Weekly standard. [volume], December 25, 1861, Image 1

About Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865

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THE
Hartti-toto
WILLIAM W. HOLDEN.
BDITOB AND FROPBIKTOE.
TBBMS OF Tli;: WEEKbY-IW Mw?
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rm i . ,.
for
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of Advertising in Semi-Wee kl7 a.d
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K.ch subsequent insertion - -
j,onKer advertisement K . ft sioM
TU!2L "for MS or twelve month, and at the close of
pMWta.. raft J wi be deduc,ed iron the grow
Qe o r
amount. hsine,s Curds, not exceeding fire line
.WKSLTh SSTtS Weekly or Semi-Weekly, for
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W eekly Standard.
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RALEIGH: SiTURDlV, DEC. 21, 1801.
r.Tv Si bsckibeks. As our regular carrier is sick,
our city subscriber will please apply at the Office
of the Standard, if our present carrier fails to de
liver them their papers.
Nrth Carolina Troop's.
We commence to day the publication of the Reg
ister of the North Carolina Troops, with the heads
ol the departments, and the commissioned officers
to eacli regiment and company. Such a register
nay desire to have, and we give it for the gratifi
cation of our readers. We shall complete it hereaf
ter and place it on the first page of the semi-weekly
Standard for several weeks, as a means ofrcterence
to all interested in the matter. At present the list
is incorrect, a niimuei ui icaiimuuua ......
having taken place, but we have the promise that
shall be furnished with a correct register. We
do not state where the several regiments are station
ed, leaving that matter for our enemies to find out.
Persons desiring to know can find out on application
at the Adjutant General's Office.
The Tableau os Wednesday Evening. The Tab
Icau eiven on Wednesday evening, at Miss Partridge!
school room, for the benefit of the soldiers, was
highly creditable to the young ladies and gentlemen
and the little ones that tooK part in ic me auui
ence testified their pleasure by frequent applause.
We learn that it will be repeated this (Friday)
evening. Between filly and sixty dollars were real
ized on Wednesday evening. Doors open at 7 o'clock.
A Wobb of Caution. Our friends in remitting
to us will please send us North Carolina money,
Rank bills or Treasury bills. Virginia, or South
Carolina Bank bills will do, but don't send us Vir
ginia, South Carolina or Georgia shinplasters. They
won't go.
Mr. Sixmos' Bakery. We visited a day or two
since, the extensive Bakery of Messrs. Simpson &
Son, near the Central Depot, and found them warm
ly engaged in turning out in large quantities all kinds
of biscuits and crackers for the army and navy.
They are making pilot and navy biscuit or crackers,
soda crackers, butter crackers, and milk and wine
crackers. We trust they will be encouraged by the
State. They can afford crackers of all kinds at as
cheap rates as they can be made in Petersburg.
Col. Green's Battalion. We learn from the
Wilmington Journal that this fine battalion, which
is a part of the Wise Legion, has arrived at Wil
mington, and is encamped on the ground formerly
occupied by the 30th regiment. The officers of the
battalion are as follows: Wharton J. Green, Lieut
Colonel; Marcus Erwin, Major; Frank Patterson,
Surgeon; S. D. Young, Assistant Surgeon; Capt
A. II. Shuford, Commissary; W. R Landruni,
Acting Adjutant. There are five companies, com
manded respectively by Captains R. C. Overby,
Milton Smith, L. M. Allen, E. Smith, and W. S.
DuBose. Capt. Shuford is a native of this State,
but recently from Georgia. He at one time repre
sented Catawba County in the Legislature. We
had the pleasure of seeing him a day or two since.
He bears his age well, and will make the best sort
of a fight when he gets an opportunity.
Wc trust this battalion may be increased to a
regiment. Its officers are superior men ; and com
panies joining the battalion will at once be thorough
ly and comfortably equipped, and well armed.
Murder. We regret to record that on Thursday
last, after a muster-drill, at the house of Mr. W. H.
Patrick in the Southwestern part of this County,
Mr. J. C. Canaday, a native of this County, but
who had been absent for several years, was killed
by John Harwood, There had been no quarrel or
provocation it is said, but on Canaday's coming out
of the door of Mr. Patrick, Harwood raised his gun
and shot hiin dead upon the spot Harwood made
bis escape and we have not heard of his being taken.
Harwood is six feet high, spare built, dark hair,
dark skin &c, and is about 30 years of his age.
From what wc learn, whiskey was accessory to this
horrid crime.
Capt. George W. Hayes.
