Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-08-22


Hardly sixty years elapsed from the -pesicd when
camel In the full blaze of those bright hopes wncn
arose from all nations for the success Of our
ment of free government, thst cloud, charged WIN
every element Of disaster, overhung the horizon
Its fury has not yet been spent Its hnal 1atal con-
sequences are yet hidden from our view Wien its
pent up wrath is to be MISUNDERSTANDING IT'S
fiery desolation and blasting all that is lovely and
valuable in the rich inheritance bequeated US by the
immortal Washington and his compatriots, no hui
man foresight can tell -
And this party of geographical discrimination
this array of organized sectonasm, is based sole
ly on hostility to oar insttutions-our peace-0u,
rights component part of this great nation ana
aims at disgrace and ruin 1t seeks, oy sec.
tional triumph, to convert the national goveanen'
into an engine for the political subjugaton and So
cial dishonor of one-haf the States OF this UNION
Nor has it left untried any means by which its de-
signs may be accomplished and its ends secured.
The press. the hustngs, the halls Of Congress- even
| the pulpit-aU have been converted into so many
batteries of fiery assault Yes, that sacred place,
from which should ever issue words OF peace ana
good will to man. consecrated it should be- to the
precepts of universal love- has been prostituted to
the wicked purposes of faction and to the inculca'
ton of sectional bitterness and social strife Aban-
doning their sacred calng-ceasing TO spread the
treasured stores of truth divine "-men protesting
to be ministers of the gospel of peace have convert
ed their holy offices into instruments to arouse the
most lawless passions, and to instil into the minds
and hearts of their disciples the most fanatcai ram
cor, the most deadly hatred towards their own coun
trymen and k:ndred-countrymen stiU thank God!
at least in all the proud recollectious of the post
kindred in bod, as they should be, kindred in al
fectons!
That was, beyond doubt the severest blow which
has yet been inflicted the cause of social peace,
good government, and sound religion! Are the men
who instigated, directed, dealt it, mad2 DO they
presume that the position they occupy consecrates
the crime the treason, into which they are rushing?
| Have they calculated the consequences into which
they hurrying their infatuated followers? Have
they contemplated the blackness of that gulf into
which they would plunge the country? The blast
ing curse of millions should fall on the heads of men,
who thus assume "the livery of heaven" to serve
! the purposes Of hell-who wrap themselves in the
garments of religion to propagate and give force and
effect to doctrines, and to disseminate prejudices,
which must lead to civil war; 10 fraternal boodsbed,
to the dissolution of this Union to the ruin Of the
republic, to the extlnguishment of the last hope OF
| free institutions!
Rely upon it-rely upon It, gentlemen, as fixed,
immutable, never.dying, all-pervading TRUTH, this
| Union, this government and the great blessings
they were intended to secure cannot last cannot be
perpetuaed if our religion is to be debased and cor.
rupted-if Christianity is to be superseded or its di
vine influence destroyed! Let the pulpit but cease
to be
"The most important and effectual guard
Support and ornament OF ctrtnes cause ;
| Let it be diverted from the defence ard mainten-
| ance of Christianity and made subservient to the
propagation of partizan luminosity and sectional ram
| cor-let its occupants dash away their commissions
heralds of the cross, and put the insignia of
noisy, factious intriguing demagogues, and the door
! to the most brazen, the blacklist nfdelty will be
| thrown wide open! From that position there will
be bnt one step to the awful excuses and horrors
that marked the career of the French Revolution!
There is, unquestonably, gentlemen, point of
endurance beyond which forbearance becomes COW.
ardice and submission crime With nations, as it is
| in social intercourse, tame submission to wrong
not only results in dishonor to the oppressed but
mparts boldness to the spirit of tyranny in the OPP
pressor. When people have forfeited their own
selfrespect-ther honor-they become fit subjects
to crafty the lust of domination in others The
fact Of being united under the same government, for
general purposes, does not alter annu this great
rule OF social organization. Selfpreservaon should
be the first law of civil government as it is of
social nature. Aggressions which would be just
causes of war between independent nations, cannot
be expected to result in ess than alienation and dis
trust under a system like ours Are we expected to
submit with blind pusianimity to the assaults which
are necessarily made on our social peace and civil
rights? Is not The cup Of forbearance already bri
full? Can we be true to others-to the government
under which we live-if are are false to ourselres9
In view of the dangers threatened-in the face Of
the wrongs in store-what do the sacred Obligations
|
our hands? US1oN-the union of her whole people,
for the full development of all her resources-mora
intellectual and physical-cam alone save the South
from the dangers which impending. To each
and all alike there is one danger and one safety
However conflicting our opinions may be ques-
tions Of mere expedency or policy those involv-
ing her rights her honor her safety, her very exist
ence as people, there should be difference, no
conflict, no wrangng, wavering! Union in
hand and heart-unon in will and desre-unou in
purpose and action, is the only bulwark of her
strength-the only citadel Of her safety! To waste
her energies in idle and angry discussion with her
adversarles on those great issues would be playing
part more foolish than did the monkeys in Sinbad,
in dashing the cocoanuts at their enemies!
"Dicide and conquer" has been the stern max
i'm OF northern aggressiveness from the days of AL
arlc and Attia to the present period The destruc-
ton of Carthage was not more infexibly resolved
on by Roman cupidity and ambition, than is our So
cal and political degradation desired and sought by
the lawless spirit of northern fanaticsm! We should
be false to ourselves-fse to the cause of free gov.
eminent and human cvilization-recreant to the
memory of our fathers-aye, traitors to our o,on
households, were we to neglect to prepare for that
struggle which is foreshadowed by events that are
passing around u.s. Were we to act thus, we'll nigh,
the humblest of our people exclaim, in the language
of the Thane of Scotland, the effects of the ty
ranny Of Macbeth rose to his view,
| Almost afraid to ka,osO itself. 1t cannot
| Re called our naother, but our grace? '
Let me not be misunderstood. I urge the unior
of the people Of the South, not for the purpose O
aggression and wrong to Others but for protection
and safety to themselves; nor to engender sectiona
preJudices and encourage fraterna strife but to en-
sure peace and harmony; not to aoeaken the bonds
of our national Union, but to strenqthen them, b,
staying the march Of fanaticsm; not in the spirit
empty bravado but under the influence of that cain
resolution and indomitatle courage which in all age