Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1861-01-25

v
of the State were asked for their confidence,
and asked to confde their dearest rights |
in this great crisis, did the scenes of the
political drama give token Of any note of
preparation to tear down the federal I'm
ion, unless for aggression or refusal OF JUS
tice! Did the actors in the political
drama, with rare exceptions, proclaim
any such purpose, grounded on the cleo
ton OF President? On the contrary, did
not the actors with rare and few excep-
tions repel the charge of disunion in Ian
guage ind'g 'gnant, and in terms sometimes
scarce tit for ''ears polite 60 Strange shift
ting Of scenes! Sudden re cast of charac
ters Unparalleled facing to the left
about The proclaimed promises yet
from breath not long since uttered-the
recorded declarations made in ink not
long since dry, are galnsayed in few
moons, ard il seemed to be the very ser
ror OF the moon." The parties, in this
drama and actors could not claim even the
benefit of three months statute of limita-
tions, to protect themselves against the
charge Of political tergiversation and
almost unexampled inconsistency.
Are we to be hurried on by the princi-
pal actors in this great drama-he would
say tragic drama-Were we TO be pressed
headlong with no time TO think, and told
III effect, that we are not free agents to
act, and that circumstances and necessity,
the latter lhe tyrant's plea, leave no other
alternative than 10 .f0tlOa0 blindly the
lead OF one or more Statesl
My Author and Dsposer, what thou bidst,
Unargued, obey"
They have spoken--a0e have no right to
speak, but to echo their will. They have
acted-a0e have no right to act, only to
say qoe are to o6ey Where is the profes-
sed devotion to liberty when this language
is uttered, and where the love OF Srate's
rights SO often spoken of. when this course
with respect to North Carolina is urged
The rue English OF it is that the rights OF
States belong only to the States about 10
secede, w ich he wished them TO exercise
undisturbed, and that others are 10 be
silorn of their own sovereigEty-shorn Of
the attributes of sovereignty, the right to
think and tie right to act, and TO wheel
into line as attendants and sa elites, by
a law above theia own control. In other,
words, We are 10 nave q SOuther71 'shlgher
}uao' overruilng Tle will of our people, and
ovelruling the very sovereignty Of Our
States,- showing thai Northern and Sou
thern extremes meet az a ''higher laao;''
setting aside State rights and constitutions
al obligation.
Mr.. b. would not consent to surrender
the rights and sovereignty Of North Caro-
Ina TO any people on earth. foreign or do
mestic. Let us deliberate ;is freemen III
this great emergency, wisely, firmly, pru
IDENTIFY, as becomes the intrepid men of a
republic as TO what is best for our safety
and hono.. Let us yet, III the hope, even
after States have seeded, that by main
tanning our position firmly in the Union,
the border slave States and those adjacent
may yet demand and receive terms TO en-
able them to reconstruct the constl-
tutioh-about which have no doubt, and
by which we shall be the greatest, hap
piest, and most prosperous people on earth;
and that all the sisterhood OF States will
again be numbered in one great confeder
ated family with ample guarantees to pro-
tect all. Let US act like the prudent ma
rlner, who, when his vessel is tempest tos-
sed, casts around observes the weather,
looks on the broad ocean before him, and
determines on what course is best to save
the vessel from the peril which surrounds
it, before he takes new departure. Al d
so with a bewidered traveller when he
comes to several forks leading in different
directions, d little delay in examining for
the right,road will often save him from be-
ing involved IN Neutrality-suspicious. in
bogs and quicksands, and the trouble of
taking to the back track to escape from
the consequences of precipitation and rash
decision
Mr.. B. had heard with sorrow and pro-
found regret, the sad notes with which the
Senator from New Hanover, (Nr. Hail.
had pronounced the funeral knen of the
federal Union and consigned it to "the
tomb of all the Capulets. He regretted
that while the Senator had paid sncl
| marked respect to such names OF evil
omen as Sumner. Seward and others, by
reading their e.anatical effusions to the SEN
ate, that he had not paid like respect to
such names as Franklin Pierce, Geo. II.
Dallas, Daniel S. Dickinson, Commodore
Stockton, the eloquent Vaiandighan, and
| many other pure and intrepid patriots of
the North, whose noble sentiments III Ia
vor of the constitntionalrights of the South
would be more refreshing to US. He re
GREETED that the Senator had not dwelt
more at large on the million ard half Of
undauEted patriots OF the North, who had
stood by us and cast their votes against
Lincoln. The Senator'S speech was sam
pie of thar kind Of onesided speeches, by
which extreme men North and South had
lashed mp sectional feelings TO their pres
en height. Because bad tnen the Norfll.
taking advantage Of the disruption of the
Democratic party had banded together