Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-10
A Noble .Sa fsslistie Letter,

A Noble ana Patfiotic Letter.
The following letter from, that veteran statesman
and sound national Democrat. Hon. d. S. Dickinson,
OF New fork, win be perused with interest and graf
ihcafion. BY our readers: = ~ .ie.a
LETTER OF HON. D. s. DIcKKsoN1 ~ ta
10 the Democratic association Of the city Of Wash
WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 20, 1853
GENTLEMEN: am honored'with yoursknd note of
this morning desiring to name an evening when
can meet my democratic friends Of the District,
and others scjourning here, and give expression to
my OPINIONS upon the great public question OF the
day. feelIngiy appreciate the generous and conf
ding spirit which suggested compliment so graft.
flying and distinguished. and regret to add that,
while 1t would afford me the highest satisfaction to
comply with your request, the professional engage
ment which brought me here has Just been closed.
and other calls Of kindred character at home compel
me to leave the city.
Our country, blessed by benefcent Providence
with all the elements calculated to render people
prosperous and happy, seems destined to be con.
vulsed by internal strife and dsfgured by domestic
dscord.
Of all the agitatons which have disturbed our re.
pose as a people, and arrayed one section against
another, have regarded and still regard, the Kan.
sas question as the most artificial and causeess or
'gnat'"g IN great degree in bad intentions and
worse actions. -
For all present purposes shall not consider the
ordinations and recriminations which have pre-
vailed, the allegations of fraud, violence, and
treason which have sgnalized its unhappy history,
but remark that the evils of which its people COM
plain originate in their own bosom, and that as
people they have generally held and now hold full
and ample remedy in their own hands, and those
who refuse to exercise of the dearest privileges
and highest duties of freemen, that of the elective
franchise may indulge morbid grief cherish par.
tisan Spleen but should be especial objects of
he IF nc TIpi h,r o;,,,
both foreign and domestic, too mighty and diversi.
fled to bestow their time and energies and sympathy
in considering the details of local constitutions or
the fairness of territorial elections which they
can have no Legitimate influence or control. Had I
been member of the Lecompton convention |
would have urged the submission of its constitution
whole, and in all its parts, to the people for ap-
proval OF rejection. But / am unable to perceive
upon what possible sound theory of non.ntervenon
either the President or Congress can go behind
constitution republican in form and determine wheth.
err people who might have voted for delegates did
so vote, or whether the delegates in convention in
negecting to submit the details of the constitution to
the people, obeyed or disregarded the popular will;
whether the constitution wise or unwise, slave
or free. all these are questions belonging exclu.
sively to the people Of Kansas at all times under
their complete CONTROL and in which the federal gov
eminent cannot intervene without disturbing the
foundations upon which the popular federative edi-
flee rests. IL Congress may reject constitution,
because its details were not submitted to the people
OF the Territory, it may in like manner, manifest its
disapprobation because they were If it may inter-
to compel submission to the people it may
intervene to prevent submission; if it may reject
constitution for the sole cause that it authorizes
slavery. it may reject it because it does not and po-
pular sovereignty becomes but another name for
federeral despotism.
The democratic party through MANY periods Of
vicissitude and trial. has proved itself to be the
guardian of the constitution and the Union, the
preserver Of the public peace and the foe of section
al strife and disuuion, under whatsoever pretence
presented. Its chart is the constitution, its policy
progress in the cause Of true freedom and human
regeneration. The country looks to it again in this
crisis to put forth its conservative power and
the last best hope of man from the evils which
menace it. The administration Of its choice. firm
in its purpose. and guided by wisdom and modera-
ton is devoting is energies to procure the admission
of Kansas into the UniOn and thus leave the ee
ments which disturb nations rcpose and arrest its
progress to the correction of those with whom they
originate. 1t is gratifying to perceive that the de-
mocracy throughout the Union, with great unanimi-
ty, rallying to the support Of the administration
upon this great principe and sustaining its policy.
This KANSAS question is the aliment of those who
live and and have their being in sectional strife
and they will feed upon it and urge it upon others
SO long it can be made available for partizan pur
poses; and when it can be no longer used to stmu.
late faction adorn tale" it will be discarded
rights of the people Of Kansas will vanish into thin air.
No one familiar with the course Of events
docbt the design or the consequences Of prolonged
existence of the controversy, nor the Importance to
the best interests Of the country and its institutions
that it be brought to speedy conclusion by receiv
ing Kansas at once into the Union. That done,
the question longer remains disturbing element
beyond the confines of the State.-ThuS limited
with the inherent and conceded right Of the people
to change their constitution at will, it becomes
question Of local and restricted interest, and of
course restricted agitation. Beyond that limit
while have been ms'ed by artificial camor, the
first object of those politicians who started this issue
and seek to proong it's discussion is the overthrow
of the democratic party and the administration of
its choice--a party which is identified with the great
interests Of the country and which at all periods Of
its history has interposed the shield of sound opin
ion and patriotic action against the combinations of
political enemies and assaults of sectonalism. Let
every true democrat in and out of Congress- reflect
upon the consequences, if at this time and under
such circumstances that party and its administration
shall be broken down, and all the disturbing ele-
ments the late presidential contest be again set in
motion and let him ask himself if he can be made
auxiliary such object and to such consequences
To the citizens of this District, ever loyal t" the
Union and its constitutional safeguards, am happy
to renew the expressions of my attachment and res
pect, and to acknowledge the qualification it affords
me to feel that still live in their recollection. May
no adverse influences prevent it from being the
great central bond of Union Of the States of our
glorious republicl
have the honor to be with high regard, sincere
ly, yours, ID. ). DiChtNSON. p
JNo. F. ENNIS ESQ,
President Washington Democratic
Association, and others.
For the Standard.
... &. WHO? ..ru.f
The reporter to the Observer of Mr.. McRae's
"great speech" in Fayetteville. claims for him that
he declared and proved that his soundness as .