty to his
State to please selfish demagogues. He Ger
tainly will not he cannot overlook efficient
men at this time simply because they cannot
boast that they were original secessionists,
when he himself opposed them only last June.


We hope that those who are keeping up a
war upon all who have ever been Union men
will see the folly Of their course and stop it, for
we tell them now that it can only result i'll
injury to themselves.