Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-01

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over act and the Senator from New Hampshire
Mr. Halel the other day declared that it was wrong
and insolent for southern men to talk of resisting
merely because they, the Republicans, elected men
to carry out /" their oieDs That Senator is very
wise, and knows that, whena man wishes to subdue
wild horse be treats the animal with the greatest
kindness at first, and commits no 0Uert act on him
until he is nell and securely tied. Suppose that
your candidate was known to be in favor d making
a treaty with Great Britain, by which the United
States were to be reannexed as colonies to that
country and he had been elected by the majority of
votes, would the minority, who might still wish to
preserve their independence, be bound to wait until
the treaty had been actually ratified, and British
armies had taken possession Of the country and be-
gun to maltreat the inhabitants? In the present
case the very Inauguration of your candidate makes
him commander the Army and Navy. One Of his
first acts would be, doubtless, to station them ad
vantaseousy WHILE at the same time he could care
fully remove from the South all the public arms
lest the people should take them for defense. He
would fill the southern States with postmasters and
other officials, whose efforts would be directed to
dividing as much as possible the people of the South
and to forming connections with the negroes Doubt
less some such policy as this would he adopted be-
fore any direct blow struck at slavery anywhere
Should we, under these disadvantages, begin to re-
sist, long and bloody struggle, like that of our
Revolution, might be the consequence. The very
impression that Fremont was to be elected produced
some disturbances among the slaves; and with
Black Republican President hundred such forays
as John Browns might occur in a single year.
Though the negroes left to themselves are harmless
yet, when assisted and led on by Europeans in ST.
Domingo, they destroyed the white inhabitants
As the Senator from New York Mr. Seward holds
that the constitutional guarantees in favor of slavery
being in violation Of the divine law cannot be en-
6 ,hk al ,uo ,lolO 1.
on the side of the negro.
The objections are not personal merely to this
Senator, but apply equally to any member of the
party elected by it. 1t has in fact been suggested
that, matter of prudence, for the first election
they should choose southern FreeSoiler. Would
the colonies have submitted more willingly to Benz
dict Arnold than to Lord CORVALLIS? BY way of
palliaton it has been said that even If Black Re-
publican should be elected, he would probably dis
appoint his party, and be more conservative than
they are; and that the worst he would do might be
to plumber the country, by legislation otherwise.
This however, would be only reprieve to us for
the very fact of his election on such grounds, and
our submission as it would destroy our friends in
the North, would demoraze and degrade our own
people and render them incapable of resistance,
while our enemies, flushed with success, would
select afterwards, more ultra agents to carry out
their "views." No other "ouert act" can so nper-
atively demand resistance on our part as the simple
election of their candidate. Their organization is
one of avowed hostility, and they come against us
as enemies; and should We submit, We shall be in
the condition of an army which surrenders at dis
erection, and can only expect such terms the hu-
manity of the conqueror may grant.
But, we are asked how we will 60 about making
a revolution or dissolving the Union? This would
possibly have been difficult question to answer
during the first year Of our Revolution, when our
forefathers were avowedy fighting to get good terms
of reconciliation with the mother country. Mr..
Jefferson said that six weeks before the Declaration
was made, majority of the men who made it had
not even thought of independence. The people of
the colonies. though they had not authorized any
body to make it. accepted it, nevertheless fact.
Who anticipated the sudden revolutions that over
threw several monarchies in France! Though it re-
quires skill to create governments yet men often
destroy them very unscientifcally. As the main
strength of all governments is in public opinion so,
when that is forfeited they often seem to fall easily
and suddenly. As the Government of the United
States with the attachment of its citizens, is tho
strongest in the world, so, when that is lost it
would become one of the weakest.
I may say, however, that do not think there
will be any secession of the southern members Of
Congress from this Capitol. 1t has always struck
me that this is point not to be voluntarily sur
rended to the public enemy. If lives should be lost
here, it would seem POLITICALLY just that this should
occur. l cannot End words enough to express
my adherence and detestaton of such creatures as
Garrison and Wendell Phillips who stimulate others
to deeds of blood, and, at the same time are so
cowardly that they avoid all danger themselves As
from this Capitol so much has gone forth to infame
the public mind, if our countrymen are to be in
volved in bloody struggle trust in God that the
first fruits Of the collision may be- reaped here
While it is due to justice that should speak thus
it is but fair to myself to say that do not remem-
Der time when would have been willing to sacri-
flee the life Of aninnocent person to save my own
and have never doubted but that it was the duty
of every citizen to give his life cheerny to
the Union of these States, while that Union was
founded on an honest observance of the Constitu-
ton. Of the benefits of the Confederacy to all Sec
tions provided justice be done in the administration
Of the Government, there can be no question.
Independently Of its advantages to US all, there
are reasons why it should be maintained. Con-
brought to my mind from new points of view, and
with added force. When, last spring, landed in
England found that country agitated with questions
of reform. In the struggle which was maintained
on both sides with the greatest animation, there
were constant references to the United States; and
the force of our example stimulating the Liberals
| and tending to the overthrow IF aristocratc and
monarchc restrictions Our institutions and our
opinions were referred to only to be applauded ex
cept by small but influential arist0cratc clique
That olgarchy cannot forget the Revolution of July
1776, which deprived Britain of this magnificent
western empire; and it secs, with bitterer feel
lngs, its own waning power and vanishing privileges
under the inspiriting influences of our prosperity
It, however, is always ready to take by the hant
any American of prominent position who habitually
denounces and depreciates his own Government
and labors for its overthrow.
In this connection, remember statement made
to me by the late American minister at Paris Mr.
Mason. He spoke of having had conversation
with one whose name do not feel ut liberty to men
ton, but whose influence on the opinion of cont
mental Europe is considerable, who admitted to hin
that there was nothing in fact wrong in our negro
slavery but who, nevertheless, declared that if thu
Union of States continued, at no distant day vi
should control the world; and, therefore, as an Eu
ropean he felt it to be his duty to press antislave
ry views, as the only chance to divide us. hav