Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-15
For the Standard.
MR.. BUCHANAN'S VISIT TO NORTH
CAROLINA

pecaiiafiy pleasing and gratifying but Strlkingfy cal
culated, when properly and dspassionately viewed,
to awaken the liveliest and most enthusiastic feel
ngs of patriotic pride in the bosom Of every true
North Carolinian. For myself srs, confess that
never before have had my State pride and what
ever OF patriotic feeling | may possess, so aroused |
ndexcited never before did feel so proud of be-
inga orth-Carolinian, and never before did feel
so proud of h-Carolna's whoe-souled people as
did on the arrival Of the President at Raleigh on
last Tuesday evening. am well aware that to the
casual observer and to the man of inveterate polit
cal preudices, the foregoing declarations will sound
passingy strange, extravagant, and insignificant.
Why, sir, says he, what do you mean? 1t is true |
that Mr.. Buchanan was invited by the Trustees of
the University of North Carolina in connection with
the Governor of the State and Others to visit Chapel
Hill during the late Commencement exercises; and
that he was also invited to stop at Raleigh his
way thither. Ard it is also true that after some
preliminary preparations having been made and
steps taken to receive him, 1.-THE much ado in regard
to all of which, in my opinion at least highly
improper for in addition to the occasion of his visit
being purely literary, and not political one re-
9uiring per consequence, certainly no demonstra-
tion whatever, he is only a man-a Northern man
at that-and a Dem0c,n5 withal) | say it is also
true that the President dill stop at Raleigh; and,
actuated solely by curiosity land not that exactly,
eitherJ but because almost every body else was go
ing, went down to the depot on the occasion of his
arrival but felt anything calculated to i'm
prove the feelings of which you so extravagantly
speak. 1t is true there a considerable military
display, and must confess that this, in connection
with the booming of the cannon, did produce a sort
OF commonplace, fourth of July feeling in me- but
can't how these feelings were specially CT par
tcularly elected by, or at all connected with, Mr..
Buchanans visit; your strange discovery and decla-
ratOns that they were thus elected and excited, to
the contrary, Notwithstanding; for they were only
such feelings as | suppose any ordinary military
display would have produced
Such might be the thoughts and language of those
ulrastS, land few such indeed Of any PARTY to the
honor and conservatism of the good old North State
be it said, exists within borders,) who swayed
and controlled almost entirely by political preudiccs
would sacrifice patriotism itself, and all the nobcst
and most magnanimous feelings of the soul upon
the unworthy and contemplate altar of blind party
zeal. Yes, srS, l repeat that on this dav were
aroused all the patriotic feelings of my heart and
felt proud that | was a North Carolinian. But
where and in what it may be asked, consisted the
sublime facts and considerations faught with the
inspiration of State pride and patriotism answer
that these facts and considerations so worthy of the
admiration and profoundcs attention of the patriot
and statesman consist, and embodied in that
hightoned patriotic loyalty, that deep-rooted polit
ical integrity that public-sprited magnanimty and
that law-abding. union-fovng conservatism, which
induced the almost entire military of the State act
ing in obedience to the voluntary promptngs Of pa
trotlc feeling, to come, some of them nearly hum
dreds of miles, through dust and heat, aving aside
all political predictions in order to welcome escort
and DO honor to man, not because that man was
James Buchanan, yet because he was Demo-
cratic President but purely and solely because he
was the Chief Executive Magistrate of our great and
glorious Union. Look at these noble truths in all
their diversified bearings contemplate them, study
them and tell me where, in all the world besides is
there nobler or more generous hearted "a more
magnanmOus, conservative, public-s spirited honest
and compromising people, or people truer to the
great interests of common country, than these
unpretehding North Carolinians? Wcare truly and
emphaticaliy a great people; ever ready to render
becoming obedience and honor unto whom obedience
and honor are due and to defend, to the utermost,
our constitutional rights and privileges, whenever
and by whomSOcver they are nsultcd assailed.
And as proudly surveyed the glittcring arms and
waving plumes of those fine soldierly looking
"mountain boys" fresh from the breezy country of
the Hornets nest" and of old Mccklenburg,
traced in the disposition, noby manifested on this
OCCASION to do honor to the Chief Executive of the
nation, those patriotic principles inherited by
"vorthy sons" from brave, "nobe sires" the heroes
of Alamance and of Moorcs Greek; those preludes
to the subsequent scenes which were acted in the
bloody dramas of Guilford Court House. of Kings
Mountain of Bunkers Hil of Brandywine and of
1OThtOWU. NcNCI, perhaps, DciOrc was lneTc SUCH
military display in our beautiful and usually quiet
city; and long, long will it be remembered as one
of those days to which we cav look back with pride
and pleasure as having afforded occasion for the
exercise and brilliant display of some of North Caro-
lina's boasted and distinguishing virtues.
Perhaps it would not be amss to state here that
the humble writer, so far from being one Of those
who are actuated by party influences and considera-
tons processes to 1e highly conservative in his po-
fioo1,, tn hov hoor orA
passionate admirer and locker on of the events so
imperfecty spoken of in this unpretending article;
and while he admits the Importance of the existence
of two political parties in country like ours, he
would ever deprecate that inordnate and illiberal
party zeal which would withhold from the incum-
bents of the highest Offices within the gift of the
people of the United States that becoming respect
and loyal homage which is not only contemplated
by and consistent with the spirit and nature of
government, but which is also expressive of that
cheerful acquescence in the will of the majority
which is universally acknowledged to be, not only
one of the cardinal features and principal safe
guards, but also one of the main pillars and bull
warks that sustain the grand and stately edfce of
our great and mighty Republic. Cripple this ac-
quiescence in the preference and will of the majori
ty, and you not only loosen one of the strongest
cords that binds our Union together, but you will
also soon behold, as the result of such implacable
invidiousness faction bitterly arrayed against fac
ton, section hostiley contcnding against section,
and disunion dark, blighting and devastating dis
union stalking abroad, scattering 4S4 war and fra
ternaI bloodshed, broadcast ovet bur now united
and happy country. but may that God who con-
Quoted our forefathers triumphantly through the
bloody ordeal of the revolutionary struggle, and
who has so bountifully bestowed upon us the ines
timabe blessings of religious, social and political
liberty, avert the storms that threaten our destruc
ton, and still continue to direct and control the
mighty destinies Of the American people. And if
amid the raging and bowling storms of fanaticism,
the old ship Of the Union is ultimately destined to
founder "the good Old North State" the last to
board this gallant barque and to commit her sacred
all to the uncertain des.inies of the political ocean,
will also be the last to quit the perishing ship,
freghted as it is with the dearest hopes and most
and will go down, if go down they must with un-