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5! 1864. . , r Itankru. ILLIAM W.- HOLDEN, EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR. FoL. xiv.. N6. 11. BAEEIGH: FRIDAY, FEB. 4. 1864. Vrnm Eastern North-Carolina. be public mind has been excited for several days by the knowledge that important u....vj lemenis were on foot in the direction of wewoern, to the time of. writing this we .re wmiuu LrL ;nfnrmation as to the result It is known fa large force of veteran troops, commanded by I table and experienced officer, were uiuy...6 Cc Vewbern, and that on Monday morning last Finnish took place at this side of Newoern, in wmcu . . .t . o.u v n tfnnns. eras killed. It is re- to 01 me ovu x'. v -r-r- .... id that a portion of our forces are on the south l.e ,u Trent btfow Ne wbern j that the Railroad "been torn up, thus cutting off communication een Moreheadand jNewoern; wm w rithin two miles 01 ixewown u UODu, j k.j .irnrised and captured a Yankee inif. MU u r- - - - . o' . .J ik.t tisaitf firinir ma ptiL It IS alSO reporicu urn ' J a , Wednesday morning in me airecuon 01 kT inhabitants below GoWsboroogh. have no doubt from what we have learned the expedition was well piannea, ana we ieei that if the enemy's works at Newbern should v .... 1 mi hacked tbey will he cameo. j.ue puao.im wbern, and the permanent occupation 01 mai 1 of thLstate by our forces would result most Sficially to our people and to the Confederate We trust the expedition nas Deen in every ject successful. If we should hear more oeiore r to press we" will lay it before our readers. TSCBiPT. We learn that a dispatch was received ov. Vance on Thursday morning, from Golds- gh, stating that aewoeru wuum uv -.v.-our forces on account of the strength of the cations of thpt place. official dispatch from Gen. Pickett, who com- ed the expeduion, to Gen. Cooper, at Rich- I states that he had made a reconnoisance with- 1 ., . -.1. TT.1..' V- ,J die and a half of JNewoern, wuu iio a m iBu art of Corse's and Clingman's, and some artiL He met the enemy in force atBatchelor's Creek, illed and wounded about one hundred, and cap- thirteen officers, two hundred and eighty pri fourteen negroes, two rifled pieces and caissons, i hundred stand of small arms, four ambulances, waeons, fifty-five animals, a quantity of cloth- the camp and garrison equipage, and two flags, mander Wood captured and destroyed the Uni- tates gunboat Undent ritcr. ' r loss is thirty-five killed and wounded. e resolutions auopieu uy mo wuoanum ting held in Greensborough, which we publish iy, have the ring of the true metaL They the ihe loftiest and most determined devotion le great principlesofConstitutional liberty, and every way worthy of the noble assemblage of iots who adopted them.. ib Confederate. -Col. Duncan K. McRojj has med the chief Editorial .- management of the iical department of the Confederate, a new De- live journal in this City Which succeeds the Journal now defunct- CoL McRae is a bril- and ready writer, and has had much expert as a public man. He says in bis balutatory, the public mind is weary of individual strife, better taste aDoeals for a higher order of 1 nourishment Frankly acknowledging all iencies, and truthfully assuring the frater of his motives and intentions, he asks their hand of fellowship; and claims a generous for- nee of his short comings, and a sympathy in efforts, so far as they may fee proper and well- ted." e. reciprocate this feeling on the part of CoL tae, and trust that nothing may occur to dis- it ' - . Jf course we are all duly grateful to CoL McRae Issuming the Editorship of "an organ faithfully bting the loyal sentiment ot the State, deemed lisite here, in the capital town of North-Car- e published in our last the substance of the mil bill recently passed by the Senate, placing in ce all wVite male residents of the Confederate is between the ages of eighteen-and fifty-five. House, it seems, is considering a different bill icret session. Nothing has been perfected on subject, so far as we know. pOBTAST Decision. The Fayetteville Observer Jains a decision by Judge French, in a case of hi corpus from Moore County, in which he Is that the law of Congress conscribing the prin ts of substitutes is constitutional The appli- was remanded to the custody of the enrolling nr. . - - pe Confederate, noticing the ridiculous stories isbed in Boston and .elsewhere, to the effect this State is about to secede from the Confed- W, and the public meetings held in this State, that Gov. Vance, who is falsely reported as jg in favor of a return to the Jnion, "ismia- pentea because these meetings tit him to -them Peir laudatory resolutions." We feel sure there purpose on the part of the meetings referred Y injure Gov. Yance. Confederate, with the Oliener and other ructive journals, is assiduously engaged in an ef- snow that the Standard is untrue to the ederacy, and a friend to the federal government c Juais displaying their ingenuity at the Me of truth and justice. Ihey studiously 10 copy from our C0umns . oDinions. fing our position and views, but rely on Yan- kiuiony, such as telegrams from Boston and f from Mr. Everett's Gettysburg oration. w tbe witnesses. They, are not of the they are nnt miiAi ti,... 1 to attribute influence to 'the. Standard. much more oratof.,1 j i 11 : .. . . - ""J could do from onr VAti Pted to the South, and that onr people are " m r determination to resist the srn abolitionist. kf ...u . .. suit Jt, x 7 " cuurse would party advantage, and ence it is not t the i.t opponents ; tut whether gutter or nnt A . , , . . wge ihxt n. n . -onj'ei oy the PtheDr W UDderst01 d P- ' kit tfT81 10 sute thattba rM- r J?cidentaIlK ba QYrd in this City, thehfc? uP.one morning Vf ff. ff.iTlW.t nl?0: r, "we nrespnt k ""'"g o me exer 8 ..rS the ad oln nr !,., . rl . 