Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-09-27

TIE QUESTION OF THE UNION AND THE PRESIDENCY.
We confess that we look forward with great so!ic.
tude to the next two months of the political history
of this country. With civil war raging in the West,
anarchy in the Government, and the North great
nest of faction it seems almost impossible that the
Union should preserve its integrity. That it has
existed so long is the great wonder. 1t is difficult
to reconcile with preceding history and with the ma
ture of man, that thirty-one sovereign States should
live under the same Federal Government. when di-
vded into'two sections at deadly hostility. 1t is
hard to understand that honorable, sensitive and
brave people should tamey suffer itself to be plum
dercd Of its property; its slaves to be excited to i'll
snrrection its citizens to be murdered when
claiming their fugitive slaves; its share in the pub
lie domain to be wrested from it by fraud, violence
and unconstitutional legislation; its most cherished
institutions and its wealth. too, threatened with de-
struction its character to be vited, and, by the
basest SANDERS to he held up to the reproach ofhe
world. And what renders it almost inexplicable is,
that the States comprising the section which sub
ms to all this are the most powerful in all the ele
ments Of greatness united by the closest ties Of
blood affection aud interest, and have plain. hon
orable well known and peaceful remedy before
them.
The historian of two hundred years hence will
find it difficult to explain this strange Union at best,
and will find it impossible unless he have the clue.
Heretofore political contests have been between
parties existing equally in both sections, and upon
questions interesting to the whole people. But this
Presidential canvass divides the country upon pure
ly sectional issues When we reflect upon this and
upon the civil war; and the movements in Congress,
we can see but one chance for the Union to exist
even four years longer-and that is the election of
Mr.. Buchanan.
We must regardit as unfortunate tina. Mr.. Fillmore
was nominated His election is impossible. What.
ever may be the sage opinions of Il few half-awake
partisans pot house politicians, Anticipated sectar-
ans and Samitcs, he and "Sam are fungi, foreign
hof in mt Of no
1t is now the North against the South and his NOM
ination merely serves to compcatc matters between
them
1t is the policy of the South to have her peace and
safety at once secured-in the Union out of it
and in order to do this that the North should de-
eide directly, and positively, whether or not it will
adhere to the Constitution as it is. But Mr.. Fill
more comes in disturbing cause, and if Fremonts
be elected, many Southerners will blind their eyes,
and say it was because Fillmore took away good
constitutional support in the North from Buchanan;
they will be disposed to hang on to a broken Con-
stitution and disastrous Union, and to try the
North once MORE and will talk of peace while the
chains are being rivetcd firmly upon them.
If, on the other hand, Mr. Buchanan be elected,
the factionists at the North will say (and we firmly
believe they will be righD that Mr.. Fillmore took
from Fremont support he would otherwise have
ceived, and they will encourage themselves to per-
severe in their factous designs.
We argue as men who sincerely love the Cohsti-
tuition and value the Union only so far as it is a
Constitutional Union The prospect for return
to such Union seems very remote. If Mr.. Blu
chanan be elected, although some semblancc of
Constitution may be preserved four years longer by
his exercise of the veto power, We can by no means
affirm that it will be preserved. How soon
how lar the civil war in Kansas may extend, 'must
give us pause" But the only chance of preserving
the Union and restoring it to its Constitutional char
acter, is in the election Of Mr.. Buchanan-and if
there be conservative element in the North it must
manifest itself now-or it will be forever late.
Neec Orleans Delta.