We were pleased to see Capt Hayes in town on
Thursday, on his way to Cherokee on business con
nected with his regiment the 2d Cavalry, Col.
Spruill. There are six companies of this regiment
at tins time at Ncwbern.
We learn that an effort has been made by some of
Capt. Hayes' political enemies to injure his good
name by charges of improper conduct against him
in purchasing cavalry horses. We happen to know
for we have seen the document that Capt Hayes
acted strictly under the orders of his Major in
making his purchases ; and we learn also that his
conduct has been approved by the Quartermaster.
fa,;t is- he purchased a lot of horses at a cost of
84U less for each than has been paid for many other
horses, purchased by others for the State; and we
learn that none of his horses were condemned but
two, which were injured accidentally after they were
purchased. Capt. Hayes courts investigation, and
defies the malice of his enemies. Be has the con
fidence and love of his men, and he and they will
nake their mark on the enemy if an opportunity
presents itself.
Honest men, like Gcorse W. RnM .1
tad defence and protection in our columns, but we
Jwe no sympathy and no mercy for those who cheat
m defraud the government
Jtara
One
'Td in Iho We k y A 'adveVliments, not other
S'S S i" the Semi-Weekly and char
rd IctrdinK v. When the number of j inser tinns is not
.352 h, 'advertisement it is inserted until forbid.
risk.
Vol. XXVII. No. 52.
RA
The Board of Claims.
The attempts made to prejudice the late action of
the State Convention, before the people of this State,
in regard to the rights and powers of the Board of
Claims, demand a fair and truthful exposition of the
facts.
With the report of the Committee on Army con
tracts, &c, we have nothing to do in examining this
question. The pressure upon the time of the com
mittee may have led to a hasty draft of the report
on account of which some expressions contained in
it, may seem to involve the integrity of parties,
whose high character places them above the thought
of suspicion. But the ready and manly course of
the Chairman of the Committee, so soon as his at
tention was first called to it when, in behalf of the
Committee, he " disclaimed all intention of casting
any imputation of a personal character upon any
officer in any of the departments," ought to have
satisfied all parties of the correctness of themctives
of the committee in preparing the report and ordi
nance, as well as the motives of the members of the
Convention who voted for their adoption. The sub
sequent apparent irritation no doubt arose from a
misconception or a misunderstanding.
And here we take occasion to repeat what we have
heretofore said, that under the administration of
Gen. Martin since the organization o! the several
departments, we can bear testimony from personal
observation and from the knowledge of others more
immediately cognizant of the matter, that North
Carolina never had more industrious, energetic and
prompt business officers, than many of those under
the supervision of the Adjutant General. No one
under his eye eats idle bread, and we are sure no
man would he retained an hour in office, if ascer
tained to be incompetent or unreliable. It is evident,
however, that Gen. Martin, who is said by those
who know him to be a highly competent business
and military officer, has a heavy task to perform.
Few men could bear the same amount of mental and
physied labor that he does. If, therefore, in the
transactions of some of his agents, evidence of " fraud,
peculation and malfeasance " should be discovered,
it would not be chargeable to him or to any of his
immediate lieutenants, unless it could be shown
that they knew it and winkef at it which we are
sure could not be. But the committee do not say
when these instances of fraud occurred, and hence it
were supererogatory to attempt to show that they
have not occurred under his administration.
The organization of the Board of Claims was a felt
neceesity by the State Convention at its first session.
Up to this period the financial affairs of North Caro
Una had been comparatively inconsiderable in
amount and the adjustment of claims against the
State, were of the simplest character. An Auditor's
office was not known in the State. Claims were
presented to the Governor, who examined them and
issued his warrant to the Public Treasurer for their
payment ano the Comptroller embodied in his fiscal
annual exhibit the receipts and disbursements in
detail of the government No check upon the Treas
ury was provided for, except such examination as
the Legislature might choose to order. The Con
vention, therefore, in view of the enormous expendi
ture which the war involved, and the intricacy and
difficulty of settling the various claims arising, very
properly selected a highly competent Board of Audi
tors, whose duty it should be to investigate the
claims contracted prior to the 20th May last, beore
the war Department provided for by the Legislature
could get fully in operation, and such claims arising
since that period as were not otherwise provided for
by law. The Board has faithfully performed its
duty; and while claimants have found some difficul
ty, perhaps, in getting on with the Board as easily
as they desired, the people have felt assured that the
public funds of the State, so far as they came under
the control of the Board, have been well guarded.
The Board has labored to do full justice to claimants,
while it has been rigid in demanding full evidence of
the justice of the claims.
