Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-11-30
H Breakers Ahead !"


that 1.-the Congress, whenever two-thirds of both
houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amend
ments to this Constitution or the application of
the Legislatures of twothirds of the several States
shall call Convention for proposing amendments,
which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents
and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when
ratified by the Legislatures of threefourths Of the
several States or by Conventions in three-fourths
thereof as the one or the other mode of ratification
may be proposed by the Congress"
Including Kansas, which will be admitted at the
next session. there thirty -four States OF these
nineteen non-s!aveholding and fifteen slavehold
ing including Delaware with the latter. But Della
ware is only nominally slaveholding State; and
the probability is that in the course of four five
years both Missouri and Maryland will be in the
same condition. But let us take the States as they
are, and then look to the future. Utah, Nebraska,
Dakotah, and Washington will certainly come in as
/ free States. That would make twenty three non-
slaveholding to fifteen slaveholding New Mexico
and Arizona, it is hoped, will be slaveholding-
we do not claim them. The abolitonists will keep
them out and agtate until they apply for admission
with Constitutions prohibiting slavery. Meanwhile
Nebraska may be divided into three States large
as North Carolina-Dakotah and Utah may be also
divided There is prospect that the slaveholding
States will increase in number. Ten years hence
in much less time probably-there will be forty
States in the American Unlon,-twenty-five nom
slaveholding and fifteen slaveholdng. According
to this assumption, either Missouri Delaware
would make two-thirds. A Convention could then
be called and the whole question of slavery consid
cred and disposed Of according to the forms Of the
Constitution. 1t is true, it would require three
fourths of the States to render the action of the
Convention Valid but after the action of two-thrds
against slavery, and that too according to the forms
of the Constitution, it would make but little differ
ence whether threefourths vote should be obtained
or not. The institution in all the States where it
exists, would be virtually destroyed.
This is the ultimate point on which the black Re,
pubcans are fixing their eyes. Stewards cherished
plan is to abolish the institution by degrees, by
throwing the influence of the federal government
against it, and by preventing its spread. He pro
csses to be most devoted friend OF the Constitution
and the Union. He thinks the Democratic part!
ought to be permanently dislodged from power,
because it has uniformly favored the extension o.
slavery; and that his party ought to be placed in
power, so as to throw the influence of the govern
ment on the side of so-called freedom, and thus If
the end extinguish slavery. This is his position
moderately stated. But he goes further than this
He would strike down the Supreme Court, because
by its decisions it has protected the Constitutions
rights of Shareholders; and he would il the occasion
in his Judgment appeared to call for it, substitute
the higher law" for the Constitution itself H,
would be willing to see instruction and murder II
the slaveholding States, provided he not told
it in advance! In "his position" as he remarked
to Forbes "he ought not to have been informed o
such things!" III
For one we are no: willing to sit quietly down
and see the South destroyed according to the form
of the Constitution. EVENT. the black Republican,
should De defeated in 1860, there certainty tina
thew will be in 1864, or in 1863 "The agitation,
in the language of Mr.. Calhoun, twill 60 to its end
That end, we fear, will be the destruction of tn
American Union. The black Republicans are cap
able of any thing. When they get the power, the
will both rule and ruin. We are sanguine as mos
men, and we will hope as long there is groun
for hope We do hope so far as 1860 is concerned
We think the chances are that we will defeat then
in that contest; but what Of 1854 of 1862 of 1872
of the next fifteen years? Who can penetrate tn
gathering gloom before US? Let the South be read
for any emergency. Let North Carolina be ready
Let her be put on war footing at the next sessio
of the Legislature, whatever may be the result {
the contest of 1860 =