Newspapers / The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, … / Jan. 27, 1864, edition 1 / Page 1
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4 1 4 i TERMS OF THE BTAHDABD. . . . - V- ... - ' O '- - ' : ' V; " " ; - : ' 'l.- .; ." . - ' ' -. y '-'.' , .' TERMS OP TUB WEEKLY .Four dollars for ..I ( - . . ; .. - T ATT.W "NT i"S " . WT2lYNTil Ti A Y. J A "NTT A P.V 97 -Ifirti - .-?- V? Vrr ' v Kv ' -. "' gSMI-WEEKLT-Six doctor aix months, in advance "',' Terms of AdvertialBS.; AdTertisemenU inserted for I) per square of.1 line or 'leu for first insertion, and $1 per square for each sirose qnent insertion. Persons desiring t8 contract for six months, will be charged the abeve rate, with a dedoetioii of 25 per oent. on the whole amount '.''.,' The Standard iseondueted strictly on the cash principle. All papers are oiscontinned when the time paid for expires. AU remittances ofmongat the ask of those .ending. . BALEIGhTfRIDAY. JAN. 22, 1864. The New Congress. Under the existing law on the subject the new Congress will not assemble ontil the first Monday in December. 1864; but the House of Represent- tites has voted to change the time to the first Mon day in April next It is. to be hoped that the Sen ate will concur in this vote. In a government like ours it is important to have representatives fresh from the people. We begin to indulge the hope that the present Coneress may act with more prudence than was ex- nected some weeks smce. The opinions of the peo- nle. so fearlessly expressed through the press of the country, may have salutary effect We trust they will Confidence is especially necessary in conduct-- inir a new eovernment like ours. The Congress mutt confide in the patriotism of the pAple, and the people mutt have confidence in the Congress, or the experiment will fail. Tt Rwiustobe feared that the principals of 8uk will he hurried out of the State without giving them an opportunity to.appeal to our Judges ,.!. their cases. We hope not Such a step would be -productive ofevil, and evil only. We publish to-day several important acts passed .t last session of the Legislature. "! We shall publish other acts from time to time. The steamer Advance on her recent return trip from Nassau, was. chased by the blockaders and Tan on the beach below Wilmington. . We are glad to bear that the cargo will be saved, apd that the ship is upright aad will be got off without material injury.- The Advance is as lucky as sne isjisetuL Thb Albesiablk Cocstbt. The Richmond Ex- article haaded "The War in the Car olina Swamps," in which we regret to find the fol low in c: "The fact is, this portion of. North Carolina is .-r.i tn he dislovaL and to be a convenient har bour for deserters and fugitive conscripts, who, with - tu. ki.nir h-inHitti and other elements, make up a nnnnlatinn unrivalled, perhaps, in Christendom, cer- . tainlv in the Confederacy, for lawlessness, outrages and atrocity." The arrticle is in other respects inaccurate, but the above does such grievious injustice to a portion of our State that we must protest against it It is hot true that the country referred to is"s- loval. The people are as true as in any other portion of the Confederacy, though they have suffered more than nv other portion. The Albemarle country was lost to the Confederacy, and Norfolost with it. by theoriminal stupidity or wicked indifference of J- P. Benjamin, who was Secretary of War when ttnanoke Island fell. That island was tbe key to all that fertile" and enlightened region which has since been trampled by the enemy. The people have oil their slaves, and thousands have lUDb AJS-wt.J " " ' . been suddenly reduced from affluence.to want r If the government cannot protect them, it ought not to keep just enough troops among inem to irri tate the enemy, and occasion those raids which are consigning them still further to want and misery. The " population " proper of that country is among the most enlightened and rufine'd in America. It is the oldest community on the continent They have never known in their midst either " lawless ness," or "outrages," or "atrocity" until the present war; and such characteristics are not in or of them, but are the results of the neglect of its duty towards them by the common gov ernment. The Albemarle country was first aban doned by the government; - then protected just far enough to enable it to bring out tbe surplus corn and bacon for its own use; and then oc- cuDied bv such a number of troops as to invite r - raids which they were not able to check : and now, when desolation reigns where prosperity, and Wealth, ' and happiness formerly abounded, the "population " thus V scattered and peeled is referred to as -dis loyal, arid characterized by every vice which can disgrace humanity.- No such information as to the Albemarle people, we are sure, was imparted to the Examiner by any true son of our beloved State. From East Tennessee Longstreet after the. Russellville, Jan. 19th. There is but Ijttle doubt that tbe enemy intended by bis recent de monstration to force Gen. Longstreet out of Ten nessee by occupying the country capable of sustain ing an army, in which,'however; he wholly failed, in consequence of the promptness with which be was met by'our troops ; which he was evidently unprepared tor, as bas been shown by bis rapid retreat They are supposed to have withdrawn from Strawberry Plains, and the country, with the exception of tbe vicinity of Knoxville, wiu be once more freed from their presence. The loss on either side is slight The federals removed seventy five wounded from Uaobnuge. lne enemy are retreat ing towards Knoxville rapidly, and. are closely pursued by our cavalry. ' Lieut CoL -Blakey, of the cavalry, was wounded : CoL Clarke, Hampton's Legion, killed; Lieut Tou-. chee, aid de camp to Uen. (i. T. Anderson, badly wounaeu. - More Yankees Captured. Richmond, Jan. 20. An official dispatch from Longstreet reports that Major G. W. Day, with one hundred men attacked one hundred and fifty Yan- aees ai oig spring, near xazeweii, on the 19th, killed and wounded .6. captured 3 Lieutenants and G4 privates. 