The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-18

The Raleigh Standard, ono Of the ablsst and
most influential papers in North Carolina, closes
an elaborate and wsll-written editorial on the
great question of the day, in the following
strong and explicit language. The passages We
have italicised, coming FROM such quarter, most
mind in the Old North State. whatever differences
may have been drawn FROM what her legislature
did, or failed to do, ut It's last session:
The result of the late elections in South Caro-
lima shows that vast majority of her people are
in favor of the right of secession, and also of
separate State action by the convention which
is to assemble within the next twelve months
We had hoped that South Carolina would acqui
esce in the late so-called adjustment; and we
believe she finally will, provided the Fugitive
slave law is enforced, and the free States above
mentioned will repeal their laws on the subject
and the agitation Of the question itself shall
cease in Congress. We trust she will wait, and
abide the action Of her sister Southern States
Is true that, If UiM her, and 10Th her great
statesman now no more, all the slave States had
stood torroard IN time and as one man for their
rights this day Of abolition aggression and fanati-
cism had nerer been; but still it behooyes her
to remember that Virginia, North Carolina,
Georgia, and the rest of the slave States possess
interests and feelings identical with her own,
and that the policy which threatens her, over
shadows them also with its baleful wing. Once
taken, the step which dissolves this Union can
never be retraced. The cause for such step
ought to be conclusive. Not that " inioLerable
oppression" is to be Waited for, for that is not
within the range Of probabilities in a govern
ment and among people like ours; but all
reasonable ground of hope for returning justice
must depart, and dish0nOr and ruin must rise up
before us as inevitable, before any State can be
justified in severing the bonds 1t makes no diff
ference to "A people worthy of freedom, whether
this dishonor and this ruin be near or distant
from them; ii it be certain, the question is set
tied. Are these things, then, certain ? We
think not. There is still ground for hope; the
free States may enforce the Fugitive slave law
they may repeal their statutes intended to OPP
crate against us, and which were enacted in open
disregard Of the Consttution--they may cease
as States, and in the common Congress, to med.
die with slavery or to agitate upon it. Bat, in
the language of Mr.. Paulding, Time ,cas-
time s-but time will soon be no morer'
South Carolina may more off by herself bM she
nevertheless knoDs--no M liter how serious and
grierous her error in so doing-that she loiH hare
utECS Huu HctpcfS. uo IutIlIlty puWtT Vi tHtS
federal government will, in all probability, be
welded against her Her ports will be bockad-
ed, and her citizens slaughtered - and what
then? We say this!is probable--nnd what then
The Stare States aoW sympaihize with her, and as
The blood Of her sons smokes up 10 Heauen crying
for vengeance, they wiH rash TO her defence; and
zoe shall then hare irregular Girl ,Oar, fearful
and cruel, and war of which no man can FORE
tell the end. lfdissoluton mus, come--if the free
States ,ciH have it 80, let the slave STATES unite
and 60 oil together, In that event, it is hardly
probable that blood would be shed, but the two
sections, being nearly equally balanced in num-
bers and in physical strength, might agree to
part in peace.
But we have no wish to go into such details,
or to contemplate such consequences; and We
repeat, we have only alluded to this question at
all under stern sense of public duty.