Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-27
To the Voters Of Wake County

An effort is being made to produce the impression
on your minds that am in favor of using forco
against the Southern States. and that TwouId not
oppose the marching of troops across this State to
reinforce Fort Sumter. This impression does me
great injustice, as will proceed to show.
said at Rolesville that while I was opposed to
coercion, and while would oppose any attempt to
march troops across this State to reinforce Fort
Sumter, or for any other purpose, still would not
resist-MEANIHG BY FORCE OF ARMs-the. marching
Of troops to reinforce Fort Sumter. said this
because that Fort IS now held by the United States
and held on the defensive and said this because
North Carolina is still member Of the Union, and
because having sworn to support the federal Con.
stitution, could not take up arms against the Unit
ed States oithout committing the crime Of treason1
If had said Chat soould resist by force of arms,
Mr. Lewis would have replied, then you are noao for
resisting the federal authorities, whereas but few
weeks since you condemned in the Standard the
seizure of the fort in this State below Wilmington,
which was an act of resistance. IsawtHescateh. or
rather the trap that had been laid for me, and
avoided it as above stated. 49, -
Now, fellow citizens, I distinctly declared at
Rolesville that | was opposed to marching troops
across this State for any purpose-that was op-
posed to the doctrine of coercion-4that repeated
what had SAID in the Breckenridge Club, in this
city, last October, that knew of no federal road
through North Carolina; and yet in the face of all
this an attempt is made to produce the impression
that I am in favor of coercing and snbjugating
Southern States! Invent further and said, that
was neither dsunionist nor a submissionst-that
was in favor of exhausting all honorable efforts to
preserve the Union-that l would not despair as
long as ray of hope remained; but that in the
last resort, l would stand with and by my section,
and that before would see North Carolina insulted
or degraded by any power would dispute every
inch of ground and fight to the last in her defence
This is the substance of what l said, having used
a figure Of speech in relation to the State in the
event of any power attempting to degrade her.
told Mr. Lewis at Rolesville that his question
in relation to Fort Sumter raised an extremely i'm
probable, if not impossible case, but that I was
frank man, and no one should say that appeared
even to evade questions propounded to me- l told
him at Cedar Fork that his question was a ridicu.
lous one-that he well knew that Fort Sumter was
south of this, and south of Charleston harbor-and
that even if troops could be marched across this
State, they would have to fight their way for more
than hundred miles, through hostile people, be-
fore they could reach Fort Sumter. explained
this matter at Cedar Fork substantially as have
explained it here; and yet the charge or rumor still
crculates that am not opposed to marching troops
across this State, and not opposed to coercion.
am opposed to marching troops across this State,
and am opposed to coercion. l said this at Roles
vile and Cedar Fork, and repeat it here.
Fellow-citizens, "Holden is a dangerous man"
because he Is true to the people and opposed to dis
union. This is the secret of all this bitter and
scrupulous warfare against me. The disunionsts
hate me because have stood between them and the
accomplishment Of their unholy purposes, and be-
cause am still true to the Union of the States and
the glorious banner Of the stars and stripes The
appeal is now to Jon, fellow-citizens. If you are
for the Union stand by at the polls the 2sth
of this month. and stand by my associates on the
ticket, Mr.. Badger and Mr.. Busbee; but il you are
against the Union, vote against u.s. I am Union
man.
respectfully appeal to the Union men Of Wake
county to bestr themselves and to put forth their
best exertons-Dot for me-not for individuals, but
for the great cause itself Beware Of false charges,
false reports and sensation dispatches, especially
during the coming week. Let US determine to be
moved by nothing gotten up by our opponents for
effect; but let us provs aH things and hold fast to
that ohish is good" W. W. HOLDEN.
Raleigh, Feb 10, 1861.