67 horses, 50 stand of arms, 6 wagons and 1 ambulauce. ' ' The War New. ine inaications in Tennessee are Erenerallv nnin. 4aiacl!n T. a . . . , . o J teres ung. 11 appears that the Yankees, in Tennes- see and Georgia, are busily engaged in perfecting their communications with their bases of supplies in preparation for the spring campaign. The Yan kees have' a number of boats. on the Tennessee which convey supplies to Kingston, at the junction of the Holston and Tennessee. A gentleman, who has got through our lines from ' Knoxville, reports that about one hundred and fifty houses, comprising the whole of the city north of the railroad, were burnt by the enemy during the siege of the town. The damage done by this in cendiarism is estimated at two millions of dollars. Both the depots and the machine shop of the Vir ginia and Tennessee railroad ire nninjurecV '-.'. There are four army corps at Knoxville and vi cinity, nominally under the command of Foster-- Richmond Examiner. ' ' '.'.. ! 1 .a . -1 . i ' Diatlilatiwa Of SplritBona Liquor. ' As we learn that whiskey is being distilled In va rious localities in this State in violation of law, and as the Confederate government has gone into .the distillation of tb precious grain at Salisbury, e publish below the law of this State on the subject AH ACT TO PROHIBIT THB DISTILLATIOH OT SPIRITUOCS . ' " UQV0RS. . - Section 1. Be it enacted bv the General Ameniblv of the Slate of Sforth- Carolina,- andit it hereby enacted by the authority of the tame. That front and after the 1st day 'of January, 1.663, it shall not be lawful for any person in this btate, to distil any spirituous liquors oat of any corn,; wheat, peas, and peanuts; oats, rye, Chinese sugar cane; tne seed thereof, syrup, molasses, rice, dried lrutt, or pota toes, Or any mixture of any or either of thenv and -all persons violating . this act, shall, for each and every act of distillation, be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof, shall be Sued and impris oned, the fine not to beess than five hundred dol lars, and tbe imprisonment not to be less than sixty days; rroDided, That this act snail not be constru ed to repeal, amend, or modify an ordinance passed by tbe Convention of this State, entitled " An. oroMcew pSwr4iu 3 A . 1- . 1 . iL. - " ordinance is to remain in full force and effect until 1 . . b--"i the 1st day of January, 1863. .Sec. 2. Be it further enacted. That this act shall be in force and take effect from and after the first day of January. 1863. That persons, offending against the provisions of this act, shall bo deemed guilty of a distinct oSehse for every day or part ol a day in which they shall be so offending. Rati fied the. 7th day of December, 18G2. ACTS OF THE .LAST LEGISLATURE. . An Act for the Relief of the Wives and Fam- - illee of Soldiers in the Army. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General' A tembly of the State of ' Forth Carolina, and it u hereby enacted by the authority of the tame, That the sum of one million of dollars 4.0 be paid in Treasury notes of the State of North-Carolina; in addition -to the appropriation heretofore made in tbat behalf, be and toe same is hereby appropna- ted for the support of tbe wives and families of the 1 indigent soldiers of this State, whether in the ser vice of tbe state or Confederate governments, or -whether killed in buttle or dyine in the military r service of the country, such sum to be distributed I amork the several counties of the State, as hereto- j. fore, according to white population, as ascertained '-by-the Census of I860. ' ' t sec. z. JSe t farther enacted. That the quota of each county shall be paid to. the County Com i missioner or County Trustee of the same, accord ' ing to the provisions of the act of the General As : sembly ratified tbe 10th day of February, 1863, en- titled "-An act for toe relief of tna wives and fami -l.es of soldiers in the army, and shall be applied , to tbe support of the wives and families of tbe sol- ' diers of this state, as above enumerated, according : to the rules and regulations which have been oi ' may be prescribed by the Court of Pleas and Quar ter Sessions' of each county. . .- sec. 3. JSe tt further enacted. That when anv ' family oi a soldier, as aforesaid, shall have removed 1 'from tbe county of. bis residence, since the com- -mencement of the war, and shall have acquired a residence in another county, they shall be consid- : ered residents of the latter county,, and receive a : share of such distribution accordingly. . sec. 4. lie tt further enacted. That in addition : to tbe foregoing appropriation, the sum of three ; thousand. dollars is hereby appropriated to be paid . dv ine fuDiic Treasurer as aforesaid to the County i VUJU...UUU. . vumiuies in wuicn are res ident the families of Indian warriors, wno rendered service to the Confederate States in the present war, for distribution among them accordin to tne provisions Herein belore madj white persons. sec. o. JSe tt further eaac shall be in force from its rati Kcaa tnrce times ana ratinea l bly the 14th day of December, IS GILES ME BANE, S. An Act to restore the Courts and for other Pniposes. Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Asem bly of the State of North- Carolina, and it it here by enacted by the authority of the same. That there I shall hereafter be two terms of the Superior Courts of Law and Equity for each county in the State, 10 oe neia at tne limes prescribed in chapter thirty- ; one, sections nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen. ' fourteen and fifteen of the Revised Code, add by an j act entitled " An act to establish the eighth jbdi- cial circuit and for other purposes," ratified the 12th ' day of December, 1862. - - j Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That said Superior v Courts. of. Law shall have jurisdiction to try and ' determine all actions of tort, under the rules and regulations' which existed prior to the passage of an 1 act, entitled " An act to change the jurisdiction ol ; the Courts ana tbe rules ol pleading therein," rat ified the 11th day of September, 1861, and all pro- cess nereaiter to be issued in such actions and in all criminal proceedings, shall be made returnable jn like manner and onderthe same penalties as were prescribed prior to tne passage of said act ; Pro vided, that no suits in debt, assumpsit, or account shall be tried before said Courts by virtue of anv jui iuivmii uxa via rj aaj 10 eavk Sec. 3. Be it further enacted. That all process : .1 .j - t a! . xu wjo muu aviiuiiB auu vriuiuiai proceaiugs iron) : said Courts hereafter issued and made returnable to 1 the Fall term 1864, Of said Courts, shall" be deem ed and taken to be returnable to the Spring term 1864 of said Courts, respectively. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, Tbat 80 much of said act of Sept 11th, 1861, as applied to thj rules -of pleadings in cases of bills for injunction and se questration, and petitions for sale or partition oi land be and the same is hereby repealed Sec. 5. Be it. further enacted, That .there shall hereafter be two terms of the Supreme Court to be held in the City of Raleigh On tbe second Monday iu dune, nu iub uiimein nay aay 01 December, or -on the day after, in case the thirtieth day be Sun- ' uay. Sec. & Be it further enacted. That the Countv Vourts snail have jurisdiction to try and determine all cases of contested wills. Sec 7. Be it further enacted. That all laws com ing in conflict with the provisions of this act be and the same are hereby repealed. v Read three times and ratified in General Assem bly, tbe 14th day of December, A. D. 1863. R. S. DONNELL, S. H. C. ."... GfLES MEBANE, S. S. An Act concern fng Slave- Labor Works. on Pnhii. Qolmiv. 1 7. .J X.. il . I 1 M ' -Kw ofth Rtnt. nf fj.fl n,..l:- .jr .'. l. 1.. I -'if "J -J v vir vurviriiiu VHtt v -M ncTVtry 1 enacted bv the authority t.htnm Th. ihi ni I r " J WW AUi mw U10VJ sccuon 01 enapter sixteen of an act concerning - Public Works," ratified 20th December. 1RB2. en. . titled an "act tb authorize the Governor to employ slave labor in erecting fortifications And other " works," is hereby amended by inserting the word " ' male" befoOthe word " slaves." and after the word " Blavr' between the ages of eighteen and fortv. fi ve," so that the section may read as follows : " Thai ' the Governor shall have power and authority to com- "' penne services or any number ot Imalej alavea be- . tween ine ages or eighteen and forty.-nve years," c Sue. 2. Be it further enacted, That this act shall f be in force from and after Hs ratification, ." Read three times and ratified in Ganeral Asaem ' bly the 12th day of December, A. D-, 1863. . , tt B. DONNELL, S. H. C, GILES MEBANE, & fi, ' E I fit I ST 11 it & Meeting of the Vew BesMI of Conrntaalpnera. : A , ' - .. ; RAXBfli,'Jan. 19, 18Bi. c Jhis evening the newly elected Mayor and Board of Commissioners for the Ohy of Raleigh, Tor the, year 1864, convened at the Mayor's office for the first time. ' ; ' V - . . ,' Wm.- H. HarrisOn, Btq.i Mayor. Messrs. Tm. H.-Tucker,- Alex. Creech" and P. Overby, Coinmjs-' sioners from the Western Ward. Messrs. W. R. Richardson, A. L. Longee and S. W Scott, Com missioners from the Middle Ward. ; Dr. Wm H. McKee and Messrs. J. J. Overby and N. S. Harp, Commissioners from the Eastern Ward. ' Certificates from the Inspectors appointed to hold said elections, were received by the Clerk, Accord ing to law, announcing the above named gentlemen duly elected. Whereupon the oath of office was ad ministered to the Mayor by W. H. Tucker, Esq., and then the Mayor' administered the oath to each of the Commissioners present for faithful discharge of their respective duties.' ' ' . TheSnard hainv thu nnrintwd tha hnsiriMU first ; . in order was the election of City Clerk ; when J. 1 J. Christophers was elected. '; '' ' - ' . i : ' On motion, J. J. Christophers, Esq., was appoint- ed City Tax Collector lor 1884- i Tbe Board en proeeeded to vote for Chief Con elected. Mr. N. V. JLtel V. Denton was elected Assistant Constable. W. R. Richardson, Esq., was elected "City Treas urer. .' . '. ' : K. P. Battle, Esq., City Attorney. . ' F. G. King, Esq., Weigh Master. Committee on streets compose the Commissioners qf each Ward. - - ' . Grave yard committee consists of Messrs. Tucker, Harp and Lougee. . On motion of Mr. S. W. Scott, it was Ordered, That a Captain of the Night-Watch, and six Watchmen be elected; when . H. Horton was elected Captain, and Messrs. K A. Johnson', Wm. Beevera, Wni. 0. ParkerM. C. Lutet, 0. A. Driver and. Win. Overby were elected Watchmen. Joe Miller has a contract to get stone at 75 cts. per load.. . On motion Of Dr. McKee. the last Wednesday night of each month was fixed as the regular meet-H ingot tne Board. . ... .. On motion of Dr. McKee. a committee consisting of Messrs. McKee, Richardson and Creech, were ap pointed to fix salaries, and report at next meeting. Tba following accounts were presented, read, and, on motion, allowed: J03. King. $28; W. 0. Par ker, $21 ; Wm. Beevers, $33 25 ; M. C. Luter, $37 ; 0. A. Driver, $37LA. Johnson, $87. An account of Mr. Medlin,.