Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-10
Interesting Extracts.


We have been permitted to make the following
extracts from letter from distinguished citizen
of Tennessee, addressed to a member of the Legis-
lature now in session. This letter is from native
son of North-Carolina, who has served the State
with honor to himself in her legislative halls, and
who, though now citizen of another State, feels
deep interest in whatever concerns the character
and well being of the State that gave him BIRTH
He says:
LET us proclaim the doctrine, which is indispu-
table, that each Southern State has interest in
the decision of this queston-that the action of one
involves the whole, and that therefore, no one
should act Independently of the others, but that
each and every State ought to submit to such
course of policy as shall be prescribed by Con-
vention of delegates to be elected under the sane
ton OF the Legislatures Of the several Southern
States; that all should go out together, none go:
and that this question should be settled after ma
ture deliberaton by majority of the people freely
expressed through their representatives. Then
make provision for the election of one delegate from
each Congressional district in the State and then
respectfully ask the cooperation of the other louh
ern States. A movement of this sort in the good
old North State would at excite general atten
ton, and exert very considerable influence for good
in adjusting this dangerous question. Tennessee
would respond promptly and favorably. Mary
land, Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri would
no doubt do likewise. This would encourage the
conservative men in the cotton States to speak out
and make themselves felt and heard. This plan
will tend to harmonize Southern opinion, and TO de-
feat hasty action. Meantime the various questions
involved will be discussed by the people; their
good sense will be able to perceive in the distance
the evils to which dISunion would lead partizan
feeling would give way; and the people would go
to the polls determined elect delegates who would
declare for the Union and drive the extreme men
into seclusion from which they would not soon
emerge. But, perhaps you may say, what
if in such trial of strength the enemies of the
government should prevail? This cannot believe
possible; but if in this particular have mistaken
the temper of the Southern people, and if it is their
deliberate purpose to dissolve this government and
form new alliances, the Union is worthless, and We
ought to adopt some authoritative mode for ascer-
tanning the fact. A Union maintained by force is
not worth preserving; and if separate we must, let
us do so like enlightened, conSiderate men. As
statesmen equal TO the emergency, and capable OF
SelEcOntro, let US look the danger that threatens
us full in the face and meet it like men. If separate
State action is relied on ace uiU hare drded South
The most malignant hatreds will spring thererom
lawlessness will usurp the place of order bad men,
under the guiSc OF partiZan services, Will band to-
gether TO take vengeance upon their enemies, plum
der their neighbors, Cypress the weak, and atfct
the South with all the evils of 4 servile war"
calamities which must flow from a divided South,
while with a united South, though the hazards Of
dissolution would be great, yet the people Of the
slaveholding States would be able to take care OF
themselves. Since the letter from which the fore
going extracts taken penned, the South has
exhibited still further divisions South Carolina has
seeded and several others of the cotton States
about to so with her, leaving the middle savehold
rg States as barrier between them and their North
ern enemies Time flies, and golden moments are
being lost forever. Convention of all the States
| Convention of the middle Slaveholding States
might lead to settlement of the question, and
if not all the cotton States might be induced soon t
return, and, in the end, all might come back; We
meanwhile the has:y action of South Carolina is d:
viding the South more than at any former period
and placing it less and less in the power of conser
vative States to ntcrpose and mediate for good
Verify, disunion without sufficient cause seems t
be repetition
| "0f mans first diSobedience, and the fruit
! OF that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste
| Brought death into the world and ull our Woe"