Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-20
Tbe Stanbarb.
RALEIGH THURSDAY, FEB. IA, 1861.
The State Convention.

The State Convention.
The Wilmington Journal of the 9th contains an
ingenious disunion article from which we make the
following extract:
ave have seen various suggestions looking to
the election Of delegates and the assembling Of a
convention at some earlier time than that contem-
plated in the bill of both houses also at different
place. We respect the motives Of the gentlemen
making these suggestions, but we fear that any at
tempt to carry them out practically must result in
confusion and be productive Of injury to the cause
which their authors have at heart 1t may contrib
ute to produce such results by disracting the ate
ton of the friends Of States rights, and may also be
siezed upon and made handle Of by their oppo- |
ncnts, who will eadeavor to misrepresent them as |
"lawess men," (see Secretary Holt) or as ''precp-
itators" as any slangwhanger can easily do having
got his cue from head quarters.
No, let US give our opponents no advantage by
any divisions among ourselves; let us give them no
opportunity to misrepresent us as preciptators,"
or as "lawless men;" let US do nothing that might
have tendency to drive off the most law-abiding
conservative. With our rights and our equality as
our motto let go for these where they can be Sc
cured not going for secession for the sake of seces
sion, but accepting it, if it must come, as means
to secure those rights which feel to be no longer
safe in the Union; and without further guarantees
than We now have our hts are not safe in the
range of probability from which We can draw any
hope that satisfactory settlement can be arrived
at or that sufficient guarantees will be given upon
which the South can repose in security. 1t is the
want of these guarantees-not the love of seces-
sion-that operates upon the public mind most
strongly"
The State Journal, the central organ Of the pre-
cipitators copies this article Of the Wilmington
Journal and endorses it thus giving the disunion
cue for the campaign.
We ask our readers to note we'll this extract from
the Journal Conscious that the disunionists hace
shown themselves to be "precipitators" and claw
less men," the Editor strives to break the force of
this charge by reflections the Union u,en and by
defence Of his own position in advance. For the
most part the disunionists are "lawless men,
Witness the seizure Of the fort below Wilmington,
in this State-the seizure Of public property in
Florida and Louisiana including nine tons Of federal
silver in the latter State and witness the decara
tons of leading disunionists in the Legislature Of
this State that if a Convention of the people should
refuse to take the State out of the Union they would
either leave the State raise the standard Of revolt
against the sovereign determination of the people of
North Carolina. They are "lawless men," and
they are reckless and dangerous men. Keep that
before the people!
The Journal speaks of 7'cue from headquar
ters" Where did the Journal get its cue? FROM
Raleigh? From the State capitol?
But mark the language of the Journal, after its
attempt to hoodwink and entrap "law abiding, con-
servatye" voters into its disunion schemes. 1t be-
comes melancholy and almost sheds tears because it
has to 60 for secession but not for secessons sake
yet it adds, "there no circumstances within
the range Of probability from whieh soe can draw
any hope that satisfactory settlement be arri
we'd at, or that sufficient guarantees will be given
upon which the South can repose in security" The
Journal, then, has no hope. 1t is ripe and ready
for disunion Like its representative, Judge Per-
son, or like Mr.. Avery, it would take the State out
at once 1t would break up in order to reconstruct.
1t would shiver the pitcher in order to put it togeth
er again with bad putty. --...,
But the Journal is one of the moderate and insid-
ious disunionists. The avowed disunion papers are
the Wilmington Herald, the Charlotte Bulletin the
Goldsborough Tribune, the Rough Notes, and some
Others These papers, like the Journal have no hope
for the Union, but, unlike the Journal, they are
working boldly for its destruction.
Let the people Of the State be vgilant in the pres
ent crisis. He oAo /. not for the Union is against
1T. Let the wolves in sleeps clothing" be watch.
ed and exposed. They will approach you, fellow.
citizens as State rights men, ana they will labor tc
convince you that the best way to preserve the
Union is to break it up. Remember that all true
State rights should be willing to appeal to the
States themselves before proceeding to divide the
States. The States made the Union; the Union is
in peril; let us appeal to the States to save the
Union and not destroyit it This is true State rights
doctrine Virginia has spoken for the Union, and
Tennessee has followed Virginia. Both these great
States opposed to secession and disunion. They
are opposed to it by immense majorities They are
ready and anxious to save the Union, if it can be
saved; and who will say that Virginia and Tennessee
are not for State rights?
The appeal is now to the people against the poll
t'c'ans who have involved us in these troubles
against any party and all parties that stand in the
way Of reconciliation and a6justment-aqaiut dis
union, rerolution, and eiril ,car! The issue to be
decided on the 2sth is UNION or DISUNION.-
Remember that. Keep thai before you all the time,
and act and vote accordingly.
az We entirely concur with our correspondent
as TO the peculiar fitness of Judge Battle to make
iuii digest Of the decisions of the Supreme Court
OF tns State. This call upon Judge Battle to per.
lorm TINS service proceeds roma highly respectable
source, % ana from Ole who thoroughly understands