$27, for guarding small ptix case was allowed. - On motion of Dr. McKee. a- committee was ap pointed to memorialize the Legislature to make do- 5 . 1 n . . . ... .. -Haulm near me state auarry tor lot 10 oury tne colored population. . Messrs. McKee, Tucker and Richardson were ap pointed said committee. On motion, tne Board adjourned. . J. J. CHRISTOPHERS, Clerk. . The election for City officers held on Monday last, the 18th inst, passed off ewietly. .CoL Harri son was re-elected Mayor without opposition, hav ing received 338 votes. In the Eastern Ward the vote stood as follows : N. S. Harp, 118: J. J. Over by, 105; Dr. W. H. McKee, 92; D. Ly Royater, 87; Alfred TJpchurch, 74; Robt B. Hayirood, 45; A. N. Unchurch, 80; L. T. Clayton, 13. Middle Ward: A. L. Lougee, 42 ; W. R Richardson, and s, waiter scott, eacn, W. western Ward : Alex. Creech, 8C; Wm. H. "Tucker, 85; Parker Overby, 77; x. tu unggs, 65; John Nichols, 48; A. T. Sawyer, 42; W. F. Askew. 21. The vote for Constable in District No. 1, stood. David Lewis, 159 ; W. TJpchurch, 87. In District No, 2 : W. Sauls, 122 ; W. IL Ellen, 18. Extract . from a letter to the EditovTated" " " Gbavel Hill, Buckingham Co., Va.,) January 4th, 1864. ( "Your paper has been much denounced, and an feffortwas made in our Legislature to prevent its circulation in Virginia, but I have lately bad an op- t- - ...j r L t ir poriuuuy 01 seeing. 11 ujiu juuging ui ii iur uijbeii. I find that you are an . advocate of the rights and liberties of tbe people azainst tyranny and usurps tion from all 'quarters, and for one, I will sustain you."- Wo have nothing, definite' from the action of Congress. Nothing has been perfected in relation to the currency, or the increase of the army, or the proposed suspension tf habeas corp'it. As these measures are all discussed in secret it is impossible that the country can be informed as to their nature or the -progress made with them. The Wilmington Jouraal of the 19th says that the Home Guard of New Hanover, consisting of the 16th battalion, assembled in Wilmington on the 20th, for a three months term cf service. Died, in this city, on yesterday morning, of amal gamation, tbe "State journal' newspaper. The con cern was tenderly nursed and affectionately cared ! forby the stockholders and other "brethren," but the disease was deep seated and nothing could save it The proprietor we suppose will return to the North Or to Europe, where more congenial associa tions may be found. His aexmchers and pall-bearers have our ienderest sympathies. Papers that have copied the scurrilous attacks of tbis concern on decent men of this State, will please ! oony. Ptoarete. So tbe struck bnxzard, stretched npon the plain, No more tbrongb clones of filth to soar again, Vies bis own quill npon tbe fatal izzard, And winged the abaft that quivered in his gizzard : Keen were his paigs, bnt keener far to feel He norsed tbe pinion that his fate did seal. We regret , to learn thai Gen. R, B. Vance has been captured by tbe enemy. It is reported that he was captured at Seviervflle, between Greenville and Knoxville, We have no particulars. Since the above was put in type, we have re ceived the following from a friend at Marshall, Madi , son County : " - - " The news in regard to a portion of Gen. Vance's - command is somfwhat unfavorable. "He left Ashe ville, and proceeded through some of tho western counties, and crossing the mountains, made his way into Sevier county, Tenn. He then came unon a Yankee foraging train, which he capture and was making his way out, when he came upon a blockade : in-the road on Cosby's Creek which took him some i ten or twelve hours to remove. In the meantime. j the Yankees started in pursuit of hun and over- j hauled him on Ooabv a Creek, at the for! where they are reported to nave almost completely sur : rounded him, and it is feared that they have suc ceeded in capturing him -and the larger portion of his entnmand. These are s'rtfh ftirta a va lurneil " " 1 on yesterdav. from some who made their eseaoe. A ' -. The statements are very confused and conflicting. and we still hope tut eM .arair is not so bad represented." .. . .... Dutt or Thoss at Hons. The army must be fed. The families of our soldiers must be provided for. It does nt require a pfailoevpher to determine the duty of those Of our people who are at borne and in wealth, or even io-sasy circumstances, ' Pfey ducers should exert themselves tb tbe-utmost to raise articles necessary to sustain life. Those who are able should give liberally of their means to those fn want. The poor of tne country have get to- be taken care' of some way, and tile wealth of the country has got to do it The only question is simply, what is the best plan to adopt to accomplish, the desired oV ject -fiwAavMwi . Whig. For tba Standard.' la the. set of Con(resa-p1aei( la the fteM prii4 cipaiis wbo aiave inrnished snbstnatea Con tUattamailt - " -' - ' 1 - The Confederate government, having as yet failed to pass an act establishing a Supreme Court, and the Courts of the various State governments having held tbat H was their duty to entertain jurisdiction in all oases where a writ of habeat edrput had been sued m "y aciuxen-oi tne state alleging a detention by an J of the Confederate'government under an act of Congress; we purpose briefly examining the va-. hdity of the late act requiring principals who bad , furnished substitutes for the military service; also' w s me neia. uur;nquu-y wjll be confined to the validity of the law. as it affects citizens of thlS State, for a there IB nY PnnlAHl-.l S.,nnma Oourvit may be that there will not be that unU ui uijr.ai aecisionswnien irouM arise, was there a Court to which all the