Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-18
THE DEVIL QUOTING sCRIPTUREt

The devil quoted Scripture to our Lord but he
did not lie 10 quoting il. The deception he pro-
posed to practice, was in its application. fhe Presi-
dent of the United States, in his Message to the
Congress of the United States lies in every part of
titles in his statement of facts-lies in his state
nent of principles and lies above all in his pro-
feSSions of RECORD for them. The following is an
extract from the Message:
ut continues to deveOpe that the insurrection is
largely, if not exclusively, a war upon the first
principles of popular government-the rights Of the
people. Conclusive evidence of this is found in the
most grave and maturely considered public docu-
ments, well as in the general tone of the insur-
gents. In these documents we find the abridgment.
In these documents we find the abridgnent Of the
existing right of suffrage, and the denial 10 the peo.
pie OF all right to participate in the selection Of pub
lie officers except the legislative body, advocated
with labored arguments to prove that large control
of the government in the people is the Of all
political evil. MonaI chy ITSELF is sometimes limited
at as possible refuge from the power of the peo-
pie In my present position, | could scarcely be
JUSTIFIED were | to omit raising a warning Coiee
against the approach Of returning dsspotism"
The impudence of calling the secession of ten
States from the Union of the United States an in
surrection, is of course to be expected but that
who has abolished the Constitution of the Uni
ted States, with all its safeguards of liberty, and
who holds the people down by military despotism,
should profess regard for their rights is the most
surprising eifrontery modern history records He
says it continues to be developed" that the people
of the Confederate States are warning upon the
rights Of the people" The specification of this
warning, is contained in their abridgment of the
existing right of suffrage" and g the denial to the
people of ali right to participate in the selection of
public officers" Here is an assertion of facts which
nothing but bold fragrant lies. In not single
Confederate States has the "existing right of suf
frage," denial of the people to participate in
the selection of officers, been made. Their whole
system of government, with all the guarantees of
liberty they contained have continued Just as they
were before their separation from the United States
was accomplished. But suppose they had changed
their Constitution, in the particulars mentioned,
does it lie IN the mouth of this miserable usurper
and deSpot to arraIgn them for it? Here is wretch
who seizes the whole Legislature of Maryi1f4E@ E@and
casts them into prison; and when a sham election
in Maryla land is held for officers IN that State he
stations soldiers at the polls and prescrbes oath,
not required by the Constitution of Maryland, as
the previous condition of a voter exercising "the
right of suffrage" A tyranny, suciEasz does not
exist elsewhere in the civilized world, he has
stretched over the people oftthe United Statcs.-
Treason, which, by the Constitution of the United
States, cannot exist excepting by "oyert acts" he
extends to the opinions andthoughts of men, With
out law, and without even the decent forms of law,
which requires that man should be informed Of
charges made against him, citizens arrested by
SouleIS III tieiT OeuS, ana cast INTO prisons. SuS-
picions sufficient for arrests ANY language
condcmning the brutal despotism which he has set
up over the United States, is deemed dsloyalty to
the despot; and, forthWiih, the citizen using it is
cast into dungeoA.s yen women, not only by his
brutal sodiery, iasfbe aads into the Confederate
States, but underthe sayesUf the Capitol at Wash
ington, are mREibRed, insulted and outraged. And
this is the maa,eWtio with bold mendacity the
devil himsef cbegf fDot surpass, dares to stand up
before the world and profess regard for the rights
of the people-for popular liberty-and " firm re-
lance oneEovidence! r." and then winds up his dis
gustiRgtissne Hypocrisy with the following words
In cy present position could scarcely be justi-
fedfWere to omit raising earning voice against
this apPrOGch of a returning despotisml" ..--
Hypocrites and liars VIGOROUSLY faithless.-
They have no confidence in truth, virtue or God
Hence this disgrace to humanity-this compound
of tiger and baboon-may entertain the hope he ex-
presses, of reducing the people of the Confederate
States to his foul suhjection Let his military tools,
as they lie off our coast and see the heavy cloud
which hangs our islands, carrying up the curses
of free people to heaven, from our burning crops
and residences, tell him. that his lies his hypocrsies
and his power, are in vain for our subjecton. We
will make our land bowling wilderness, before his
dominion shall rest over Charleston Mercury.