Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-10-04
WILL. H. BATTLE.
Professor Hedrick's Defence.


NEssRs EpIroRs: In the last STANDARD" sec
communication, signed "Alumnus.' Although my
name is not mentioned therein, STILL suppose there
is little doubt that it was all intended for Now,
politics not beng my trade, feel some hesitation i'll
appearing before the public especially at time like
this, when there seems to be greater desire OH the
part of those who give direction to public opinion to
stir up strife and hatred than to cultivate feelings
of respect and kindness But, lest my silence might
be misinterpreted will reply as briefly as possible
to this, as it appears to me, uncalled for attack on
my politics.
Then to make the matter short, l say am in ia
vor of the election of Fremont to the Presidency ;
and these my reasons for my preference:
LIST. Because like the man. He was born and
educated at the South. lie has lived at the North
and the West and therefore has had an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with our whole peoplc,-an
advantage not possessed by his competitors uc is
known and honored both at home and abroad lie
has shown his love OF his country by unwaverlnS
devotion to its interests. And whether teaching
school for the support of his widowed mother, Or eX
pornS the wilds of the great West; whether ell
lareng the boundaries of science or acquiring Tor
our country the "goden State;' whether establish
ing conStit uon for this youngest daughter OF The
Union, or occupying seat III the Senate OF the M
tion-in every position, and under all circumstan-
ces,-whether demanding heroic daring or prudent
council, he has always possessed the courage to un-
dcrtakc, and the wisdom TO carry through. In ret
to the value of his services III Caillorii a. Mr.
Buchanan says, he bore conspicuous part IN the
conquest of California and in my opinion IS better
entitled to be called the conquerer OF California than
any other man." For such services and such ability,
l love to do him honor "Plattorns" and prncl-
pies good enough in their PAGES; but lur the
Presidential chair, the first requisite Is " man.
Cd Because Fremont is the right side OF the
great question which now disurbs the pubic peace.
Opposition to slavery extension is neither North
l. tntll he
Southern statesmen of the Revolution. Washing
ton, Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Madison, and IAN
dolph were all opposed to slavery in the abstract,
and We're all opposed to admitting it into new terri
tory. One Of the carly acts of the patriots oil the
Revolution was to pass the ordinance OF "Si, by
which slavery excluded from all the territories
We then possessed. This going farther than the
Republicans of the present day claim. Many OF
these great men were Shareholders but they did not
let sell interest blind the to the evils Of the system
Jefferson says that slavery exerts an evil influence
both upon the whites and the blacks; but he was
opposed to the abolition policy, by which the slaves
would be turned loose among the whites. In his
autobiography he says: Nothing is more certain
y written in the book of fate, than that these people
are to be free; is it less certain that the two
races. equally free, not live in the same govern
ment. Nature, habit opinion have drawn indelible
lines between them" Among the evils which he
says slavery brings upon the whites is to make
people their industry also is destroyed. For in
warm climate no mar will labor for himself who
can make another labor for him. This is So true,
that OF the proprleors of slaves very small proper
ton indeed, are ever seen to labor" hat was
true in Jeffersons time is true now. might 60 on
and give "Aumnus " every week from till the
election, column of good "back Republican"
documents, all written by the most eminent South
ern statesmen, beginning with Washington, and in
Guiding nearly all of emincnce for ability, virtue,
and patriotism, and coming down to our own times.
No longer ago than $780, Henry Clay declared in
the Senate-"l never can, and never will vote, and
no earthly power ever will make me vote to spread
slavery over territory where it does not exist" AT
the same time that Clay opposed to slavery, he
was like Fremont, opposed to the least interference
by the general government. with slavery in the
States where it exists Should there be any inter-
ference with subjects belonging to State policy,
either by other States or by the federal government,
no one will be more ready than myself, to defend
the good old North" my native State. But, with
Washington Jefferson, Franklin, Henry Randolph,
Clay, and Webster for political teachers, cannot
believe that slavery is preferable to freedom, that
slavery extension is one of the constitutional rights
of the South. If ''Aumnus' thinks that Calhoun, or
any other, was wiser statesman or better South
crack than either Washington or Jefferson, he is
welcome to his opinion. | shall not attempt to
abridge his liberty in the least But my opin-
ions L will have, whether he is willing to grant me
that right of every freeman, not. believe that
have had quite as good an opportunity as he has
to form an opinion on the questions now to be set
tied. And when "Aumnus' talks of driving
out " for sentiments once held by these great men,
[ cannot help thinking that he is bccomn., rather
1anatcal
For the information of "Alumnus" will state that
he has put himself to unnecessary trouble in blazon
ing this matter before the public. The whole sub
ject belongs exclusively to the jurisdiction of the
Trustees OF the University. They are men Of integ-
rty and influence and have at heart the best inter-
ests of the University There is no difficulty in
bringing this any other question relating to the
Faculty or students, before them. "Alumnus" has
also made another mistake, in surprising that the
Faculty take upon themselves to influence the po-
litical opinions of the students The students come
to college generally, with their party politics already
fixed; and it is exceedingly rare for them to change
while here. 1t has, however, been often remarked
that very violent partizan at college, is pretty
to turn over" before he has left college long. l
have been connected with our University, as STU
dent and Professor for six years. and free to say,
that know of no institution, North or South, from
which partizan politics and sectaran religion so
entirely excluded. And yet We arc too often at
tackled by the bigots of both. For my own part, l
do not know the politics of more than in a hun.
dred OF the students, except as l might infer to
which party they belonged from knowledge of the
politics OF their fathers. And they would not have
known my own predictions in the present contest,
had not one OF their number asked me which of the
candidates I preferred.
But, if "Alumnus" would understand the state of
things here correctly, he had better make visit to
the University. He would find each member of the
Facutybusy teaching in his own department, wheth.
er OF Science or literature and that party politics is
one Of the branches which we leassathe studeht to
study at some other place and time. If 'Alumnus"
does conclude to visit U.S. there is another matter to
which might direct his attention The two socie.
ties here, to the one or the other of which all the
students belong, have each very good library, and
in those libraries are to be found the g co,nnlete