Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-02-20
For the STANDARD.

7''4'.2 S'''' a9s :s-t al3 e For the Standard. i
TO THE ELECF0RS.oF HEREFORD COUNTY.
In 1 circular Of date the 2sth January, the sub
scriber offered himself for the SURFACES Of the
people of Hartford county as = candidate for the
approaching State Convention; at the same time,
however, declaring his readiness in contingency
which he deemed quite probable, to withdraw in
favor of another candidate. Since that time the
name Of q certain distinguished citizen Of the
county-a gentleman of high character, mature age
and extensive popularity, and combining in q re- \
markable degree all the elements which are apt to
command unquestoning and implicit public conf
dence-has been strongly urged in connection with
the said Convention, by the advocates of immediate
and unconditional secession. am confident that,
in contest with that gentleman, the odds would be
against me, and that my own comparative youth
and want of familiarity with public affairs, would
be individousy contrasted with his ripper years and
superior experience.
The name Of Hon. VIM. N. II. Smith has, in
view of this fact, been suggested as that of the
strongest standard bearer of the friends of the Con-
sttution and the Union in this county, and under
standing that he will accept the candidacy if ten
dered to him, shall urge his nomination by the
meeting to he held at Winton on Thursday next,
and cordially support him ut the polls. Though
politically at variance with him heretofore, I am
committed to entire forgetfnness of party in this
critical hour of the Republic: l know that Mr..
Smith is reliable and earnest friend of the Union,
and recognize in him the sagacity, experience and
patriotism which the times demand. i now, there
FORE thanking the many friends who have encouraged
me with warm assurances Of aid retire from the
canvass, and cease to be a candidate.
North Carolina is to-day the Gibralter Of the
Union; and the heroic steadastness of her present
fidelity to that Constitution which she accepted
with so much deliberation, and against whose mild
and beneticent governance her loyal citizens have
never breathed murmur, will command the CRATE
full applause of those who shall succeed us, ard
convince men that her wise forbearance now tran
scends in real greatness even that courageous
prolnptitude with which, in the days of the Revo-
luton, she announced her independence of Great
Britain. 1t is her august mission, in conjunction
with glorious old Virginia and the noble brother
hood of border Southern States-having made pre-
paration for the worst and maintaining an armed
neutrality to roll back the advancing waves of
fanaticsm that surge towards her from the two ex-
tremes of the Republic, and to arrest the malignant
progress of that secession propaganda which has
already overwhelmed seven Of her sister common
wealths. Hers is the high function of mediator;
and to her generous patience will be due, in no
slight degrce, the eventual adjustment of our Sec
tiuna discussions, and the ultimate reconstruction
of the Onion. Sine has uttered her voice in stern
rebuke OF frantic conspiracy against the Govern
mcnt detiled by the lawless schemes and sordd
ambition of its main projectors and presumptuousy
invoking the voluntary surrender Of the popular
liberties in submission to military despotism
These crafty conspirators cannot cheat the judg-
ment of the people of North Carolina, whatever
deusive appeals they may employ: The clear
instinct Of the people will penetrate all the DISCUSSES
Of that specious logic which counsels an ignominous
and craven abandonment ola heritage which belongs
much to us as to the North. Thwarted in the
lcgerdeman by which the disunonists in the Gene
raj Assembly attempted to juggle the State out of
the Union through Convention Illegally called,
and whose acts were not to be submitted to the
popular revision, they come before the people,
forced at length to confront them openly, and seek
to enkindle the flames Of prejudice and passion for
the rash commission of an act which returning
reason would indeed condemn, but which no repent
ance could repair.
But the people will remember that however re.
pugEant to the sensitive ethics of chivalry which
is dcduced from the paramount sacredness Of person
al honor and which knows no compensation of safe.
ty or advantage sufficient to justify waiver of its
prompt and uncalculating assertion there is never.
theless great truth, regards communities in the
maxim that discretion is the better part of val0r "
An individual martyrdom may be glorious, indeed
| but he who has committed to him the welfare of
State has no right to consult the dictates of sen
ment founded on mere heroism. And there is NO
! true courage surely, to either individual
ton, in flying to suicide a relief from ills that
calm forttude should bravey bear. The passions
of men are not the motives which should direct the
action of commonwealth. The true patriot will
not take counsel of mere resentment however griev
Gus the wrong endured he will reflect that he is
charged with higher interests than the vindicatior
Of offended dignity, and that he is in some
| trustee of posterity.
, The Southern statesman who is worthy of the
name will not be unlnintu of the serious probable
! results of the d:sunion movement The suggestion
that dsunon is abolition is at least deserving of
animation. The Garrison disunionists at the North
have all along denounced the Union as the grea
shield. of slavery. 1t surely cannot be denied thai
the South would stand in the event of Har-ano
from this contingency she has no reason TO expect
total and perpetual immunity-in peculiar danger
from the intiammable element of negro population
an element to which it is folly and blindness t.
persuade ourselves into the belief that it would con
tinue apahetic and unlnoved amid the clash of
and in the presence of invading troops.
Theoretical grievances must give way to consider
atoms of substantial veal The whole territoria
question, out of which the slavery agitation in it
most troublesome shape has principally come, is
pure abstraction so far existing interests a
stake in its settlement An adjustment Of this con
troversy which shall adequately guard the prospec
tive interests of the South is entirely practicable
and many prominent Republicans are pledged to it
MIR. douglas himself, in spirit Of pure and loft!
patriotism, asserts his willingness to abandon tn
political Guide sac of squatter sovereignty, throug
which he confesses himself convinced no esress GU
Of the labyrinth is to be found, and is ready to ali
in establishing denitivc and irrevocable partition
Of our present and future territory upon the vcr
line nc was so largely instrumental in destroying
The Crittenden compromise, or something substan
TALLY identical with it. will be gladly accepted b.
the people, North well as South. But time tn
avenger and the healer Of all wrongs, is needed t
decide the terms of satisfactory settlement Thes
terms it is very probable will be suggested by tn
Peace Congress now assembled at Washington.
The evidences Of reaction at the North are dali
multiplying. The Republicans having achieved
power, will make liberal concessions to retain it
They will not hesitate to throw down the ladder b.
which they have assembled Manifestly the polio
of the Administration will be conciliatory. Tn
causrs for disuni"n are therefore, every hour sui
siding. Let us await the "sober second thought
of the Northern mind, which recent elections IL
claring. Let us appeal from Philip drunken