Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-07-27
"DICTATION"-MR. VENABLE.

party in opposition to him. Let us see what
substance there is in this CHARGE and who is that
is attempting to dictate.
| The very day Mr.. Venable reached Granville
from Washington he announced himself candi-
date, and spoke in contemptuous terms of Conven-
tons and of organization. He said he neither in
vited nor repealed Convention; and subsequently,
he expressly refused to agree to plans proposed by
Mr.. Lewis to settle the difficulty and ensure the
election of a Democrat What IS that but dictG-
ton 9 Would not modest man and good De-
mocrat, occupying the position he did, have invited
Convention? Would he not have said, F." broth
er Democrats, 1 have served you to the best of my
Judgment and trust you approve my course. The
District has been changed, and we now have
large majority but this majority will only embar
rass us, unless organize. SHALL therefore, retire
for few weeks, and await your action and what
ever it may I've, shall cheerfully abide it" Did we
hear any thing like this No. but the contrary.
We heard tones of defiance and contempt-we
heard the primary meetings of the party ridiculed
and treated with disrespect, and that too by man
who had been brought forward and made by Con-
ventions- heard any thing but such expressions
as should have fallen from the lips of an unselfsh,
reliable, orthodox Democrat; and even now, we
hear him denouncing the Johnston Delegation for
having dared to declare their preference for Mr..
Lewis! What IS that bat dictataon?
Again, Mr.. Venable had voted, with the FEEDER
alists and against Messrs. Ashe and Daniel, for
Benefits land bill; and he had spoken against
Cuba and the acquisition of territory, and lauded
Fillmore for his conduct in relation to the brave
men who had been shot down in cold blood and
without trial; and having done this, he should
have occupied the attitude rather of a suppliant
than of dictator. But the gentleman has been so
formed by nature, or by education, to be capa-
bic Of exhibiting much boldness in the wrong
in the right. He dictates where he should Plead
he denounces when he should be silent; he per-
mits his vanity to sway his emotions and confuse
his Judgment Hence his present course.
And now we ask these gentlemen what were
we to do ! We found a Wing in the field, oppos-
ed to an orthodox Democrat, and to another,
claiming to be Democrat, but who was, accord
ing to his oaOn statement to r. f. Morris z9- with
the Wings on two important questions. Is not this
so? Our duty was-and were literally forced
to the performance of ito stand by the plat
forms, State and national, by the sentiments Of
Gen. Perces Inaugural, and to do what we could
to prevent the election of Wing. Could we
hesitate? Was it our duty to stand shivering be-
tween Mr.. Lewis and Mr.. VenabIe ITO place our
finger in our mouth, and whine out word for
each ito hold our peace when the principles of
our party and its organization were assaulted ITO
hope that Mr. Rogers might not succeed, but
sound tocsin of alarm to our honest readers
to sink self-respect with principle, and he less
than a man? Never! As long as we stand here
we shall do ourduty, as understand it, regard
less of consequences. We seek to dictate to no
one We would not, if we could, unduly control
the conscience or the judgment of any We
would submit to no dictation ourselves; and we
trust we would attempt nothing towards our fell
low democrats which we would not have them at
tempt towards us. But we do claim the right to
state facts-to draw inferences-to explain and il
lustrate, and reason--to suggest and advise, and
to appeal to our friends to go with in contest
for principle. If this be dictation, make the most
of it.
No, friends, Mr. Venable is the dictator. He
says to you, in substance, elect me without regard
to your principles in relation to Cuba and the pub
lie Landslide it, and that too without reference to
organization, or you shall feel me hereafter. He
says you that he intends to agitae for Benefits
bill; and we all know that this agitation
must be against you. His Speech of January
last shows that he is against Gen. Pierce on the
Cuban question and if defeated, do you believe
he will not agitate on this question also? Come
up, then in your power and put down dictaton
once and for all. Teach this former member of
Congress, hot from scenes of logrolling and in
tngue at Washington City, that he is not to die
tate to independent men-that you are the mas
tiers, and that your will is to be his law.
EB We shall have the pleasure soon of laying
before our readers series of letters from Calvin H.
Wiley, Esq, Superintendent of Common Schools,
addressed to His ExcelIency Gov. Reid, on the
subject of Common School instruction. These let
tiers will doubtless prove highly interesting. We
shall also resume, in next, the publication of
letters from Professor Emmons.
w We shall copy in our next, from the
Greensborough Patriot, the proceedings in full of
the late meeting of the stockholders ofthe Central
Road at Salisbury.
EE The communication Of "a Democrat of