4Tea from lm o ".uuao ui jur. P'e comK. ,rom almost cerUin Hoof ciioT PP?d promntlV 7,. renaeredya!uable " ' . Some iPIaU Talk. , The Editor of this paper is still, and nas' been for two years, an object of the bitterest and most un just political persecution ; and not only this, but he Js socially assailed, and Is constantly threatened with personal violence. , WbyuUhiaf Wfiatbavo we done? . ' We were a Union man up to Lincoln's proclama tion. We have since been a war man, and we are now in favor of. fighting and negotiating at the same time for peace. At the beginning of the war, when volunteer companies were being equjpped by private subscriptions, we centributed'to this object as freely and as much in proportion to our means as any citizen of the State. Our only regret is that we were not able to give more. We have uniform ly submitted te the laws, advised othe.-s to submit .to them, paid our taxes, and labored to ensure the independence of the Confederate States. We have never refused to-aid a soldier when he appeared to need it, or ;to aid the soldiers' families "when called upon to do so. We have cheerfully part ed with our property for government usoj at a'low price, when others in this community who pretend to be war men gave up their property reluctantly, or retained it by making special appeals to the de partment at Richmond. We have uniformly re ceived Confederate money in payment of old as well as new debts, while many Destructives have refifsed 1 it onld debts, and even for grain and meat for soldiers' families. We have never entertained a thought, nor breathed a word, nor printed a line with the view or intention of injuring the Southern cause. Wherefore, then, this persecution these threats t We will tell you, reader. We have, ur ged the people to maintain their liberties while they were contending against the common foe. We have insisted on a strict construction of the Constitution, and on the perpetual, unremitting force of the civil law, We have exposed corrup tion in high places, and demanded reform, not for factious purposes, but fbr the good of the cause. We have contended for the rights of .the States, and resisted the tendency to establish a military despo tism. We have taken the partof the private sol dier when he has been unjustly treated and impo sed upon ; and we have called time and again on those who promised the volunteers that they would provide for their families in their absence, to redeem their pledge. We have insisted on the right of the private soldiers to have the companies and regi ments re organized when they shall - be agnin con scripted in the spring, with the privilege of electing their own officers. We have published complaints from citizens whose rights have been disregarded by the military, and have insisted that property shall not be taken, or destroyed by order of com manding officers, without just compensation. We have protested against the arrest of our citizens withodt civil warrant, and have insisted that every one thus arrested and thrown into a military prison, is entitled to a speedy trial to be released if no sufficient grounds exist for holding him, or to be turned over, if sufficient grounds exist, to be tried by a jury of his country. We have advocated every measure which was-calculated to render our armies efficient ; we have rejoiced when vjctory has crown ed our arms, and we have mourned when disaster has fallen on our banners. But we are a Conserva tive; we believe in the right of thopeople to gov ern themselves we have favored suob steps as promised to lead to an honorable peace we have insisted that the Confederate States should not fight on blindly to the verge of ruin for States that are against us, as for example, Maryland, Missouri, and Kentucky, but that tbe olive branch should be car ried in one hand and the sword in the other; and we have favored a Convention of our .people not for factious or selfish purposes not to destroy or even embarrass the common government, but to aid it in its efforts to obtain a just and honorable peace. "Our offence hath this extent no more." Still we are called a traitor, and every effort is made by our enemies to prejudice the people against us, and to destroy us socially, politically, and person ally. Our fault is that the people are with us, and that we are true to both soldiers and people. If this be our fault, then are we proud of it ;and we tell our assailants, whether they be Destructives or professed Conservatives, that if they are against the people of this State if they are disposed to thwart the will of the. people, or stifle' it, or if they consent to any measures that may be resorted to to stifle tbat will, or to interfere with its free and full ex pression, then we are against them. If we are false to the Confederate government, then it has but few friends in this State, for a vast majority of our peo ple agree with us. But 76 are not false. The real traitors are those who aided in bringing on the war, but who refuse to fight in it, and who are at hoano growing rich out of it, while their neighbors and neighbors' children, who were opposed to the action which produced the war, are baring their breasts to the storm of battle. These are the traitors, fellow citizens traitors to their own pledged word, trait ors to their neighbors, their country, and tlieir God ; and these are the men who are themselves engaged, or engaged as the instruments of othois, in assailing, villifyiDg, and threatening us. We now say to our friends, or.ee for all, that we are calm and firm, and intend to do our.duty at all hazards. We shall not swerve, undor any circuL i stances, from Conservative principles, nor turn ou r back on the people. But we advise moderation in all things. , We must not forget our duty to our co States, to the common