Greensborough Patriot

Sep. 25, 1862

Page 1

 

Well Done!

            We learn that a day or two since, some Confederate officers brought before Gen. Vance a couple of citizens of Alamance, who had been arrested by them without civil process.  The Governor asked them for their authority for making the arrest and holding the citizens referred to as prisoners.  They had none of a civil nature.  He then told them that neither he nor they had any right to make such arrests except in pursuance of the action of the civil magistrates and he ordered the prisoners to be released.  He declared it to be his purpose to uphold the law against the encroachments of military power, and to protect every citizen, as far as he could, in his constitutional rights, and then, turning to the released citizens themselves, he admonished them sharply of the importance of so acting as to avoid just suspicion, and told them that all who violated the law or disturbed the peace, or committed acts calculated or intended to injure the common cause, would certainly be punished.  But the law must have its course and the military power must be keep within its appropriate sphere.

            We give this as we heard it from a gentleman who happened to be present.  Such a course on the part of Gov. Vance will increase his hold on the confidence of the people.  His face is inflexibly set, not only against unauthorized assumption of power by the military, but against every thing designed or intended to cripple the Southern cause.  He believes that we can achieve liberty in the contest now going on with our Northern foes and at the same time preserve it intact among ourselves.—Raleigh Standard—