Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-04-17
For the Standard.


Mr. EDITOR In No. II of the State Journal the
Editor appears to be in quandary to how it hap
pened that the State voted down a convention. He
knew of but one paper in the State (he Greensboro
PATRIOT which took open grounds against the Con-
vention and he knew of no candidates who canvass
ed against it, and consequently there must have
been some foul play in the election which will never
see the light. l am no politician, but am to
considerable extent conversant with the views and
feelings of the masses, and such think can, to
some extent, inform the Editor of the Journal in
what that foul play consisted. 1t simply this:
the people determined for once to think and act for
themselves. They have lost confidence in their
leaders-they feel that they have followed many of
them to their utter disappointment and unless they
would take the matter into their own hands the
country would be ruined; and in this think they
were right. Those designing, selfish wire-workng,
rotten, political demagogues, North and South are
what has brought the country to what it is, and
but for them quiet and peace would be restored
to the country.
They believed that they knew what they wanted
as we'll the convention would. should it be called,
and knowing this they believed that they could do
the work for themselves and do it at home, at the
ballot-boX, and save expense and the risk of being
dealt with as has been done in those States where
conventions have been called. Judging from the
past it would seem that secession is the legitimate
result of conventions. The people did not wish to
risk it-they were not yet willing to 60 out of the
Union for existing causes, and to crafty certain
class OF political aspirants. This, as far as my
knowledge goes, was the opinion of all parties, the
good Democrats not excepted. Numbers who voted
for Gov Ellis voted for 'no convention" and if
they had it to do again, John W. Ellis would come
out missing; in this number l include myself But
in my section of country, and other sections in
which have been, l find that party names and
party ties have been lost sight of and swallowed up
in the all absorbing questionable salvation of the
country-this is as it should be-
But to return to the Journal The Editor says
be knew of no candidate who canvassed against
convention. As for myself my mind was made up
upon the subject, consequently availed myself of
but few opportunities of hearing the candidates for
" convention" But of the very few which heard,
heard one say in his public speech that he would
vote against convention, others would not advise
upon the subject leaving the matter with the peo-
pie to settle the question for themselves which ac
cordngly they did. Other public speakers opposed
convention" The State Journal need not be so
much alarmed about the matter, all the foul play
which the Editor supposes to exist consists, 1st, in
the fact that the people determined to act for them
selves, and in the second place. the election did
not result favorably to the Journal and its sup
porters.
If the State had gone for convention it would
have been all right, far convention is
ed but had the convention not passed secession
ordinance we would have heard another cry of foul
play. And had said ordinance been passed and re-
ferred back to the people, and they in their majesty
voted it down, in the estimation of the Journal,
there would have been consummation of foul
play practiced upon our secession friends, which
could never be atoned for, until it would be done at
the point of the bayonet
This is Democracy with vengeance. / have always
been Democrat and expect to remain one, for l
am willing to submit to the will of the people, but
pray the Lord to deliver me from all such Demo
cracy as seeks to elevate itself by dsregardng and
setting aside the will of the majority it does not
deserve the name of Democracy, it is anything but
Democracy In conclusion, just believe the peo-
pie may do they will, with those leading seces-
sionists all will be foul play and trick until they
by foul play and trick, trick the State out of
the Union. Then it will be all right, come as it
may; and then the rebels will be taught the doc
trine of submisson-they will be taught lesson
which they unwilling to learn, that is, that the
majority must rule. But they should bear in mind
that by their INSTRUMENTATION, they are teaching US
a very bad lesson, which, in turn, might be brought
to bear upon their own heads.
have wrote great deal more than / intended
when l commenced, and will trouble you no further
A DEMOCRAT.