Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-29
onr Democracy Impeached.

We are surprised and mortified to perceive that
Democracy is impeached by our contemporaries
e,6e Ashevle Ne,cs and Goldsborough Rough
Fstes. i
The Meas says "that the Standards views of
s,u,hern policy have undergone remarkable change
:, very short space of time" This is substan-
,.,v the same charge made against in the Senate
~ the Senator from jackson. Now, these gentle
len were uevssmore mistaken in their lives, as we
,aif show hereafter. We would do SO to-day, if
had space.
The Rough Notes says:
The STANDARD is offended with Gov. Ellis, and
N shes to put him down and the Democratic party
\ ii him."
Dur reply to the Rough Notes is that Gov. Ellis
! offended with US, without tgood cause, long
Dre we were offended with him that We labored
very honorable way to remain on good terms
h the Governor, but that he apparently de-
mined not to be friendly with US politically, put
out of our power to cooperate cordially with
as we did in 1853 But the fact that the
bvernor was offended with US furnished no good
JASON why should Judge him unjusty. We
buid not change our course as Constitutional
Union man because the Governor thought it his
duty to adopt different course in his message
I'VE, therefore spoke out against the disunion ten
denotes of the message inst as would have done
if the Governor and ourself had been the best
friends in the world And this, We would remind
the Rough Notes, has been the rule by which We
have always been guided. We were on friendly
ter,ns, both personally and politically, with Mr.
ycnable, with Mr.. Leak, with Hon. William H.
HAYWOOD, Jr., and with many other leading Demo
Gratis with whom we were compelled at one time to
differ; but this did not prevent US from expressing
OFF views and maintaining our opinions. The same
is true as to Messrs. Craige, Cingman, and Ruffn,
to whose course recently we have been reluctantly
compelled to enter dissent; and the same was
true in great degree, as to Mr. Shepherd and Mr..
McRae.
But the Rough Notes speaks of Gov. Ellis as if he
was the Democratic party. Now, we hold that the
Democratic party depends on no man or set OF men
for its existence or integrity. If the Democratic
party depends for its existence for its continued
asceudency IN this State on Gov. Ellis any other
single individual then say the Democratic party
is in bad way If it is to go up or go down with
any one man, then it will go hence in double quick
time Its principles will live whatever may happen
Its organization may be disturbed or broken up by
inconsidcrate ambitious men, CT the excuses of
the caucus system of party spirit may embarrass
it and becoud its prospects for time but its great
landmarks will remain and the people will either
drive nacontents and oligarchs out Of the ranks
bring them back to these landmarks. That is our
Judgment, brother Robinson Why, bless your soul,
brother Robinson we were Democrat long before
our friend of the Neus, Mr.. Clingman, or dozen
others now snug in Office by the favor of the party
were Democrats. We were Democrat IN 1858,
when our present Governor, whom you have so
thoroughly identified with the existence Of the par
ty, was troubled about distribution" and thought
it might be as well if we would all go for it-for
proof of which, brother Robinson, we refer you to
Mr., CantweI, the secession Clerk Of the House Of
Cot1aons who himself. some six years ago, did not
hesitate to take office at the hands of the Know Moth
ing Commissioners of Raleigh. We ''wish to put
down the Democratic party" did you say, brother
Robinson We have been laboring eighteen years
to build it up We are Polk, Henry, Hoke, Reid
Democrat brother Robinson. We have been all
along there, and proud of it. But for us the
probability is that Col Reid would not have run for
Governor in 1s4S; and if he had not run, and it
Free Suffrage had never been started the State would
have been Opposition to-day. Did you know that?
No. for this is the first time the fact has ever been
publicly stated. We will give you the particulars
fyou would like to have them.
But all this, and much more, is forgotten. We
happened to think, and SO voted in the Wake dele
CATION, and in the caucus of the last Democratic
State Convention, that the ad Udlorem agitation
ought to be arrested and settled by an amendment
of the Constitution by the legislative mode so as to
place negroes as taxbles on the same footing with
land land we happened to sympathize with the
working-men of Raleigh, though we never joined
their ASSOCIATION nor attended their meetings,-and
we thought proper to retain Mr.. Frank l. Wilson
in our employment for several months after Gov.
Ellis had wronged him, andhad therefore, conceived
strong aversion to him,-and we happened to op-
pose the scheme contrved by certain leaders to pre-
cpitate this State after South Carolina into the vor
tex of dsunion and therefore in view of the prem
ises and because Holden had mind and will of
his own and because he was true to the great body
Of the people, the determination was formed to des-
4 troy him utterly One of the modes devised for
his destruction is to impeach his Democracy. Now,
gentlemen, one and all We point you to the record
Take the broad daylight with the aid of the lamp OF
Diogones and examine it carefully. There 1t Is, for
eighteen years There is no blot upon it even to
the present hour Watch us in the future, and see
five deviate from the old landmarks. What are
they? Here they are: a strict construction o.
the federal Constitution the reserred rights Of the
States; the greatest good Of the greatest number
Sofar the slavery question is concerned that is
above party and every is footloose; but in all
things which involve the Interpretation or the prac
tice of Democracy, we are as true as the truest-
The Neus and the Rough Notes have, therefore, done
US injustice; and we feel that We do not expect too
much at their hands when we ask them to set us
right before their readers Let justice be DONE Gov