Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-01-04
OBJ 9tan0ar0>
.ALEiGH, SATURDAY, DEC, 81, 1853.
THE NEW YEAR.


We tender to readers the compliments of the
season, and wish them, at the beginning of thcnew
wear all of prosperity and happiness which they
reasonably desire.
The past year has been, in many respects, most
evenl one While the elder nations have been vcxcd
with discordant counsels and plunged in the caami
tics of anarchy and war; these States have been bless
ed with peace, concord, and rapid but at the same
time solid advancement in the arts, Sciences and in
deed in whatsoever is chiefly calculated to improve
and elevate human character and human institutions.
Nor has the present any thing in it to cause us to
look with oreboding upon the revelations of the ap
preaching year Those questions, of so delicate and
vital nature which but brief period since distur-
bed all classes and conditions of the people, threat
enng, as many feared, disruption of the Confed-
eracy and civil strife have been settled and it should
be the earnest prayer of all, of whatsoever party
that no hand may be permitted to bring them up
from their reposc So far the official head of the
Republic is connected with these questions, we have
his word solemnly given and the record of his life
before us, guarantee that he will discountenancc,
in the promptest and sternest manner, any and all
efforts come from what quarter they may to renew
controversy full of peril to our institutions and
the hopes of man.
All the experience of the past, as we'll as recent
and present movements in the Old World, admonisEl
us as people to avoid cntangng alliances with
other nations, or such interference in their. af-
fairs as would justly involve in their strfes and
tiealousics This is the true policy. 1t is the policy
Of Washington, of Jackson of Polk, and of Pierce;
is it. in any sense antagonistic to the fullest and
strongest expression of our sympathes for opprcss-
ed and down-troddcn peoples. Over all the world,
from distant India to Ireland, the hand of the OPP
pressor whether disclosed as that of the king
/ the emperor, the aristocrat is still lifted in its
bloody and perfdious work; yet the great idea of
naonaitcs has taken deep hold on the minds of
| the masses, and as they struggle up from beneath
the darkness which blinds and the despotisms that
| consume, we would have them look hitherward and
| take new courage from the light which burns with
so steady and glorious lustre in the western hem
iSphcre Let us give them words of encouragement
and hope, as well as the benefit of our example, we
know of treaties, have heard of intcrnation
al law WHICH can prevent free people from utterins
declarations on their own soil in behalf of human lib
ery or denunciations, if they choose, of infamous
msgovcrnment and cold-bloodcd .despotism on the
part of arstocraces and kings. Let Us continue to
speak as Mr.. Webster did in his Hulsemann letter
as President Pierce speaks in his Inaugural and as
Mr.. Marcy has recently done in his mastery reply
to the Austrian Minister. Thus far now, and no far
ther; but the dawn of a more commanding day for
this Republic in the affairs of all nations, is already
visible. If these States remain united, and go for
ward gathering power and growing stronger in re-
sources and numbers in proportion to their growth
v the past, they will soon reach period in position
opN in the worlds AFFAIRS the responsibilities Of
Pch will bear little comparison with those now
Pn u.s. International law, the work mainly Of
Sly gOvernments-or rather the emanation OF
minds more or less circumscribed and darkened by
k'hgiy rule-will undergo important changes; the
Interpretation will be, not as despots would have it,
out according to the understanding and the will OF
Zee sefgovernng States. The mere word of the
resident of the United States, uttered to the Con
gross and approved by the representatives Of the
people and of the States is yet destined to exert
more potent influence the worlds affairs than the
'ulc's OF all kings and emperors combined .
but we have digressed.
Inc year now closing has been one of unpreceden-
prosperity for North Carolina. All her interests
e ielt the vivifyng touch of increased and varied
a'prss and her people, many Of whom have
''0iorc annually abandoned her for:neWer and
Gs .e iert'lo regions are becoming more and more
p'Seo TO remain, tojoin in the good work of ply
ne: anu mental improvement now so auspicioisly
o"s On Common Schools and Internal Improve,
ah nave at length become portion of her estab-
Of ;s. governmental policy; and thesetvo sources
von,a soratlon and power, we venture to affirm, firm
dod VI themselves if steadily and ndiciously .wiel;
~ make sure the regeneration and prosp %