North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-12
rr,om fl, t,olJ,borough Republican and Potriot-1

GOLDSBoROUGH, ~. ", June oOti, 80
Mrssps RosINsoN AND GULIcK:-Ihe last L ete-
oronb contains some remarks by the rery dfghiyte0
edtor Introductory and following Resolutions adop-
ted by the Light Artillery Company whlcn aao the
honor to command IN 1882. -
am sonewh hat apprehenslve tnatahV STRUCTURES U"
bi conrse NAV he offensive the very peculiar ideas
of dignity that gentleman and some OF his Parlcnai
f;onds seem IN entertain viz that they have the right
to assail private citizens WINE reply Is Pe0Hma'
,ud;onifed Indeed feel rather sense OF loss OF
in having any attention to the paper, ana am
only induced do it in justice TO The motives OF non
est and patriotic who acted with me al mat ume
many of whom have left this stage OF action ana are
in the legion of happier world, to none OF whom
would apply, the Registers very learned ana terse
quotation 'doubly DYING" - unwept, uhnonored'
&c,-for nobler troop never were mouh'eo IMAM 'le
State Guard of Wayne County"
Thew were pure, honest yeomen, devoted 10 thelT
country.
There was much excitement as is well known, in
1882 on the subject of notification, and In many and
various parts of North Carolina, meetings were call
ed and held, and resolutions adopted, probably as
strong as those passed by the Wayne Troop. Wheth
er we were ahead of the excitement so much as to
be the only one who included secession = WIN null
Ii6cation is more than say but as notification
was the subject under discussion at that tlme'
it is highly probable few if any were found SO gho-
rant of States rights TO destroy this only safe cI
del of retreat for the weak minority when oppressed
by the strong majority. ,c., ,,o-
The resolutions were written by myself al the euS
gestion of many citizens and am Response 10" NC
language. They read and ddoPteG ny ~ cue u'',
imous vote of pretty full muster: Il lie I'm
Ia -, ;,s roils abont 65 men) The probability is
that the resolutions expressed the sentiments OF oo
men as regards nuLfcation, attachhen1 10 :Ie Io1
respect for the Constitution and the tfes'uen anu
The determination 10 support Constitutional oVer-
nnent AS notifies was not the subject OF our asso-
citation and study, it is not probable many oil the rooP
had ever paid much attention to the merits Oh Tue
question of secession, or Its important oeaf o., in
safety of the minority States. feel no morii 1calloh
in acknow edGinu that at that time my atachmehlto
the Union was such that should hardly have efHh'-
lined any argument which might intimate diSSoiut0n
as possible. True there had been aggression "u: VIC
one Missouri, had been compromised, anu dcq"les0
ence in the compromise general another compro-
mise was on foot, and it hoped the agitatng ques
ton of the unequal tariff would be honordoiy settieo.
Under such circumstances wrote the resolutions,
and thew were adopted by fifty gallant true hearted
Americans as ever formed Militia ComPany-the
yeomanry of Wayne County.
81 This little ray of light upon my " past hiSto-
ry'' shows to the Editor of the Telegraph clear
ly the weakness of poor human nature. IL NOR
titles our pride, bids not rejoice In the sren9lh OF
our iDteects, and us not to cling w TN ehac
TO our opinions, since those inteecs can he so eas
ly overshadowed by the clouds OF prejudice al1
those opinions thou honestly entertained so warped
by the force Of surrounding circumstances. nave
extracted entire the above sentence to give your read
ers opprtunity of Judging OF the logic rhetorlc
and erudton, well as the dignity OF the very learn
ed Editor of the Telegraph.
The intimation, that change ofNoplnIon on an ao-
stract question of Constitutional law In man making
no pretenson to be lawyer, or even Poiiuclan
"shows the weakness OF poor human nature, comes
with very bad grace from young man recently al
lied to a party which, by force of surrounding CIT
cumstances,'' has been compelled in less than half
the time it has taken, according 10 Nh Strong to ef-
feet change in my opinion on secession, TO change
their positions and opinions every political qnes-
tcn of the age, and even 10 change their name.
He will for personal security, probably, plead non
age any charge of change against himself, but he
oryIOl fRha
and in adopting that party is undoubtedly prepared to
adopt their history also. Formy own part, should
feel most excessively mortified if close observation
of the history of the past 20 years led only to GER
tainty that we had no escape from Northern agrees
sion, and that we must sit down submisslvey, and
hold hands to receive their shackles. Democracy
have always understood to be progressive, and in
general glory in the progress we make. If 1t is
important the world to know my present opinions
the question of SECESSION do not hesitate 10 say,
it is the only practical security we have for our rights,
and il is undoubtedly the true remedy against aggres
sion. l would not be understood as advocating Sc
cesson at the present time or under existing clrcum-
stances. But IL is certainly important that we have,
and the world should know that we have, remedy
10 which, when forbearance ceases TO be vure, We
may resort And pray God will SO far restrain the
fanatcism of Northern aggressions on our COnstitu-
tlona rights, that we may never be driven to resort
to the remedy. Ii is the subservent submissionist,
who argues against this right, who Is aiding faction
lists TO destruction. Were ii not well known TO
such Seward, Winthrop, Ell id onne genus, tina
large party at the Sou IN denying that We have
any Constitutional remedy, the agitation al the North
would be put down in month.
1t is the Southern suppoEt.-'' aid and comfort, -
those men receive which snStdDs them and eGcoura-
ges this persistence in driving us the wall.
do not wish to be understood making any
complaint at the the editor fit to pursue
IN the management of his paper; but it appears to me
that hrs closing paragraph possesses one quality
which to say the least would not. in old time have
been considered gentlemanly, and that is, perver-
sion of language to convey false idea. The SEN
tence reads thus =" And this Company the only
march against South Carolina, to coerce and crush
her," The italics and capitals his, and so is
the quotation. Let him reconcile it with truth if he
cam II he says he copies from the Register, he only
shows his subservIency and that he is willing 10
tail small malice although he knows its fasehood.
have extended this letter farther than ] ever in
tended, and owe an apology for asking its pubca-
uon My own apology is that the Great Wing Or
gan at Raleigh having thought my opinions 90 years
ago OF sufficient importance TO publish them, and the
htte organs as in duty bound, finding it consistent
with their peculiar notions of dignity open on the
trail at his bidding-gives the right little
tentlon am private citizen not obtrudng my opin-
Ion on the public; but cannot forbear recommend
10 certain editors the importance of examining their
own positions and the history of their party. Let
Them reflect that they have been driven by force of
surrounding circumstances" from every party posi-
hon they have taken either since before they chang
ed their name from Federalists to Wings, and this
should give them some little sympathy-some fellow
feeling for " Poor human nature.''
VIII you do me the favor to publish the Resolu-
tons with the Preamble in connection with this to
enable your readers to judge how tar ain cupablel
Rno fall,