Newbern Weekly Progress

THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 12, 1861.

"PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT" FOR NORTH CAROLINA

The Northern papers make a great parade over the establishment of a "Provisional Government," by the Federalists, on the coast of North Carolina; and we perceive by the Federal Congressional proceedings that the ridiculous Charles Henry Foster has turned up again as a claimant for a seat in that body. In the one case we have an illustration of the gullibility of the Yankees, many of whom doubtless suppose that a murderous political power has sprung up in the soil of Hatteras, the indigenous population of which, according to good authority, consists of "a miserable set of amphibious wreckers and fishermen, more than half of whom can neither read nor write, and are profoundly ignorant that they ever lived under any government, State, Federal or Confederate." The other case is the most palpable illustration of bare-faced impudence that we ever read of. For an individual like Charles Henry Foster to assume to represent the State of North Carolina, is to prove that the age of brass has really come at last. He is Yankee all over, without any redeeming quality. The people of North Carolina would be glad to have a convenient opportunity of making him familiar with their leading articles of export, "tar, pitch and turpentine," with the addition of a suitable quantity of feathers. Yes, and we are happy to inform the Richmond Dispatch from which the above is taken, that this is the same Charles Henry Foster who edited a Breckinridge paper in Murfreesborough, Hertford county, N. C., during the Presidential campaign; and though then a violent Southern man, as he pretended, against whom we often uttered our suspicions. The said Charles Henry Foster is from the State of Maine and possesses the impudence and meanness of the devil. We doubt not but he was the moving spirit in the organization of the "Provisional Government" at Hatteras and that he wrote not only the "proclamations" of "Governor" Marble Vush Taylor but his own certificate of election also. But it is Yankee robbing Yankee and who cares? As to the few creatures who vegetate on Hatteras Banks they know nothing about law or government, and care less—give them a wreck to rob and they are at home. While our forces were at Hatteras two companies of these Bankers offered their services to the Military Authorities at Raleigh to serve under the commandant of the post as "home guard" but such a poor opinion of their loyalty was entertained that the offer was refused. The Yankees are welcome to them.