Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-12-21

and murder, of rapine and desolation, to the hnal
catastrophe, am filled with emotions to which no
words can do justice.
Consider only, pray you that it would be to
ask the South to give up one thousand millions OF
which she holds by title satisfactory to
herself as the first step. Then estimate the cost OF
an adequate outfit for the sefsupport of the eman-
cipated millions; then reflect on the arrangement
of the entire industrial system of the South, and all
the branches of commerce and manufactures that
depend on its great staples; then the necessity of
comforting equal political privileges on the enanci-
pated race, who being free would be content with
nothing less if anything less were consistent with
political system; then the consequent organiza
ton of two great political parties on the basis OF
color, and the eternal feud which would rage be-
tween them; and finally the overflow into the free
States of a vast multitude of needy and helpless
emgrants, who, being excluded from many of them
land among others from Kansas would prove douby
burdensome, where they are admitted. Should we
Sir with all sympathy for the colored race give
very cordial reception to two three hundred thou
sand destitute emancipated slaves? Does not every
candid man see, that every one OF these steps pre-
sents difficulties of the most formidable character
difficulties for which, as far as | know, man and
no party has proposed solution. And is 1t, Sir,
for the attainment of objects manfesty mpracti-
blc pursued too by the bloody pathways of treason
which now thrertans us, to come upon the country?
Shall we permit this curiously compacted body po-
ltic, the incest adjustment of human wisdom, to go
to pieces? Will we blast this beautiful symmetric
form; paralyze this powerful arm of public strength;
smte with imbecility this great National Intellect?
Where Sir, o where, will be the flag of the United
States! Where our rapidly increasing influence in
in our divisions The last foreign journal which l
have read, in commenting upon the event at Hair
iers Ferry, dwells upon it something that will
compel us to keep the peace with the powers OF
Europe" and that means to take the law from them
in our own international relations.
meant to have spoken of the wreck of that mag
nfcent and mutually beneficial commercial inter
course which now exists between the producing and
manufacturing States-o the hostile tariffs in time
of peace and the habitually recurring border wars
by which it will be annihilated meant to have
said word of the Navy of the United States, and
the rich inheritance of its common glories. Shall
we give up this? The memory of our Fathers-of
those happy days when the men of the North and
South stood together for the country on hardought
fields; when the South sent her Washington to
Massachusetts,, and New-England sent her Greene
to Carona-s al this forgotten? 'ls all the coun-
sci that We too have shared" all the joint labors to
found this great Republic lis this "all forgot"
and will permit this last great experiment Of
Confederate Republicanism to become a proverb
and y-word t. the nations? No, fellow-ctizens,
no. This glorious Union shall not perish. Precious
legacy of Fathers. it shall 60 down. hOnOred and
cherished to our children. Generations unborn
shall enjoy its privileges have DONE and if we
leave them poor in all besides will transmit to
them the .boundless wealth of this blessing"
INCENDIARY PUBLICATIONS IN THE MAIL.
We invite attention to the following letter of the
Postmaster General, as containing information high
~ important to postmasters and the public generally
at the present time:
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT.
December .. 1859.
SIR: am in receipt of your letter of the Cd inst
in which, after referring to the opinion of the At
tornev General of Virginia sustaining the consttu-
tonaty of the statute of that State denouncing
der heavy penalties. the circulation Of books news
papers, pamphlets. &c, tending to incite the slave
population to inSurrccton, you ask to be instructed
as to your duty, in reference to such documents,
should they be received through the mails for dis
tribution at the post office of which you have
charge.
The statute alluded to is in the following words
SEC. 81 If free person write or print, OF cause
to he written or printed, any book or other thing
with intent to advise incite negroes in this State
to rebel make instruction, nculcating resist
ance to the right Of property of masters IN their
slaves if he SHALL with intent to aid the purposes
Of any such book writing knowingly circulate the
same, he shall be confined in the penitentiary not
less than one nor more than five years"
"SEC. "a If postmaster or deputy postmaster
know that any such book or other writing has been
received at his office in the mail he shall give notice
thereof to some justice, who shall inquire into the
circumstances, and have such book writing burn
ed in his presence. And if it appear to him that
Al ~ Ri cfodc hcor Shod
therefor knowing its character, agreed to receive
it for circulation to aid the purposes of aboltonists
the Justice shall commit such person to jail"
"If any postmaster deputy postmaster violate
this section, he shall be fined not exceeding 5000"
The point raised by your inquiry is. whether this
statute is in conflict with the act of Congress regu
lating the administration of this Department, which
declares that "if any postmaster shall unlawfully
detan in his Office any letter, package, pamphlet or
newspaper. with the intent to prevent the arrival
and delivery of the to the person persons to
whom such letter, package, pamphlet or newspaper
may be addressed directed in the usual course of
the transportation of the mail along the route, he
SHALL on conviction thereof he fined in a sum not
exceeding five hundred dollars, and imprisoned for
a term not exceeding six months, and shall more
over be forever thereafter incapable of holding the
office of postmaster in the United States"
The question thus presented was fully decided by
AttOTDCy NCHCi0 NuSilHS III "O SaSS vi tiS AoLoO
City post office. Opinions of Attorney Generals,
vol. 8, 4s9) He there held that statute of Mssis-
sppi in all respects analogous to that of Virginia
cited, was not inconsistent with the act of Congress
quoted, prescribing the duties Of posmasters in
gard to the delivery of mail NATTER and that the lat
ter, as good citizens bound to yield obedience
to such State laws. You referred to the lumin-
Gus discussion of the case for the arguments urged
by that distinguished civilian in support Of the
clncion at which he arrived The Indictment Tins
pronounced has been checrfully acquiesced in by
this Department. and is now recognised as one of the
guides of its administration. The authority of Vir
ginia to enact such law rests upon that right Of
selfpreservation which belongs to every government
and people, and which has never been surrendered,
nor indeed can it be. One of the most solemn con-
stitutonal obligations imposed on the Federal Gov
eminent is that of protecting the States against 'n
surrection" and domestic violence of course
none of its instrumentalities be lawfully en-
ployed in netting even in the remotest degree, to
this very crime which involves in its train all others