government, or to the hrave army of the Confederate States now in the field, wieldin'g the mailed hand of war while those at home in the civil councils are presenting the ungloved hand of peace. We must fight and talk for peace at the same time 5 and the effectiveness of tha latter, whether by public meetings, or public journals, or members of -Congress or of State Legislatures, or Conventions of the-States, depends on the vigor of theformer. We mint treat with arms in our hands. These are our views, held and expressed for months past It !s absurd utterly absurd to as sume that vie have possessed the people with these views, or any particular views, or -that they are do ing wrong, as is alleged, under our leadership. We are amazed that such an assumption should be made by any intelligent person. The very "reverse is the fact We.repeat, we are behind the people. They are directing and controlling us. We are simply one of their orgfta. We would not lead tbm. if we could. But they want no leaders. Thv are "abe to lead and govern themselves. " We believe Ihx F will do so prudentlyj justly, and'wisely, and tbat liie result will be the greatest gqod to the great fest number;" . Z Th CtmsENCT Bau The Examiner says "jt was expeeted tbat the currency bill would bo com pleted, and passed by the Senate in the secret ses sion: ofsterdsy. We learn that the - bill which was sent up from-the House, has been modified by th'j Sgnate in such important particulars that there U no prospect of the Hou3e agreeing to it, and that committf e of conference will be demanded which U1 jrobi bly -bring this, important matte totho fJ 6t t he session." .- Prlacipals of Substitutes. - - -We publish below the bill which has passed the House 0 Representatives on this Bubject It is now pending in tbe Senate : A Ml to le entitled an Act amendatory of an Act . enwua "An Act V put an rrui Ute exemption v from military service of those&ho hate heretofore ' furnished substitutes," approved January 5, 1864. ' Sicnow 1. The Congress of . the Confederate States of America do enact, That the above recited act 6hall not apply to farmers anij plasters engaged on the 6th day of January, 1894, in the production of grain and provisions,- either by their own manual labor or in superintending the labor of others : Pro-. tided. The exemption herein contemplated is grant ed subject to the following conditions: L luat the person availing himself thereof shall devote himself, and tbe labor of. which be has the control or superintendence, exclusively to ihe pro duction of provisions and family supplies. II. That there shall te paid and contributed, from the farm, or, if more than one farm,' from each of the firms which the person thus exempted owns or superintends, in addition to the tithe required by any tax law, an additional tenth of the pork or bacbn produced on said farm or farms, (beginning with the product of last year,) for the use of the army. j , IIL - That the person thai -exempted will, if so required, sell all his surplus 'provisions, now on hand or hereafter raised, for the use of soldiers' families, or for the use of the army, at prices not greater than those fixed, for the time being, by the commissioners appointed Under the impressment act .IV. That the person seeking to avail himself of tbe benefit of this act 6hall have furnished a substi tute pot liable to military- duty, who is now in the service, or who has been legally discharged there-, from, or who has died therein. Y. That the benefit of this act 6hall not apply to persons on farms or plantations en which there is any other malo adult not liable to military duty. - Sec. 2. Nothing contained in this act shall .be construed as limiting the power of the President, under existing laws, to exempt such persons as he may deem proper, on grounds of equity, justice, or necessity. " This bill passed the House by 44 to SI. Messrs. Arrington, Ashe, Bridgers, Davidson, Gaither, Mc Lean, and Smith of this State voted for, and Messrs. Kenan and Lander against it ' In the Senate, on the 3d, Mr. Sparrow, from the "military committee, reported back to the Senate the above bill, with a recommendation that it do not pass. ' No action was taken. We shall not follow the example of the Fayette ville Olsercer in its self-praise and coarse person alities. We reminded it of its large profits from sources outside the Observer establishment, from which it was obvious the paper was sustained, as it could not be sustained at the prices charged for - subscriptions; but we did this solely in self-defence, as the Observer had charged us with asking " extortionate prices'' for the Standard. .We obtained no information in regard to the Kerosene factory in which the Editors are interested, from an " ill-informed or unworthy source." It is generally known that they are interested both in the Kerosene and cotton basiness. Their statement, that they are not realizing large profits from these sources, but invested their money from patriotic motives, may pass for what it is worth. For our part we do not believe it We repeat the fact, as a printer, that the OSsemej is losing money at its present rates of subscription, that is, if it pays the market price for the paper it uses, and pays' its em ployees the wages they have a right to expect ; and we believe the Editors fear to advance their terms, lest they should Jose subscribers, and hence they rely. upon other sources of income to sustain their "paper. We did not wish to make this statement, but tbe Observer forced it -from us by its discourteous and unfounded statement, made without the slightest provocation from us, that we were charging u ex tortionate prices " for ttra Standard. The Observer boasts that its circulation is in creasing with great rapidity. We do not believe it The Conservatives, we