Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-10-17

Hr Our neighbor of the Register does us injus-
tice in his notice of remarks before the Breckn
ridge and Lane Club in this City on Wednesday
evening last. He says:
ain the course of his remarks, Mr. Holden assert
ed that sovereign State had perfect right to Sc
cede from the National Union and said that IN the
event of the election of Lincoln should South Caro-
lima secede and Lincoln attempt coerce her to re-
main in the Union, the middle States (meaning, we
suppose, North Carolina Virginia Tennessee, &c.
would send double the number of men to her aid
that Lincoln might send against ner, and should
forces be sent through this State to attempt to CO.
cree her to remain in the Union, he would join an
army, musket in hand to beat back those forces,
and to prevent their passage through this State
What charge has come over the editor of the
Standard since he penned those admirable Union
articles but two or three months agoW
Now, we stated distinctly, at the same time Civ
ing reasons, that we did not think the election
Of Lincoln would be good cause for dissolving the
Union. We added, however, without expressing
any opinion to the right of State secede that
some State States south of might secede; that
while we would oppose secession, we knew OF no
federal road through North Carolina over which
Lincoln could send troops for the purpose of subu
eating sovereign Southern States; that Lincoln
might blockade ports, and send troops by sea to
ravage Charleston, or Mobile or other Southern
cities; but that though we believed the middle
States North Carolina included, would not secede,
yet volunteers would go from those States 10 the aid
of their Southern brethren thus assaed; and that
for every thousand men Lincoln might send for his
work of subjugation the middle States would send
two thousand, as volunteers, to aid their Southern
brethren and to arrest Lincoln in his work of blood.
"If this be treason, make the most of it." We are
no dsunionist, neighbor. No change has come over
us since we "penned those Union articles
but two or three months ago." But we are for
Constitutional Union, no: Union of force and
blood. If any State should nufy the laws at the
same time remaining in the Union the laacS must be
enforced; but if Southern States should secede in
the last resort acting under the solemn convictioI
that such course is the only one by which they
protect their vital interests and honor, no at
tempt should be made to coerce or subjugate them,
but Convention of all the States should be called
and all efforts should be directed to the great work
of re-uniting the broken parts solid foundation
of justice both to the North and South. We hold
Mr.. Badger held in 1850, that this is not Union
of force. In the course of his remarks on the Com
promise measures in March, 1850, Mr.. Badger said:
"Force, Mr.. President, cannot keep the States of
this Union together-cannot preserve the constitu-
tional Union. I distinctly admit what was said by
the honorable Senator from Massachusetts,, Mr..
Webster, that no State has right to secede from
this Union | distinctly admit that the Constitu
ton, looking to perpetuity, makes no provision d.
recty indirectly, for the separation of its parts
But in point of fact from the very nature Of our in
sttutions the States cannot be kept in union by
force. The majority, or the most powerful portion
M and rpduca n SuhipctiOn the other.
but when this is done, the States not in union
the constitutional connection is not restored 1t is
but the spectacle of conquered people, submitting
to superior power and no ties of affection, no
operation in a common government, no american
union, can reasonably be hoped between the con-
querors and conquered Believe me- sir, if ever the
unhappy hour should arrive when American blood
is shed in contest between the States desir
ing to secede, and the others endeavorng to compel
them by force of arms 70 remain in the Union
whenever that hour comes connection is I'M
medlately broken to all beneficial purposes for the
happiness prosperity of the country"
And in another part of the same speech Mr.. Bad
ger said: And unless our minds united, the
forced association reluctant communities who stay
together not to obtain good from their connection,
but to avoid the evils of separation does not deSerre
the name of Union" We agree With Mr.. Badger.
We hold, with him, that force cannot keep these
States together, and that forced association of
reluctant communities, who stay together not to OBJ
tain good from their connection but to avoid the evils
of separation does not deserve the name Of Union"
What do you say to that neigh5or? 1t is hardly
possible that Mr.. Badger has changed on this sub
ject since 1850. Do you agree with him2-or do
you hold, with Abraham Lincoln and others of the
ultra federal school, that Constitutional Union
can be preserved by forcep