Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-10-17
THE NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER % 1862


= From the Boston Post.] -.
SHALL THE UNION STAND UPON A BASIS
OF MORAL OBLIGATION OR OF PHYSICAL
FORGET
If there is any one act of Misrepresentation more
dsingenuous than another, which Mr.. Douglas has
perpetrated during his eectioneering tour it is his
repeated insinuations that the supporters Of Mr..
Breckenridge are not sound and reliable upon the
question of the maintenance of the Union and the
enforcement of the laws Although he and every
person of common sense know we'll enough there IS
ant-law or anti Union party in the field in this
canvass, excepting the black republican organiza-
ton, he gratutiously raises this issue with the
friends Of the latter candidate in order to prevent
a reuni Of the democracy, and to give a color OF
plausibi,ly to his coalition with the know nothngs
who have set up the unfounded claim of being the
champions of the Union and the Constitution pur
excellence.
As to the enforcement of the laws, Mr.. Douglas
is well aware that portion of the democratic par
ty has ever placed itself in antagonism to existing
statutes, except some of his own partizans, who in
the convention which nominated him for the Presi-
dency agued in favor of re-opening the slave trade
And, in assuming this overt position he himself set
them notable example, in proposing to override
the decisions of the Supreme Court by aboshing
slavery in the Territories, though the medium OF
squatter sovereignty, in spite of Congress and the
judiciary. Indeed, he has been unable to adduce
single plausible fact in support of his assumption
that the Breckenridge wing Of the democracy is less
devoted to the Union, or regard the constitutional
laws of the country less sacred and binding than
the most orthodox of his own supporters. The
people, who are familiar with the antec-dents of all
the presidential candidates and the characters ofehe
public men who spouse their cause, respectively,
are not to be duped by any such barney.
But when Mr.. Douglas declares himself in favor
of maintaining the federal authority and enforcing
the laws Tin any contingency" what political emer
gencies in the future does he contemplate! His
friends say, and he himself gives countenance to
the idea that he takes this decided stand in view of
any possible complication of our federal relations
which may arise under a black republican, higher
law administration OF the government Does he
mean to say that if such an administration should
frame laws manifestly infringing the constitutional
rights of the South Gas its controlling minds such
as Sumner, Hale, Wilson, Seward, Lovejoy, Andrew,
&C., would insist upon its doing) that any noncom-
pliance with or resistance to such laws must be
forcbly put down? Does he mean that if such an
administration shall repeal the fugitive slave law
and ignore the compromises of the constitution
touching the institution of negro servitude the
South, notwithstanding this violation of the CON-
pact, shall be compelled to submit and remain in
The Union subjugated province, shorn of the at
tributes of sovereignty? 1t is in this sense that
the black republican press and leaders understand
him; and hence they applaud his stump perform
ances, and count him as an effective ally if not
pronounced champion of their cause When he af-
firms: boldly and unequvocally, that the laws and
the Executive supremacy must be enforced "in any
contingency" they satisfied that he is Of them
and with them; that he will give his cordial sup
port to the administration of Abraham Lincoln and
prove worthy successor to him in the Presidential
chair. But in thus catering for republican success
and sympathy he has evidently forfeited the conf
dence and support of the national democracy, whom
he vainly essays to sell out and betray into the
hands Of the Philistines.
1t is not to be doubted that Mr.. Douglas is in IA
vor of perpetuating the Union; and so the Sec
tional opponents OF the democracy upon certain in
admissible terms and conditions. They would COM
pei our Southern fellow-citzens to remain in the
Union, contribute to the support of Northern COM
MERGE and manufactures and help to dcfray the ex-
penses of the gen, raj government without enjoying
that protection and equality which are the funda-
mental objects and conditions of the Union. The
partisans of Lincoln and Hamlin propose to circum
scribe the domestic institutions Of the South, and
or the hypocrtical plea of harbarism, to extirpate
and the profits of her industry. They would virtu-
ally disfranchise her in the national councils, and
make the measure of her political rights the con-
cessons of the will of an arbitrary majority. Then,
if she refuses to remain in the Union on these hu
initiating conditions, they are ready to let loose up
on her the demon of civil war and imbrue their
hands in fraternal BLOOD and Mr.. Douglas proclaims
that he is ready to join them in the unhallowed cru
SADIE. But will the unprejudiccd liberty loving
masses of the North, in such an emergency, suffer
themselves to be led to the slaughter of their own
kindred, to carry desoation to their homes and
plunge their hostile steel into the bosom of the
descendants of their common ancestors, Of glorious
memory, because they dared to assert their equal
rights and privilege in the Confederacy established
by those ancestors? Never!
AS Union men, there is this important difference
between Mr.. Douglas and Mr.. Breckenridge: While
the former proposes to maintain the Union lin any
contingency, no matter what wrong or provocation
to the seeding States may be involved in it by in
voking the strong arm of the military power, by
employing the brute force welded by the federal
army and navy, the latter desires to maintain it only
by the moral power of justice equity, honor, fidel
ty to the constitution, and raternal Affection This
is the broad distinction which marks the dividing
line between rival candidates for the surages Of the
democracy, which every true and rejecting Union
man can fully appreciate. Let every such candid
and patriotic eector at the North judge for himself
what would be the value of this Union when, no
longer enshrined in the hearts Of the people, its
laws and obligations shall be enforced, upon re-
luctant and outraged community, at the mouth of
the cannon and the point of the bayonet. If those
those who love and cherish the sacred bond which
has made Of the American people one great and
happy family would avoid the alternative of degra
ding the Union to hollow mockery and curse
if they desire preserve it in the spirit of raterni-
ty, and upon basis Of peace and mutual good will,
they will not fail to give their votes their influence,
their whole mental and moral energies, inavor Of the
Union candidates, Breckenridge and Lane,
%, LorEBrother Holden, Of the Standard, in
sists on our reading the food of pub docs that flow
in upon US from week to week, railroad surveys,
patent Office reports and all. We don't know what
we have done to merit such fate but let it be what
it may, we heartily repent Of it and crave dissolution.
But he says we look thin WELL that's convenience,
to say the least Of it. in these days of hoop skirts
and if the girls wiU crowd around us, how can we
help appearing little compressed? N. B. We
didn't have the opportunity Of recuperating at the
seaside last sumlner-HI0h Point ReDorfer