North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-18
STATE SOVEREIGNTY

STATE SOVEREIGNTY.
The Editor Of the Raleigh Register is in the habit
of denouncng the right of secession and State soyer
eighty, with much more bitterness than he does our
Northern assaants; we say he denounces it-that IS
ALL He offers no arguments against it, but contents
hmse and labors to satisfy his readers, with Vituper-
alton, abuse, and slang this important subject His
in this is of the strongest evidences
which could be offered of the weakness OF his cause.
who feels that he is right, and who is willing
TO have his positions examined and commented on,
With view the development OF TRUTH is not very
apt to 90 into passion and call names. Such a
man will court and rather defy investigation than avoid
it, and if he should have anything allege against
his opponents he will do it in temperate and we'll
considered manner and will offer arguments in sup
mort of his charges. Such is not the Editor of
the Register about this time and for proof of what
we saywe refer the reading public to the columns of
his paper. --s
We invite the particular attention of the Raleigh
Register to the following excellent article copied from
the last Wilmington Commercial: ..,-
| The RIGHT OF SECESSION If the doctrine of the
rrht of secession is the absurd and extravaganza
ton that its opponents declare to be, are sur
prsed that such bitter feelings sustained towards
those who sustain it; for there can be nothing very
dangerous in anything inconsistent and unreasonable,
among intelligent people.
We do not expect any administration in power will
acknowledge this right because it checks the poten-
CIV of the will of the Federal Government and ap-
parenty calculated weaken its influence. But this
effect be temporary only; for the result of such
doctrine must be to give sautary power to The Exec
utive Organ of people, united in heart and mind
well as cemented in Union by law.
We hope readers will examine this important
subject, with the GOODNESS and candor which its inn
portance demands. Let consider that the free
States have perseVerngly encroached upon the rights
of the South and the public mind must now be
vnced1 that no fraernal regard for will stay the
progress of this evil. Other motives be brought
into action, to operate successfully upon our oppo-
nents.
The free States, like all other States in the world
of political power. fSlavery confined
within its present limits, for the present, the power
of the free States must in short time UNNECESSARILY
/ transcend that of the slave States. All power will
be in their hands. Will they use it, even to the de-
sruction of the institution of slavery where 1t now
eXistsl Look to the past for answer. They have
done all they could, all they dared every OCCASION
to deprive Of rights under the Constitution,
in this respect. 1t is folly to suppose they will not
continue Cypress well insult US, without some
check of sufficient power to cause them 20 pause in
their mad and reckless
We contend for the right of secession the best
means of preserving the Union, and the only means
of preventing civil Let the free States be sat-
isfed the Federal arm is ready strike into sub
mission every southern effort repe aggression, and
they will grind us into the dust. And will not, must
1
blood What-bound to submit 10 the power of the
Government under the operations OF violated Con-
stitution, and provisional remedy whateverl They
know but little of the character OF brave and sensi
tive people, who suppose it possible that civil war
be avoided, for ten years, under this unjust and
/ lyrannical policy.
| But let Wing Massachusetts and Democratic New
Hampshire know, that when they rob our savehold-
ers and insult people, they respass the rights
of citizens of sovereign States-States which have
the right secede and the power to maintain them
selves in that position, and they will mind the mu.
sic and the steps better than they have heretofore
DONE Their interest and safety will prompt them to
act Justly. They will not leopard the interests OF
trade and the safety of Union, for the sake of moral
abstraction, for the expectation of political
ascendancy. We thus that if the right of seces-
sion is acknowledged, there will be no danger OF a
civil Nor will the right OF secession be ever
exercised in all probability, because there will be no
necessity for it. The States, as sovereigns, bound
together by Constitutional Compact, by commu-
nifty of interests, and by political sympathy, will re-
spect each other-the only basis upon which true
friendship exist.
There must be reliance promises, but Z
trust in the Constitution and the institution of slave
y must be left TO the decision of each State, and the
citizens forming State. But let the right OF
secession be denied; let the system OF aggression
continue, and the rights of the south be left TO the
contingency of Congressional action and the sympa
thy of northern BRETHREN" and the Union is lr
rapid progress of dissolution-the elements Of de-
struction are but rpening into action
What will the Register say to that Dare tia
paper publish the abOre aviLhOut comment? Or will i
publish it, and reply to friend Loring We shall
see.