Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-12-11
81 sqyggHiEs, s;fIIsT
Tendencies to strong Government.

continent Constitutional liberty has ceased to exist
C9psodation, coupled with practical aggressioH1oh
the Southern States has reduced the people Of the
old United States to state of subsection to their
rulers as AFFECT and completes rs if they were
Austrians or Frenchmen. There is no liberty of
speech, or of the press Of person in that quarter
and even the right Of suffrage ITSELF so precious a
corrective OF m!sgovernment and SO great q shield
against tyranny, has become an empty mockery Of
ree forms andis exercised only to record the edcts
OF blood thirsty, fanatical majority. Wesha not
inquire now into the particular causes of this sud
den destruction of Constitutional freedom under the
old government We refer to it only asa great
event in history and as warning to the friends of
freedom in other quarters It's practical illustFa.
ton OF the truth Of those sound old paxims, that
"the world is governed too much" and that "poW-
er is always stealing from the many to the few" r
We have noticed recently in some of the Virginia
papers, long dissertations against general equal
suffrage; and some Of the papers of that State have
even gone so far as to intimate preference for
manarchy. A brave officer now in service, writes
US as follows: ....r.... 81. -..s,.
al regretted to see in a Richmond paper the 9TH
day, article rather leaning towards monarchy,
or intimating that we could put ourselves under the
control of England or France. Such sentiments
are calculated to palsy the arms of the brave men
who are now suffering to throw off the despotc yoke
of Lincoln" 81. - - u
Government is established for the protection of
persons and property 1t is well, therefore, to in
cude and protect persons and property in the basis
OF representation; but every free white man who
pays taxes and bears arms should have the right to
vote. This IS what call the right of suffrage in its
just ana full sense; and this right we will never
surrender. We believe in the Democratic, as oppo-
sed to the Ogarchic, the Aristocratc and the Mon
archical princpe-that is, in the right of the peo-
pie to rule. We not only hold this, but we believe
the people of these Confederate States are capable Of
selfgovernment 1t by no means follows that be-
cause liberty has expired in the old United States
that our people not still possessed of this great
birthright
But we warn the people to be on their guard
Every attack whether open covert on the right
OF suffrage at present exercised among us, pro-
ceeds from the friends of strong government and
the enemies of free institutions. Every faction
which assumes to rule and which in ruling stiles
the popular WILL refuses to consult that will aims
blow at free government. Every attempt to coerce
or force the opinions of the people, rule them
to the same shades or modes of thought is, mat
ter how well intended blow at their right to think
for and govern themselves. ..
1t was we'll said by Mr. Graham, in his able and
eloquent speech in the Convention on Saturday. that
our people owed it to themselves, while achieving
liberty in this conflict with the old federal govern
uent, at the time to preserve the forms and
the means of liberty. Many nation has sacrificed
the end to the employed, and thus lost lber-
ty, and lost it forever at the very moment when it
was within its grasp; and many nation has substi-
tuted for liberty some idol not essentially enduring
and worshipped it to its own undoing. This is the
case with the Northern people. Maddened by IA
natcism, and disappointed in their lust for DONNA
tion they have substituted wicked and corrupt
Union for the liberty which WASHINGTON and his
compatriots won and established for them; and the
very means they have permitted to be employed in
the vain effort to perpetuate this empty substitute,
have already forged for their limbs the manaces of
despotism. There is no resurrection for free gov
eminent when it expires it has done at the North
among people in the full exercise of the right of
suffrage
We warn the people to keep strict eye, espe-
cally at this time, on every movement which seems
to tend to strong government Our great Southern
revolution just necessary and righteous as it is is
nevertheless to some extent experiment. Its
success depends upon the patience and bravery of
our soldierS-upon the endurance and indomitable
energy of our people-upon a careful abstinence by
all in authority from any unnecessary coercion,
whether physical or mental; ard last, but by no
means least upon the active, punctual, and intel-
gent exercise by the people Of their right Of suf
frage. If majority Of the people do not VOTE the
experiment will fall faction will CONTROL and the
inevitable result will be, destruction not only of
the forms but the substance Of Freedom and the es
adjustment of a government of the many at the
expense of the few.
BRowNLow ARREsTED.-W. G. Brownow, of the