various State Courlswere bound to yield obedience upon, the construction of! acts of .Congress. If there was a Supreme Confed erate Court, composed of able lawyers, such aa I doubt not -tbe President would aonoint I have no' doubt it wonld place tbe eaaie construction upon u vuinwnpaiaa ana exemption acts as bas been doneby our own Supreme Court So far as the ntftiiiiijoncerned, whether "the act of Congress allowing substitution was a mere prtvUegTr- an muuigonee, or a contract, this question haft been decided by our Supreme Court after a full and able discussion--a discussion marked with great ability, and in which the Confederate government was rep resented by two of our most distinguished lawvers. and the opinion of the Court that it was a contract, has met with the general approbation of the jurists of tbe country. - . , . then, as it is a contract has Congress the Con stitutional power to annul it ? To ascertain this question it will be necessary to revert to the ormn- io law, and see what powers have been conferred on tne legislative branch of the government The first thing which we discover in ibis Instrument, is the fact that the Confederate Constitution is brought iuiu existence noi oy me people or the Confederate States, bnt by the States themselves.-"each Slate acting in its .sovereign and independent character." However muen nur havn hnulnfnr. riiWnrarl aboul the sovereignty of the States, or the power . .. . . U -r . 1. . .1 J IT-.: -1. . . . - . . uu Duuigui ui Mia uiu-uiiiod, iuai question wjiow patent from -the unmistikeable wording of the or ganic law. . . - - It is based upon the idea of thv sovereignty of the States, and the Confederate government is the mere agent of the separate sovereignties which compose it It possesses no inherent principles of sover eignty, except as such are expressly delegated by the States under the Constitution. It possesses no powers except sueh as are necessary to prevent ex ternal as wen as internal violence. The paramount object in its formation, as gathered from the instru ment itself, seems to have been closer alliance of the different sovereign States composing it for their mutual protection. It declares that all powers not expressly delegated, belong to the States; thus ig noring every such an idea as tbat the government can do any act not expressly sanctioned by the or--ganic law. It ignores all internal improvements on the part of the government, and leaves such things to be performed by tbe sovereignties interested. It repudiates the great principle npon which many supposed the old United States government was founded that of being formed by "the people of the United States for a. more perfect Union'" and those who formerly held that the Constitution embodied the doctrine of a consolidation of the Union as indispensable to our prosperity and happi ness, must be satisfied upon reading our present organic law, that it was the constant-aim and stu dious intention of tbe framers of the- Constitution that no such construction should be admissible. . The Constitution' establishes a government of I?' :r "AfricUong. and Howb ; tive branch of the same nfpassno law which is not warranted by tbat instrument The powers grant ed to this department of the government are plainly marked outand "blazed;" and those powers not so expressly .delegated by the sovereign States, com posing' the Couiederate government are, by the Con stitution, reserved to the States. Ejren under the old government which possessed many of the es sentials of nationality which are wanting in our Constitution, Judge Patterson of the Supreme Court of tbe United Stales, held in the case of Calder. . Bull, 3 Dallas, 386, that the State Legislatures re . tained exclusively, all the powers of legislation which were not expressly taken away by the Con stitution, and that no constrictive potters could be exercised by the Federal government. If this was a correct exposition of the law under the old govern ment, how much more correct is it under the new T The Slates upon ratifying the Constitution, restrict ed themselves of the right to enter into treaties. ST .r " h.3 : Er. . .Sra der in .the payment of debts ; they also covenanted uuv w e e-" w . - 13-- DOl to l&&5 uu Myvmbjww law ur uny Hw ing the obligation of contracts. Now. itis apparent to le most casual observer that as the States had deprived themselves of tbe above enumerated rights, they could not be exercised by the Confederate gov ernment unless they were expressly, delegated. The States, therefore, do. delegate to the government some of the above powers, such as the right to enter into treaties, coin money, grant letters of marque -and reprise Ac. Here then we find that the States are not allowed to make any thing but gold and silver coin a legal tender in the payment of debts,, nor pass any law impairing the obligation of con tracts. Why were these restrictions imposed on the States? The reasons are obvious. Gold and silver coin has the same relative value in all well regulated governments. Suppose the States were, allowed to make bills, of any corporation a legal ten der in the' payment of debts ; and if acted upon, the effect would be-deplorable. ; A man might be com pelled .to accept in full satisfaction ol an hundred dollar note, paper currency, which would not com mand five cents in the dollar. Such an act might deprive a man of bis property without just compen sation. The reason why a State can pass no law impairing Hhe obligation of contracts, is another wise restriction, for. were it otherwise, it would de stroy all enterprise check all commerce deprive men of vested rights, without any equivalent in a word, such an act would shuck tbe moral sense of mankind. , If, then, there be such