Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-11-17


n,erous precedents, you have chosen to make the
nretext upon which to nvaldate the whole code OF
laws enacted by that body; 50 that if your counseis
should prevail, the people OF the IerTitory "ouu W
as much without the protection of law to-day as
they were q year ago, when you first came aMohSse
them. ,.s4s.s $3.50
Being thus foiled in all your undertakings, dsap-
pointed in some of your most hopeful prospecls %
gain defeated in your hopes of having legislature
subservient to your views and the sword OF JUSTICE
long suspended over you; having at length iaileh'
YOU moodily retired for the connection of new mis-
chief You are first in conclave with the mose
rabid aboitonists of the Territory, putting fortn
doctrines subversive of all law and gooo govern
ment denouncng the acts of the legislative assem-.
bly,, though that body was elected IN pursuance Vi
your own proclamation, and the members ooic ~.
Certificate of election as void and OF no binding
force and pledging yourselves to unlteo RESISTANCE
As part of the disorganizing schemes adopted
and, doubtless, suggested by you st for de-.
lepate to Congress- Notwithstanding that the nrse
of the month the day legally prescribed 1or
that purpose. At such pretended election, heio
not only without color of law, but in open VOCATION
of law YOU came forward a candidate, and sup
pose some weak-minded and eyi-disposed pers' ms
may have voted for you. How many am not G. n
cerned to know, for no NUMBERS could lmpart Vaho-
ity to proceeding so lawless and disorganlzng:
And it is with list of votes thus obtained, taken
and certified to by Judges bound by no oaths, ano
recognising no law for their government-votes CIV
en- by persons of no defined qualifications, ana re-
legal OF fraudulent voting-that you will apply TO
the House of Representatives to vacate my seat IN
order to make room for you. For carrying out so
monstrous purpose you calculate largely upon the
political complexion of that body, "a portion OF
which is known to be infected with one OF the most
loathsome heresies of the times
confidently predict that you are again reckoning
without YOUR host and believe that the House of
Representatives will regard the mere supposltlon
that it could lend itself to so revolutionary and hh-
handed proceeding, as libel upon its character
promptly to be resented You may succeed IN en-
rendering ilfeeling in the halls of Congress- and IN
gaining for yourself sort of notoriey which, how
ever unenviable, you to prefer to the ooscurl-
ty which BELTS you but other advantages you VIII
not obtain.
In the mean time, you may enjoy the ignobe sat
isfaction of having introduced and fomented an
amount of discordant feeling and INSTRUMENTATION to
law in this Territory which it will require the Ia
bors of many better men to repress, and from whch
your misguided dupes and followers have everything
to fear for speak not the language of threat and
bravado but of sober reason, when l say to you
that the people of this Territory determined to
have laws and to enforce them, whatever may be the
hazards or the sacrifices
| submitted my name candidate, and receiF-
ed the votes of the law-abidng portion of the peo-
pie in conformity to enactment OF the legislative
assembly of the Territory: If there was anything
in the constitution conduct of that body calcutta
ted to nvaldate its acts, it will be time enough for
me to refuse obedience when court of competent
jurisdiction shall have declared.
aOSure, as revolutionary, anu obstructive VI dii
social order, the doctrine held by you and your
socates, of right in the individual to set up his
private judgment in opposition to constituted author
ity.
As an American citizen, hold it to be my duty
to Weld obedience to the laws under which live,
and to contribute my aid towards enforcing the ODE
dence of others; and this without reference to my
individual opinion respecting their moral force or
political expediency. 1t is precisely because you
are swayed by opposite sentiments that you now
seek to embro me in harassing controversy.
In conclusion, will only further say that this
brief exposition is not given due to YOU but to the
end that the attention Oft the American people, and of
that of the House of Representatives to which you
intend to appeal may be directed to the true nature
and grounds of the strife you seek to promote And
though shall pay regard to your preliminary
movements, yon will yet find that shrink from no
investigation, however searching. If the House of
Representatives shall far forget its sclfrespect
and its regard for patriotic duty to order scru
tiny upon such showing you will be able to make,
you will find me prompt in the defence of my own
rights and those of my constituents.
j. W. WHITFIELD.
To A. H. REEDER ESQ.