At an early period of the late session of the Con
vention, the importance and absolute necessity of
having a Board of Auditors to adjust and settle the
accounts of the disbursing officers and agents of
the government, was frequently urged by several
of our most able and experienced statesmen. The
late Legislature, in passing the new militia law and
organizing a North Carolina War Department, had
made no provision for the proper auditing and set
tlement of the accounts of disbursing officers. Such
a provision the exigency of the times called for,
both to guard properly the public funds of the
State, and especially to provide for the adjustment
and settlement of the accounts of officers. Under
the former regime, no such final settlement could
take place. The accounts of every disbursing agent
were liable to be reviewed and examined by future
Legislatures for the next fifty years. Such exami
nations exposed said officers or their memories and
estates to damage, even after they had been long
dead, and if there had been unfaithfulness in office,
it exposed the State to loss. The necessity, there
fore, for such a Board was apparent, and the Con
vention, finding it had already so competent a Board
for this object, with almost a unanimous voice en
larged the powers of the Board of Claims by the
passage of the ordinance published in our last
The scope and design of this ordinance must be
plain to the merest school boy; yet a purblind,
depraved and jacobin public journal of this City,
with a malice and wickedness, which such creatures
as cater to its readers alone can indulge, labors to
raise a hue and cry against its provisions, against
the Convention and against the Board, as if the
devil himself had been turned loose upon the State.
Look at the ordinance, reader, and see even with
spectacles, except they be green, if you can find
f that the new powers conferred upon the Board of
Claims by it depose the Governor, or oust the Adju
tant General or any of his officers, unless it should
hereafter appear that any of them have been guilty
of fraud, peculation or malfeasance. See if it puts
in jeopardy or defers the claims of honest citizens
against the State, or disturbs an iota of our civil or
military system as it existed before, or if oh !
shocking brutality it sets up a triumvirate, in the
shape of a Board of Claims, to rule the State with
a rod of iron ! No school boy with two ideas can
entertain such views for a moment after reading it
The ordinance first re-enacts the ordinance con
stituting the Board of Claims, and extends its time
of service to the first of January, 1863. Secondly,
in addition to its previous duties, the Board is em
powered and required to examine and pass upon the
accounts of any and every ditburting agent of the
LEIGH, If. C. WEDNES
government, which have not already been finally
tettledand allowed at the treasury, &c., andfu-ther
provides the necessary means to the Board for their
examination ; and if it discover proof of fraud, pec
ulation and malfeasance, to report the same to the
Governor, Ac. There it not one word in the ordi
nance referring to the claim of creditor of the
State, except those who are disbursing agents of
the State. It does not disturb the previous rights
and powers of the Governor an iota, except to com
pel him to remove from office a disbursing agent
who has been proven to be guilty of fraud, pecula
tion or malfeasance. But there lies the rub. It is
that which disturbs the scape-graces of that con
temptible journal. There is a chance for getting
the necks of some of their friends, who have squan
dered or misapplied the public funds, into the noose ;
hence they whimper and squeal like choked pigs
who have been too often at the swill.
There is not a word in the ordinance which in
terferes in the least with the regular and uniform
course of Gen. Martin's office or any of its depart
ments. Every thing goes on just as it did before,
in the making of contracts, purchasing articles for
the army, and disbursing the public funds under
his supervision and that of the Governor, who is
commander-in-chief. People to whom the State is
indebted present their claims and have them paid
just as they did before. The ordinance simply con
stitutes the Board of Claims a Board of Auditors to
investigate, pass upon and settle the accounts of the
several disbursing officers of the government.
Who complains of this? Will the people complain
that the Convention has appointed three highly
competent men, of unimpeachable character, to ex
amine, audit and settle the accounts of those offi
cers or agents who are paying out 3 or 4,000,000 of
dollars annually of the people's money ? We think
not Will honest men complain of it ? Will the
officers of the government complain at such a neces
sary protection to them and to the State ? Sure
ly not. It has been well said
" No' rogue e'er felt the halter draw,
With good opinion of the law."
The Board of Claims, in exercising its new powers,
will protect the honest while it will bring the dis
honest to condign punishment. The depraved pub
lic journal referred to, is the mouth-piece of those
who have speculated upon or misapplied the public
funds. It does not speak for honest disbursing
agents. The people of the State or rather that
small portion of them who hear of or read that
paper will know how to estimate the opposi
tion it sets up to an arrangement made by the Con
vention to insure economy and honesty in the dis
bursement of the public moneys.
Oil Cloth.