weighty reasons 'why the States should not be permitted to make any thing bjdift gold and silver coin a legal tender in the pay ajbt of debts, nor' pass any law. impairing the ob ligation of contracts, we may inquire whether the States have delegated any such extraordinary pow ers, to the Confederate government Let anyone who supposes tbat the States have so stultified themselves as to have delegated such powers, study the Constitution closely, and he w rise from iu examination satisfied that no such authority can be found. " , Sunnose. when the Constitution was being sub mitted to the States for ratification, it iiad contained . a clause allowing Congress to pass laws impairing the obligation of contracSj, can any one doubt what . would nave been its fate ? It could never have re-. ceived the sanction of -a single State. Theincor poratiea of sucha power would have driven all en terprise from our borders. Trade would instantly have perished, anw the streets of oar commercial marts would hive grown up in weeds and grass o eoontry would have soon become a. waste and UJniiiss '.; " ' . . A mertunent claiming the right to pass an act ipeMng.tbobllgatMef eontracU can never oc cupy apceitiea of respeotebility tn the family of nations, however amnte are its means or abends ' its resouroes. Snob a government could never ef fect a loan in any foreign or domestic mwket It. would occupy in the commercial world thesam . position which a non-observer of his qwTaTt8. does, in his imaiedifte community. A government claiming the rie-ht to violate one awcies of contract, can with impunity violate any other. . Suppose Congress should pass an act ap propriating one hundred thousand dollars for the construction or a Custom House at Wilmington. Under the act the successful bidder completes it ae cordingHo the agreement, and the building is de livered to the collector of Customs. Suppose tbat oeiore it bas been of mueb service to the govern ment, the enemy should capture Wilmington. What would be thought nf tha bould afterwards pass a law ignoring tbe former contract, upon tbe ground that the Custom- House was of little or no value the government Y The government Says substitutes are worth but little that they will run off, and are not to be trusted. Concede it, and what does U amount to? imply 5 that it has made a bail bargain. - ' l have always thought the system of ubstitutioi wrong that it enabled the wealthy to avoid the privations which the poor bad to meet;. bnt after the government had adnntad tha nctn tt wo. v, height of tolly to break its faith and leave tbe.world aopptwe ine government had no respect tor the obligation of contracts. . . " - -' egnaes of the country demand that prin cipals who have furnished substitutes for the military service shall be brought into the field, why not let organic WfaiSr-S--i eacb and everr miliu nZZZanSZnt&i each and every military necessity which Tnay arise? Whv nA 1.1 .1. - rt . . .. ." . . - .. ..j uu. icir wo ivnsuiuuon oeamenaeu so as to make the civil authorities subordinate to the mili tary r In all seriousness it would look much more respectable to have a bona fide military despotism, clothed with full powers for the Executive to be re sponsible to no one, whose will should be tbe law. -vuer umu to uave a uonsutuaon which we profess to observe, and which, whienener it ifdisregarded, in terposes barriers to measures which Congress thinks will benefit the country. Such a government we could well understand. If its tyranny was detestable. im. wsl' 0 maniy ana.Dpen. , The above observations have not been written by one who is in any way affected by the act The writer has no substitute in the field; but he has been prompted to pursue this course from a desire to call public attention to an act which is another in stance of the recklessness of the present Congress ; which plainly indicates that any act offsring a tem porary benefit will be rushed throutb the halls of legislation regardless of constitutional limitations and restrictions. PUBLICS. -,'For the Standard. Mr. Editor : There seems 4o be much" differ ence of opinion as to what the political sentiments oflhe people of North-Carolihe, at this time, really are. Some of tbe Destructive journals of tbe State charge that the letters published from time to time in the columns of the Standard, showing public sentiment in different parts of the State, are manu factured in the Standard office ; while one of them, the Fsyetteville Observer, claims that the late Con gressional elections showed that a majority of the people of North-Carolina were opposed to the course of the Standard, and of the so-called peace party.. There are also si few eminent men in the State who contend that the peace men are in a small minority, "that tbe proposition to calj a State Convention, would be voted down by at lehst 20,000 majority. Now, if these men are really sincere, why do they op pose our proposition to submit the question of " Con vention or no Convention " to the people f " If the people should vote down the proposition by such a majority as tbey cjaim that they would, the whole agitation would at once cease and of course all the injury, if any, which it produces to the Confederate cause, would also cease; and the pence men would be overwhelmed with shame and disgrace, for it is well known that they claim " to be in a very large 1 T J- " - j. . . . a!r.OT2JiLL,, qnestion the never took this view of the matter before : and"T think T now have reason to believe that they will cordially and zealously co operate with us in our efforts to have the Legislature convened, and the question submitted to the people. I do not see how they can do otherwise, if they are honest in their opinions. ." ' " - But if on the other hand, the people should, really call s.Conventicn, as I have no doubt tbey would hy a very largi majority, who has any right to complain ? - The sovereignty of the State and of the. people is not questioned. They unquestiona bly have the right if they choose to exercise it of assembling in Convention, to consult together for the public geod, and also to consult with the other States of the Confederacy for the common weal. PThey havTthe rkht, in connection with the other States assemoled in Convention, to direct and con trol their common agent the government at Rich mond. .