Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-29

Again, after the Convention is called in obedience
to their wishes and they elect delegates to the
for the accomplishment of the purpose they had in
view, no member of said Convention can transcend
the bounds prescribed by the people without the
commission of palpable breach of faith There
lore entertaining the opinion that majority of the
people whom he had the honor to represent desired
Convention for the purpose indicated he preferred
to vote for calling one free from any contingency
Other Senator's who had preceded him, had spoken
in opposition to the call of a Convention Of any
Kind for the reason las they assign that they fear
if one is called it will drag the State out of the
Union precipitately This is certainly sad
mentary upon the intelligence of the people. And
more particularly if these Senators are sincere in
their declarations that they do not believe there is
one in one hundred who are in favor of it. He for
one could assure Senators that was not his object in
voting for Convention He voted for it to ward off
if possible, emergency which might possibly
arise that would drive her out of the Union. 1t is
a fact which cannot be concealed that in the
midst of a revolution. For causes which they deem
sufficient, five of the Southern States have with
drawn from the Union-several others have called
Conventions or taken the initatory steps to do So
and judging from what hear, we are forced to the
conclusion, that by the fourth day of March next
nearly, if not all of the Southern States will either
be out, or making preparations to go out. North
Carolina cannot in justice to herself fold her
arms and stand complacently amidst the storm
which bowls with such fury around her. She
has interests OF vital importance at stake in this
conflict, and she should not be recreant in the dis
charge of her duty TO protect and defend them He
knew of no other way by which her potential aid
and influence could be exerted for good but for the
sovereigns to speak through Convention. That
voice when uttered in connection with her border
sister States-conservative and Union-lovn as they
have always been regarded, may be instrumental in
efecting an adjustment Of difficulties, and re-
store peace tranquility, and security to our once
happy and united, but now distracted and divided
Confederacy. 1t Is useless now to elaborate the
which have produced this state of things but
that there are causes Senator has pretended to
deny. Whether they sufficiently aggravated
to justify the course of those seeding States is
matter which admits of different opinions. He was
glad to see unamnity in the Senate upon one point
and that was a condemnation of that portion of the
Northern people who had for years persisted in
distempered crusade against Southern rights and
Southern institutions. This is a warfare which
should no longer be tolerated by patriots either
North South. For it is evident that if this de-
mon is not crushed it will be impossible to effect
reconciliation between those who continue to ag-
gress and those who exasperated by such ag-
gression. The Southern States and people had
borne many taunts and insults, and submitted to
much injustice and inequality at the hands of the
Northern people, whilst they have made many sac
r6ces and concessions for the sake of harmony and
fellowship. These things, he was aware, must ne
cesSarily exist in any country so large and where
such diversity of interest is to be subServed as
there is in Consequently in the language of Mr.
Buchanan ait is not every wrong-nay, not every
grievous wrong" that would justify the disruption
of good government. In this view of the case, he
thought that those Southern States that had seeded
had acted rather hastily, yet he had word of
domination to apply to them. He had always con-
tended for the right of State to secede in the last
resort to escape from oppression and tyranny, but
at the time believed separate State action to be
unadvsable, because he never could see how it was
possible for State to suffer wrongs so grIevous
to justify a resort to such extreme measures and
not affect to the extent her sister States SINH
ary situated and whose institutions and interest of
every description are identical He was aware it
argued that the States themselves were the sole
judges. He would not stop to debate that question,
but would say in the language of the "wise man."
that in multitude of counseors there is safety"
And no State, Tor individually simply because they
have light to do an act, ought to exercise it to
their injury. and that of others similarly situa
ted. But he would not pursue this subject farther
Let us call Convention to meet simultaneously
with those of our sister States who have not seeded
Let consult together and see if some plan cannot
be concocted which will heal the breach, and re-
connect the chain which has long held together
Let say to the North yet members of the
same great family, and so desire to remain. Cease
your aggressions abstain from your tauntS and IN
SuilS, give US TlSnlS pTOleClOn unueT
the Constitution, acknowledge us your equals as
we are, and Of right ought to be, and which this
government was established to secure, and we will
still be bound in common bond and cooperate
with each other to dispense the blessings of our
happy form of government upon each successive
generation, until, on every and in every Cline
gazing millions will exclam, how good and how
pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together unity"
Let us say to those of our Southern sisters who
have withdrawn, "return lonely wanderers, re-
turn )" re-unte your destiny with ours and help to
roll on the mighty of prosperity, greatness, and
renown which has been bequeathed to us and COM
mtted to our keeping. And he still had lingering
hope that the honest and patriotic of every sec
ton throughout the length and breadth Of this land
would rise in their strength, and with hearts swell
ing with devoted pride in the bright recolections of
the past and the effugent glories of the future
echo, in tones of thunder, the federal Union, it
must be preserved" But it. after this last grand
effort shall be made to save il, he should have to
witness the overthrow of this stupendous citadel,
(Which pray God, may not be the case and behold
the mighty arch which has hitherto overshadowed
this once glorious Union, totter and tremble, and
anon fall, he should watch its descent, and mourn
as one mourneth for an only son, and be in bitter
ness as one in bitterness for his firstborn." Even
then North Carolina would have to assist in framing
such governments she is to live under in the fu
ture He should, therefore, vote for the substitute
offered by the Senator from Burke. He would not
trespass longer upon the indulgence of the Senate
STATE OF NORTH-CAROLINA.-J OHN-