The Committee (consisting of Messrs. Holden,
Strange, and Jones of Rowan,) appointed at the late
session of the Convention to inquire into the expe
diency of extending encouragement to the manufac
ture of oil cloth in this State, had the subject under
consideration and prepared a report, but at so late
a period that there was no opportunity to submit it
to the body. It will be submitted at the next ses
sion. Meanwhile it is not improper to state that
while the committee duly estimate the importance
and value of this article, especially at this time, and
while the samples submitted to their inspection ap
pear to be very good, and in every respect superior
to other samples which they have seen, manufac
tured in the Confederate States ; yet such is the
variety of manufactured articles of prime necessity
which also claim the attention of the government,
and so difficult would it be to discriminate justly and
properly between them, that thiy concluded to re
commend no appropriation for the object referred to.
They take pleasure, however, in bearing their testi
mony to the industry, ingenuity, and skill manifested
by the manufacturer, Mrs. Jane Wilson, of Raleigh,
in the samples submitted to them, and express the
opinion that the process by which she manufactures
this article is, in i tse'f, valuable. They also take
occasion to commend this process, and such supplies
as Mrs. Wilson may furnish of this article, to the
favorable consideration of the Quartermaster's De
partment. War Tax. The action of several of the Legisla
tures of the Confederate States indicates a disposi
tion to assume the payment of their quota of the
War tax out of the State Treasuries, so as to relieve
the people from the burden. Some few of the States,
perhaps can do so, without much difficulty, and
there is a strong desire among our people that our
State Convention should make a similar arrangement.
We doubt not that every member of the Convention
would be glad to effect it if it be possible. But
when we remember that Noith Carolina has an ex
pensive war department of her own. and that she
has agreed to clothe, equip, and furnish blankets to
all our soldiers in the field, and that her sole reliance
to do this is upon the issue of Treasury notes bear
ing an interest of 6 pep cent, it will require prodi
gious shrewdness in financiering for the State to pay
in addition, $2,000,000, supposed to be her quota of
the war tax, in gold and silver or in Confederate
notes. Confederate notes will soon be abundant in
the State ; our people can get them for what they
have to sell or for good bank notes, but the State can
not obtain them in exchange for Treasury notes, and
it has already borrowed of the Banks all it can ob
tain from them at present What the Convention
will do in such a case, it is difficult to determine,
but the safe course for the people is to make their
arrangements to pay the tax in May. Some of our
more Southern sisters have always been clamorous
for a direct tax, and yet the first opportunity they
have to try it, they stave it off. We judge il the
people pay this tax and we get through the war
soon, we shall not hear so much said in favor of di
rect taxation.
Raleigh and Gaston Road. It will be seen, by
the advertisement of Maj. Vass, the Treasurer, in
our paper to-day, that this Road has declared a div
idend of three per cent for the last six months.
This dividend is on the stock as increased under the
act of the Legislature.. We are glad to learn that
the Road is in a highly prosperous condition.
Ice. Have our people made the necessary ar
rangements to furnish themselves and the people of
the State, with a full supply of ice ? It can be pro
duced easily in our up-country, in the neighborhood
of the Railroads It will be greatly in demand and
will bring a good price. Put up ice-houses, if you
have them not, and fill them at an early day.
DAY, DECEMBER 25, 1861.
STANDA RD-E X T R A .
Good News lio n England.
OrncE of the North-Carolina Standard, J
Raleigh, Dec. lit, 1801. J
The telegraphic wires through the South have
already flashed the gratifying intelligence, that En
gland has domanded of Lincoln, the delivery of
Messrs. Mason, Slidell, &c, upon the deck of a
British vessel and an ample apology for the insult
It is the most gratifying intelligence, since the war
began.
The news came by a flag of truce, by way of Old
Point and Norfolk on Tuesday last, bringing North
ern dates to the Norfolk Day Boole, as late as the
16th.
The Steamer Europa arrived at Halifax on Sunday
night, bringing a special bearer of dispatches to
Lord Lyons, who proceeded at once to Washington.
It is said, that Lord Lyons is instructed to demand
of the Lincoln Government the immediate restora
tion of Messrs. Mason and Slidell to the deck of a
British steamer, an ample apology for the insult to
the British flag, and in the event of a refusal, Lord
Lyons is to demand his passports and return home.
We were prepared to expect just such a result
from the uniform 6ourse of the government of Great
Britain, the jealousy of the British nation of their
honor, and from the high-handed and outrageous
character of the offence.