know, are dropping it by hundreds, for we are so informed by letters from all p arts of the State ; and nearly all its new subscribers are Confederate office-holders, or ob tained in clubs in Destructive neighborhoods by earnest appeals made by' Destructive leaders. And unless the Observer changes its course, renounces its errors, returns to the path of Conservatism, and co-operates in good faith with the Standard, it will soon find itself in the condition. of the Register and State Journal when they were on their last legs ; and if it Ebild live on thus in " the lean and slip- par' d pantaloon," it will have to depend entirely for its nourishment on its Kerosene and cotton factory pr-ofila. But these are small matters, and we dismiss them. W have referred to them only in self-defence, but we shall not again be diverted from the discussion of grave matters by the presentation by the Obser ver of tiioce small issues and unprofitable, personali ties in which -that paper appears to take so muofa pleasure. The Observer savs we have 11 confessed that we uaed to abuseGov, Graham, Mr. Badger, Gov. Yance, Mr. Gilmer, and others, as untrue to the South." This is not true. The Observer has no authority to ose the names of .these gentlemen in this way. Its allusion to Mr. Badger, when we consider the Ton dition of that venerable and illustrious man, and the relation which the Editors bear towards him, is in tbe last degree improper and indelicate. Mr. Badger is now so stricken with disease as to be up- able to answer for himself. a That glorious intellect which once charmed and convinced,' and shed light on every subject which it touched, is now objeured ; bat his principles are the same, and his hoart.is as eeneroos nd unselfish as it ever was. It was our tortttne to be associated with hi in on the ticket in j lhis County for a seat in the State Convention, in bruaryand May, 1861; and during the February campaign, one of our opponents indulged inthe cm xie etrflin of remark in reply to a speech of Mr. Bmi 'ef, which the Observer has adopted. Reference was . Tade to the former course of the Standard to wards ! Mr. Badger, with the view of exciting, him no-Hi n us, and of making capital Sot tbe disunion- ists b. "t be met this reference before the people with nil. wee and cold contempt, wnue be observed to us pri vately that we had doubtless in time past uone each Oiucr liijuftfciuo iu.v wowcio uuw inciiua, and that be would not gratify our enemies, as he hoped we t ould not, by taking any notice of such attacks wh ch contained no argument, but were in tended to 1 vevi'O unworthy prejudices that ought to be forgotU. 11 18 unnecessary to say that ,we agreed with hi ' 31 heartily ia this view, and .regarded his touree on 'I e occasion e additional evidence of his largeness of .hrartand magnanimity of disposi tion. And whei n M7. 1861, we were again elected to the Con Tf ntion, after a most bitter cam Daien in which the Ytfforts of the disunionists were directed m.inlv ri 'Dst us, he declared to the peo ple, in his speech re turning thanks for the support ha had received, that "Such was the interest he felt in our success an a n "ididate, that if either of us wan to be defeated he WOUld have" prefeW9dXMir election to his own. EC much for the Observer Wll.ialnn tn Mr lUriMr r. ve shall always chemh the kindest feelings and deepest respect for hi mt nrf rfrwvl mn .Nothing can ever in dude us to think or speak unkindly of him, or of his reaWriends. To the ,0b 'stfr wo cea3e viper, you bite a file'. We publish to-day for inforn. tion, thetequest of the Treasurer, an act on the "ubject of revenue passed at tbe last session ot-tbe Lt' gfelature, to which ' we respectfully direct tbe attenti to of SberjfE and o.therj concerned. . . ' Mr. Reade's Remark. . . v-We fake great pleasure in hying "before our rea ders to-day the remarks of the Hon. JCdwin G. Reade, delivered in tbe Confederate Senate oft the 80th of. January, On the occasion of presenting resolutions 0r thanki anks to a portion of the North Carolina troops lor their patriotism, as evinced by volunteering for the remainder of the war, . Tbe occasion was verj appropriate for these, re marks. We are glad Mr. Reade submitted them, ' and we are more than pleased with their temper and - L truthfulness. He tells the - Senate and the country that the charge that North-Carolina is untrue to the 'Confederate government, is unfounded ; and he goes .further and says that the proposition to hold a Con vention in this State is best understood by its ad vocates, who declare that it does not mean mischief; and that whether North-Carolina "shall call a Con vention or not, or whatever else she may 'do; will be so marked with propriety that others in time to come, as in time past, will evince their high appre ciation of it by claiming that she was not the first to do it, but that they were.' In other words.-Mr. Reade claims, for his State the right -to take such action as her own people may consider best for themselves and the country; and he has so much confidence in the intelligence and integrity of the people whom he in part represents, that he feels sure' that any action tbat may bo resolved upon by them will be both proper and patriotic, and marked by a due regard for tbe rights and feelings of others. Mr. Reade does not see the danger in a Convention which other public men. who mitrht be named. think they see ; -Mr. Reade is not afraid to trust tbe people in Convention ; Mr. Reade has no sympathy with those who denounce the friends of a Conven tion as plotters fit treason and enemies to the com mon government ; Mr. Reade can perceive no ." new Hartford Convention " in a movement which pro poses that the people shall consult together in their sovereign capacity as to tbe best means of shielding their vital