Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-14


fatering devotion am willing to share her fortunes
and her destiny. am loyal and devoted to the
Confederate States Of America, because North Car
olina loves so well her Southern sisters now
have no feelings Of bitterness for any of my fellow
citizens, and would willingly forget and forgive
the injustice and wrongs of the past and ask also to
be forgiven If this would exercise the fell spirit of
party. Iwould make any offering to appease this
demon of ruin and am opposed to this ordinance
because know that it will add fresh fuel to his in
fernal fires.
Mr. President This ordinance proposes to intro
duce new feature into our form of government by
requiring people for the first time to do 'shon-
age and fealty" to the State. citizenship is the
birthright of the native born of North Carolina
and allegiance is their natural duty, and shall they
now be to be faithful to the very instincts of
their nature? You might as we'll swear dutiful
children to honor, reverence and love the good old
mother who bore them.
There is q great difference of opinion among our
peoples to their relations and duties the general
government Many of the original secessionists be-
lieve that they never owed any, allegiance to the
Federal government, and the old Union was but
league Of States and they think that this principle
Is the corner stone of the new government 1t
would be ungenerous and unjust to force them by
this ordinance do violence to their honest convic-
tons. The old Union men believed it to be their
duty ito bear true and faithful allegiance" to the
old government and without being sworn they did
so with unwavering fidelity to the last hour of its
existence Many of them entertain the same opiII-s
ion as to their duty to the new government, and
they require test 0aths to make them rally around
and sustain it, As they were faithful to the old so
will they be faithful TO the government and if
the storm Of revolution should overwhelm it, they
will be found the last to leave the falling ruins.
Mr.. President: This ordinance excerpts from Its
operation volunteers mustered into the service of
the State and of the Confederate States" This isa
proper exception, and the assigned for it in
the report of the committee receives my approval.
Our brave volunteers have shown their devotion to
the country by their sufferIngs trials and dangers
in the camp and battle field, and they deserve our
lasting thanks and gratitude; but, do you suppose
that they will regard this exception as an honor
when the ordinance casts odium and insults upon
the loved ones they have left at home? The brave
are always unseliiSh and noble and they will scorn
this pitiful compliment
Mr.. President: | desire to show that there are
many people in North Carolina who come within
the spirit of the above exception. The members of
this Convention have given high evidence of their
devotion to the country. On the goth of May, they
signed our Declaration of independence, and, by so
doing, they pledged :" their lives their fortunes and
their sacred honor" to the maatainance of this rev.
onton. If it is unsuccessful that act may coniscate
our property lead us to the glbbct drive into
exile believe that act made q record of glory and
immortality for US all, and it be possible that
we must now take an oath of fealty to our wives
and children, our homes and fireSides? 49,.
If the brave boys who have gone to the wars, are
excepted IN this ordinance why not except the no.
ble fathers who sent them? Did it require no de-
vOtion to the country to make them give up the
idols Of their hearts and homes? Ii was the high
est sacrifice they could offer. With more than Ro-
man tirmnesS they stilled the voice of paternal
love; they their "brave boys" go forth with
the cunsecrating kiss of weeping sisters and the
of cfri oil p,otha o,l
then with grief too big for uttcrance they entered
their once peaceful and happy homes, now the
dwelling places of sorrow. How slow and sad the
long days go by, while their thoughts are with
the absent ones and often in the solemn midnight
hour as they turn restesSly upon their pillows they
dreamy visions of the battle field the coffin and
the shroud No ambition, or love of power and
place has prompted them to make such sacrifices
and endure such suferings,-it is devotion to duty
and their country. If these fathers not except
ed, at least except those whose sons have died in
the storm of the battle, or persisted before the
breath of the peStence. Many of them have wept
their youthful dead until sorrow has exhausted
the fountain of tears, and oh! it would be cruel
now to mock them in their time of agony.
Mr.. President: There is yet another exception.
The men of Bethel haSe come home from the field
of their fame. Their term of service has expired
and they are no longer soldiers. Who in this Con-
vention would dare tell them that they must take
an oath of fidelity to their country? While we
were safe at home they pledged their lives to the
country, in the blazing lines of battle and received
the fearful baptism of blood and fire 1t fills my
heart with pride when | mention Bethel. 1t was
North Cardinals battle and she was the VICTOR
There is something significant in the name Of Beth
cl. You we'll recollect where it first in the
Bible. Jacob left the tents Of his father Isaac at
Beersheba, to avoid the fierce wrath of bis brother
ESau; and when the sun was set on the first day Of
his journey, "he lighted on certain place" when
foot-sore and weary he rested; and in the visions
of the night he saw the angles Of heaven and then
God promised to give him and his seed the land Of
his father and Jacob called the place Bethel, the
house of G0d We, too, have been forced from the
halls of fathers by the cruel hatred of our Esau
brethren, and we have been deprived of much of
our just inheritance. For more than fifty years.
have been feeding them with the messeS of pottage
and now we alone have the birthrght Of liberty and
the blessings of our fathers God was with us at Beth
el. He shielded our men in the day Of battle and
in the brilliant victJqy He gave US, we have assn.
rance that shall continue to possess this goody
land forever. We may have to struggle long, but
at last we will come off than con9uerors, for,
with all the strong confidence of patriots hope,
believe The Lord of hosts is with US; the God of
Jacob is our refuge" ~. 80 ...
Mr.. President: | desire once more TO alude to the
spirit of party which alone disuntes the people of
North Carolina. L folly agree with the honorable
delegates who have preceded me- that this is no time
for party feeling. Our safety demands that we
should act together. We can never do so until we
are more just TO one another We have common
sufferngs to endure, and common dangers to en-.
counter; and it is but right that we should share
alike the honors and responsibilities of the struggle
We have just commenced our great history Nigh
ty events daily gathering around us and We have
already written many pages brilliant with the re-
cords of patriotism and valor. Darker scenes yet
may come, and 49,. ... ...
r.. ave NAV know ere long, .. -.
How sublime thing it is '" -
"a. ,..., To suffer aud be stroug" DO ..--
We are but entering the fiery furnace of trial 1t
is to be heated vet seven times hotter. We may
not hope that like the three God-fearing Hebrews.
can pass through and not even the smell Of fire
be upon our garments, but by the blessing Of Hea-