Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-16
NESIAY. JANUA AIRY l6 1861 : Whole NunBnk s1s4s g

75fs ..l}sss; - 81 ~ q ~ it2i sFTs-,
Mr.. Avery also said, somewhat .contemptuously,
as we thought that it was not his habit to aude in
his place to newspaper paragraphs. Now, the gentle
man owes much ofwhatever reputation he has to the
newspapers, the Standard included; and it does seem
to us that if he must do what was seldom done by
such men as Calhoun and Webstcr-alludc to the
newspapers Of the dayAhc might do SO in more
respectful and less queruleus tone than that evnced
by him on Thursday last But, whether the gen
tlelnan IS disposed to do Justice or not we will
not do him injustice, we know it. ftwas not and
it is not our purpose to misrepresent him. The
cause of present disnnion, which he advocates, is
weak enough of itself; and there is no reason,
therefore, why we should misrepresent him. even if
We were disposed to do so. The truth is We pre-
sume-as limited to US by friend-tllat the follow
ing language used by us in the Standard of Thurs
day, was the real. reasen why Messrs. Person and
Avery exhibited snch feeling in their remarks about
us: The secession leaders have been compelled by
public opinion to come to our position that bare
majority Of the Legislature cannot call Conven-
ton ; and we now notify them that they will have
to fall peg by providing that the action Of the pro-
posed Convention shall not be final until ratified or
rejected BY the people" We repeat and stand to
this language sr- ~ -
Mr. Erwin, Of Buncombe, also referred in his place
in the Senate on Thursday, to our brief notice of
his remarks, and complained that We had done HIM
injustice in stating in leaving the inference to be
drawn from our statement, that one of his reasons
for desiring Convention was to make changes in
relation to nd ralorcm and the status of the free
gro. We did not hear all of Mr.. Erwin's remarks;
bu. he dwclt at some length upon the fact that an
unlimited Convention could take up nd dispose Of
these questions, and he concluded by saying that
his views secession were well known. Still we
knew that Mr.. Erwins main object in voting for
Convention was to consider of and determine on fed
erai affairs and So having stated that, VIC went on
to say that IN addition he would be disposed to
"look" to the Convention to make tie changes re.
ferred to- Certainly We did not design to represent
him as urging Convention with the view o. effect
ing these changes as of its primary objects, but
only as incidental or germaine TO the leading pur-
pose for which it would Le called. We take pleas
urc in setting Mr.. Erwin entirely right in our col
umns, especially as his manner and language in re-
" lilc Neic hHiu IeSpetuui,
devoid of that bitterness and harshness which char
ac,crzed the tone and language Of Mr.. Avery. We
can differ, and differ radically with such as
Erwin and still maintain with him pleasant person
al relations; for he is just patriotic, and
! honest man himself, SO he accords to others the
qualities which constitute part of his own
character and only regret is that he feels it to
I,. Ivtx 70 ri 1ivr tc
/ Avery and Person. Instead of going rith such
men, Mr. Erwin is fitted, by his genius boidness
and eioGncnce to Lead and control thc,l.
We call attention to Mr.. Erwins Card, which We
publish below
! RALEIGH, Jan. II, 1861.
+ To the E'itor of the Sfandd1:
/ DEAR SIR: In the STANDARD of the 10Th inst, l
find the following paragraph in Your editorial ac-
count of the debate which occurred in the Senate on
the 9th:
"Mr. Person and Mr.. Avery, it seems want a
Convention to take the State at once out Of the
+ Union; but Judging from MIR. Erwin'S remarks in
the Senate, he looks to Convention to take the
State out Of the Union, and in addition to make
changes in the Constitution with reference to ad
r"1orem and free persons of color
lfyou understood me to say, and therefore intend
c to make the impression upon your readers, that
dilsay that desired Con, cnton to be called now
for the purpose Of adopting ml ra'orem taxation, you
certainly were mistaken, and have unintentonaly
no doubt done injustice ! only alluded to ao
ralorem taxation as a present existing clement o
domestic discord and STRIFE which had better be dis
posed of Ill some way; and only suggested that the
substitute offered by Mr.. Avery to the Convention
bill, would enable the people, II they rished to dG
80 to settle this question as well to determine the
future status OF the free colored population of the
State. | do not urge the call ola Convention in or
der to have any change in the present Constitution
of the State. | want Convention called an
nonncc as have no doubt it will, the fixed deter
mnation of the people of North Carolina to abandon
Union in which :hcy can no longer remain with
out dishonor and disgrace.
Very respectfully and truly yours,
l. r MARCUS ERWIN.