interests and. obtaining an honorable peace. We call attention to the following significant statement by Mr. Bcade : " Senators have doubt less heard, as I have, that it has been gravely con sidered whether force ought not to be employed to overawe and silence her peopla." It is true, then, that.it has been ." gravely considered" .whether North-Carolina ought not to be coerced ! Mr. Reade very properly omitted to characterize the fact, or to make any threat But be reminded the Senate that North-Carolina had held two' Conventions one at Charlotte Town, in 1775, and one at Raleigh, in 1861, and both those Conventions were unanim ous in their views and purposes ; and the inference to be drawn was, that though no State was more devoted to the Confederate government than North Carolina, and none would go farther or submit to greater sacrifices Co keep faith, yet there was no power that could overawe -or silence her people, when they chose to express their opinions, whether in Convention or otherwise.. We trust, however, that the idea, even if "grayelj" entertained, of re sorting to force against our people in any event, will be at once and forever discarded ; and that the States and the common government will continue to move forward harmoniously in their respective. spheres. . And the speech of Mr. Reade, as we trust and believe, will, contribute in no small degree to this most desirable result The Philadelphia Inquirer of the 1st instant states that Lincoln has ordered a draft for 600,000 men to serve duringthp war, the draft to.be made on the lOth.of March. . '' Revenue. As Act to-mehdah Act kxtitlgd "Revenue," RATIFIED THE llTH OAT OP JANUARY, 1863. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assem bly of the State of North Carolina, and it is here by enacted by the authority of the sane. That the 15th paragraph, under schedule A, section 70, of said act be amended so tbat said paragraph shall read as follows : On every dollar of nett profit or dividend declared, received or due, during the year preceding the 1st day of April in each year, upon money or capital invested hi manufacturing cotton or woolen goods, leather, or other articles made of leather, iron andtobacco ; also on every dollar of profit made by the purchase and sale 06 corn, flour,, bacon and other provisions, salt cotton, tobacco leather, and naval stores ; also on every dollar of nett dividend or profit on money invested in steam boat companies, (wheteer incorporated or not) and in railroad-! a tax of two cents. Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That there shall be levied on every dollar of nett profit or dividend on the purchase and sale of articles imported into the State from, neutral ports through the blockade of our coast, or which shall be brought from the States with which we are at war, and sold in this State, a tax of .five cents, and it shall be the duty of the Sheriff of the counties in which said sales are made, to proceed, forthwith to collect the tax au thorized by this section as soon as sales are made, under the same penalties for neglect as are pre scribed for neglect in similar cases, in an act enti tled "Revenue," to which this is an amendment' Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That 19th para graph, under section 86 of said act, schedule B, be and the same is hereby repelled. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted. That this att shall be in force from its ratification. ' Read three times in General-Assembly, this 12th day of December, A. D. 18C3. (Signed) R. S. DONNELL, S. H. C (Signed) . GILES MEBANE, S. S. .Another Blast from the North Carolina Troops 1 The Thirtieth Reoixbnt Speaks. We publish with great pleasure the following patriotic proceedings: Camp 80th N. 0. Ttoops.) - . JanSgj.h, 1864. f Editor Sentinel Dear Sirr-Pease publish the Subjoined resolutions, and oblige your obedient ser vant ' ' " J. I. HARRIS, Capt Co. I 80th N. C. T. At a meeting of the troop's of the 80th N. C. reg iment, held at headquarters on the 27thof January, 1864, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted : , . Whereas, an unjust attempt of a radical party in the United States, to subvert and overthrow all con- .Kti'iition&l eruarantiea. and to rob us of our DroDertv. (honestly obtained,) did first force us to withdraw from an alliance no longer binding; and, whereas, they did deny us tbat right and have attempted to drive us back into a re union that we detest, bj waging a war against us unparalleled in history for its atrocity and vindictiveness of spirit ; and, where as, we have learned through Northern papers that the despot who reigns at Washington has induced large'numbers of his present army, by the induce ment of lrtrge bounties and broad promises, to re-enlist, and is offering extraordinary inducements to cit-. 'izens of foreign nations as well as of the United' States to enlist, to fill the ranks of his army, thus clearly defining.a settled determination to subjugate us at all hazards ; now, therefore, we do unani ously . . . Resolve, That, viewing our cause as a just and holy one, we declare ourselves re-enlisted "for the " 'war in tbe straggle for that liberty and inJ?pond ence bo dear to every patriotic nd honest heart ; 'that our watchword shall be liberty, and we exhort our Congress and the President of the Confederate States to listen to no kind of terms that fall short" of our complete and ontrammeled Independence. Eesolved, That we have the most unbounded con fidence in our gallant chieftain. General Robert E. -Lee, and will cheerfully and willingly standby bim, through storm and sunshine, until the prize for whiclv we are contending shall be acknowledged by alienations. . . , .We received last evening, too late for publication, the proceedings of the 4th and 47th N. C. regiments, also. We shall take great pleasure, in our next, in laying before our readers what these glorious men have to say. Richmond Sejitinel. . '-. "."