Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-05-21

The OPINIONS OF GEN. WALLACE. We give be-
low. taken from the Pendleton Messenger, (says the
Charleston Mercury extrac, of letter from Gen.
Wallace, member of Congress from this State, to a
friend, the subject of the course to be pursued by
South Carolina in the present crisis. The times re-
qure plain words, and trust that all Of our Repre-
sentatves in the National and State Legislature may
make their views public. The people entitled to
know them. The Messenger remarks that the letter
"speaks for itself, and needs COMMENT
In your letter of the 3lst ult, you ask my views
on our Federal relations.
In reply have to say, that my opinions have un-
derwent change from the beginning of the conro-
versy until now. We doomed if we remain in
The Onion, and for going of, BY the shortest
road.
The highest aim, and the highest remedy, is a
Southern Confederacy. If we get this Coop
Grafton, am for acting de1srey auithout and be-
lieving dissolution of this Union inevitable, am
In favor of entering at once into energetic system
OF preparation, with the view to put the State in
position to and maintain her independence and
to take her rank among the nations of the earth,
separate and independent Sate State is respected
in exact proportion to its ability to defend its rights
with the sword.
The money appropriated at the last session of the
Legislature. would enable US, if properly expended
bring twenty thousand men into the field, for had
seven thousand muskets and eighty pieces Of cannon
before. Every dollar Of this money should be spent
in the purchase of arms, and the Governor ought
be able to report to the next session of the Legsla
ture-' We haze t,Uenty thousand nuskets and small
arms, one hundred and toenty pieces IF cannon, and
tUe can bring tUenty th0usand into the fsd at a
moments ,oarning.' This would look business like
warike if you WILL and it would tell upon the public
mind in the State and abroad, for it would look like
in 1t would tell, too, upon the Cabi-
net in Washington. You will perceive, stherefore,
that do not approve the building of an Arnory noo
This is too slow, and we have not the money to
spare. This step should have been reserved for a
more advanced stage of our progress.
What We want now is to be prepared at once, so
that could say to the Convention when it meets
auar comes 9 your action are prepared 10 meet
it, Ii the people will not act thus, my word for it,
they will never secede. If We gain confdence-if
we command the respect Of the United States and of
foreign nations, must show them tint ,Oe can and
wiU maintian our independence. 1t is idle to close
the eyes to the fact, that without military power we
cannot maintain our independence. If we would pre-
serve peace-if we would avoid bIoodshed, we must
show that We not to be assailed with impunity,
and that having the sword we know how to WELD it.
We ought TO choose agents now, not for what they
know not because they solve problem in Euclid,
but for what they able perform, in giving en-
ergy and effect to the resources Of the State, pre-
pare her for separate and indepe ndent existence
My motto is then-prepore. prepare, and then, act
with company if you get it. it not then act ciA-
out ii, for | know terrible doom than that
which awaits in the Union, aud to go out of it
cannot make our condition any worse, and IL mag be
Jeiier.''