Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-22
Then and Noyv.

1t has been charged both in newspapers and in
the Senate that the Standard has changed its course
recently on the subjects of secession and the Union
This charge is totally unfounded, as we shall pro-
coed to show
In June last we said:
Unless moderate men at the South, who have
no designs against the Union speak out and endea-
Vor TO arrest the current of sectIonasm and dis
union, the consequences at no distant day must be
disastrous"
The above may be found in the Standard of June
16, $780,
Again, on the 10th of September, 1860, we said :
The election of Lincoln, merit to a dissolution of
the Union or the destruction of State rights would
be the greatest of all caamities"
In the Standard of the same date we said:
I'VE are neither disunionsts nor the friends or
apolOgsts of disunionists"
In the Standard of the same date we said:
I'VE know of no Breckenridge man in the State
who is in favor of dissolvlng the Union = The
truth is, North Carolina has never followed South
carolina IN any OF her movements in relation to the
general government The Union is not likely to be
dissolved in a hurry"
And in the Standard of September 90, 1860, in
an article replying to the Newbern Progress we said
1--WE think the Progress does Mr.. Clingman in
justice in saying he in favor of dissolving the
Union in the event of Mr.. Lincoln's election. We
do not so understand Mr. Clingnan's position"
In the Standard of the same date we said:
But we are told that though John G. Breckn-
ridge and 10 Lane are not themselves disunionists
they are nevertheless supported by persons in the
cotton States who are. Well what of that? We
admit the fact-but does that change the character
OF the ticket? Suppose Lincoln should be elected
not IL rod hut Tho hapG
Republicans some of these cotton States should go
about to secede from the Union, what would be the
course of Breckenridge and LaEe? They could not
and would not go with them. Their platform, their
antecedents, their declarations their localities to
say nothing of their inclinations, are all against
sudden and violent rupture of the federal bonds
They practical as we'll as s;gacous statesmen
The evil which would drive them into the maelStrom
of revolution must not be imaginary, or ordinarily
probable, but imminent. They must despair of JUS
tce and equality under old forms before they would
accept the hazards of attempting to establish new
ones
The above is sufficient to show that we have been
consistent this subject. We have not changed
Our opinions in June our opinions in Septem-
ber-Our opinions in September were the same we
entertained in November when we were defeated for
State Printer because ue could not change those
opinions The truth is ii is secession dSsaiants
'OhO hare changed They declared to the people that
they were better Union men thar the Douglas or
Bell men; but, after they had obtained majority
of the peoples votes. they changed position and
came out for dSunion.
Some of the di<uniunistS, we understand express
surprise at the hold which the Standard has on the
public confidence. We can tell these gentlemen the
secret of this-tc hare deceircd the people,
We commit errors and make mistakes but the peo-
pie overlook these and mistakes because they
know are true to them, and because they know
we have never deceived them, and will not allow
others to deceive them, if we can prevent it. Be-
hold the secret gentlemen. 1t is contained in the
following line, which you learned when YOU were
little boys. and which you have not practiced more
than you should have DONE
MIn.NFu - thrL rAsra