."Sftf-Heirf.'---'-CoL Gnffin commanding Confederate forces, tel egraphed to the War. department from Jackton on. the Slat January, as follows: ' Yesterday morning ennmd the iniv with force of two hundred men and a mounted rifle piece. After a fight of two hours, in which we engaged twelve hundred of the enemy and three nieces of ar tillery, the Yankees were driven from Windsor, JNorth Carolina, to their boats. We lost six men. Ihe loss of the $nemy is not known." From the BlaciwXter Region. Tbe following dispatch was received Tuesday night from Colonel Jordan, at Ivor station : " Glorious newsl The whole Yankee . forea about one hundred and fifty aaj our prisoners; and their gunboats. 'Smith Briggs.' destroyed. - No one hnrt on our side! Four Yankees killed and two or three wounded. . The prisoners are now at Broad Water. Send down a train for them to-morrowta : " We learn that this Yankee force was commis sioned to destroy a large factory at. Smithfleld, in Isle of Wight - county. We do not know the size or composition of our command which achieved the results noticed above, but understand that it con tained two companies of the Thirty-first North' Carolina regiment Examiner of 3d Feb. Tor tbe Standard. . THE SUBSTITUTE LAW. Mr. Editor: Much has been written and said. recently, in regard to the late act of Congress, placing the principals of substitutes in the army, in defiance of its plighted faith and solemn con tract One of the most ' extraordinary articles which I have yet seen on this subject, appeared in the last Fayetteville Otterver, over the signature of Richmond County," and to which, with your permission, I will submit some remarks in reply, through tbS columns of your widely circulated paper. The Observers correspondent frankly admits, that the Constitution confers no power upon Con gress to impair the obligation of contracts, but arT gues to prove that the government has never en tered into any contract with .these men, but that their claim to 'exemption rests not upon -a con tract proper within the constitutional meaning of the term, but upon a privilege, or an indulgence; and that such should be recalled in a case of gov ernmental life or death and says the Courts must so decide, or run counter to their own decisions in volving the same principles. On both of these points 1 take issue with him, and shall endeavor to prove, first that the gov ernment, through its authorized agents; did make a contract with these men, discharging them from the army for three years, or during the war, for a consideration ;,and, secondly that the decisions quoted by him do not sustain him in his view3 on this question. " - I admit, that in one sense of the word, the law allowing substitutes does confer "privilege" the privilege of exempting yourself from- the mili tary service through d contract with the govern ment The moment a substitute is accepted, and the principal is discharged, it becomes a privilege accepted and a contract executed. Every dibcharge sets forth, that the principal,, having furnished an able-bodied man as a substitute, is in consideration thereof discharged from tbe army Tor three years, or the war. A stronger evidence of a contract it would be difficult to conceive. What i6 a con tract ? It is an agreement between two or more patties; a mutual promise upon lawful considera tion which binds the parlies to a performance ; a bargain ; a stipulation. Is here, not an agreement between tbe two parties? The principal agrees to furnish an able-bodied man as a substitute, and of this tbe government itself is to.be the judge. In consideration of this, the government agrees to ex empt him from military service for three years, or the war. The substitute is examined by the gov ernment Surgeons, pronounced able and sound, is accepted, and the principal discharged. If this js not a contract executed I know not what is. It is an agreement between two parties ; it is mutual promise upon a lawful consideration which binds the parties to a performance ; it is a bargain ; it is a stipulation, from, which accrues vested rights. You sell a man your horse, and in consideration of the value received he gives you bis note for the purchase money, payable the next week. Here he 'contracts with you to pay you at a given time, just as the government contracts to exempt the princi pals of substitutes for a fixed length of time ; but the Legislature passes a stay-law voiding the con tract by extending the time of payment just as the act of the Confederate Congress voids tbia by short- J enlng the period of exemption. What does-44 Rich- J mond County " suppose the Courts would say about the constitutionality of such a law ? Such a, ' law has twice been passed by the legislature of North-Carolina in 1813, and in 1861 and in both . cases the Supreme Court decided that the fow was unconstitutional, upon the express ground that it " impaired the obligation of contracts.' .. The Ob server's correspondent will search a long time, be fore he finds a case more in point than this. But I-do not believe there: is much analogy be tween the case of tbe Fayetteville' Bank and the present Suppose tbe bonus paid- by the Bank for its charter to constitute a contract What did the. Legislature do ? Did it at one fell swoop sweep away all tbe vested rights of the corporation 1 Certainly not - It simply imposed some restrictions upon it for the public good ; enforced some regulations lor the benefit of the community.