Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-16
For the Standard.

Nix. EDITOR: Shall we follow the political madmen
of South Carolina? Is secession the only or even
the best means of redresSing existing grievances |?
Shall,we, in the disruption of the Union and de-
struction of the Constitution regardless alike Of
past associations present blessings and future pros
poets, blindly and fooliShly. sacrifice the immense
advantages possess for the protection of slavery
in the Confederacy? Granted, that the election of
a sectional candidate for she Presidency was wrong
and ungenerous, is that election under the circum-
stances, an objectionable sin Is he elected for all
time to come, Have we no hedges and safeguards
to keep him in the narrow path Of constitutional
duty Is it nothing to have Constitution that
not only recognizes the rights and institution Of the
slaveholding States but pledges the whole military
power OF all the States to suppress serve insurrec
tons in any one os them: Is it nothing to have
majority Of conservative national men in Congress-
the great fountain Of legislation? Is it nothing to
have the Supreme Court on our side ready and will
ling, as the past has proved, to ward off any blow
aimed at ust Is it nothing to have hundreds of
thousands of true and tried friends in the free States
to sustain rights at the baot-box? Shall we
desert friends, doubt the Supreme Court disrust
Congress, condemn the President elect without
trial. and withdraw ourselves and slavery from the
protection of the Constitution through mere fear
and apprehension? Shall We divide and form
separate concderaces to wage ceaseeSs war on each
other, till find safety except in dependence
upon foreign abolition governmcnts-no refuge
I am plain, unpretending citizen. It would be
presumptuous in me to attempt to impart any in
formation to our legislators, but if few hints will
he of any service, they are welcome to them Then
they dictated by common sense, and stated in
plain English.
lst We cannot believe it is right or best to secede
for existing causes.
Cd. No mere acknowledgements manufactured
out of political distractions by political alarmists
should drive to secession. To Justify that there
must be a patpable, practical outrage. We would
and should go out of the Union to avoid the eman-
cipation Of the slaves in midst, or positive in
reference with slavery where now existing or here
after established Ali other questions in reference
to slavery willing to submit to the balot-6or
and abide the ultimate result
Sd. Our people would be an unit in repelling in
vason, suppressing instruction or resisting eman-
cipation in this State; but attempt to require or
force our citizens beyond our State-neS to engage
in civil war, produced by the present aspects of
the slavery question would be attended with dsas-
trous results 1t requires stretch of the imagi-
nation to foresee, that large portion of our citizens
might refuse to leave their families to starye or be
butchered, whilst they were absent on such a call
being freemen with arms in their hands if in mi
nority it would be difficult if in majority it would
be impossible to coerce them-if in minority it
might lead to rebellion and civil war among our
selves if in ajorty they might take revenge for
the attempt by overthrOwing or ertermi ndtino the
institution of slavery itself
Let us be wise in avoiding such horrible and de-
plorable perplexities. There is but one platform
we can all stand upon. Would not our Legislature
be wise in placing our State upon it at once and un-
equivocally? 1t is this: that the existence and
regulation of slavery must be left at all times and
in all contingencies to the States in which it is or
may be established and that all other questions re-
motely and collaera!ly connected with it must and
shall be left to the ballotbox, to Congress- and to
the Supreme Court This is fair, honorable, con-
servative and conciliatory Let North Carolina take
the lead in assuming this position. Will not our
sister slave States agree to this? We think they
ought If so, let them jointly call upon the free
States to aid in pledgng, ratfying and securing it
by direct and explicit amendment of the Federal
Constitution. If ratified we shall at all events be
safer in the Union than out of it if refused we can
then seek safety by withdrawing from it This is a
plain common sense plan, which will at once dissi-
pate uncertainty and bring about union and agree.
ment at least among ourselves. B.