- They have the right to demand of tbat gov at once enter into negotiations for peace upon such terms as they may direct, and if it will not do this, they have a right to revoke its powers and terminate its existence, and then to in stitute negotiations themselves. But the. people of tbe State, in Convention assembled, have still high er powers. If the co operation of the other States cannot be obtained,. I suppose no one will, at thiB late day, undertake to deny that the State may re dress ber own grievances, of which she has many and most -serious ones to complain. The doctrines taught by the States' Rights men, and which they learned from the great founder q their party, Thos. Jefferson, is that "a State must herself be the sole judge of the time, the mode, the manner and meas ure of redress." Nay, I do not see how any man could question her right, if she. thought it absolutely necessary for her own safety, peaceably to 6ever her connection with ' the Confederate government and enter into negotiations for a separate peace. But while I con tend for this right, I do not mean to say that it ought to be exercised immediately, if at alL The people would undoubtedly elect their very wisest and best men and ablest statesmen, to represent them in sueh a Convention. There, would be her OrahamsL ber Browns, her Dicks, her Dockerys. per Settles, her Reades, her Warrens, her Donnells and a host of others as wise and true as they, and to them all of these matters could be safely trusted. They would never inaugurate' any measures which the honor and safety of the State did not impera tively demand. Where, then, is the. danger of call- inir a Convention in any event? '. - Another consideration to inddce us to call a' Con vention is. that the necessity for it may become im perative. Our State might possibly which God forbid be overrun during tbe next spring or sum mer, an T'ennessee or Arkansas now is. and then no Convention could be elected but by the consent of nnr connueror. and under such rules andegula lions as they might establish- In such an event it annld certainly be of the very highest importance that there should be a power in existence autho rised to negotiate in the name of pyjTj" Beautiful asb Turn. In s late articf . Vn F rafter's Magasine this brief, but beautiful ai tr ptusagt occurs: - ; i . ; Education does not cpnnne wth the alphabet ft begins with a motW. i0Tt. wjth father's slto orapprooation, 0f reproof ; with sister gentle for-... ith e handV r flaw. nests snts, and ant walks LTr11' and with thSugte directed in sweet iadly iones and words feature, to acta of be- ttevoieaee, to deeds of vtrr ae. nd to the soorr rf iifood-toood limpet 3T,rr5,$ The chaphune in 7 .n-. ' ' - rn Virginia, arJw " ? 188; Presby tetter v -Mtewsi Methodists, 15; o jipliatt, -10 ; y-:-""' w - For tlMStandar, , firnl ASE WC DRIFTING r - : .rTlrK4r fiberty, wh ftei-liorB aVeo, f Baring to advlerti a'ublic, may apeak free.' The question, wtnther sr westing r is one . ' - that is frequehfly seen fn the newspaperi'of late, , and it to, Wdeubt, DMraXrequently pondered by aH the tUnking nten "o tho conntryv It is M all im- portent, absorbing, and vital question, sad, in fact, has been ever since the passes of the conscript sot V nee two veers ago. J But ate, It seems to-bs for sing itself on the attention more than' forauriy. ; 'v We were told At the eommeocement of that war;-"" that we were in a revolution, that the North wouldn't" fight, consequently, the htrifs would be shorty - We. V" werj told that the blockade was of paper, and of V3 course, oftio account that England and France, on account 01 our great staple,- would soon ne our allies, Ac ,. True, all were not gulled by these aa- oernons, out too many were; enougn to conduct us to where we are. ' We bad,, adopted for us, the" Oohstitution of Uo United States, with a few alterations. The vital parts were proposed to be kept intact The attempt was made to impress the people with the ides, that, in substance, the old revered document was to be enforced in its true spirit- We were not told that men who enlisted for one year were to be con scribed ' ' and kept fn tbe army for many years. We were ' not told that part of the government's promises to pay" -were-to be repudiated in less than three years . by the few who manage the issues. ' We were not . told that s custom, which prevailedkamong the ) r rselites, centuries ago, was to be mired among us '. in a land boasting to be the "freest of the i thaUhe few pounds of meat and wool which the) widow might be so fortunate as to have with which, v to feed and clothe her Utile, ones,, were to be partly 1' Uken away to parapet-those in power, and their minions. We were not told tbTtt men who had ' hired substitutes; were to be declared liable to rnili- ; tary service. We were not told that thousands of bushels of North Carolina corn was to be made in to whiskey, with which to moisten the ,dry jaws of oi piace-men, wnen hundreds :or. little children in crying for bred. But most of Uw.ng we have aeeo, and those we have not it .is proposed to. exhibit to us. One or two mora ' strides in the direction we are miner, and we