Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-14
The State Convention.

The State Convention.
The Wilmington Journal of the 9th contains an
ingenious disunion article, from which we make the
following extract:
ave have seen various suggestions looking to
the election of delegates and the assembling of q
convention at some earlier time than that contem-
plated in the bill of both houses also at different
place. We respect the motives of the gentlemen
making these suggestions but we fear that any at
tempt to carry them out practically must result in
confusion and be productive of injury to the
which their authors have at heart. 1t may contrib
ute to produce such results by distracng the atten
ton of the friends of States rights and may also be
siezed upon and made handle of by their oppo-
nents who will eadeavor to miSrepresent them as
"lawess men," (see Secretary Holt) or as "precip-
itators" any slangwhanger can easily do having
got his cue from head quarters.
No let us give opponents advantage by
any divisions among ourselves; let give them no
opportunity to misrepresent us as "precpitators,"
or as "lawleSs men let us do nothing that might
have a tendency to drive off the most law-abiding
conservative With our rights and our equality as
our MOTTO let us go for these where they can be
cured not going for secession for the sake of seces
sion, but accepting it, if it must come, a means
to those ghts which we feel to be no longer
safe in the Union and without further guarantees
than we now have, our rights not safe in the
Union. There no circumstances now within the
range of probability FRI which draw any
hope that satisfactory settlement can be arrived
at or that sufficient guarantees will be given upon
which the South can repose in security. 1t is the
want of these guarantees-not the love of seces-
Sion-that operates upon the public mind most
strongly"
The State Journal the central organ of the pre-
cipitators copies this article of the Wilmington
Journal and endorses it, thus giving the disunon
cue for the campaign.
We ask our readers to note well this extract from
the Journal Conscious that the disunioniSts hare
shown themselves to be "precipitators" and "law-
less men, the Editor strives to break the force OF
this charge by reflections on the Union men and by
defence Of his own position in advance. For the
most part the dsunionists are "lawless men,
Witness the seizure of the fort below Wilmington,
in this State-the seizure of public property in
Florida and louisiana including nine tons of federal
silver in the latter State and witness the declara-
tons of leading disunonists in the Legislature OF
this State that if Convention of the people should
refuse to take the State out of the Union they would
either leave the State raise the standard of revolt
against the sovereign determination of the people Of
/ North-Carolina They are "lawless men," and
they are reckless and dangerous men. Keep that
before the people!
! The journal speaks of cue from headquar
| ters." Where did the Journal get its cue? From
Raleigh From the State capitol?
| But mark the language of the Journal, after its
| attempt to hoodwink and entrap claw abiding, con-
sentative" voters into its disunion schemes. 1t be-
comes melancholy and almost sheds tears because il
has to go for secession but not for secessions sake
vet it adds "here are no circumstances nOu within
! the range Of probability from which Ue can drar
any hope that satisfactory settlement be arri
we'd at, or that sufficient guarantees will be given
upon which the South can repose in security" The
Journal then, has no hope. 1t is ripe and ready
for disunion. Like its representative, Judge Per
son, or like Mr.. Avery it would take the State out
at once. Itwould break up in order to reconstruct
1t would shiver the pitcher in order to put it ogeh
er again with bad putty.
But the Journal is one of the moderate and nsid
ious disunionsts. The avowed disunion papers are
the Wilmington Herald the Charlotte Bulletin, the
Goldsborough Tribune the Rough Notes, and some
others. These papers, like the Journal have no hope
for the Union, but, unlike the Journal, they are
working boldly for its destruction.
Let the people of the State be vgilant in the
ent crisis. He sOho is not-tor the Union is agains
it, Let the wolves in sleeps clothing" be watch
ed and exposed. They will approach you, fellow
citizens State rights men, and they will labor t.
, convince you that the best way to preserve the
, Union is to break it up. Remember that all true
! State rights men should be willing to appeal to the
States themselves before proceeding to divide the
I States. The States made the Union; the Union i.
/ in peril; let appeal to the States to the
Union and not destroy it This is true State rights
doctrine. Virginia has spoken for the Union, ant
Tennessee has followed Virginia. Both these grea
States are opposed to secession and disunion They
are opposed to it by immense msjorities. They arr
ready and anxious to save the Union, if it can b,
saved; and who will say that Virginia and Tennessee.
are not for State rightsP ...- -..
The appeal is now to the people against the poll
ticians who have involved US in these troubles
against any party and all parties that stand in the
way of reconciliation and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS dis
union, revolution and ci0il oar The issue to b.
decided on the 18th is UNION or DISUNI0N.-
Remember that Keep that before you all the time
and act and vote accordingly.