Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-10-17

BY our nelgnOOr or the heg1ter does us ln)uS-
tice in his notice of remarks before the Breckin-
ridge and Lane Club in this City on "Wednesday !
evening last. He says:
"In 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 SouthCaro
lima seede and Lincoln attempt to 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
cree her to remain in the Union he would i'm an
army, musket in hand to beat back thosei4r}es,
and to prevent their passage through this S&t.>l
What charge has come over the editor Of the
STANDARD since he penned those admirable Union
articles but two or three months ago!"
Now, we stated distinctly, at the same time CIV
ing our reasons that 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 to seoede, 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
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 60 from those States to the aid
of their Southern brethren thus assaied; 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
I-.k T H. -, SC rlyofh1 nnd
"If this be treason, make the most of it" We are
no disunionst, 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 nullify the laws, at the
same time remaining in the Union, the laws must be
enforced; but if Southern States should secede in
the last resort acting under the solemn conviction
that such course is the only one by which they
can protect their vital interests and honor, at
tempt should be made to coerce or subugate 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
kof justice both to the North and South, I'VE hold
asMr 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 preserve the constitu-
| tional Union. / 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.
rectly indirectly for the separation of its parts.
But in point of fact from the very nature of our in
Gift no tofo ho Eopt hv
force. The majority, the most powerful portion,
may conquer and reduce to subsection the other;
but when this is done, the States are 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 CO.
| operation in 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-some desir
ing to secede, and the others endeavorng to compel
them by force of arms TO remain in the Union
| whenever that hour comes, our connection is I'M
mediatey broken to all beneficial purposes for the
happiness or prosperity of the country"
And in another part Of the same speech Mr.. Bad
ger said: "And unless our minds are united, the
forced association of reluctant communities who stay
together, not to obtain good from their connection,
but to avoid the evils of separation does not dessrre
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 dessrus the name Of Union.
What do you say to that neigh5ors 1t is hardly
possible that Mr.. Badger has changed on this sub
ject since 1885, Do you agree with him3-or do
you hold, with Abraham Lincoln and others of the
ultra federal school, that Constitutional Union
can be preserved by forcel