will hate passed into i complete a despotism as any in ' the old world. Give to one or two men the power of exemption, and suspend the writ "of habeascorpus, and w.need not ask, "whither are we drifting f Do these things in addition to what has already been done, "and wo are nnder a military despotism of the darkest stamp. The soW-minded, thinking men of our country are pondering another question, as well as tbe one that beads this article, namely: How mnch longer' is this state of things to continue? Will the people the great mass of the voters of the country, who have been nearly all their lives accustomed to the sweets of liberty will they continue to look on, supinely, and see the last vest igo of freedom swept ' awayt and not attempt to stay the hands of those who would utterly ruin us t Will not the people of NorthCarolina, especially, riseitftheir might and. demand and assume their lost rights ? Let the Governor and Legislature Just annouaice to the people of the State they are to have a Con vention if they wish it, in order to consult concern ing, the "greatest good of the greatest number," and there will be an upheaving of the people, such as has not been witnessed for years. We should work jwhil ) it is to day, " lest the night cometh -when no man can work." .. CALAMUS. Far tbe Standard. . . Stantonsbcro, N. C, Jan. 15, 1864. W: W. Holden, Esq. : Dbab Sir':! write you this to know if there is no way to have our Postmaster detailed to attend to our post office ? We are without, a Postmaster, and have been for some time. Our office has been partly kept by the citizens since his departure for the army ; but there being no onein the place to take chjarge of the office, or that we could recom mend to tbe Postmaster General (as tbe army has them all except two or three doctors,) for appoint ment ; we suffer great inconvenience in distribu ting our mail, or at least in getting it It is an of fice that has been established for fifty or sixty years, and the mail that comes to it is about four or five times greater than it was previous to the beginning, of. the war. It is ten miles from Wilson, which is the nearest distributing office 'on. the Wilmington and Weldon railroad, and a great many letters come to it from soldiers in the army to their rela 4iYp,Iin&fti?jla ftfcJUJffiSu't! I nothing of the been solicited by several to write to -you, and hope you will give me what information you can on' the subject As you are the people's friend, and a friend to civil liberty, I am induced to make this request of you.far their accommodation. A W would suggest to the people who are accommo dated by the Stantonsburg office to memorialize the Postmaster General on the subject , It may be that he will interest himself with the. War Department to procure the detail so much needed. . For the Standard- PUBLIC MEETING. There will be a public meeting at Solace called High Point, on the N. C. Railroad between China Grove depotvand Coleman's Turnout, on tho 80th of this month, it 16 o'clock, A. M. .MANY CITIZENS. January .15; 1864 . '"I'm. See Mt Partner." Strange devices were adopted by some of thg bard up soak-re, on Cbri it mas day to get the wherewithal to feel (he influence of " the day we celebrate," and none were more in genious than the method bf a pretended mute, who took in some of the merchants that kept open doors a few' hours in the morning, to catch the early birds that chanced to fly their way. The mute aforesaid, after scrutinizing the sign over the door, pulled s slate out of his pocket walked in, and writing on it the word, "Got any molasses?" handed it to the -merchant The latter takibg tbe hint namely : that the gentleman was a deaf mute wrote down' the word " Yes." The deaf mute added immediate-' ly the inscription, " How mnch do you ask for it?" The merchant jotted down " fifteen, dollars." The deaf mute wrote "Let me 'see it" - The merchant conducted him to the cellar, and gave him look at . the sorghum. Dummy tasted the same, and, man- - ifesting his . satisfaction by sundr- s'gi s and grim aces, wrote upon his slate, " I'll sea my partner." ; " He then. started out; but, as if having forgotten' something, and jotted down the cabalastis sentence, u Got any first rate brandy ? " The merchant re plied through the medium of the slate "Yes splendid." Let me see it" responded Dummy in the same way, after cleansing the tablet with bis . ' coat sleeve. Tbe merchant conducted him to n bright particular barrel, drew out a f-w. ' taster's" full and poured the ruby liquor into a goblet in "which it was nominated by tbe eircumHmbient sir to a magnificent advantage ; Dummy;took it there was over a half pint 4w tbe goblet viewed the surrounding scenery of shelves and boxes though it for a few -moments, thon slightly tasted it, grinned satisfaction ani rubbed bis belly, passed tbe goblet for a moment longer m the sir, and then, quietly tilted it to Wis lips, and tbe brandy disap peared wIi"je dream'' from the. astonished ,' fJeW-:;. of the merchant Dummy hoisted, oft slate again, . wrteupbnit tbe words, "TB see my partner,, made a bow ana mv oosao nmu aoseu BoraMn were called npon, fend "tested In the same fcshion, by the origiial, who, ai length, gave In. aiid toddled down to one of the numerous resteortrsvleja, oa Uth street, and took a tforkl for the rest of Vhe day. Sicltnond 2wV - - . t .. r. s ita raaicai anui' mono iw?ms SLTCZ it denrrrsa Ury measures, aoouw no - the country --. - . uadt whether native or foreign; JsJfifiSZ, sorely in need. The supply ia , enough tfP"0. Juomu i.ssM. as to reiaiu - -9 bom , ,'3 t
The Weekly Standard (Raleigh, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Jan. 27, 1864, edition 1
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