Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-05-29
Mr.. Buchanan.--poin, or Honor.


Buchanan, as an item Of news, at which we glanced
hastily and clipped from an exchange On reading
it since, we find it expresses sentiments from which
we should have expressed our dissent at the time
Some people will think, that lecture from Mr. Buch-
anan on point of honor and duty, to any one
comes with bad grace; and in this case, is pecu-
liary supererogatOry, to say the least But we let
that pass.
We have high appreciation of the sanctity and
binding character of any oath or affirmation, in
which Deity is called to witness, and especially
when accompanied with legal solemnities. But We
do not conceive that military oath" can be more
binding in honor and duty than the oaths Of others.
Certainly not more SO than the oath of member
of Congress, or n high tunetionary Of the gOrern-
ment. The fact that military men are educated
at the public expense and have taken special oath
OF fealty to the United States does not change the
question a whit
We hold that the first. highest allegiance which
any man owes is to God and to the soil upon chich
he ,ods born, or where he makes his permanent home.
This allegiance, though made without the formalites
of an oath, has the Divine sanction is natural and
in the true sense, inalienable. He who attempts to
ALLEVIATE or violate that allegiance is traitor, and
merits the scorn of mankind.
But our military men were not educated at the
expense of the Federal Government, only in the
sense that that government is the amoner or pay
master in certain cases, of the several States
they educated as citizens of the United States
but as citizens of each particular State nor does
their oath of fealty to the United States vitate or
override their citizenship in the State where they
were born or where their home is If it had been
so understood, no Southern man, if indeed any
Northern man, would ever have been educated at
West Point
There is much silly balderdash employed by wri-
ters and speakers, in their rhapsodies about "a
citizen of the United States" This expression,
when used correctly, is used wholly in contradrs-
tinction to "a citizen of England, of France" or
any foreign government. No SOLDIER or citizen or
sailor who lives in North. Carolina, when tenn
porarlly in New York, any other State, ever
thinks of calling himself "a citizen of the United
States" but he proudly says, ~ am citizen of
North-C carolina"
Besides, the obligations assumed in taking any
oath, are modified and determined by the know
ledge and clearly perceived duties involved at the
time of making it. Human governments are neces-
Sarly changeable and transitory. Will any man
affirm, that an oath taken to support particular
kind of government, to be administered in partic-
ular way, is binding, after the administration be-
comes vtiated and perverted and the genius intent
and purpose of the government changed ii not
wholly destroyed? We think not.
Many citizens of the South honestly felt that their
allegiance to the United States government
tirely cancelled when after sundry unconstitutional
acts had been passed by the Northern States and
the temper of the North had assumed a hostile at
titude to the South, they departed wholly from the
spirit and temper Of the Constitution and the Union,
by inaugurating sectional party, with the purpose
least in name, purely sectional.
Such was our devotion to the Constitution and
the UniOn which had conferred such incalculabe
blessings upon mankind We, in common with the
true Constitutional Union men of this State and the
South, chung to the old ship, though driven ruth.
lessy mid rocks and quicksands, fondly hoping she
might weather the storm and be moored safely into
port. But when Abraham Lincoln flung away all
legal and constitutional restraint and assumed the
prerogatives Of despot, sent forth his proclama-
ton, making an iniqutous cruel and aggressive
upon the South. we could hesitate no longer We
felt that the last shred of allegiance the Uni
ted States broken and that henceforth and for
ever our only allegiance was to our dear old Com
monwealth and the South. THY people shall be
my people, thy God shall be my God where thou
diest will die, and there will be buried"