Year: 1863

on the part Of officials of all ranks and nositions s
not confined to appointments only, but the defence
OF her coast at a time when the country was less
pressed than now, was by many thought unneces-
sary. By little more attention and effort Roanoke
Island might have been protected and all the Abe
marie region-the granary of the South with its
vast resources, would have been saved to the Con-
lederacy. 1t was surrendered, however, almost
without struggle-without blow. The siren
song of Gov. Ellis tha. our coast defences at any
point would defy the combined power of the whole
Federal navy, lu!led our people to a sleep from
which they were aroused by the thunderngs of the
enemy at Roanoke Island and NewSern. Where
was Gen. Huger, that he did not make proper de.
fence and resistance at that important point and
thus save the key to Norfolk and Portsmouth p
Where was Gen. Wise when the attack was made
and the fatal blow was stricken?


Perhaps the same spirit Of party fidelity to the
administration and opposition to States rights caused
the defeat OF the seven regiment bill in the Conven-
ton, and the consequent surrender of the east to
the mercy of the enemy. Seven thousand veteran
troops lighting for their own immediate homes and
hreSdes-upon their own immediate soil-inspired
Sy the very presence Of their wives and mothers,
with bold hearts and stout arms, would have struck
successfully for the graves of their sires. What
immense advantage it would have been to have saved
the vast resources of that country for the subsis
tence OF our armies besides the protection OF our
detenceless citizens who have been driven forth
from their neglected homes But, perhaps, this
would have lost some patronage to the Confederate
authorities then at Montgomery, and disappointed
the greedy throng of partizans who were clamoring
for place.


More lately when an attempt was made to retrieve
the errors OF the past and organize force to defend
what little Of the East was not quite los, when we
were disposed to lend listening ear to the cries of
the helpless inhabitants of that devoted and neg
lected section, and that too in accordance with the
plain provisions of an act Of Congress- authorizing
the raising of troops for especial service and local
defence" we were met npon this floor and else
where by the argument of " conflict" with the Con-
tederate government


hope no such groundess fear will deter any gen.
tleman representing an independent constituency
from voting for the publication of this correspon-
dence.


North h-CarOlina has done her whole duty in this
struggle for independence and she will continue to
do it. l am for its prosecution to successful and
honorable issue; but am for maintaining her in
tegrity as State, and demanding recognition of
her just claims and such official treatment as will
not tend to mortify and degrade her.


A determination on the part of the Governor to
vindcate those claims and the honor of the State is
clearly indicated in this correspondence and hope
it may be printed and sent forth to the public
source of encouragement to the people, that in the
prosecution of this great struggle for national nde
pendence, their personal rights and liberties will be
zealously guarded and protected.


Gentlemen express the fear that the publication
of this correspondence will give information to the
enemy that would encourage them. l ask the gen.
teman from Davidson what there is in this cores
pondence that can possibly have such effectP


Mr.. Beall answered by saying that there was in
formation from official quarters that there had been
some desertions from North Carolina regiment,
and he did not wish it to go to the enemy.


Mr. GRIssoM-Is not publication made through
the newspapers of the country, under the official
ciOnaturpc nf raOimantol ond hri0oda
constantly and frequently, of large numbers of de-
serters? Does not that go to the enemy? Have
not charges of disoyalty against this Legislature
and against this State, by ogarchs and their low
and contemplate hirelings, both in the State and
out oft been constantly made? Did not that 60
to the enemy? Were not resolutions vindicating
this Legislature from false and slanderous mputa-
tions and declaring in favor of vigorous prosecu-
tiofSof the war, introduced and passed at its last
session, and did not fifteen members of this General
Assembly vote in the negative? Did not that go
to the enemy?


l do not impugn the motives of gentlemen in
giving that vote. Some of them gave reasons that
were doubtless satisfactory to themselves and their
friends 1 thought it at the time great error Of
judgment


Mr.. Cobb, of Edgecombe, said he was among the
number who voted against the Vindicating resolu-
tions, and he desired to ask the gentleman from
Granville whether he charged him with intending
to vote against the prosecution of the war n


Mr.. GRIssoM-With the motives of the gentle:
man from Edgecombe 1 have nothing to do. The
resolutions are on record. They are in plain Eng
lsh. They are part of the history of the coun-
try. The gentleman can read them and interpret
for himself l shall not allow the gentleman to
place me in a false position about it.


But Mr.. Speaker, have listened in vain for
good reason why this motion to print should not
prevail. If it is right and proper that gentlemen
should deliberate in open session here upon subject
matter vitality affecting the public interest there
can be no good reason advanced for Withholding it
from the public


Col j. Fl. Morehead, 45th N. 9. T., died at Mar