Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-12-30

shall do it in their own way. 1.-The act OF Conven'
tion of the people, exercising sovereign power, is the
act of the people themselves; and it by no means
follows that because Constitution ia not submitted
dy the people IN Convention to the people Themselves
for acceptance rejection i. is Constitution
There are precedents both ways. States have been
admitted without well as with the submission of
their Constitutions to the people. a%
But the action of the people on the 21st remains
to be heard from. There may have been no regu-
lar fair election. Strife and bloodshed may have
prevailed and those disposed vote peaceabiy and
quietly may have been kept from the polls. We
confess cannot see the end Of this business. Our
main wish is the strife alsayed, and peace re-
stored to the national Democracy and to the coun-
try, by the speedy admission of the new State. 1f
If the Lecompton Constitution should be rejected
by Congress, and enabling act" passed for new
Convention the probability that the black Republic
will rally, carry the election Of delegates
semble their Convention, adopt the Topeka Consti-
tuition, and send that to Congress and ask for the
admission of the State. We think We can
light, rather darkness visible" in that drec-
ton. ..t
A Kansas letter to the St. Louis Democrat says
that the evening of the 10th battle occurred at
Fort Scott between the pro-slavery and free-State
men. Five of the former killed, among them
Blake Little, member of the Lecompton Conven-
ton. Several were wounded both sides, and
twenty State taken prisoners and con.
fined in the fort fog r. .
The Mssourians were assembled in strong force
on the border, and more fighting was apprehended.
The difficulties grew out of the fact that Clark mo
torious the murderer of Barber two years since)
went about, accompanied by deputy sheriff, COL
ectng taxes Of the reeState men, and Selling their
property in default of payment, making prosecution
under the rebellion law.
The Territorial Executive Committee had issued
call for the reassembng of the delegate conven-
ton held at Lawrence the I'd instant, to take into
consideration the best course pursue IN conse.
quence of the Legislature having failed to submit
the Topeka Constitution to the people with the LIE.
; compton instrument.
W@ During the last two years many old line
Wings and some reformed Know Nothings have
united themselves with the Democratic party
These old line Wings did so account of their
pugnance to Know NOthngism, and because their
party having ceased to exist, they in the Demo-
cratic party the only conservative and national
ganization which remained. They took this step
deliberately and Of their own accord. They were
, welcomed into our ranks, and shall be glad to
have them cooperate with US for the future
Now these old line Wings and these reformed
Know Nothngs did not bring redistribution" with
them when they Joined u.s. for the plain that
their platforms contained such issue. 1t is xen
known that the Scott platform of 1852 was silent on
this subject, and that the Know Nothing platforms
Hfain mort no all to
friends, then, at the time they determined to make
common cause with u.s. had sunk this issue of dis
tribution had ceased to regard it as practicable
or attainable. Many of them admit that they are
satisfied with the financial policy of the Democratic
party, Of which distribution forms part; and all
Of them thought, when they united themselves with
us that the question of slavery, involving the Con-
stitutional rights Of the Southern States. was the
paramount question. II is not less important now
than it was then. Union among Southern men, for
the sake of Constitutional Union, is just as impor
tant now it was in 1856. The struggle is not yet
over-the South is not yet shielded and saved from
her assailants. ~ .-.
Besides, these old line Wings remember that those
who are now most clamorous for distribution
were profoundly silent on the subject for three or
four years, and especially silent when engaged in
the work of destroying the old Wing party and
building up Know Nothingism on its ruins They
remember that and they are not to be deceived
and drawn away from the State rights Democracy
by any such clamor. They with on the great
issue, and We have no doubt they will remain with
u.s. And to the reformed Know Nothings, they
know what they and endured in the culvcrts of
"Sam." They will wander no more from the true
fold. Experience has been their schoolmaster, and
the lessons they have learned in that school will
be forgotten.
Let us then close up columns and go forward
with a solid and determined front. We have moth
ing to fear from pebald and unorganized oppo-
nents, provided We are true to organization our
selves We have beaten them when they were Or
ganized and strong, and when they had leaders
worthy of the name; and surely We can do it now,
when they have no man of their who will bear
their banner, and when they look, last resort,
to fugitive or two from own ranks to head their
columns. Many of the admirers of Clay and Web
ster are now with u.s. The old Jackson men, by
fifties and by hundreds are still where they were
nearest 10 the flag and always ready for action
The men who voted for Polk, and Pierce, and Reid.
and Bragg, and Buchanan, are still loyal and warm
in the cause and prepared as in former days to
do their whole duty. We repeat we have nothing
to fear. If true to ourselves, our victory in 1858
will be the most signal and overwhelming ever
corded in annals. -.4-
THANKs-Our thanks are due to a friend in Ala
nance County for club of twelve subscribers, to
friend in Pitt for a club of twelve to friend in Du-
plin for club of ten, to friend in Forsyth for
club of twelve, to friend in Pasquoank for club
of seven to a friend in Orange for q club of twenty