Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-07-03

of patriots had flowed at Lexington aud Bunker
Hii-our great Chieftain was in the field at the
head of his gallant army-the eloquence of Otis
Adams, Lee and Henry, had instructed the public
mind and fired the public heart and the voice of the
whole American people had proclaimed their free
dom before the immortal Declaration Of lndepen-
dence was published to the world. The delegates
in the Congress of 1776, knew that they truly re.
Elected the wishes of their constituents and they but
ratified the previous action fthe people. lsincere-
ly wish that the Southern representatives in Con-
gress had followed the example of the sres Of TO-
The election of Lincoln and the triumph of great
sectional party in November last ought to have
warned us of our danger but the friends of South
rights had possession of the government and for
two years could easily have defended those rights.
Our representatives ought to have remained at their
posts Of duty, and held the tyrant in check while
the people were preparing for the threatened dam
ger that when the terrible crisis came the South
could have sprung forth in defence of her rights like
the tabled goddess of war; not only eager but ready
armed for the conflict We cannot now remedy
these errors of the past. We must now grid up the
loins of our minds and hearts for the mighty strug
gle that is upon us, but we ought to learn some wis
dom to guide the destinies of the future
The next precedent to which the honorable dele
gate (Mr Badger referred was the adoption Of the
Constitution of the United States by the State of
North Carolina. This was done by delegates in
Convention and not by the direct vote of the people
Let us again consult the history and initiate the
spirit of the example ofour fathers After the close
of the war of the revolution our fathers lived for
more than five years under a kind of provisional
government, until experience had shown them that
it proper to form "a more perfect Union to en-
sure domestic tranquility" &c. They did not
tear down one government and rear another struc-
ture in day. They were surrounded by many
dangers, embarrassments and difficulties, but they
fully felt the magnitude of the duty Of forming
IL
tereStS of different sections not only for the present
but for the future.
In September 1881 the Constitution OF the Unit
ed States was presented to the American people. It's
provisions were fully discussed throughout the
length and breadth of the land The master minds
of that age-sO prolific in great and patriotic men
fully exerted in discussing the merits and de-
fectS of that Constitution and many of their produc
tons the finest political essays that have ever
been written in any language. In July 1888, Con-
vention of the delegates of the people of North Car
DINA met at HillSborough and rejected the Consti-
tuition. They rejected it, not because they wanted
confidence in the wisdom and patriotism of those
men who framed it, but they regarded it as bind
ing compact in which their rights and interests
not properly secured They watched their liberty
and rights with jealousy even in the hands of the
great, wise and brave men who had fought and bed
with them on many q battlefield. In 1889, at an
other Convention the Constitution adopted
There was even then large dissenting minority
The people had considered the question for two
years. and the delegates whom they elected were
fully advised of their wishes, and may well be re-
garded as specially instructed to their action
Can we now censure foreatherS for their caution
and deberatIon Were they wanting in wisdom
and patriotism because they watched with jealous
eye their noble compatriotS in arms? They had
looked into the distant future and dimly seen the
shoals and breakers on which the old ship of State
has been driven and stranded by the wild, fierce
storms Of ianaticism, and sectional prejudice and
passion If the conscrpt fathers of the old repub
lie, who had so long been banded together by the
ties of common danger and glory, and whose pari-
otiSm had been elevated and refined in the fires of
the revolution could not safely trust the wisdom of
each other in the formation of government, is it
wise in US now blindly to follow the lead even of
our brethren of the Confederate States?
Mr. President, have now come to the second d.
vision of my subject Have the people of North
Carolina been consulted on this permanent Consti-
tuition, or have their wishes been Enthusiastically in
dicated? This Constitution was completed scarcely
three months ago, ana has never been printed to my
knowledge in our State newspapers until since the
meeting of this Convention. | think can venture
TO say with great confidence that not fourth of
the delegates here present read the Con-
sttution until the ordinance for its adoption in
troduced into this Convention. How then is it pos
sible for any delegate to say that he knows the
wishes ofhls constituents upon Constitution which
they never saw, or scarcely heard of, and of which
he himself had no definite knowledge before he was
called on for final action?
| regretted to hear the honorable delegate from
Caswel (Mr. Brown,) say that his people had in
structed him to vote for immediate and final action
on this permanent Constitution. Let us hear the
voice of CaSwell at the ballot-boX. have been in
formed that when this Convention called, the
old Secession party in Caswell met IN convention
and nominated candidates. They nominated gen.
tleman who had long been prominent for his ultra
secession views, man Of fine tale4ts eminent as
popular speaker and Of almost unrivaled popularity
among his fellow-citiZens and yet he was beaten
more than three to one by the honorable delegate
to whom have Just alluded who was not even
candidate. Why did the people Of Caswell pro-
nounce this verdict at the balotbox? The honora-
BILE delegate prominent old Union man. He
had herocally resisted the storm of ultraism in the
last Legislature. He had eloquently spoken out
against the usurpations of the conventions of the
Confederate States in not submitting their action to
the people His people admire him for his high intel
lect and his matured wisdom, and they love him for
his many virtues, conservatism and prudence. The
honorable delegate has never been favorite with
politicians but the people have always rallied to
him as one of their great champions. Indeed this
must be the age of revolution in every thing, when
the Achilles of popular rights has turned his back
upon the people.
The people of Wake county have shown that they
were for calm and prudent counsels. In the cleo
ton for delegates to this Convention, the precipta
tors had strong ticket in the field, who canvassed
with diligence and energy. Gov. Bragg and Gov.
Manly both able men and leaders of the two old po-
tica parties made strong appeals to their old friends
They were aided by their associate candidate who is
the 'Rothschild that controls the finances of the
State This ticket sustained by both of the lead
ing organs of the old political parties and influential
friends made extraordinary efforts for its success
and yet it was beaten by conservative candidates
who made no canvass In every part of the State
where a vigorous canvass was made the conserva-
tive men triumphed. They had great obstacles to
contend with They had just fought and won a
great victory for conservatism and the Union. Lin
coins foolish and fatal proclamation of the 10Th of
April, parayzed the power of the old Union men,