Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-03-27
They Misffust the People:

IheY MBtruSL the FeOpics
We have heretofore presented to our readers facts
proving beyond any reasonable inference to the con!
trary that Tie leaders of the revolution in the seced.
ed States as we'll as our own disunion Governor and
his newspaper; THE State Journal and those here in
the secret Of their usurping schemes, had for their
object and des On from the very Beginning, the pre-
.cpitaton of the people into revolution and anarchy
wthou: allowing any time for reflection delbera-
tion Every thing. connected with the secession
movement sincey and in fact before the first ordi-
nance was passed BY South Carolina in December
last, proves this Beyond doubt; and every step
taken by the unauthorized Convention at Montgom-
cry is strictly in obedience to the programme laid
de<n and ordered by the Senators and Representa-
ti4es of the seeded Stntes in Washington in eau
Gus they held the 18th of January last-the pro-
ceeangs of which appeared in the National Intett'-
gexocr. In nothing have the people been consulted
except in the bare appointment of delegates to take
into consideration the existing position of federal
affairs 1t is true, the people of Texas were allow
ed under the influence Of armed bands Of K. G. C's
to 60 through the form Of ratifying what tie Con-
vention had done. The present deplorable state of
affairs IN Texas is a sufficient commentary upon that
election; and the organized resistance to the usur-
pations of the secessonists is foreshadowiRg of
what will most assuredly take place in the other
States If they continue to ignore the right of the
people to govern themselves. Their newspapers,
though advocating secession, still warn the leaders
that this ostracsm of the voice Of the people in the
formation of permanent government will be dam
gerous and unsafe. Their Conventions refuse to
hearken to this voice of warning FOR the politicians
controlling them afraid Of the psop5s. The peo
pie will in those States yet rise in their majesty and
power and vindcate the truth, that ali Republican
government is founded upon the consent Of the gov
erned The very doctrine of the right Of secession
is founded upon that dea and the people will not al
low them to repudiate it.
The Constitution adopted by the Montgomery gov
ernnent will be ratified by the same Conventions
which took their several States out of the Union
that these Conventions have no authority to ratify
that Constitution to impose the people an or
ganic law without their express consent.
The Alabama Convention with about as much con-
sideraton and discussion as would be given to pre-
arranged resolutions in a county meeting, ratified
the permanent Constitution after having first laid
on the table by majority of 81, the following reso-
lutions
"Resolced l. That the political power in all free
governments is inherent in the people, and that an
attempt to infringe this great principle is dangerous
in policy and directly subversive of civil liberty.
80. That the right of every people to frame the
system of government under which they are to live
is fundamental doctrine in all free government
and should not be questioned or impaired
80. That the acknowledgment of these establish
ed principles the spirit and genius of American in
stltutons and the well-ascertaned precedents of
publican usage imperatvely demand that the 'Const
tuition of the Confederate States of America shall be
submitted to the people of this State for their ratf
cation or rejection"
The above resolutions could not pass a Conven-
ton pretending to represent the feelings and sent
ments of the citizens of Alabama Will the people
of that State submit to such tyranny on the part of
the few ogarchs who happen to have the control of
their government in this crisis? The Convention of
Louisiana having confessedly taken the State out of
the Union in opposition to majority Of the citizens
of that State now refuse to submit the permanent
constitution for their ratification or rejection.
Will the people of that State quietly submit to the
oft repeated acts of tyranny the part Of unprin.
cipled ofice-holders and corrupt politicians? Let
says:
at is not without reason the faithful Democracy
Of Louisiana are daily more and more deplorDg the
success of the nefarious schemes of unprncipled
ofice-holders and corrupt politicians who, through
the juggles of Convention, deliberately and faith
!essly disregarded the popular WISH and attached
the State to the car of the provisional abortion at
Montgomery. Already the mu.terngs Of the dis
tant thunder making themselves distinctly
haor md &c oolo L,N ali
the other States precptaed blindy into revolution,
as we'll that discomfort, disappointment and disgust
are everywhere expressed loudly and intelligibly."
The Nississippian, the organ of the new govern
ment at Jackson, Mississippi, warns the Convention
Of that State Of the danger of establishing Consti
tuition independent of the voice of the people The
Augusta (Geo.) Chronicle, admonishes the Conven-
ton of the "empire State of the South" in the
same significant spirit. The Senators and Repre-
sentatves in Congress originating this movement of
secession, and by it having secured the offices for
themselves and friends do not desire the people to
have anything whatever to do with their acts Such
state of things so long as there is one spark of
patriotic love for American institutions unquenched
will not, cannot last
We ask the free people of North Carolina, from
Currituck to Cherokee if their own Governor and
secession leaders during the past winter did not
endeavor to commit this State to the same suicidal
policyG Did they not endcavor to "precipitate"
North Carolina into revolution, by calling Con.
vention in an unconstitutional manner? Did they
not refuse, until made to do 90 By an indignant
public opinion, to submit to the people of the State
the action of the Convention when called Did
they not exert their whole influence against the
"peace conference" and send a majority of com.
mssioners thereto, whom they knew to be hostile
to any proposition not satisfactory to the extremists
Of the seeded States' Did not some of the leaders
openly declare, if North.C Carolina did not seceds
they wocld inaugurate a rebellion and take their
people out any coy! Did they offer or advocate a