Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-08-22

narty by its course, practically denies IT It would
seem to be proposition too plain to require an ar
gument that before the South can expect % obtain
from the North an admission Of is policy on these
distinctly declare it The South has policy, an
unanimous opinion, as to how slavery ought to De
dealt with; all parties share it, independently o.
party influences, there is no difference OF opinion
whatever on that point Yet strange to say, not
withstanding our views have been assailed and our
rights denied by nearly the whole North, We have
never united in claiming much less IN deienaing
them. It is the strongest case OF sell nnnegauon,
the world has ever seen. Is it any wonder that we
have never succeeded procuring our rights TO oe
recognized? WHO'S TO blame--our Northern breth-
ren, or ourselves?
Ignorant as they are Of our social condition and
wants, how can we expect them to volunteer and
search up our rights, and come forward and concede
our wants. They naturally expect that we will
claim our rights and if they are valuable, claim
them earnestly. That is their course. Knowing
what we once were, and from what stock we have
descended, they cannot believe that are afraid to
claim our rights, lest they should get mad.
This policy of silence and evasion is failure; 1t
argues timidity, for which there is no cause, and
which is unworthy Of brave people. Besides, we
have tried 1t long enough, and the Republicans will
not allow it to US any longer. He is blind, who
does net see the issue is forced on Us.
In january 1921 Mr.. Jefferson, writing to Mr..
Adams, said, "Surely they win parley awhile, and
let Gs get out of the way" We Of this generation
might entertain the same wish; but they have par
leyed and will parley longer At the last session
Of Congress, Mr.. Seward announced, "the day Of
compromises is past; henceforth we stand on the
Constitution; what that meant those who know
that gentlemans construction of the Constitution,
well understand -,
repeat these great questions must be met and
settled nosr, while it may be done honorably and
therefore, the policy Of the Bell party, which con.
sists in ignoring these questions, and putting off
their settlement, is fatally erroneous.
How does the National Democratic party, Of
which Breckenridge is the representative, propose
to deal with this question of slavery By declaring,
IN words free from equirocation as possible the
plain rights of the States, under the Constitution,
and claiming them firmly. We intended to do so
at Cincinnati, in 1856, and we think We have sue
ceeded now. need not copy our platform only
refer to it. All that we claim in that, is clearly
ours; the Supreme Court have said so, no Southern
man viii deny it
Is it wise to claim our clear rights, in this solemn
name? think it is; l think we must claim them
now, or give up forever.
By this solemn Declaration Of Rights we appeal
to the justice of the people of the Northern States
In my opinion, If the united voice Of the South
shall support the appeal, it will not be in vain.
We live under government Of public opinion
whatever that DEGREES, the Legislature enacts and
the Executive performs; it is the final arbter OF all
controversies. By that great tribunal our rights
must be determined If we refuse to claim them,
they are already lost. Let US claim them, then
clearly and fearlessly. "Truth is mighty" and it
would be unjust to the Northern people to hold in
advance that before them, it viii not prevail
In my opinion, therefore, it is the first duty Of
every one who believes that we are entitled to the
rights claimed in the Democratic PLATFORM to give
to the demand for them all the moral support that
he can, by voting for Breckenridge Not to do so.
is to weaken the demand to make it the demand Of
part not Of all and to invite its rejection. Un-
til this united demand is made and refused let the
South be quiet. 1t is idle to complain Of rights
withheld that have never been claimed; of wrongs
that are acquiesccd in.
But perhaps this united appeal, now for the first
time made, to the sense Of justice Of the Northern
people, may fail Well, we are none the worse of
for having made it; our claim remains Of record,
and the "sober second thought" may come But il
after all, the appeal should fail What then SHALL
set quietly and permit ourselves to be imprison-
ed by wall of free States and accept the inevitable
resultf Shall the "irrepresslble conflict be fought
out within our own bordersY grave and solemn
question to the Democracy of North-C Carolina, to
the Opposition to the stakeholder to the landholder
to the laborer. to every man with property, and to
every man without property, inhabiting within her
lmits-not question Of party, but Of property,
liberty and life. Every man must decide at his
peril as, whatever may be done, he will participate
in the result
To the government of North Carolina, in being
when the contingency arises, it will belong to give
the answer of the State, and hold myself bound to
obedience, whatever 1t may be. am no candidate
for office. do not follow after popularity, or dread
unpopuarity. can, therefore, speak frankly, and
without speaking for any one else-for myself l
say that rather than submit to the unspeakable
horrors of such a prison, | would carry the war
from my 6reside to the frontier. i am for safety
and equality in the Union, or independence out
of it
Some black Republicans have the audacty to say
that we are trying to bully the North, and some
presses in North Carolina that we are seeking dis
union. For myself deny it--for my party, dis
believe it Coming from without it is the false cry
of an enemy, and may be disregarded- with
in, of an enemy, in the disguise Of friend-a trail
torous cry intended to divide and paralyze us.
What is the Union! Prior to TIT, the States
were wholly Independent of each other each made
its own laws, and collected its own duties In that
year they formed Union by agreeing to articles
of Confederation; in 1889 they formed closer
union by adopting the present Constitution. The
Co1stitutiOR, then Is the UpiO-thers is no other.
1t may be dissolved by refusing to perform Consti-
tutional obligations; and to the extent that any
State persists in doing to that extent is the Union
with that State dissolved. The New England States
have dissolved it to the extent Of obsructing the
execution of the fugitive slave law and Of exciting
insurrection in Virginia. Wisconsin has dissolved
it to the extent of refusing the surrender Of the
murderers engaged with John Brown, who escaped
to that State. Ohio has dissolved it to the extent
of refusing to surrender fugitive from justice in
dicted far stealing slaves in Tennessee 1t is diff
cult to see how interior State could go further in
dissolyng it But the Constitution being the Union,
the Union can never be dissolved by the assertion
of rights under the Constitution. eg 4
slight consideration of the motives which led
to the formation of the Union win cause the most
timid to dismiss all fears of its dissolution The
anti slavery sentiment was as strong in Massachu-
sets in. 1883 as now the people of New England
are as open to consideration Of interest now as they
were then. 1t was not any sentimeDtalism towards
the South which induced them to unite with us under