Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-07

must zoe oatt and become 1oeaker or act and gath
or strength By preparation based ON our oson stern
resoLUes?
In our humble opinion there can be but one an
swer to these questions In certain contingency
our lives, our property our manhood, our State
PRIDE and State independence will be at stake Are
we ready to protect them Is our militia system
at all efficient? And if efficient which no one
asserts, have we arms for our militia Hundreds
OF gallant citizens have recently vounteered have
we arms for them? Have we ball and powder p
Are the various captains districts in the State under
vigilant patrol? Are we ready nOw to encounter
unjust aggression, and to demand that the forms of
the Constitution shall not be used to destroy us p
Ale we prepared to meet these aggressions and to
make this demand on a war footing, with arms in
our hands? Alas, no! With the black Republi-
cans might makes right. We see this in every fea-
ture of the "irrepressible conflict" Are we pre-
pared even for sudden emergency at home?
These views have been suggested in conversations
which we have had with the people, and we have
felt it to be our duty to lay them before readers
The mere election of black Republican Presi-
dent would most probably affect State and Bank
stocks, and indeed every species of property If
Seward should beelected by sectional votes it would
be no easy matter to raise money in November,
1860, on the best paper Docs any one doubt that !?
Without money we could neither procure arms nor
support troops
South-Carolina is now in conference with Virgin
la. Her Commissioner has no doubt already reach
ed Richmond, to confer with the Governor and Leg
islature of that State as to the best means to be
a..
Constitution, and, if that cannot be done, to save
the South. North Carolina is associated for veal or
for woe with South Carolina and Virginia. Every
word which they may utter and every resolve which
they may agree upon in this high conference, will
touch us and concern quite as much as it will
them
We know no party on the question of slavery
We stand, always have stood by the vested
rights and the vital interests of North Carolina
Patriotism, in our Judgment, begins at home. Our
primary allegiance is due to North Carolina. If a
black Republican or sectional President shall be
elected in 1860, ace piU go with the South,-we will
stand side by side with the sons of Virginia and
South Carolina, as our ancestors did at Yorktown
and the Cowpens and we will do it, clnging to the
Constitution and despsing the forms of vicious, az
greSsive, and usurping Union That will be its char
acter under black Republican rule and for will
never bow head to its degrading yoke. We
mean what we say. We have considered the whole
subject calmly, and we are prepared for the conse-
quences. We mean to do right according to our
understanding of what right is, and let consequent
ceS take care of themselves.
Remember in this case that the letter of the :"
Constitution "killeth," but 1.-The spirit makcth
alive"
And let us remember Also that the surest way to
avert the evil which threatens is to prepare for
it and if cannot avert it, be ready for it
! when it comes.
! Long live the Union, according to the Constitu-
! ton!