Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-08-25
RALEleH, N. G, August 20, 1860.

RALEleH, N. c., August 90, 1860.
To the Editor of the Standard:
notice in the last issue Of your paper the follow
ing paragraph, taken from the Murfreesboro' Citi-
zen:
"Hon Kenneth Rsyner voted at the Winton pre-
cinct in Hartford County, at the late election cast
ing the entire Democratic vote Mr.. Rayner re-
marked that he had opposed the Democratic party
hitherto because he believed it to be wrong, but
now that he found it in the right he should sustain
it
Mr. Rayner heartily supports the nomination of
Breckenridge aud Lane" &c, &c.
regret that such undue importance should be
given to the remarks of so humble person as my
self as to render it necessary for to appear be-
fore the public for the purpose of giving correct
version Of what did say on offering my vote on
on the I'd Of August
said nothing about my relations to one party or
another. What said was this-"For twenty-five
years have been voting on principle intend to
vote on principle to-day. am opposed to chang
ing the Constitution Of the State, and am opposed
to calling Convention for that purpose. l shall
therefore vote for men to represent me who agree
with me in sentiment"
The Citizen is also mistaken in regard to my hav-
ing committed myselfto the support of Breckenridge
and Lane So far as any committal may be involv-
ed in the expression of my opinions and purposes in
conversation, that committal has been in favor of
Bell and Everett But am in fact, committed to
no one any farther than my convictions of duty to
my country, dependent upon the developments of
the next month or six weeks, may regulate and
govern my course. The signs of the times are so
threatening and portentous-the few months in the
future are pregnant with such momentous results
the dangers which threaten the Union are SO mmi-
nent-that every man who regards duty and prin-
eple paramount to party fealty, cannot but feel,
1rlv ar,1a h,,k ~, Il
and uncertain, to what he ought to do in order to
anticipate and ward off the evils, by which the
country is imperilled. As regard the pending
Presidential issue the result which every patriot
North web South should try to prevent is the
election of Lincoln. l speak not so much of his
anti-slayery sentiments, which alone are odous
enough to repel every national in every section
of the country. speak more particularly of con-
sequences which must in all probability follow his
election. There is logic in facts and events which
practical men cannot and must not ignore-a logic
more powerful and unanswerable, than that of all
the learning of all the schools Such is the state Of
public feeling such the evaporation of the public
mind in several of the Southern States that If Lin
coin should be elected President dissolution of the
Union can hardly be avoided. The practical CUES
ton for every patriot to consider is not whether this
disunion sentiment is right OF yrong-not what
means shall be resoEted to- to bring back or force
back. the seeding States after they have passed the
RubicoD. But the question is what means are most
advisable and effectual for preventing the evil-or
providing against the contingent causes of dsunon?
NY own decided opinion is, that the most effectua
way of preventing, not only the irrepressible con-
filct between the North and the South, which the
election of Lincoln would inaugurate-but of pre-
venting the disruption of this Union, the horrible
consequences Of which the patriots heart shudders
to contemplate Is, by defeating Lincoln and Hamlin
at the polls.
This can be done, and it car only be DONE by
combining the entire opposition to Lincoln upon
the same electoral ticket in every State in the South
at least if not in the North If it were practical
BILE thing, would be glad to see the three Presiden
tial candidates who will have tickets in the South.
all make the selfsacrifce of withdrawing from the
contest and let public opinions concentrate las it
easily cotfd and would do noD, in view of the alarm
and anxiety which prevails in regard to perilous
condiuon) upon an acceptable man of moderate ma
tional and conservative views. I say this, not by
way OF intimating that the candidates now before
the country are not men of that character. But in
view of the fact that feeling, resentment ana party
pride having become aroused, it would suppose
be utterly impractcable to withdraw any two of the
candidates, in favor of third Then the next best
thing to be done as it strikes me- is to run but one
electoral ticket in every Southern State leaving it
discretionary with the electors so to cast their votes
as to make the united electoral vote of the South
effective in the defeat of Lincoln by being given to
that man who can be elected This union Of all the
opposition elements has been or is about to be- con-
sumated in the great State of New York If there
is enough Of patriotic love of the Union in New
York to accomplish this-in the name of common
sense, rs there not enough of that virtue in the
South whose stake IN the result is so much greater
to BRING about the same arrangement A unior,
on one electoral ticket in every Southern State with
me discretionary power Of casting the vote in the
electoral colleges, to which have alluded secures
the e0nsumation Of the rr,ifed vot., ~ a.. 6