Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-12
Messrs. Person, Ayery. and Erwin.

marks in the Commons on Wednesday. We did
not hear Mr. Person, and cannot therefore, reply to
him as fully as We could wish to do
We did not hear all of Mr.. Persons remarks on
wednesday. Therefore We said 1--WE understand
Mr. Person said the omission in the first bill Of the
two-thlrds provision for calling the Convention was
uDintentionaL" We heard nothing from him or
any one else about his individual opinions on the
subject; nor did we hear anything about his will
lingness to recommend that the action of the Con-
vention should be submitted to the people for their
approval or rejection. We looked to the BILL intro
duced in the House by that gentleman and in the
Senate by Mr.. Avery; and as that contains no pro-
vision for submitting the action of the Convention
to the people, We felt warranted in saying that Mr.
Person is one of those who '.recommeRd and urge
that the action of the Convention shall be final
So also as to the two thirds provision. We were
struck with the difference between the bill and the
substitute in respect of the majority and the two
thirds principles; and having made some inquiry
on the subject we were informed that Mr. Person had
just said that the omission of the twothrds provi-
sion in the original bill was an oversight OF unin-
territorial. In relation to these points, therefore,
"our offence hath this extent-no more" With what
was said or done in Committee or with the under
standing between Mr.. Person and Mr.. Avery and
others, We had nothing to do. Wewere not presumed
to know what was said or done in Committee Our
business was with the bill and the substitute
though certainly, if we had heard all Mr. Persons
remarks, or if we had known what he had said in
explanation of his views OH the above points,
should have reported him accordingly. We did
hear the rumor, some week or two SINCE that Mr..
Person had given the casting vote in Committee
against submitting the action of the Convention to
the people, but this is the first allusion we have
made to this rImor. If the rumor be true, Mr..
Person confirm it. if he chooses, in his place in
the Commons if it be unfounded he can so state if
he chooses to do so.
So far as secession is concerned We understood
Mr. Person distinctly to declare that if Convention
should be called he wouH counsel that body at
once to withdrac the State Of North Carolina from
the Inion. lie certainly said that. We also I'M
derstood Mr. Person to state, in brief remarks
made by him on Thursday in reply to Mr.. Crumplcr
that while he willing to recommend to the Con-
vention that its action should be submitted to the
people for their approval rejection still this
commentator not being binding might be disre-
garded by the Convention, if in its wisdom it should
deem that the crisis upon the country at the time
! it adjourned demanded immediate and final action
! Is not that SO: And if so, might not the gentle
mans recommendation result, in certain contin-
gency, in refusal to give the people opportunity
! to pass finally on the action Of the Convention?
! We tell Mr.. Person, once for all, that are just
as incapable of intentional misrepresentation he
. .SlIl,: ,Io
! devoted to North Carolina as he is, and just as
/ good a Democrat as he is. We go further and say,
that if it be that he has despared of preserving
the Union by appeal to the people Of the States,-
/ and if it lie true that in certain contingency he
would make the action of one hundred and twenty
| men final in Convention, without allowing the
! people to pass upon their doings, then a
| better Democrat than he is for while we have no
| objection to a Convention in this State if the peo-
! pie desire it, and while we would trust the people
OF the slave holding States in Convention and the
people of all the States in Convention, in the full
belief that the Republic yet be saved We would
never consent TO vote for any bill to call Conven-
ton which did not provide that the people, the
source of all power, should have opportunity Of
ratfying rejecting what might be done by that
! Convention. This is Democracy of the purest
,Jeffersonian stamp and in this respect it may be
that we have the advantage OF the gentleman. We
regret TO have to alludc to party at all in discussing
questions so far above party; but while we know
no party when the Union is at stake, when the
honor the rights Of the State are involved, we
are nevertheless compelled to make these illusions
in Selfdefence, a Systematic effort is being made
in certain quarters, and probably with the concur
renee and sanction of Mr.. Person himself to inure
the influence of this journal as one of the organs
OF the Constitutional Union men, by impeaching its
fidelity to its party principles and party associates
So fur as Mr.. Avery is concerned, certainly
! understood him to admit % that the idea of calling
Convention by bare majority had been abandoned
and therefore the twothrds provision had been in
serted in the substitute We did not state oho haC
abandoned the idea-t enough for that the
fact was so, as shown by the substitute. If the po
siton or views of Mr.. Person and Mr.. Avery arc If
conflict this point we are not responsible for it.
and cannot help it; nor do we perceive that sucl
conflict of views is very important material fal
as the country is concerned
Mr. Avery availed himself of the occasion, in ma
king a personal explanation this subject or
Thursday, TO indulge in some coarse, rough, and
unparliamentary remarks about us. He said, among
other things, that seemed to seek notice and i'm
portance by assang distinguished public men-the
inference being irresistible that the Senator from
Burke is himself-if not one of these distinguished
public men-at least in their neighborhood OIL
company. We shall not dwell on the vanity which
may be supposed to have prompted this remark, nol
on the arrogance and superciiousness with which
the Senator from Burke can look down upon 81
humble person as ourself; but We take leave very
quietly to tell the gentleman that we are his equa
in every sense and shape in which he can presen
himself, and that little disposed he is t.
Iook nm to any one or to assa anv one with the OK