Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-17
The STANDARD.
ADDRESS
TO TIE PEoPLE OF NORTH-CARoLINA.

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education, held in Raleigh on the 9th and 10th Of
this month"; and representing a large number and all
classes of the schools of our State, the following
resolutions, offered by the Principal OF Floral Col
lege, were unanimously adopted:
Resolued That in the opinion of this Assembly
representing large number of the colleges and SEMI
naries made and female of orth-Carolna, the con-
test rev going on for Southern independence should
commend itself to the hearts and censcences OF all
the people of the Confederate States.
Resolred That as this is struggle for national
existence and independence it is to be maintained
and carried on, under Providence, to a successful
ISSUE not only by Legislative acts and by force OF
arms in the field but also, in the school room, at
the fireside and by all those moral agencies which
preserve society, and which prepare people to be
free and self governing nationality; and that con-
sdering our former dependence for books, for teach
ers and for manufactures those who now seek our
subjugation it is especially incumbent on ms to en-
courage and foster spirit of home enterprise and
Selfreliance.
Resolced, That the recent unexampled progress
of our beloved State towards leading position
among her Southern sisters, is, under God, mainly
due to her great and noble educational system.
ResolJed That in this time of peril and trial it is
of the first Importance that this system constituting
the greatness of the present. and the hope OF the
future should be maintained with energy for the
sake both of it's benificent results to and to our
posterity and illustration to the world OF the
civilization of the people of the Confederate States,
and of their right and ability to assert and maintain
their freedom and independence.
ResoLEed That We recognize in the Common
Schools of North Carolina the broad, sure, and per-
manent foundation of her whole educational system
and that would respectfully and earnestly com
mend to the authorities and people of the State the
primary necessity and the vital Importance of pre-
veating even temporary suspension of this nurse
ry of popular intelligence and patriotism, and of
State independence.
Resolced That committee of twelve of whom
Rev c. II. Wiley, Superintendent of Common
Schools shall be chairman, be appointed to prepare
an address to the people of North-Carolina on the
subjects embodied in these resolutions.
These resolutions embody, in a brief form, senti-
ments earnestly uttered by the members of the Con-
ference and by large number of teachers who were
unable to attend but who by letters cordially CON-
mended the purposes of the meeting.
4t'was felt to be duty to endeavor to impress on
the mind of the public these views of those who have
been laboring for the moral advancement ofthe Sate
and in obedience to this i'm perous call we were a2-
pointed committee to address you on the subject
We confess that we, and those whom We repre-
sent having official connection with our schools,
resolved this course at the expense of considera
BILE 8elicacy of feeling; but in the Providence of
God we are placed as watchers interest of
vital Importance to the welfare of our beloved
ing out Of this relation override all other considera
tonS.
The crisis which is now upon is the most
solemn and the most important which can happen
IN the political history of a people.
The contest in which the Confederate States of
America are engaged is not growing out Of
questions of commerce or political complications
it is struggle for national existence and indepen-
dence and involving in the issue all that can affect
the life of civilized people
1t requires therefore for its successful proSecu-
ton, the enlistment of the mind and heart Of all
ages of both sexes, of every class of the people
and the continual aid, in their proper places. Of all
those energies and appliances, moral and physical,
which, under God, constitute and preserve the Vi
tality and power of nation
We rejoice to believe that the yalor and patriot
ism of our citizens, and that enthusiasm which
springs from firm conviction of the Justice of their
cause will render them invincbe in the open field
but when we remember our former position with
respect to adversaries, and the purposes and
feelings which now actuate them, We have reason
to fear that the result of battles, unless overwhem
ingly disastrous to Them will not for some time to
come, drive them from their deliberate and most
selfish aims
These two hostile nations were formerly one po-
itical community, living under common Constitu-
ton, which, IN words, guaranteed equal rights to
all; and the people of the saveholdng States being
anu
upon their whole country one in interest, and re-
posing confidence in the good faith and loyalty of
each member to the Federal Compact were not
afraid to rely the Northern section for many of
those things which, by little temporary sacrifice,
they could furnish among themselves
They felt pride in the prosperity of every por-
ton of their country and justly believing that all
honest interests identified with each other they
had desire to force their pursuits and customs on
others, and were willing to encourage in other States
useful arts and Hocations not common to themselves
The result was that the South became almost
wholly producing people, and the business Of ex-
changing and manufacturing was left to the North.
From this it naturally followed that the CONNER
cial centres in the Northern section and there
were printed the newspapers in most extensive cir
culation, and there books were generally manu-
featured
Still fearing evil and feeling no nferiority, we
were inclined to patronize the schools and the teach
ers of the Northern States-and in time we began
to look to the people of these States for supplies of
everything except the raw produce of the SOIL
From this state of things, those who now seek
our subjugaton by force of arms were led to believe
that We were an inferior race and as they furnish
cd to us teachers, books, and all the productions of
art, they became more and more arrogant and exact
Ing and at last assumed to themselves the exclusive
right to determine the political relation of the whole
country, at the same time giving distinctly to un
derstand that they would do 1T in a way utterly
subversive of our dearest rights and interests
We had been almost wholly dependent on the
North for many of our supplies, but conscious of
our political and intellectual equality, we felt no
disgrace until it was solemnly asserted that what
We regarded the natural interests of trade, in
volVed and ought to involve our moral degradation;
and the consequence is dnalterable resolution on
the part OF nearly all the saveholdng States to or
ganMe themselves into new and separate nation
atty.
This step. successfully maintained entails upon
the United States not merely the loss of large por
ton of its territory and of its people, but it implies
that those who constitute the new nationality must
if they become free people and separate and in.
dependent power, assume TO themselves functions
which will despoiG their present enemies of impor
taht sources of wealth and Of apparently inteec
tual preeminenA.
1t is this consideration which will nerve our proud
and exasperated assaants great sacrifices for the
present with the hone of ultimate ramrnarot;o, &c