Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-30
For the Standard.

q. For the Standard.
TEN YEARS AGO-SHADOWS CAST BEFORE.
Mr.. HoLDEN:-1 again solicit q few moments no.
tice in your useful paper 1t is time when every
citizen may he excused for saying word on public
affairs; and sometimes so light are the grains which
determine human opinions to gravitate this way or
that way, that no man knows but a few words fitly
spoken may turn some minds. It seems to be
agreed by all sober-minded men, at the present
crisis that what we need is time to deliberate and
what we have need to dread is precipitation. The
seceders dread the effects of deberation They are
'afraid it men have time to Think they will begin to
Sacillate, and then to revolt The truth is it is so
tremendous thing to break up government. and
the consequences of revolution are SO serious and
caamitous, that the part of wisdom is to strive to
remedy existing grievances by the provisions laid
down in the compact, rather than to hazard every.
thing by revolution. That we have had (both South
and North career of national happiness and growth
under the present government, unparalleled in the
history of mankind, is resounded from one end of
the world to the other and the fame of has drawn
immigrants by millions to share our fortunes
Would any wise and conscientious man hurry for
ward to destroy such government, as il it were an
remembrance, a curse? But there has been party
tor many years who are not willing to ''let we'll
enough Alone" who sigh for some imagined good
to he gained by revolution and are willing 10 risk
Carolina has for 80 years been the seat and centre
Of that party and has been laborng for this end by
the now boastfu avowal of her present party lead
ers. 1t MAJ interest your readers to see extract
of private letter. written in 1850 by DR.. James
W. Alexander, of Princeton, whose father was a
Virgnian, and labored many years as Presbyterian
minister in that State-the family all having South
ern predictions The letter shows that that State
was ready then, far disaffection to the Union
TO rxlo L. - r
government, even in the very year when the Com
promise act was passed. guaranteeing safety to slave
property. DIR. Alexander was one of several dstin-
guished men invited TO preach before the University
OF Virginia series of discourses on the Evidences
Of Christianity" After his return he writes thus,
among other things, to friend in Philadelphia:
Dec. 18th, 1850 < * The University is
the Lectures on the Evidences were large
As you might suppose, much was said in Virginia
about the slavery business. With one remarkable
exception, found, among great number with
whom convcrsed, no man desiring diSunon. All
they ask is the carrying out of the Constitution by
enforcing the late law 1.-THE Compromise Act] Such
is PROFESSIONALLY the temper of the masses; yet
there are some terrible Z" firc-eaters' at Richmond
and these are making great use Of the Vermont null
LITIGATION. Combinations to use no Northern goods
&C., are more rife than had thought. From num-
bers however, heard the remark that slavery could
not abide safely in Virginia frontier State-that
its doom was fixed &c. fell in with South Caro-
lima people, and lat Richmond) with B., on his
| return from South Carolina There the state of
things is different for they not only look on seces-
sion as possible evil, but pray for it as real good
Northern mechanics, agents, and operatives are rap
| idly leaving the State. The fear in Virginia among
sober people is, that South Carolina will do some
rash act which will draw forth number of South.
States to sustain and shield her. Could an in
spired prophet have exactly foretold what has
come to pass J! am convinced, from numerous con-
vcrsations with leading men, that the repeal of the
Territorial law would throw Virginia into the arms
of the South and furthermore divide the State
After all had read in the papers, was unprepared
for the solemn views taken by good men, of the cr-
! sis All seem to regard boodshed as the inevitable
result" &C.
You see, by the above remarks of sagaclons and
careful visitor to Virginia ten years ago, the fears
entertained ut that time by the best and wisest men,
| of the rash impetuos;ty Of that headlong State
fears which have been, alas! too sadly realized. II
FaLus Maxmus gained the glory of saving Rome,
by delaying (cunctando.) the very virtue which you
| now recommend in the motto Watch and Wait
whose will be the lnfamy, in all succeeding time Of
| running America by precipitancy (testinantlOe Be-
cause that wise and polite commander hung back
| upon the mountains and would not accept the fire.
qucnt challenges of Hannibal to instant battle, he
was murmured at and scoffed at-his courage doubt
I'd, and he was branded with the epithet Of Cunc
tator which, in the mouths of his enemies, meant
much the same modern stigma, Submission"
ist. Yet Posterity, whose decisions outve the
spiteful reproaches of contemporaneous passion
have made that his peculiar glory which was ono,
his shame. Happy to follow, though at humble dis
lance, in the wake of this ustrous Roman, still
beg leave to borrow the name Of
- -... FABIUS.
January 10, 1861.