As soon as the fact was known in Liverpool a
large mass meeting was held denouncing the conduct
of Com. Wilkes, and demanding that the govern
ment make an Immediate requisition upon Lincoln
for ample reparation for the offence. Large meetings
were called in different parts of the Kingdom. The
excitement is said to be intense not only in Great
Britain but on the continent
A British steamer was loading at Woolwich with
a large number of Armstrong cannon and 80,000
Enfield rifles for Canada. Large numbers of troops
are also enroute for Canada.
The London Obsever in advance of the action of
the government, said the Government will demand
the immediate restoration of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell to the British government. A special mes
senger is ordered to curry the demand to Lord Lyons.
On the 3llth November the Queen attended a
privy council at Windsor Castle An apology will
be demanded from the Washington government,
and a restoration of the Envoys (Mason and Slidell)
to the British flag. The Observer states that they
should be restored to the quarter deck of the British
Admiral at New York or Washington in the face of
12 men of war, whose presence on the Potomac
would render the blustering Cabinet at Washington
as helpless as the Trent was before the guns and
cutlasses of the San Jacinto.
The London Times says that three results must
follow a refusal on the part of the Yankee govern
ment to yield to the demands of Great Britian, viz :
1. The immediate raising of the blockade in
Southern ports.
2. The blockading of all Yankee ports.
3. The speedy recognition of the Southern Con
federacy, by England and France.
Speculation is rife as to what Lincoln will do.
His Congress has already voted thanks to Com.
Wilkes for the capture of our Envoys, and his Se-
cretary of the Navy has endorsed the capture and
intimated that Com. Wilkes had the right even to
make a prize of the British steamer. In addition to
this, Lincoln's Congress has just requested its mas
ter Abraham, to confine Messrs. Mason and Slidell
in close quarters, as Col. Corcoran is confined at
Charleston. If we consider alone the imbecility and
degradation to which Lincoln's government has de
scended, we might conclude that he will accede at
once to the demands of England ; but he represents
a still powerful people, and his councils arc con
trolled by radical abolitionists. It would not sur
prise us, therefore, if he should hesitate to accede to
the demands of England, which will, of course, lead
to the withdrawal of her Minister, and probably to
war. Lincoln is now between the upper and nether
mill-stone. If he apologizes and restores our En
voys to a British vessel, his people will be humilia
ted before the world, and disgraced in history, as
destitute of courage and self-respect ; and if he re
fuses the English demand and fights, he will be
soundly whipped in all quarters, both on land and
sea, and the South will get her own. In either
event, this is great news for the Confederate States.
The English papers brought by the Europa show
that this action of England is the result of a gen
eral uprising of the English people, demanding a
vindication of the English flag. It is also stated
that the Fre.'.ch government sympathizes with the
English government in its action.
An order has been issued by the Queen of Eng
land, prohibiting the export from the United King
dom, or carrying coastwise any gunpowder, lead,
fire-arms, saltpetre, nitre and brimstone.
The New York Herald of Monday last presents a
summary of the English news, and it is evidently
seriously impressed with the imminency and mag
nitude of the danger which. threatens the North.
In addition to the foregoing the following dispatch
was received in this City on Thursday forenoon,
from a reliable source in Petersburg :
11 New from England fully confirmed. War
inevitable. Mr. Adam, Ike federal Minister, de
manded hi passports a soon as theQuecn's proela
tra'ion wa issued."
Col. Clarke's Reqixent. This regiment has
arrived at its winter quarters near Petersburg, Va.
It is located on the " Model Farm" in comfortable
quarters we learn. We hope it will speedily recu
perate, and be ready to take the field at an early
day. None of our regiments have suffered more
than this and Col. Lee's, and Col. Kirkland's, now
at Manassas, we believe.
The Richmond Boy, commanded by Capt O. H.
Dockery, arrived at Camp Mangum, near this place,
a few days since. They are a fine body of 90 men.
There are some two or three thousand men now at
Camp Mangum.
H. C. Burnett and Judge Munroe of Ky., have
been elected to the Confederate Congress from that
State and taken their seats.
The wife of Gen. Price, of Missouri, is now in
Texas, and both Houses of the Legislature of that
State have passed resolutions welcomingher to Texas,
and complimenting her husband for bis brilliant
services.
The health of the 3rd. N. C. Regiment
Smithfield, Vs., is said to be very good.
Whole Number 1395.