- This the Supreme 9 Court held that it had the right to do ; but no one t knows better than, the Observer's correspondent ; that if the Legislature had deprived the corporation J of all its vested rights; had annulled its. charter, j the Supreme Court would have decided' that the act t was unconstitutional and void. Did Congress sim- ply attempt a regulation or an annihilation, of the- ' rights vested ? Upon this question hinges tbe point , , of analogy to bis Bank ease. ; '''. But let uj view the question inits tuoratsspect ' A ' needs the services pf acu able-bodied man for .three years. B, in consideration of a sum of money to . : him in hand paid, agrees to become A" a servant for ' that length of time. A accepts of tbe proposition, .' and the contract is reduced, to -writing and made , -binding by the payment of the consideration. ' But no sooner does B bind the bargain than he sees . ' where he couid have done much better. : In .order to enable him to do this, C agrees to take his' place as a servant pf A for a specified sum of money. A agrees to the arrangement and enters into a second contract with B, in which he discharges him from his service in consideration of his having furnished another able-bodied band in the person of C. After a short. time he says to B, " I have work enough for - two hands and must have them," and attempts to , force hinfback into his service without discharging C, or refunding him any part of the money paid for C's s'ervices, but being a private individual he can not override law and justioe with as mucn ease as tne government can, ana inereioro cut tne verv attemvt is an act of such moral turpitude as to stock all the better feelings of humanity. .Yet this is precisely what the government is doing. . The same numbenof the Observer that contained this article, also contained an able article from a highly respectable religious paper, tbe N. C. Chris tian Advocate, expressing tbe opinion that all of our calamities are merited by us in consequence, of the sins of our people, and urging them to put away their sins. It also teHa'us that A will not do meVe- . ly to rely upon the right and justice f our cause, tnat tne uiswry ui iuu wunu ouuno m . n j jn i ' cause is not- Buceessfbl that, they are sometimes trampled down-by the iron heel of oppression that while God is on the side of tbe'rtghteous cause, Ue . "is not on the side of the vroiig doer and that to merit success, we must not only hive right on onr side, but that we must do right ourselves. This " reasoning struck me with some force, but it occur red to me that our people were not likely to improve . in that respect in the face of such glaring and shame less violations of coatractH of good faith on the part : of the government instet.d of affording an exam . jIe to our people to induct them tivdo right, many , of the acts of the government tend greatly to do r moralize them, and this is the more strikingly so that the government proTi-ses to rely upon the good j Providence of God, and often invokes the prayers of the teoole. Before at announces another day of fastingand prayer let it retrace its steps, observe all its obligations, and punctiliously keep faith with $ subjects, and it can wit a much .more propriety in voke the bJeansa. "Qod upon our -country and our cause. v A TPLAlS'FAbU R. For the Standard. TRIBUTE t)F EESPECT. At a regular meeW of Eaap of Reed Lodg adopted? foUowi Prnbleand resolutions w era WHaaaA.ThisLodge baa recered the' aad luformatioa f afiLkLrf worthy brother, Wilu. J. Wars, 5 'hrth mut 3- C- tP, who died on tbe 18th SK-0f H7foiUr ile rfiaotarging his doty a a ot 'mSSkATT Tth dtM nbmiasion to tbe will , hU S bandi dctloie. o! nations aui men ia ' hJfttZk V w,?fd,T hn,ent th of our worthy brother; that we will ever cherish hia memoir a a cood aoldier and worthy Mason. a00 Swiw$. V11 w,.d,T fcnMt the death of our worthy ' Stolvtd: That in th Afh r bereaved xelationa and friends have lost a kind and unwa vering friend. X Rfolttd, That we recommend tonia former comrades i a 5 ' worttT conduct which te displayed-while con nected wnb them. . J?yt' Tat wa ta,,der our iewtfelt ivmpathiea to hia 2reaired brothers, aistera and friends in their sore afflic-- thirtTdafi Ttat We W6M tl" 8n1 H8 of ""o.rninjUbr itooftwd, Tbat the Secretary forward a copy of these resolut,oD. to the brdther. aid ai.ter. of Vhe dWSd brother also a copy to the N. C. Standard and BiblieaTf. .eordtr for publication. A. M. VEAZET, R. L. HEFLIN. Com. JOHN FLEMLSG, F. J. Till it. Sec'v. KT Biblical Recorder please 'copy. OBITUARY NOTICES. Died, at his residence, in Iredell County, the 8tt of Jan uary, Ivt Oaithib, sged about 48 years. His disease was pneumonia, which terminated in hia death in about two weeka He had bved a member of the M. . Charch fbr many years. J. B. H. Died," December 28th 1863, in Hospital at Washinaioa City, D. C. Corporal Jon W. Cox, in the 20th year of his ge. He was a nature of Jones county, N. C, and son of tbe late John B. Cox, Esq. .His death was caused bv wounds received at th5 battle at Kelly's Ford, Va., on tha 7th of November, 1868. The deceased volunteered at the commencement of the war in company G, 2d regiment If. C. troops. The, remembrance of his many private virtues" bis deeds of daring, and his self-sacrificing and heroio death will live long in tbe memory ot a grateful country ' J, W. K. REAL ESTATE FOR 8ALE..