Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-11
THE ISSUE STATED.

THE ISSUE STATED.
From the period of the passage of the measures
of adjustment in 1850, known as the Compromise
measures, there comparative repoSe in the pub
lie mind in respect to the durability of the Union
till the autumn of 1858. The discussions growing
out of the repeal Of the Missouri restriction put to
thorough test conflicting constructions of the Con-
stituon but did not touch the integrity Of the in
strument itself. 1t was reserved for William Ii. Sc
ward, at Rochester, New York, on the twenty-fifth
day of October, 1853, to alright the nation by
nouncement of doctrines and purposes which put
III peril the Union.
What had been previously said affected only the
superstructurc. Seward aimed deliberate blows at
the foundation. That speech is not unfamiliar to
the readers of the Post and they will recognize the
following extract -
Hitherto the two systems have existed in diff
ferent States but side by sidc within the American
Union. This has happened because the Union is
confederation of States. But in another aspect the
United States constitute only nation. Increase
ofpopulation, which is filling the States out to their
very borders together with q new and extended
network of railroads and other avenues and an in
ternal commerce which daily becomes intimate,
is rapidly bringing the States into higher and
more perfect social unity or consolidation. Thus
these antagoniStic systems are continually coming
into closer contact, and collision results.
Shall tell YOU what this collision means? They
who think that it is accidental, unnecessary, the
work of interested or fanatical agtatorS and there
fore ephemeral mistake the case altogether. 1t is
an rrepreSsble conflict between opposing and endu-
ring forces and it means that the United States
mast and uiH sooner or later, become entirely
S}gceb9}ing nation entirelyd free labor nation
Either the cotton and rice fields of South Carolina
and the sugar plantations of Louisiana will ultimate
Il be titled by free labor and Charleston and New
Orleans become marts for legitimate merchandise
aOnp ciSn tna folds yrba fol II
Massachusetts, and New York must again be sur
rendered by their farmers to slave culture and to the
production of slaves, and Boston and New York be-
come once more markets for trade in the bodies and
souls of men. 1t is the failure to apprehend this
great truth that induces so many unsuccessful at
tempts at final compromise between the slave and
free States and it is the existence Of this great fact
that renders all such pretended compromises, when
made. vain and ephemeral Startling as this saying
may appear to you fellow citizens it is by no means
original or even a modern one. Our forefathers
knew it to be true ahd unanimously acted upon it
when they framed the Constitution of the United
States They regarded the existence Of the servile
system in so mary of the States with sorrow and
shame, which they openly confessed and they look
ed upon the collision between them, which was then
justrevealing ITSELF and which are now accustom
ed to deplore, with favor and hope. They knew
that either the one or the other system must cx-
clusively prevail.
Moreover, in order that these notifications might
not altogether defeat their grand design of repub-
lie maintaining universal equality, they pr0ridGd
that tcothirds Of the States might amend the Con-
stitHti0a."
There was nothing in this speech novel in idea
Yet the circumstances of formaty and solemnity
under which it was spoken and the conspicuous po-
sition given it by Republican orators and presses
startled the Republic from end to end The main
hiatt laI, 81, lolo
exist side by side, was announced by Ralph Waldo
Emerson, in Concord in this Commonwealth, IN the
year 1856. He said
1.-The events of the last few years and months
and days have taught us the lesson of centuries.
do not see how barbarOuS community and civil
Zed community can constitute one State. | think
we must get rid of slavery or we must get rid of
freedom
So Governor Banks said
eff the power of this Union is to be used to pro-
tect slavery, then lot the Union slide"
Other Republical speakers had proclaimed similar
ideas, but it was the work of Seward to combine
them in one considered effort and make of them
warning and defiance to the South
This alarming speech of Governor Seward was
made in October of 1853 In November of the same
year. Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi one of the most
intellectual he is of the most forward
and patriotic of Southern statesmen had occasion to
address his ellowcitizens Of the Mississippi Legsla
ture at the capitol of that State He could not fail
in discussing current public events to advert to this
recent speech of the Senator from New York. He
could not avoid it if he would 1t was the political
event of the hour. The language used by General
Davis was this
ut seems now to be probable that the Abolition
lists and their allies will have control of the next
House of Representatives, and it may we'll be infer
red from their past course that they will attempt
LEGISLATION both injurious and offensive to the South
have an abiding faith that any law which violates
our constitutional rights will be met with veto bv
the nresent Executive. But should the next House
of Representatives be such would elect an Adolf
tion President we may expect that the election will
be so conducted as probably to defeat choice by
the people and deyolTe the election upon the
House.
Whether ~ the House or by the people, if an Alb.
o,itonist be chosen President of the United States
YOU will have presented to you the question Of
whether you will permit the government to pass in
to the hands of your avowed and lmpiaea6e enemies.
without pausing for your answer, Will state my
own nosition to be that such result would be
snecies of revolution by which the purposes Of the
Government would be destroyed and the observance
of its mere forms entitled to no respect
In that event, in such manner as should De most
exnedent. 7 should deem it your duty 10 provide
e. Uonr safety outside of Union with those "h'
49, alrendv shopn the aoiM, and would nave &C
oured the pouer, 20 deprive you OF your
and TO reduce you to worse than the COLONIAL uepe
'dspce Of your fathers'