The Latest Neva
The papers by the last mails are teeming with the
news from England. The excitement in Europe is
intense, yet the Northern papers have been careful
to extract largely from the English and French prints,
which apologise for or defend the course of the Lin
coln government
Y e see no confirmation of the rumor above no
ticed in our extra of Thursday last, that Mr. Adams,
the Lincoln minister at the Court of St James had
demanded his passports upon the issue of the Queen's
proclamation, and we are inclined to think the dis
patch premature.
The steamer City of Washington from Liverpool
brings news three days later than that of the Europa,
and it is possible that the Yankees have suppressed
important items brought by her. It is said that
Louis Napoleon has tendered his offices as a media
tor between England and Lincoln.
The friends of the South in England and France
express no doubt of the speedy recognition of the
Southern Confederacy. Gen. Scott the old dotard,
had published a letter with the view of calming the
excitement There is no room, however, to doubt
that England has demanded the restoration of our
Envoys, and that she will maintain the demand
promptly. Her people will not allow her to back
down.
The effect of the news in New York caused a con
siderable rise in the price of cotton.
We have no intelligence from Washington. The
British bearer of dispatches to Lord Lyons, was due
in that city on the 18th.
The Richmond Enquirer mentions the rumor of
another battle near Leesburg, in which the Confed
erates had captured 400 Yankees, but does not vouch
for its accuracy. There is no other news from the
Potomac or the Peninsula.
It is said that the Yankees now occupy Beaufort
and Port Royal Island with 5,000 troops. They are
erecting batteries. A Federal launch, it is said, was
fired into by our troops, and seven Yankees were
killed. A portion of the forces had been sent to
Ship Island, near the mouth of the Mississippi, and
it is said that 30,000 men will soon be there.
Picayune Butler's expedition was expected there,
and it is thought he will command the expedition
contemplated against Mobile or New Orleans.
The Yankees are quiet below Savannah, having
made no demonstration to advance.
In Kentucky or Missouri there is little indication
of a large battle soon. Quite a skirmish occurred
between our Texan Rangers and a large body of
Federals who had crossed Green river, on the 17th.
They were repulsed and driven back with a loss of
75. Col. Terry and tin ee other Rangers were kill
ed and eight wounded on our side.
It is also stated that 28 Federal soldiers had de
serted to Gen. Zollicoffer's camp, affirming that they
could no longer fight for the Union, since they read
Lincoln's last message.
Cameron's Report.
The report of Secretary Cameron produces great
uneasiness in Kentucky. Prentice of the Louis
ville Journal, finds his wheels scotched, and bela
bors it. Prentice, however, says it is no worse
than Lincoln's Message. He thus speaks of it :
We this morning publish the official report of
Secretary Cameron. As respects the question of
slavery, the report confirms our worst apprehen
sions. And the most grievous fact of all is that the
report on this head can be regarded only as an ex
pansion of what the President says in the same re
lation. The report of the Secretary is of course
sanctioned by the President What is said bv the
one concerning slavery is but the illumination of
what is said by the other. The Secretary in this
respect is no worse than the President ; and the
President is no better than the Secretary. The
country has little to hope from either, except in the
disposition that we trust both have to heed the
counsels of the country's own better judgment and
better nature. But these counsels must be heard
j unmistakably to be heeded. When so heard we be
I lieve they will be heeded. We now, however, dis
! miss the Secretary, and shall hereafter deal with
; the principal in the case.
i The conviction wc expressed in our columns yes
i terday, and the course of action we then proposed.
gather additional strength from the develpments of
every hour. The radicals in Congress appear to
have things their own way. The character of the
propositions they introduce, and .he favor which the
wildest of their propositions receive are positively
frightful. Congress has opened with a fanatical
howl, and seems ready, without a pause, to leap
into the furthest depths of radicalism. The winds
of sectional passion are unchained. The tempest is
abroad. The' billows of anti-slavery ism are running
mountain high at Washington. The fierce roar is
stunning the ear of the nation. The lashed and
raging sea of fanaticism is thundering against the
barriers of the Constitution, aud threatens to sweep
them utterly away. Behind these barriers stands
the President alone ; and he, instead of rebuking
the storming waves, throws over them the witching
moonlight of Lis countenance. He bends before
the storm. Is it not manifest that if the President
is not promptly and resolutely supported by the con
servative sentiment of the nation ; by that benefi
cent and mighty genius whose real spell has as yet
we fear been felt only partially at Washington,
there is most serious danger that the uproarious sea
of anti slaveryism will presently burst through all
constitutional barriers and carry away him and them
alke upon its rushjng waves? Nothing appears
more manifest to us. It appears too piain for ra
tional dispute.
