Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-21

cian so proficient in his science as to calculate the
chances of Of these State nominees for the Pres
idency. In the first place, the "Wheel of Fortune"
that turns out the nominee contains sixtyve blanks
and one prize. Sixty-five chances against one for
the nomination. And then the wheel of Fortune"
that turns out the President contains nearly as
estimate in figures, about sixty-6ve millions of
blanks and no prize at ALL This, sir, is the grand
Presidential juggle of the United Consolidated
Constitutional, National, Union partyp 1t presents
one merit at least the tickets cheap the State
nominations cost but little Call you this party
that is to meet and overwhelm the hosts of black
Republication ?-ths little junta of antiquated pol
itcians. No, sir it is not a party, not even the
fraction of party; it is joint stock company of
President seekers, nothing more, nothing less
This very proposition is an insult to the American
people They propose to re-enact the miserable
farce of 1856, when Mr.. Fillmore was run as third
man, and got just one small State in the Union, and
that by brow-beating and skull. breaking, and he
the strongest man among them.
But suppose they get one State out of the thirty
three, event scarcely within the range of posi-
bilities,-does not every one know it will be taking
just that much from the strength of the opponents
of the abolitionists, This is party that
certainly do no good and may do some harm. The
people of this country should beware of a party
that possesses only the power of doing harm.
In conjunction and unison with the operations of
the Joint Stock Company at Washington, were the
transactions of the late Opposition Convention in
this State. The Opposition Convention it is called,
and surely it richly merits the name. 1t presents
collection of opposites, contrarities, antagonisms
and contradictions not to be found elsewhere, in all
the uncertain annals of politics and politicians
They resolve in favor of system of dd UaLOrem tax
ation and select gentleman to advocate the meas
before the people, who. but few months since,
in his solemn and sworn capacity as legislator,
recorded the convictions of his judgment against it
They propose Convention to alter the organic law,
and nominate a candidate to go before the people
and say that it is RIGHT who, but few short months
since, said under oath, that it is aorOng. They
place Mr.. Pool, Of 1860, in direct opposition and
hostility to Mr.. Pool, of 1859. They resolve warm.
ly in favor of works of internal improvement, and
to prove their sincerity to the Western people, Sc
lect gentleman to advocate them before the people,
whose first political success was a triumph over
Democrat because he had supported and given exis-
tence and life to these very meaSureS-a gentleman
who has voted against every Railroad in some form.
now in course Of construction, and who never voted
for talked for, worked for any Railroad that
has been built in North Carolina, or, in my opinion,
that ever will be built
Conduct so extraordinary as this, may seem mex
picable at the first glance; but it has its explana-
ton, and feel bound in justice to my Opposition
friends who are now absent, to give it. You will
recollect that they passed similar resolution in
1854 in favor of Railroads, and the distinguished
sed the people beyond the Blue Ridge that he
would "6ore a hole" through that mountain should
it cost "ten millions Of dollars" Now, it so hap
pened, in the funess of time" that that redoubt-
able General was placed in q situation to "bore"
that long promised "hole." The augur was placed
in his hands, and he was requested to "bore," ac-
cording to contract but bore he would not no. not
ole inch. From that day to this those shrewd
mountaineers have somewhat distrusted platforms
and politicians upon this sub ect And now, in Or
der to reasSure them, to satisfy them fully and
tirey that they are in earnest, and mean to carry
out, without fail and without doubt their promises
to construct Railroads. opponents have selected
a gentleman to execute these works whose whole
life has been at war with them, and whose whole
political course has been of unmitigated and un-
bending opposition to them. But, despair not We
lOng-suffering men beyond the mountains! This
paradox is explained upon the principle that the OPP
position party of North Carolina like dreams, go
by contraries."
In the fourth resolution of the series adopted by
this Convention, they magnanimously admit that
the adopted citizen is entitled to protection like the
native; and they take the poor foreigner into their
especial care and keeping, and strangely enough,
select as his guardian and protector third degree
Know Nothing, Verify, gentlemen, this is, as the
lawyers would say, quasi dgnum committere lupo,
ad derOrdndum."
Really, Mr. President, the Opposition seem to be
ddate than to those of the Democrats 1t is GER
tain that upon two of the Jour planks in their plat
form referred to, the Democrats have always stood ;
and it is equally certain that upon neither of
them has their own candidate stood No. not
for solitary moment of his whole life up to the
time of the meeting of their convention
Again: in their most important resolution our
opponents term themselves, with a selfsatsfed air
of superior excellence the " Conservative" party
and in the self same moment lay hands upon the
very pillars of our Constitution, and would shake
that veneratea fabric to its basis They charge the
Democrats with having, to use their own language
"annulled long established compromises betueen the
conflicting interests Of different sections broken
down the great landmarks OF policy erected By our
fathers" dec. And in the face of this broad charge,
without blush and without shame, they themselves
propose to 'annul' most solemn compromise here
at home, and to break down the Landmarks Of
policy erected by our fathers, "to reconcile con-
hicting interests Of different sections" and to bring
peace and contentment to our people. They pro-
pose to abrogate solemn covenant between the
East and the West, made and entered into by the
most iustrious names that adorn our history the
part and in behalf of the whole people of North
Carolina and ratified and confirmed by that people
To this covenant Macon, CASTOR, Toomer, Fisher,
Owen Spaight, Wilson and Meares, among the dead
and Branch, Morehead SWAIN Rayner, Barringer,
Edwards, Outlaw, Biggs, Gather, Graves and 9TH
ers Of the living were the high contracting parties
The author and advocate of this proposition to
violate solemn covenant, (Mr. Badger says:-"I
would have opposed it before the compromise of the
amended Constitution of 1886 had been violated by
the Democratic party, in passing the bill for free
suffrage IN the Senate OF the State. We were all
bound by that compromise; but when violated on
the one part it became invalid on the other" &c.
So, the gentleman seems to have thought his posi-
ton required explanation Most certainly it did,
and am nothing loath to say, much better one
THAI he has given. Without admitting bis facts,
the conclusion TO which he arrived is neither good
law nor sound morals The violation of one stipu-
aton in covenant is not an abrogation of all 9th.
ers. If a man bind himself in bond to perform a
certain labor, and to pay, also. of money, his
failure to perform the labor is release of his OBJ
legation to pay the money. If the free suffrage Act
was wrong, which do not admit it is no justif-