Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-06-29
For the Standard

Mr.. EDITOR: The writer is one who thinks that
an appeal to an adversary made in reliance on argu-
ment is never too late. In the very act of angry
blows, have asked my antagonist to consider if he
was in the right More clearly am of opinion that
long another has lingering remnant of friend
ship, it is not too late to reason together.
The writer has just now read the address of John
j. Crttenden and Others to the people ofthe United
States The address is strangely enough to the peo-
pie Of the States North and South, being unit
ed" people. States at war, united That obvious
in the outset is enough to deter most people
from reading it. in the belief that it cannot be sens
bic. Yet have read it.
If the address was written before the war was
waged, it is high time, now that it is caged that
the signers of that address should issue another
They say that the seeded States have acted with
out any good or sufficient cause" What severe
reflection that is on our youth and tender women"
who they truly declare with much solemnity of
speech, see without tear their sons take up their
arms and 60 forth to battle Our women, we be-
lieve would not encourage their sons to join in
war waged without adequate cause on our part
No fact could tell so loudly as this that the whole
soul of woman is in this war on our side, and that
it is just
1t is not proposed in this letter which is intended
to be very Short to look into this address, or the
subject which the address specifically discusses,
in the way of bringing out potent considerations not
adverted to in the address. 1t is only proposed to
consider one suggestion Of the address, and to show
that in its aacy the whole tenor of the address may
be to be sorey at fault This suggestion is near
the end where they specially speak to us g. of the
South" and invite us to consider whether congress
is Diling to grant adequate securities" There lies
the rub, Messrs. Crittenden and compeers and you
invited in brotherly love of your sister States
South to inquire whether Congress is competent to
grant the securities you implicitly conclude we
should have
The universal idea of all the sentiments of the ad-
Dress is that the States South seeded because Con-
gress-the general government is meant-has by its
action oppressed the South. That too is the con-
mon idea. 1t is a mistake 1t is this mistake that
has caused many and yet allows any to be Union
men.
However willing Congress might be, Congress
has notthe constitutional competency grant the ad
equate securities. However willing the General Cor
eminent might be, the General Government has not
the constitutional competency to grant the adequate
securities Congress with the signature of the Pres
ident long ago gave to the South and has all the
time continued the statute book of the late Uni
ted States-long only united in the forms of law
a .fugitiUe sldUe lato. The judiciary has adudged
that law to be valid and entitled to respect and COM
plete observance by all the States. In most of the
cases that have arisen, the President has caused
that law to be executed. All this, the signers of
the address, cannot deny, has failed to give the South
adequate security. The General Government could
not do more than give the law and adjudge it valid
and have it executed. All this it has done and vet
our slave property was not protected because there
has been and is in the States from which we have
separated, feeling of unity against the institution
of slavery, that has impeed those States to pass
laws obstructing the execution of the fugitive slave
law to such extent as to deter ninety out every
hundred masters whose slaves had escaped and
found shelter there from making any attempt to re-
cover their runaway slaves. Congress, backed by
the cabinet and the courts, has power to do more
than it has done, to give adequate securities :"
and all it had so done was utterly inadequate Then
it and is needless to inquire and consider wheth
er Congress is willing TO grant securities" Nor
is that all. Congress could not consistently with
our federal system in the integrity of the rights that
ought to be reserved to the States be clothed with
competency further than it has already gone, to en-
the requisite security. Give Congress the pow
er with the assent of the President to enact law
compelling State to erase from its statute book
law the State which the federal court has adjudg
ed Unconstitutional, and the government would be
consolidated. Unless the State will repeal the law
froma moralsense of duty and obligation, the State
in spite Of any power Congress had, or ought to