Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-27
RESOLUTIONS,

ADOPTED on the Union Mass Meeting heLd IN RG-
leigh on the 9th Of February, 1851.
WHEREAS, The people of North Carolina, in Con-
vention, on the 2lst day of November, 1889, after
two years of trying elaboration, ratified the Consti
tuition of the United States, established among other
things for the purpose of forming a more perfect
Union, promoting the general welfare, and securing
the blessings of liberty to themselves and their pos
terity; Therefore,
Resolred, That we, a portion of the people Of
North Carolina, never will submit to the admins
traton of the Federal Government on the principles
enunciated by the Black Republican party, and are
firmly resolved not to surrender any right to which
North-C Carolina is entitled under the Constitution Of
the United States yet are unwilling to dissolve
the Union formed by that Constitution, and give up
the liberty and blessings won by the many and pa
triotic sacrifices of our revolutionary forefathers,
and secured to us under the Constitution, without
first appealing to the States themselves or to the
people of the States through the ballot box, for
such explanatory amendments to that instrument,
and such guarantees may be acceptable and salts
factory to the people of the States and more espe-
cially to the people of the slaveholding States.
Resolrea, That we do not regard the Union as
"curse," blighting the progress and prosperity Of
our own section. or of any portion of the country
nor can we forget that the Federal Government has,
as yet, made no aggressions on our rights nor at
died in the Union. On the contrary, we believe the
Union of the States to have been the copious foun
tain Of national social and personal happiness
the palladium of political safety and prosperity,
shielding and protecting US among the nations Of the
EARTH at the same time securing to US benefits and
blessings unknown to any other people.
Resoloed, That we still have confidence in the
conservative patriotism of many Of our Northern
fellow-citizens and yet believe that our national
Government having in its infancy successfully pass
ed through the struggles and difficulties Of the old
confederation, and afterwards the excitement and
dangers consequent upon the passage of the Alien
and Sedition laws of 1889; and again, the trials
and crises Of the years 1912, 1920 1885, and 1850,
each pregnant at the time with the most gloomy
forebodings for the preservation of the Unlon will
yet safely weather the storm raging around us,
and that we shall transmit to the millions of Amer
can freemen to come after US, the same Union with
all its blessings and advantages received from the
fathers who established and left it to us.
Resolred, That the Union of the States cannot be
preserved maintained by force; and that the first
attempt Of the Federal Government to do So under
any pretence whatever, will inevitably result in civil
war between section and section. We, therefore,
earnestly DESIRE and recommend, the Federal and
State authorities to abstain from the commission of
every act which might in the present sectional ex-
ASPIRATIONS, lead TO any collision.
Resolced, That while we are determined to main
tain in every event Constitutional rights in the
Union. if possible yet If it should be ascertained
that final and satisfactory adjustment of existing
differences cannot be had, still, we hope that every
effort consistent with honor will be made by the
people Of North Carolina to promote peaceable sep
aration of the slave from the free States.
Resolred, That We pledge ourselves to vote for no
man who is in favor Of secession for existing causes
and who will not endorse the sentiments contained
in the foregoing resolutions and above ALL who is
or has been unwilling, to submit the action of the
Convention to the people for ratification rejection