Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-10-23

selves fully appreciate it. As one of the great dis
tnguished qualities of the Creator of the Universe
not less than his omnipotent power perfect truth
integrity-as he has made mans eternal happiness
depend solely on his moral WORTH and he has so
ordered that in the private relations of life, integr
ty and truth are the basis of respect, esteem and
confidence between man and man, in fact the very
foundation of the social system, it might be we'll
consequence to State. Accordingly We find that
in all ages the strength and prosperity of nations
has kept pace with their public and private morals.
Even small States where high moral tone prevail
ed, have had strength enough to resist the most
powerful invaders. The philosophic historian Pc.
lybus while captive at Rome, at the period of the
greatest prosperity of that mighty Republic, when
comparing its institutions and morals with those of
his degenerate countrymen declared that the word
Of Roman was worth more than the bond of
Greek and twenty securities. In the course of a
single century these Romans lost their stern integ
rity, and public corruption and private vice prevail
ed, so that republican form of government was no
longer practicable. Even the iron despotsm which
succeeded, though it delayed, could not prevent the
decay and destruction of the empire. A great
French monarch regretted that he could not afford
the luxury Of egg for his breakfast because each
of his suborGnates, through whom the money to be
paid for it would have to pass, would embezzle so
much of it as to render the expended larger
than his treasury could bear. Santa Anna is
derstood to have declared that the reason why he
in Mexico, was because the officials he was obliged
to employ, appropriated to their own uses all the
funds intended to be expended for the public
vice. The late Car of Russia is reported to have
complained that the interest of the empire suffered
by reason of the populations of his officers Even
the untirng industry, comprehensive intellect and
| eagle eye of the great Napoleon could not prevent
similar abuses. l maintain then, fellow citizens,
that when our contemporaries speak of pre-emi-
nently honest they assign to US that very quality
| which, of all Others is most important to the
strength and prosperity of State.
1t is sometimes said, however, that we are behind
the present age. If we have retained somewhat
more than others, the institutions and manners of
our forefathers, trust we have kept with them the
stern integrity which distinguished the revolutions
ry age. Lord Chatham, when contrasting the iron
barons of the olden time with the silken of his
day, declared that he "would not give three words
of their barbarous Latin for all the classics" The
earlier stages in nations existence are usually
characterized by simple virtues and stern abhor-
renee of vice and crime. As they become more re.
| fined they are usually relaxed and enervated, and
more tolerant to wrong doors. Already in GER
tain portions of the Union such is the sympathy felt
for criminals, that the great effort is to make them
as comfortable and happy as possible after their
conviction. hope that with US sympathies will al
ways be given to the innocent who may nave suffer-
| ed, and indignation felt towards the criminal.
| trust that neither capital nor corporal punishment
will ever be more sparngly used in our State than
! they now are. The relaxations that have already
taken place, have not, in my Judgment been advan
taeeous to the public. Let our State always be as
uncomfortable possible to the vicious and the
criminal 1t will then continue as it has heretofore
| been, region wherein there is small proportion
OF crime to its population as any earth. As evi
dence of the confidence reposed in the integrity of
| North Carolina abroad may refer with satisfac-
tion to the high prices at which her bonds sold
even in periods Of the greatest depression in foam
cial matters
That our people were not as generally educated as
some others, has been the subject of comment but
at present North Carolina is expending fo- the pur
poses of education within her limits, more, think
in proportion to her population than any one of the
southern States, and than most of the northern
ones.
1t cannot fairly be argued either, that we are be-
hind our neighbors IN native intellect Those who
have represented us in the national councils, have
usually, at least maintained an average position
with the representatives of other parts of the Union
! Some who were born and educated among us, have,
while citizens of other States. attained the highest
positions known the Republic. 1t is nevertheless
undoubtedly true that our sons have not while re.
siding among us, been the recipients of fair share
! Of the public honors. This is. think, to be attr.
! buted to two causes. During my time in public life
those whom we have sent to represent us at WASH
ington, have been in political sense reliable men.
In other words, matter to what party association
! they might belong, it known that they would
| representatives. from some of the States by threaten
ing to assa their parties, find favor and have
| honorable appointments bestowed on their immediate
constituents because politicians often meanlv
! selfish enough to quiet opposition, and buy support
by the besowa of the Offices in their gift. 1t has
! thus sometimes happened that our State has been
punished, for the fidelity of its representatives.
am far from thinking, however, that it is a misfor-
| tuue to our citizens generally, that they are not
| holders of federal offices. I happened to mention
| 1astv rin To a state fhaf6 RI
the whole of General Pierces administration and of
Mr.. Buchanan's up to that time, there had not been
a single sppliraton for Office under the federal
! government. from any citizen of my district He
at once declared that the fact was so honorable to
the district, that it ought to be universally known
And do hold that nothing can be more honorable
to our people than the fact that they should be
willing to rely their own honest industry, at
home, instead Of hanging about Washington for a
livelihood Still State has not am sorry to saw
she would have if her were oftener the recip-
ents of the higher hoDors of the Republic.
In the second place, it has been sometimes said
that we have not always been so ready as some of
our neghSors to promote and sustain our abest
men. This, if true, have thought was in a great
measure, due to condition of things which it ism
our power to remove. Owing to the form of the
territory of State there has been heretofore lit.
tie community of feeling between the different parts
of it. The eastern counties have, from their posi-
ton oeen isolated from the rest OF the State, the
northern connected with Virginia and those on
the southern border with South Carolina, while the
extreme west has stood as it were alone The State
has therefore been very much broken up into Sec
tional divisions In filling the prominent political
positions to which we were entitled, combinations of
some OF these sectional parties have been formed for
temporary purposes. 1t may have happened that
on account of these sectional rivalries, strong
have sometimes been set aside Envy is said to love
q shining mark, and she acts after the fashion of
Tarquin, when he cut the taest poppies Our peo-
pie have been accustomed to lament the fact that
we have no large city in which the opinion of the
State could be concentrated and proper tone given
to its feelings But large cities attended with so