Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-07-03

y
claration Of independence had been made-the blood
Of patriots had flowed 1t Lexington aud Bunker
Hii-our great Chieftain was in the field at the
head Of his gallant army-the eloquence Of Otis,
Adams, Lee and Henry, had instructed the public
mind and fired the public heart and the voice of the
whole American people had proclaimed their free
dom before the immortal Declaration Of lndepen.
dence was published to the world. The delegates
in the Congress of 1915, knew that they truly re.
Elected the wishes OF their constituents and they but
ratified the previous action of the people. sincere
ly wish that the Southern representatives in Con-
gress had followed the example Of the sires of TO-
The election of Lincoln and the triumph of great
sectional party IN November last ought to have
warned us OF our danger, but the friends Of South
ern rights had possession of the government and for
two years could easily have defended those rights.
Our representatives ought to have remained at their
posts of duty, and held the tyrant in check while
the people were preparing for the threatened dan.
GER so that when tho terrible crisis came the South
could have sprung forth in defence Of her rights like
the tabled goddess of war; not only eager but ready
armed for the conflict. We cannot now remedy
these errors of the past. We must now grid up the
lons Of our minds and hearts for the mighty strug
gle that is upon U.s. but We ought to learn some wis.,
dom to guide the destinies of the future.
The next precedent to which the honorable dele.
gate mr. Badger) referred, WINS the adoption of the
North. Carolina. This was done by delegates in
Convention and not by the direct vote of the people
Let US again consult the history and initiate the
spirit Of the example -four fathers. After the close
Of the war Of the revolution fathers lived for
more than five years under kind OF provisional
government until experience had shown them that
it was proper to form "a more perfect Union to en-
sure domestic tranquility" &c They did not
tear down one government and rear another struc.
f,,ro in Iu,y NAV, aI hvyn
dangers, embarrassments and difficulties, but they
fully felt the magnitude Of the duty Of forming
government which was to control the conflicting
,ereSts of different sections not only for the present
but for the future.
In September 1871, the Constitution of the Unit
ed States was presented to the American people. Its
provisions were fully discussed throughout the
length and breadth OF the land. The master minds
of that age-so prolific in great and patriotic mem
were fully exerted in discussing the merits and de-
fects OF that Constitution and many of their produc-
tons are the finest political essays that have ever
been written in any language In July 1888, Con-
venton Of the delegates of the people of North Car
DINA net at Hilsborough and rejected the Consti-
tuition. They rejected it, not because they wanted
confidence in the wisdom and patriotism of those
men who framed it, but they regarded it as bind.
Eng compact in which their rights and interests were
not properly secured. They watched their liberty
and rights with jealousy even in the hands of the
great wise and brave men who had fought and bled
with them on many battlefield. In 1882 at an
other Convention the Constitution was adopted
There was even then large ssenting minority
The people had considered the question for two
years, and the delegates whom they elected were
fully advised of their wishes, and may well be re-
garded as specially instructed to their action
Can we now censure forefabers for their caution
and elaboration? Were they wanting in wisdom
anG patriotism because they watched with jealous
eye their noble compatriots in arms? They had
looked into the distant future and dimly seen the
shoals and breakers on which the old ship of State
storms of fanaticisn,, and sectional prejudice and
passion. If the conscript fathers of the old repub
lie, who had so long been banded together by the
ties of common danger and glory and whose patri-
otism had been elevated and refined in the fires of
the revolution could not safely trust the wisdom of
each other in the formation of government, is it
wise in Y now blindly to follow the lead even Of
our bret rem of the Confederate Statesr
Mr.. Resident, have now come to the second d.
vision-of my subject Have the people of NORTH
Carolina been consulted on this permanent Consti
tuition, or have their wishes been Enthusiastically in
dicatcd9 This Constitution was completed scarcely
three months ago, ana has never been printed to my
knowledge, in our State newspapers until since the
meeting of this Convention. think can venture
70 say with great confidence that not one fourth of
the delegates here presen: saw or read the Con-
sttution until the ordinance for its adoption was in
troduced into this Convention. How then is it pos
sible for any delegate to say that he knows the
wishes of his constituents upon Constitution which
they never saw, scarcely heard of, and of which
he himself had no definite knowledge before he was
called on for final action?
regretted to hear the honorable delegate from
Caswell (Mr. BrOwn) say that his people had in
structed him to vote for immediate and final action
on this permanent Constitution. Let us hear the
voice Of Caswcll at the ballot.box | have been in
formed that when this Convention was called the
old Secession party in Caswell met IN convention
and nominated candidates. They nominated gen.
tleman who had long been prominent for his ultra
secession views, man of fine talents, eminent as
popular speaker and Of almost unrvalled popularity
among his fellow citizens; and yet he was beaten
more than three to one by the honorable delegate
to whom have just alluded, who not even
candidate. Why did the people of Caswell pro-
nounce this verdict at the ballot-box? The honora
bic delegate was prominent old Union man. He
had heroically resisted the storm of nrasm in the
last Legislature. He had eloquently spoken out
against the usnrpations of the conventions Of the
Confederate States in not submitting their action to
the people. His people admire him for his high intel
lect and his matured wisdom, and they love him for
his many virtues conservatism and prudence. The
honorable delegate has never been a favorite with
politicians but the people have always rallied to
him as one Of their great champions Indeed this
must be the age of revolution in every thing when
the Achilles Of popular rights has turned his back
upon the people
The people Of Wake county have shown that they
were for calm and prudent counsels. In the elec-
ton for delegates to this Convention the precpita-
tors had strong ticket in the field who canvassed
with diligence and energy. Gov. Bragg and Gov.
Manly, both able men and leaders Of the two old po-
ltica parties made their old friends
They were aided by their associate candidate who is
the Rothschild that controls the finances of the
State This ticket was sustained by both of the lead
ing organs of the old political PARTIES and influential
friends made extraordinary efforts for its success,
and yet it was beaten by conservative candidates
who made no canvass. In every part of the State
where vigorous canvass was made the conserva.
tive men triumphed. They had great obstacles to
contend with They had just fought and won a
great victory for conservatism and the Union Lin
coins foolish and fatal proclamation of the 18th Of