Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-05-28
HOW TO SAVE THE UNION.

HOW TO SAVE THE UNION.
For the last fifteen years the people of the free
States, through their Representatives in Congress
and their State Legislatures, have been agita,ng
against Slavery. and have left no means untred to
ccumscribe the institution and brand it as sin
crime. They have done this towards US, their breth-
rem. bone of their bone and flesh of their flesh and
that, too, when they well knew that had purcha-
sed many Of our slaves from them, and that they,
through their forefathers, much responsible for
the institution the people who now cherish and
maintain it. We have complained of this treatment,
and protested against it from time to time; but we
have gone further. We have not retaliated upon
them, but have s,rven still to regard them with feel
ngs of affection. while we have warned them of the
catastrophe which such course their part must
inevitably produce. If they had been a foreign
people, swords would have been drawn long since,
and these fields, from Maine to Georgia. would have
s,reamed with blood.
This is but statement o: the case generally-the
details of these aggressions would occupy columns.
They are familiar all readers, and We shall not,
therefore. repeat them.
We have spoken above Of the people Of the free
States, but by this term do not mean to include all
of the people of those States. There thousands
among them who are still just towards in their
views and sentiments, and true 10 the Constitution
our fathers made it.. We allude only to those who
control public opinion, and who do not either stand
forward for the Constitution or who are against Us.
These we fear constitute the majority in these States,
and their numbers rapidly increasing.
And now, what is the remedy /Whas will save
this Union Let the people of|ihose States whose
Legislatures have passed laws in palpable violation
of the Constitution far fugitive slaves
cerned, rise up in spirit of justice and concliat:on,
convene their Legislatures, and direct them at
to rereaI these laws and let the people of all the
free States it by their personal presence and
exertons, that tie fugtive-slave law is fairly and
honestly enforcee without the aid of Federal bayo
nets. In addition to this, let the Congress Of the
United States foeser abstain from the discussion Of
the question Of Shvery in any shape; and let the
Legislatures of al the free States solemnly assure
the saveholdng Safes that from this time forth they
will to agae this subject. and. if they choose.
afec,iona,ely APPEAL TO South Carolina, under this
new aspect of affairs, to pause in her determination
and remain in the Onion. Let this b. done, and
word for it the Union auiA be preserued And why
should it not he done! Is it mol sim.ple and plsin
mailer Of dutys Can any man say it is not! If so,
We should like to hear him.
Delay in thi matter is fraught with unutterabe
danger-dangF. not so much to the people Of the
slaveholding Safes, who under any circumstances,
we believe, ca protect themselves-but TO the Union
of these State, important and still dear to US
all. Ii the hion is to be perpetuated, and peace re-
stored, the agressors must cease their aggressons
and insults ;and they have involved us all in one
common peh, so they must return to their duty, and
omit nothip which they do thereafter to atone 70
their wickd conduct and revive that confidence an.
affection i1 Southern bosoms for the free States, nov
sodeeply impaired. One gear hence will be too late
The thunlerbolts. which are to burn through thi
golden chain of severeignties, have already been fore
ed; the land which would stay them must be pu
forth ssc!
Lei no one say that we are raising new issue o
this question: putting forth new tests as condition
of a coatiaua'ce Of the Union. We acquiesce in tn
h'e action ofCongress, unjust and grievously wron
as we feel tito be; and we speaking only Wit
reference to south Carolina. As matters now stand
mat State vii leave the Union! She may be in e,
,0'-she is error in thus separating herself fior
He' sister sveholdng States but that does not aee
Of iur position the soundness of the abov
1.sse'a0os The people of the free States muss loo
"'"g' q hey are, and act accordingly: