Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-17

lish and keep up our ownpublishhg houses.
Now, there is large class Of textbooks which
every independent nation, if it would maintain its
independence, must have written and published by
its own citizens; and the Southern States Of Amer-
cl, distinguished by peculiar social system, and
one obnoxious to the phariseeism Of the world, are
especially called on to think in such things for
themselves, and to"see that their children are in
structe6 out of their own writings.
But we go farther than this Conscious that we
are not, in any sense an inferior people, and firmly
convinced that our own position on the subject OF
slavery is the right one, contend that it is but
strict justice to ourselves tethink and write some
subjects for other nations.
Truth is eternal, and fer all places and whenever
its conclusions are taught and enforced by our peo
pie, whether in ply steal or moral science, we would
not circumScribe its Influence by the prefix of a
name implying only sectional use or Importance
The just defence ofGur society implies condemna
/ tiOn of that of many other nations and it is time
that we cease to occupy the attitude of criminals
arraigned before the bar of civilization and assume
our true position of teachers of the unalerable
truths Of Revelation.
To explain what we mean, we would remark that
two opinions negard to slavery generally Illus
trated in the habits of nations, and that in the
present condition of the world almost every leading
power holds some offellow- creatures in subec
tfon enjoying the fruits of their labor remuners
ton for protection and the administration justice
among them.
The theory of our practice is that the superior
should adopt the inferior as member of his house
held, placing him under his own immediate super
vision, aed that of his wife and children, where the
SympatRes between man and man are brought into
active play, where every want Is and felt for
where every crime is discovered and punished, and
where the influences of religion and of a constant
observation of the habits of higher civilization are
allowed to exert their educational and disciplinary
power.
We hold, that if VIC are to have others in subjec-
itSon to at ALL it must he in this way and that
system of personal servitude of this kind and for
whose origin we are not responsible, is justifable
end the only kind of permanent domination Of race
over race that is juStifable by the light Of Gods
revealed Truth
In our moral science to teach this doctrine
not merely for own Defence but for the general
promotion OF justice among men and as our polit
cal and social system is put beyond the pale Of its
sympathy by all modern literature, and can appeal
to nothing that is written but the iniallibe Word
of God, so would we have all institutions to dip
their roots in this Fountain Of Living Waters.
1t is remarkable and anomalous fact that the
people Of the Confederate States are compelled 10
cut loose from human teachings in defence of their
social condition. and are shut up to the Holy Scrip
lures; and in singular keeping with this state of
things in the political world is the present position
of our schools. We are now nearly out of text
books, and are cut off from the publications of other
countries; and this we hail merciful Providence
",
lnfldclIty had crept into almost every modern SyS
TEN of morals, and in fact dfused its poison into
nearly all the teemng productions Of the press.
As then, We have to begin to construct and defend
political theories from the simple Word of God, let
us at once fill our schools with books which draw
all their ethical doctrines from this Divine source,
and which make the ncarnate Son OF God the centre
and sun of every moral system
The want OF books Is now immediate, practical
and pressing one; and to devise some means of
obviating this, was one Of the objects of the Con-
ference which appointed US committee to prepare
this address.
At a superficial glance this want would seem to
be an additional Encouragement to oGr schools but
it is obvious to US and must he to every rejecting
mind, that 1t we meet 1t with the proper spirit,
thing could be more fortunate for us
Ii we are ever emancIpated from thraldom to for
eign influences, we must have authors and
our own publishers; and when, ask, could be
better time to begin the experiment of Independent
thought and action?
If our schools are kept up they must be supplied
with books printed at the Southland thus, on the
existence of these schools depends the immediate
Enlistment of houses of publication. The first lit
erature that pays in any country is that for educa
tional purposes, as this is prime necessity where
yer there are schools and hence our school system
is tG be the patron which is to call into life new
and essential business at the South. Bounties will
not stimulate healthy production; this always has
In this respect our own beloved State enjoys
great and ineStmable advantage; one hundred and
fifty thousand pupils attend her common schools
alone, and the works used in these schools
actly such The South in defence of her rights and
honor, must produce for herself
If then this system be preserved unimpaired here
is at market, whose demands will call out en-
terprise and capital for the publication of books;
and the simple question in regard to textbooks with
teachers in our late Conference was, whether we
would encourage the reprinting of books already in
use, or encourage the production or original ones
1t was after full debate, unanimously resolved to
pursue the latter course; that nOto, RIGHT NOW is
the time TO begin the work of Southern independence
in fact as we'll as theory.
1t was determined to give the ordinance of seces-
sion immediate and practical force by immediate
emancipation from actual dependence on the North;
and it thought that there were enough classical
books in the country to supply the schools for
year more, and of English to last until 9TH
ers, known to be on the way, ready for use.
1t was felt by the teachers, and we authorized
to say for them, that If the people and authorities of
the State would endeavor to keep up its schools the
teachers would answer for it, that before this war is
concluded, unless it come to a speedy termination,
the South will be writing and printing her own
books and to North Carolina will belong the honor
of taking the lead in this glorious work.
What field of future promise is here opened up
to contemplation! Who cannot see at glance
that step now in the right direction, WILL by the
blessing of Providence, inevitably lead to the most
brilliant future for State whose name in the past
has excited unjust taunts that have often and keen
y stung the souls of all her true and generous sons
There is a tide now before us, which, taken at the
flood, will lead us on to fortune; and by this, and
the considerations before suggested, we would most
earnestly appeal to you to make sacred and solemn
resolution to preserve and maintain at all hazards
those domestic springs which SO much of the
life of the present and future depends.
We know that the pecuniary resources of the
community are greatly diminished by the exigencies
of the times; but we know, Also that by the mercy
of God, we are free from want, and that the hard
ships of the times are always diminished by the gen.
erous confidence of the people in their own re.