From North Carolina

A Healthy Reaction.

NEWBERN, N.C., May 14, 1862.

The climate here this far has been delightful – neither too warm nor too cold.  Fewer deaths by sickness have occurred since our troops have been in this State than before we came.  Our troops have been here since January last, and, on the whole, have suffered less by sickness than the troops in Virginia.  If the remainder of the year should prove as healthy, and doubtless it will, then we shall have no fault to find with the climate of the Old North State.

The Western part of this State is considered the paradise of America.  When the Yankees shall have discovered this beautiful section of the country, you may expect to see it soon peopled by a different class of inhabitants, whose industry and ingenuity will make the State what it should be – one of the wealthiest and most prosperous in the Union.

The authorities at Richmond, who have been in the habit of dragging the citizens of this and other Southern States before their star chamber in the most summary manner, and executing them without trial, for entertaining Union sentiments, have been very unexpectedly snubbed in these unwarrantable proceedings by the Governor of North Carolina, backed up by the State Convention.  It appears that Jeff. Davis ordered the arrest of Mr. Respess, the Mayor of Washington, N. C., charged with having an interview with Gen Burnside soon after Newbern was taken.  The Mayor was arrested in the night time, in the most summary manner, and hurried off to Richmond in irons, where he was thrust into a dungeon, and not allowed to see any of his friends or receive any food or clothing from them.

This outrage created the most intense excitement throughout the State.  Gov. Clark was instructed by the Convention, now in session in Raleigh, to make a peremptory demand on the authorities at Richmond in the name of the State for the immediate delivery of the person of Mayor Respess, which demand was refused by President Davis.  Then a Committee was appointed by the Convention to wait on Davis & Co. and inform them that the demand made by the Governor must be immediately complied with otherwise the State of North Carolina would resort to forcible measures if necessary.

Mr. Respess was on trial before Davis when Gov. Clark first made the demand for his release.  Davis answered that the trial must go on, and not until the Committee made the demand in person was Mr. Respess released.  This Committee was also instructed to inform Jeff. Davis that North Carolina considered herself capable of inquiring into the conduct of her own citizens, and that the Richmond authorities must make no more arrest in this state.  Mr. Respess was brought to Raleigh by the Committee, where he was set at liberty, and will soon join his family and friends.

This movement on the part of Gov. Clark and the State Convention is rather ominous, to say the least – especially so when it is understood that North Carolina has withdrawn all of her aid, from Davis, and refused to meet a renewed demand from the Rebel President for more troops and additional transportation facilities.  The State has positively refused to allow any of her troops to accompany the retreating rebels into the Cotton States.  Her railroads, however, are placed at the disposal of the traitors to enable them to return to their respective States.

We hear of Union meetings in different parts of the State.  The old flag is floating defiantly in the western counties, where they are having great Union gatherings almost within sight of the State Capital.  Last Saturday two great Union meetings came off in this part of the State – one in Craven County, the other in Carteret.  Strong Union resolutions were passed. Charles Henry Foster was indorsed as the representative of the Union sentiment by these meetings, and also much satisfaction was expressed over the appointment of Mr. Stanley by President Lincoln as Military Governor.  This gentleman is a native of this county, and has represented this district in Congress several terms.  He is greatly respected by the people of this State, and his return from California to his old home will be hailed with delight by his numerous old friends.  Gov. Stanly will doubtless proceed to Raleigh as soon as he arrives, and confer with Governor Clark and the Convention, who no doubt will accept him as a medium through whom they will act in arriving at an understanding with the Federal Government prior to resuming their old position in the Union as one of the original States. –{Cor. N. Y. Tribune.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday May 24, 1862, p. 2