Let then, the conservative sentiment of the Union
come promptly and resolutely to the support of the
President Let the great genius of conservatism shake
off his slumbers, and at once lay his spell truly and
deeply on the officers charged above all others with
the conservation of this glorious ark of human liber
ty and of human hope. We repeat what we said
yesterday with the added emphasis of strengthened
conviction."
What Prentice "said yesterday,'' was a severe
criticism on Lincoln's message, worthy of Fort War
ren, as times go in the North.
Senator Donglas's Children.
The North Carolina relatives of the children of
the late Senator Douglas, sent an agent to the North
to secure their emigration South. lie has just re
turned witnout success, in consequence of tne refu
sal of Mrs. Douglas, to whose care the dying father
confided them. It is understood that seme months
ago she was willing to the removal, the object being
to save their large property in the South, which
would otherwise come under the operation of the
Confederate sequestration law. We understand she
now says that the property will soon be saved bv
the speedy triumphal advance of the " Grand Armv."
which in a few weeks will have taken possession of
florra uarouna. ay inus adopting the miserable
delusion of the Northern braggarts, she sacrifices
tne interests ot her step-children. Richmond En
quirer. We conversed with the agent, Capt Yudy, on bis
return from Washington. Mrs. D.'s refusal to per
mit the children to come South, is to be regretted.
It would be hard to deprive these innocent children
of their inheritance. Their mother was a Southern
woman, and their father was a staunch friend of the
South up to within a few months preceding his
death. Judge Douglas first wife was a native of
Kockingbam, (Miss Martin,) in this State ; and his
, , . I W i i air . i
octuuu wue was miss uutts, oi wasnington uily.
The Grand Divisions of the Sons of Temperance
of North and South Carolaad other States, have
dissolved their connectiornvOT the National Divi
sion of the U. S. and recommend a convention t
be held in Augusta, Gs., in May next to organize a
nBMuiuu division ror tne uonteuerate states.
Gen. Mania's Letter.
We cheerfully publish the letter of Gen. Martin,
Wow. W e endeavored W dkiin it from the papers
of the Convention for publication in ouf last issUe,, , ( , f
but failed to do so :
Rauhgh, N. C, Dec. 19, 1801.
Editor N. C. Standard 'i.
Sir: Will you do me the justice to ftnmh mf
letter to the Convention, that the people of the
State may judge if it deserved the hard names b
which it was called in tne vjonvenuon, vj '"
members. I send a copy herewith.
Yours resnectfullv.
J. G. MARTIN.
Adj't Geo. N.
a
Head quarters N. C. Troops,)
Adjutant General Office,
Raleiqh, Dec. 12, 1861.)
Welhn N. Edward:
Pres. Convention of N. C,
Bon.
Sir : I respectfully request that the Convention
appoint a committee of three business men of their
own number, to examine the present mode of res
ponsibility for disbursing officers and agents in the
military departments of the State.
This committee to sit during the approaching re
cess of the Convention, and to be instructed to re
port a complete system of accountability for said
officers and agents, or such amendments to the ex
isting one as on examination they shall consider
necessary or advisable.
Until such report is msde, I respectfully submit
that the public interest will be advanced, in my
judgment, by suspending so much of the ordinance
passed yesterday as places this whole matter in the
hands of the Court of Claims.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obd't servant,
J. G. MARTIN,
Adj't Gen.
INVASION OF THE MIS1SSIPPI VALLEY.
The St Louis correspondent of the Cincinnati
Enauirer supplies the following outline of General
Haneck's scheme for the invasion of the Mississippi.
It is on the big figure, and savors of the Chinese.
An army of 75,000 and another of 60,000 are mere
circumstances. The one is to take all our positions
on the Mississippi in the rear, by the way of the
Tennessee river ; the other is to move forward in
conjunction with it, and sweep every thing before it,
in the direction of Nashville. With these swagger
ers, campaigns on paper are the easiest things in
nature. But all these great projects are, for the time
beinz, practically frustrated, by the movements of
one daring man, at the head of a handfull of bare
footed militia in Missouri.
