Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-05-04
Ex,pREs12ENT PIERCE ON THE CRISIS.

N0A0' ~ az, CuIluay, AprlI Il.
Ex-President Pierce made the following speech
from the balcony of the Eagle Hotel, to mass meet
ing last night:
FELLOW CITIZENS AND NETanBoRs IF had been
apprized of your meeting last night seasonaby, |
should have been present. But the notice did not
reach me till this morning, l wish to say in adj
vance that since my arrival here the resolutions
winch lou have passed have been read to me, and
have my cordial approval IGp call for me. my
friends lovers OF country and OF the blessed
Union which our forefathers transmitted to us,
an occasion more grave, more momentOus and more
deeply fraught with painful emotion than any under
which have ever addressed you. But rejoice that
that flag, (pontng to the flag Of the United Sates)
floats there, (cheers) Love for the hag of Cur
country is sentiment common to rs ALL at least to
my hearts it is no new emotion. NV father follow
ed it from the battle Of Bunker Hill uninterruptedly
till the enemy evacuated New York in 1888. My
brothers were with the gallant men who upheld it
in the war Of 1912. Can l. can you, fail to remen-
Der how proudly 1t foated at more recent date,
:from Palo Alto to Buena VISTA on our line of opera
ton from the Castle of San Suan D. D'Ulloa to the
City of Mexico on another. Never can we forget
that the gallant men of the North and of the South
moved together like band of brothers and mingled
their blood on many field in the common cause
Can, if would feel other than the profoundest sad
when see that those who often stood shoulder
to shoulder in the face of foreign foes and now in
u TIE
of each other. But they should have thought of
this as well as we. At all events there is no time
now to consult our feelings. The question has
solved itself into of patriotism and stern duty.
We cannot fail see what the nature of the contest
is to be- and to some limited extent the fearfulneSs
of the progress and consequences. We must not,
however, our face from them because the true
way to meet danger, is to see it clearly and to en-
counter it on the advance. Applause. for one
will never cease to hope long the fractrcida
strife is not more fully developed than at the pre-
sent time that some event, some power, may yet in
tervene to save us from the calamity that
depended over nation. The opinions of many of
the vast crowd before me, with regard to the
which has produced The present condition Of public
| affairs, are known to me, and mine are well known
| to you. | do not believe aggression by arms is a
| suitable possible remedy for the existing evils (;
still neither of these matters ought to be considered
! now; they may be well waved, nay, they must be
! until we have each other through our present
trials and future dangers. Should the hope which
| have expressed not be realized which may bene-
! fcent Providence forbid, and of aggression
to be waged against the National Capital and the
North, then there is no way for US, citizens OF
the old Thirteen States but to stand together and
uphold the flag to the last with all the rights which
pertain to it. and with the fidelity and endurance of
| brave men. | would counsel you to stand together
with mind and one heart calm, faithful and de-
termined. But give no countenance to passion and
violence which really unjust, and often in pc
rods like these areihe harbngerS of domestic strife.
Be just 20 yourselves just to others, true to your
country, and may God who has so greatly blessed
our fathers, graciously interpoSe in this hour OF
| clouds and darkness and save bIth eXtremltes OF
the country, and to cause the old flag to be upheld
by all hands and all hearts. Born IN the State Of
New Hampshire, | intend, that here shall repose
my bones. | would not live in a State the rights
and honor of which l was not prepared to defend
at all hazards, and at the last extremity. (Cheers
and applause)