-I OFFER for sale a splendid brick dwelling house-and a 2 acre lot and outbuildings. Also three-fourths of a store, all in the town of Murfreesboro', 1? C, and 100 acres of land about one mile from twn. Two plantations in Bertie county, situated on Cashie river, one containing 800 acres, the other l.yQO acres, with a fishery one mile from tbe landing on the plantation, and may really turn out one of tbe best in the State. There i upon both farms good dwellings and all necessary outhouses, apple and peach orchards. All these lands are well adupted to tbe cultiva tion of cotton, corn and peas. Also one tract of land in 8tan(y county, N. C, adjsjnintr Cabarras county, li miles . from Concord Depot, S miles from Rooky rirer and 2 miles from Darnel's Mills, containing 1.2uO seres. Tbe land is nearly all level. It is said there is plenty limestone. This is a splendid farm for wheat, tobacco, corn, Ac, Ac This .is a rare opportunity for investment and seldom-offered. Apply to . p. HENNEBfcERT, - , , ' - Windsor, N a Feb. 18S4. . . ii-8(it. I IMPORT ANT SALE OF TIN PLATE AT AUCTION. On the iOth of February next iu front of our furies' Room, we will sell to the highest bidder 70 boxes brand IX Tin Plate, 10 by 14. - CREECH A LITCHFORD, - ' Auctioneers. Feb.4,18fi4. n t. . FOR SALE. A GOOD FOUR IIORSE Wairon, but little worn. Apply to S. M. WILLIAMS. 8 wlipd. Wake Co., Feb. 5,1864. SQafh OAri INTERNAL IMPROVE. tllftUUU MENT . C. STATE BONDS kOK SALE. On Wednesday, tbe loth inst , in front of our sales mom, we will sell to tbe highest bidder, Thirty Thou sand Dollars North -Carolina six per' cent. State Bonds, the interest of which is payable semi-annuflly. on the first days of January and July in eica year, and tbe principal on the first day of January, 1883. These Bonds were issued to tbe Raleigh A Gaston Rail mad Company, and the City of Raleigh, for the benefit of the Chatham Railroad Come an v, and in. addition to the general credit of the State, nave tbe security of a special SiiTking Fund. Copies of the laws authorizing the issue may be had; on application to the undesBned. CREECH A XiITCbFORD, Auctioneers, Raleigh, N. C. -Febuary4,i864. - 11 td. AUCTION SALES. SATURDAY, FEB. 0, 18aty-Will be sold at Towles' Auction and Com- , mission Store, at 10V o'clock, a great variety of new hard - ware and carpenter s tools of tbe best quality ; a small lot of bright new tin by tbe sheet ; one alarm clock, in good ordei1; best granueated brown sugar by. tbe barrel or less quantity, to suit families ; a small quantity of genuine Rio coffee, ginger and spice, cowfoot oil, tobacco, souffaod se gars; soft soap by the barrel; 'one barrel lard,. Ac., Ae. . Also expected to arrive, a large lot of cornfield peas and potatoes. , ff On Friday evening previous, sales of Gentlemen's ready made elothinir, hats, caps and fancy articles. JAS. M. TOWLES, Ana. Balygh. Feb. 4, 1864. y 11 FRESH S.UPPLIES.--JUST RECEIVED AT at Towles' Auction and Comtnission store on sale, a large lot of best Quinine, Blue Mass, Calomel, Riddle and Mcll wain's celebrated eagle snuff, Lampb'ack, Ac., Ac. J AS. M. TOWLES, Ag't. ;Raleigh,Feb. 4, 1864. . UBW PUBLICATIONS BY BRANSON H A FARRAR. YORK'S ENGLISH .GRAMMAR the 8d edition, justpubhsbed, is illustrated and revised. This book is entirely Southern, snd is one of the best gram mars ever published. Price $150. - THE JACK MORGAN SONGSTER, ia now in presa. Price 78 cts. " ... - THE GEOGRAPHICAL READER, with maps, is Jutt published!. This is the only Geography published in the Confederacy, and is to be followed, by a Common. School Geography. Send in your orders soon". Price $2. THE DIXIE PRIMER one of-the cheapest snd best books for children has gone through the-secon edition with treat popularity. Price per hundred, $20. THE FIRST DIXIE READER is now ready, by Mrs. M . B. Moore, author of the series. Price 60 cents. - THE DIXIE SPELLING BOOK, is now in press aad will be ready as soon as possible. Price 1 0. HESPER AND OTHER POEMS, by Theo. H. Hill second edition nearly exhausted. Send in your orders. Price $1 60. '. . . . . ... MYRTLE LEAVES. now in press, shall be as soon as possible under the circumstances. It will be a popular book. Prioe 11 60. MORVEN AND LiNDA, by Rev. A, W. Mangum. Beautiful and eood. Price 10 cents. FIRST BOOK IN COMPOSITION, contains a number ' of pleasant writing exercises. Tbe only book of the kind published in the Confederacy. Puce SI 60. ' HISTORICAL-SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS-suited to .Sabbath Schools and to soldiers in camp the best book of the sort yet published. Price 60 cents. The usual deductions made bxtbe trade. . k. Those ordering books to be sent per mail, mast send fccents e.tra onejeh g&P Raleigh, Feb. 4, 1864. . ; OH 1 HERN PUBLICATIONS QN HAND. Warren's Surgery,, 5 Rival Administrations, Gilliam's Manuel, Army Regulations, Evolutaon of the Line, . Wheelerjls Cavalry, The Aid-de Camp, Volunteer's Field and Camp book. Napoleons Maxinu of War, Cavalry Drill, by Patten, . Bayonet exeicise and Skirmish Drill, : The Volunteer's Hand book, School of the Guides, Second Tear of the War, Turk's English Grammar, Hmilb's English Grammar, revised, The Confederal e Speller, Our Uwn Speller, Tbe Dixie Primer, pictorial, Tn Confederate Primer, Onr Own Primer, Southern Methodist Primer, First Book in Composition, OurOwu First Reader, The" First Dixie Reader,. Bingham's Latin Grammar, Geographical Reader, with Maps, Uill?s Poems, Tbe" Guerrillas, Dialogues, Wesleyan Catechism, No. 1, Wesleyan Catechism, No. 8. Capers' Catechism, Sermon Catechism, bv Wood, ' Historical Scripture Questions, Sunday School Bell, Biblical Catechism; by Lansdell, . Life of Stonewall Jacksoo, The Battle of tbe Bards, . Romance of a Poor Toung Man, I 5 " 6 . ft 60 S 86 . ... ' 1 60 1 1 1 6 1 60 8 1 80 1 60 60 60 , 60 1 60 78 ' 60 S 8 1 80 . 60 85 60 is 85 . 60 60 ; 60 8 60 V - -rw , 8 60 . - .8 4 . 8 8 . , 8 ' -60 Step Sisier, Wild Td Western Scenes, Dorfell Markbam, Campaign freni Texas (o aryUpd, . No Name, by Wilkia Collinssf . Aurora Floyd, bv . ' '- Lei Miserables Fantine, " Cosette, - ' - - Maorius, jitf Dermis, Bonnie Blue Wg, '. Cotton Field Melodies. . . The usual deductien made to (he trade N. B. Those ordering books by mail should send am extra tetr cents on tbe dollar, for postage. ' - -'.. BRANJJOS "A FARRlR, . " Raleigh, N.C. February 4. 1864. ,. .... U tt . J" ' "l ' . "'. -' " -'. " ,