The following is the programme :
The newspapers of the country are continually
alluding to the expedition down the Mississippi riv
er, as if that was actually the contemplated pro
gramme of the movement under Gen. Halleck. The
movement will not be down the Mississippi river,
but go up the Tennessee, where Gen. Halleck's for
ces, 75,000 strong, will leave the river, and march in
the rear of Columbus, Hickman, and other points
towards Memphis. This manoeuvre will compel the
rebels at Columbus and other points to fall back on
Memphis, thus leavjng the river clear for the gun
boats and transportation vessels to pass up and
down unmolested. The Confederates are occupying
their time in fortifying New Madrid, Columbus and
other points, and are mounting the same with a
large number of guns. Upon the approach of our
troops towards their rear, rather than be cut off
from all communication with the South, the Con
federates will fall back. No defences have been
thrown up on the Tennessee river, and the continual
running up and down that stream, of gunboats has
kept the 3hore entirely clear of masked batteries and
fortifications. Our army will Meet with no resis
tance, and will by this movement accomplish the
same result, without loss of life and property, that
that the river expedition might have done after se
vere loss on both sides, and a fearful destruction of
property, both private and public
The column of Major General Halleck will move
forward in conjunction with General Buell's Division
of 60,000 men from Louisville, which proceeds
through Kentucky, eta Bowling Green to Nashville.
The friends of the Union have great reason to feel
confident in the assertion made by those in author
ity, that the war will have been ended in about three
months. As the attacking party, the enemy are
annoyed at the uncertainty of the points our com
manders shall attack ; for instance Memphis will not
be taken eta Columbus and the river; Richmond
will not be captured eta Manassas ; nor will the na
val fleet make its conquest in the manner prescribed
by the Confederate Generals. Already these annoy
ances and defeats are creating great uneasiness among
the Confederates, and this element in ot, Louis is
not now so sanguine as they were a few weeks since.
The defenders of the Union, on the other hand, are
confident, for
" Every thing lies level to oar wish ;
pause 'til these rebels now afoot
Come underneath the yoke of Government"
Noth Carolina Iron. The Fayetteville (N. C.)
Observer has seen the first consignment of a lot of
Eig iron from that amazingly rich property, Ore
ill, on Deep river, in Chatham county. It came
down the railroad on Monday, 1,600 pounds for one
of the foundries in Wilmington. The property is'
owned and worked by a Chatham company, for
which Hugh W. Dixon is agent end Col. Babbing
ton superintendent Mr. Dixon writes that they
are now making 15 tons per week, and will be able
to make more than double that quantity, and im
prove the quality, in a few weeks after getting in
their " hot blast." Fay. Oburter.
A Soli h i W a hn inc. Two members of the First
Louisiana Batalion, recently executed by order of
Gen. Johnston, for striking their officers, left a sad
warning for soldiers and all others. Their last
words were : " Tell our comrade that liquor wu
the cause of our trouble, and exhort them to leave
it alone ! "
Numerous propositions are made in the papers
to change the flag of the Confederate States. Its
near resemblance to that of the U. S. flag is objec
tionable. It could hardly-be worsted by a change.
Some -anxiety seems to exist in Richmond in re
gard to the completion and manning of the fortifi
cation around the city. Efforts are being made to
raise companies to man them in the city.
Col. Johnson's Official Report. We have ob
tained says the Richmond Enquirer, the following
extract from Col. Johnson's official report of the en-
Egement on the Alleghany Mountains on Friday
it We learn that the enemy were piloted in their
attack by a Virginia Tory :
Camp Alleuhaht, Dec 13, 1861.
Colonel : Yesterday I sent out a scout who fell in
with a column of the enemy, killing some eight
or ten.
' This morning our pickets were driven in about 4
A. M. I made preparations to meet the enemy.
They appeared in force ; not less than five thousand
men attacked our right and left. On the right there
are no defensive works. On the hill to the left wa
have hastily thrown np a trench.
I had only about twelve hundred effective man.
Four hundred of my men met the enemy on the
right flank, and after a severe contest, defeated
tbem. On the left the enemy attacked our entrench
ments, but failed to carry them. They were met on
both points with the most determined heroism ; and
after a contest, lasting from 7 A. M. until nearly 3
P. M., were repulsed with great loss.
Our victory has been complete, but dearly bought
We have lost several gallant officers killed, and
many wounded Among the killed are Capt P
B. Anderson, Lee's Battery, Capt MoUehan, Han
sborough's Batalion. . Wounded, Capt Dashler, my
A. A. A. G. ; Lieut Col. Hansborough ;. Lieut W.
P. Thompson, 81st Va, Regiment, and others: -Lieut
T. fatally, I fear.
The enemy left a large number of killed and
wounded on the field They carried off a large
number some ten or twelve ambulance loads of
wounded
Prisoners taken to-day state that the enemy bad f
fire thousand men, drawn from HuttonaviUe, Cheat J
Mountain, and other places in rearof Cheat Mounts'
I will forward a more detailed renr'" "
best convenience.
(Signed)
. . --.-I' -afe- -jf --Mi- lf