North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-19
AN UNJUST CHARGE ANSWERED.

. per as follows:
alt is with unaffected regret that we look upon the
course of the Raleigh Standard in this cOnnexon In
the number of that paper containing the minutes Of
the Surry meeting there is editorial warning to the
Democrats to avoid suchmeetings. And the respec-
table Democrats of Rockingham, who some time ago
held Union meeting in which the comparatively few
Whiqs of that region participated, received a severe
lecture from the source. 1t does not appear,
howeyer. to be so much account of their meeting
with the Wings. their meeting for the Union, that
these Democrats are censured by the Standard.
The mass of the Democrats in North Carolina, in
the first generous impulses of their hearts and tn
maturity of their judgments for the country-for
the perpetuity of the Union. But the chief organ
of their party is constantly and nsldlously operating
AGAINST it; and sincerely regret to see so wide a
circulation so much influence, and so sprightly talent
as the Standard commands, so egregiously we fear,
wickedly-msaPplIed.
Now, we assert tearlessly that nothing we have
said or done since the commencement of this unfor-
tunate ant-Savery agitation, will justify the charge
thus made in the Patriot, that are unfriendly to
the Union; or that operating, either s. insd
ouslv or otherwise, with the view with the hope
of sundering the bonds. We have uniformly held
that the best way to preserve the Union for the
South to unite as one man in defence of her Consti-
tutiona rights and to demand and insist upon those
riohts When the socaed adjustment was before
Congress we opposed it, because felt that it was
fraught with great injustice to the Southern people
but when became the law of the land and when it
was proclaimed by its advocates the last and the
only measure to save the Union, stated emphati-
cay that we would acquesce in it, and that in our
opinion the Southern States ought not to dissolve the
Union on account of it. All got by that adjust
ment was the fugitve-slave law and that passed.
almost entirely, by the votes of Southern Repre-
sentatives. With most if not all the public of
the State, of both parties, proclaimed that the
continuance of the Union depended upon the honest
and faithful enforcement of the fugitive-save law
and looked the President and to the peo-
pie ofhe free States to that this law carried out
As the Patriot has thought proper, in this connec-
ton, allude to the Rockingham Meeting, we will
quote the substance of what said in relation to
that Meeting Gin December last,) which will show
hat position then precisely what it is now.
We then said:
As the Raleigh Register and Star affect not to I'M
dersand position the Slavery question, take
this occasion TO define it again. in the planest language
we We cannot approve the recent " pro- !
mise a whole We believe it has inflicted great
wrong upon the South and upon the principles which
hold this Union together; but it is law or the land
and love and cherish the Union in its spirit
n this compromise, prOrded the ugitive-save law be
enforced All we ask of the free States is, o. to
the agitation of the Slavery question in Congress
md to carry out the ugtvelave law i'll its letter and
spirit. 10 Let them do this, and march on togeth-
.r let them refuse, ard DISSOLVE This is
strong language but we have weighed it, and we have
ven utterance to it with deliberatioD and soemnty
Here stand. If this Confederation of States must
'erlsh-lf their common flag radiant with achievements
$ immortal as the stars that cluster it, must be
md tramped in the confct-and if brothers must be
onveed into deadly foes the very graves of their
athers who these liberties-the Ruler of Nations,
Judges all
will hold the slavehoding States guess of the awful
nd mex iahle crime. /
In addition to this, in paper of tie 5th instant,
speaking of the probable of South Carolina,
We said
The result of the late elections in South Carolina
hows that vast majority of her people in favor of
right OF secession and also of separate State action
the Convention which is to assemble within the next
welve months. We had hoped that South Carolina
you'd acquiesce in the late so-caed adjustment and
believe she finally WILL provided the fugtve-s
enforced that the free States above mentioned will
epea their laws the subject the agitation of the
ueston itself shall cease in Congress. We she
will wait and abide the action of her sister Southern
states 1t is true that if with her. and with her great
tatesman more, all the slave States had stood
ward in time and for their rights this day
Abolition aggression and fanaticism had never
but STILL it behooves her to remember that Virgin
a, North Carolina, Georgia. and the rest of the slave
possess interests and feelings identical with her
,wu, and that the policy which threatens her. over
hadows them also with its balefuI wing. Once TAKEN
he step which dssoves this Union can never be retac
d. The cause for such step ought he conclusive
Ict that intoerabe oppression is to be waited for
that is not within the range of probabilities in gov
rnment and among people like ours ; but all reason
bile ground of hope for returning justice must ep.rt and
shonor and must rise up before us as inevitable
efoe any State be justified in severing the bonds
makes no difference to people worthy of freedom
neither this dshonor and this ruin be or distant
them IF be certain, the question is settled. Are
hese things, then, certain We think There is 6
till ground for hope the free States may enforce the
fugitive slave awthey may repeal their statutes intend
ID operate against and which enacted in open
disregard of the Constution-they may States,
and in the common Congress, to NEEDLE with Slavery
20 agate upon it. But in the language of Mr.. Paud-
ing, Time tcas-time iS-but time will soon be no
more! II
south Carolina may off by herself, but she new
ertheless knowsno matter how serious and gevos her
error IN SO dongthat she will have allies and helpers
The military power of this Federal Government will in
Ill probability be welded against her. Her ports will he
ockaded, and her citizens ghteredand what then
We say this is Probable-and achat Them The slave
states will sympathze with her, and the blood of her
ons smokes up to Heaven crying for vengeance, they
Will rush to her defence and shall then have ir-
ocular civil war, fearful and cruel and war of which
10 man can oreell the end If dissolution must
II the free States arH have it so let the slave States
mite and go of together. In that event. it is hardly
ooaoe that blood would be she'd but the two sections
ens nearly equally balanced in numbers and in physi
i'll strength might agree to part in peace. n
we Penned the above after much reflection and in /,
ne" OF surrounding circumstances, and we are will
ng 10 stand by it. Our language was selected and n
Veigned carefully and shall neither add to it nor
axe from H. This is our position Does the Patriot