Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-11-29
Secession and Revolution,

A good deal Is SAID Just now about the right OF
State TO secede from the Union. We believe that
the Constitution adopted by the people of the States
in 1882 established government of delegated pow
crs; that the States parted with only so much of
their sovereignty as was necessary to render this
government efficient as common agent; that the
powers not delegated were reserved to the States re-
spectively or to the people; that this government
consists of three departments; that these depart
ments were intended to act checks upon each
other to protect the Constitution and the reserved
rights of the States and that if this government
shall violate the Constitution and attempt to Cypress
or injure the minority that the majority thus con-
trolling the government and violating the Consttu-
ton will have committed revolution; and that in
such event the minority States would be released
and would have the right to secede from the majori-
ty and establish new federal union to take any
other steps which they might deem necessary to
their protection, prosperity and happiness.
This is the true doctrine call it what you will
1t may be secession or it may be revelation, it
may be rebellion, may be war between States
and their agent which has usurped undelegated
powers. We have never advocated and never ex-
pect to advocate the right Of State to secede from
the Union, and to that extent break up the govern
ment from mere within, impulse, or caprice. The
infraction of the Constitution must be clear and pal
pable to Justify State in dssolving its relations
with the Union; or the danger which impends over
the State must be serious so imminent, so certain
that no hope is left to it but in seeding from the
Union This has been our position from the first
on this question. We have uniformly held the same
doctrine both as an Editor and as citizen. In an
address which we had the honor to deliver before
the people of Raleigh, on the 4th of july 1856, we
said If this Union should ever be destroyed it will
be done by such triumph and such predominance
of sectional power to leave hope to the minority
or by papable violation or disregard, by all the
departments of the government of the Constitution,
which is the bond of the Union. Either would, in
ITSELF be dissolution" But has that time arrived?
Has the Constitution been disregarded or vio-
lated by sail the departments of the government"
Has it been violated or dsregarded by any one of
these departments? No one will say that it has,
Has there been such triumph of sectional power as
to leave no hope to the minority? We think not.
The South yet has two departments of the govern
ment against one; and in the recent contest for the
Presidency the people of the non-saveholdng States
polled nearly as many votes against Lincoln for
him. Is there, then, no hope? We think there is
ground for hope. We are, therefore, unwilling to
90 with the dsunionsts in their efforts to dissolve
at this time our relations with the federal govern
ment That government was established more by
the sacrifices, the wisdom, and the blood of South
ern men than by the blood or wisdom of the North.
We at least have deep interest in the Consti-
tuition and in the government which it established
as the North has. We not yet prepared to aban-
don this government, and to take leap into the
darkness beyond. Let those who are prepared to
take this leap say like men, and not resort to Sc
crct combinations, to intrigue and management to
commit the people of this State against their will to
dsunion and civil war;