The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-03-09

We there express the anxiety we feel-our
warm, heartfelt attachment to the Union :;
while at the same time we declare that, as
honor and a Just sense of the claims of their
posterity induced our Revolutionary faith
ers to sever the ties of blood aud political
association when they could no longer be
maintained but at the expense of these, SO
should the same necessity impel US. upon
like considerations. however reluctantly,
to sacrifice even our ardent love for the
Union to honor and the just claims Of that
posterity for whom it is our duty to provide
Yet we desire to make every effort for the
preservation of the Union, and we meet not
for the purpose of discussinga plan Of
dissolution, but to devise one by which it
can be honorabi yprevented.-Thisit it would
be inexpedient to do In a primary meeting
to attempt further than to devise some
mode by which we may have an opportu-
nifty of a grave and deliberate conference
with all those who stand related to the
subject in like manner with ourselves.
Not to forestaIl, by any expressions in adj
vance Of our own views, the free and dis
passionate result Of such a conference.
The conference itself is all we should de-
eide upon; and even that conference only
in the event that future development may
make it's necessity more apparent. Ih:
distant period, therefore, of the first Mon
day in June next, VIC would fix upon for
the meeting at Nashville. In the mean
time. the further action Of Congress, and
North, will enable US to Judge more proper
what that meeting ought to do This ini-
tiatory step is particularly called for on the
part of North Carolina, for it is greatly to
be feared her position is much misunder
stood by both the parties to this great
question. Our wide extent Of territory
aud sparseness of population, together with
those geographical disadvantages which
prevent that speedy interchange OF senti-
men. between one portion and another OF
our people. enjoyed by other States. rem
ders US necessarily very slow in collecting,
and. therefore. in expressing. the public
sentiment of our State. This slowness Of
ex preston has heen has been usually at
| tributed to some popularity in the people
themselves, involving the imputation Of
Beotian stupidity or phlegmatic indiffer-
ence. Never was there a greater error. In no
part of the Union the pulsations of the
heart warmer, or the operations ot the
intellect more active, than among the
| people of this State. But from the causes
already assigned, our aggregate actions is
vdual characteristics. Public opinion
everywhere must have attained a certain
volume before its action can be felt; and
this volume must be in proportion to the
numbers and space upon and within which
it is to act. The public sentiment of North
Carolina, therefore, upon this great ques-
ton, is not yet understood abroad-pcr-
haps, even by a great many, not FULLY un-
! derstood at home. 1t is important that 1T
should be understood both at home and
| abroad. and now is the time to begin its
expression. This expression must begin
some where and in some way. and know
| no place or way at and in which it can
better begin than here, III the adoption of
these resolutions. They embody. be-
iie>e, the true sentiments of the people Of
North Carolina, aud it is all-important
that it should be known that they do. 1t
is important to our own position among our
sister States 1t will have decided ef-
feet on the controversy now going on. l
fear some Of our Southern brethren look
upon us with contemptuous doubt, con-
STRUNG our silence into sordid love for
the flesh pots of Egypt, or a .lastardly
fear of the consequences to which an ex-
preston of our opinions may lead. These
doubts should be dispelled, for our honor
|
fear greatly, too. that the invaders of our
rights, from the same causes, impudently
calculate that they may count on as an
ally in their wicked assaults upon the
great Southern family, and that we will be
found treacherous to our brethren and
our fathers house. This emboltens them
in their diaooIical attempts. One party
is disheartened by the want Of confidence
in our support tine other is encouraged
by the belief that they occupy that stron g
position of having secret friend in the
camp of the enemy. Nothing, | am per-
suaded, will tend more to prevent these
which so seriously threaten this Union.
than conviction that the whole South will
be found one and undivided in m aintain-
ing those rights at every sacrifice.
| Men crush the worm, but pause before they wake
The sleeping venom Of the folded snake.
North Carolina, for the reasons before
given. is more doubted on one side. and
calculated on by the other, than any other
Southern State. Without meaning to
provoke, then. let her proclaim that she
| knows her rights. and knowing, will main
tain them. Let her boldly unfurl her flag,
the glorious stripes and stars OF the Union.
nailed to the lag-staff Of the Constitution.
But should that flag staff be broken and
cast awav, let her own original hag. a.
one of the thirteen independent States that
formed that Cons titution, be found waving
| with the liberty cap conspicuous thereon
in the place where fioated the torn, latter