Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-03-20

mOQe, whist 0lSci&lmlnS poWeIo VI auJuStileHt,
by the failure of Congress to recognize the results Of
the Peace Conference, or to recommend and other |
plan of peace; and by the concentration of Federal
troops at various points, and the reinforcing and
holding of certain forts and arsenals with the obv
Gus intent and purpose of overcoming any resistance
to the execution Of federal laws by the seeded |
States and to overawe the further secession and free
action of the slaveholding States. -s
Under these circumstances of peril to every thing
precious to State, this Commonwealth feels COM
PEELED to appeal to her confederates still remaining
in the Union and to ask for their determinate con-
illusions on the following points of difference and
dissension, as to which she is bound to demand and
seeks to obtain satisfactory guarantees and assur-
ances for the future:
l. AS to full recognition of the rights of prop
erty in African slaves.
Q. AS to slavery in the District of Columbia.
3. As to the powers of the Federal Government
over African slavery, and the employment of slave
labor in the FORTS arsenas dock yards and all places
ceded by the States for federal uses.
4. As to protection against the pretension to lay
and collect excessive direct tazes on slaves.
5. As to the rendition of fugitive slaves.
6. As to protection of the right and comfy of
transit with slaves through the limits of the States
by land or water and of the right of transportation
of slaves on the high seas.
T. The protection of the right of citizens of the
United States, owning slaves to scourn temporarily
with their slaves in waiting in the limits of nom
slaveholding States
s. The protection of equality of settlement by
owners of slaves, with their slave property, in the
common territories of the United States.
9. As to the rights Of negroes or free persons of
the African to all the privileges and immunities
of citizens of the several States.
10. AS to the equality of the African race with
the white race in the States where it may reside,
and the protection of that equality by State laws,
and by the laws of the United States.
IL. As to the better security of the independence
Of the Judicial Department of the Government of
the United States by changing the mode Of appoint
ing the Federal Judges.
H. As to the protection of the slavehoding States
against the abduction Of their slaves, by repeating
such State or Federal laws may countenance the
wrong, or by passing such laws by the States and
by the Federal Government as may be necessary and
proper to suppress it.
49, As to the protection of the domestic tranquil
ty of the people of the United States, by suppress
sing the incendiary assemblages. associations and
publications which have cngendercd the sectional
der and now threatens civil war.
IA. The protection of the public peace by sup
pressing societies and individual efforts for the COL
lection of money and other means to invade the
States or territories of the United States.
Is. And by suppressing all organizations seeking
and introducing foreign aid and influence to incite
domestic violence in any of the States or Territories
OF the United States.
Upon these points, and any others which may
arise requiring them, this Commonwealth needs and
ought to demand additional assurances and guaran-
tees to those now existing; and those assurances
and guarantees can, on the main points of dissen-
sions and severance only be made by obtaining,
not merely Constitutional amendments, or the pied
gcs Of States by resolves otherwise but by grants
of power to check abuses or wrongs by majority
Of the States.
And with view of adjusting these points and
obtaining these guarantees, guarded by the necessa
~ and proper checks and balances Of power, it is
recommended that this Convention shall appeal to
the States still remaining in the Union, to give, at
early day practicable their answers 10 those
demands of this Commonwealth, say within the
period of the present year and by the LIST day of
October next, if possible
In the mean time it is recommended that every
step be taken to preserve the peace of the country
That to that end neither the Federal Government
nor the seeded States shall commence hoStilitieS;
that the States in the Union should confer with
this State upon mode Of sanctioning the claim Of
the right of pcaceable secession ahd Of determining
all questions arising thereup0n, such as the free
navigation of the Mississippi river the maintenance
OF forts and arScnaS, and the settlement Of CON-
mercial and postal regulations, &C., &c. And the
Federal authorities should avoid all acts whatever
tending to Or to lrritate the causes of civil
war, by abstainng from the execution of all laws
which may require the force Of arms against the Sc
cedcd States by withdrawing all occupation of their
forts, arsenals dock yards and other places ccded
and by reducing the military forces at the forts,
arserAs, magazines, dock yards, &C., within the
limits and around and about the borders Of the
slaveholding States still remaining in the Union, to
mere garrsons for the purpose Of guarding and pre-.
serving the public property; pending the efforts Of
this Commonwealth to adjust pending issues, to OBJ
tain guarantees to preseYe peace and to restore the
amity and Union, if possible, Of all the States.
And it is further recommended to adopt an Ordn-
ance that this Commonwealth shall be Immediately
placed in full and complete state Of military or
ganizatIon for defence; and it shall be Immediately
submitted to the people to determine whether IT the
just demands Of this Commonwealth arc not salts
factorily responded to- not responded to at all
by her Confederates, or civil war commencing on
the part of the Federal Government. within the
period named, pending her efforts of adjustment
they will will not resume the powers granted by
them under the Constitution of the United States,
and that this Convention shall place itself immedi-
ately in communication with the border Slavchold-
ing States for conference and cooperation
To these ends, therefore, be it resolved
l. That the foregoing points for adjustment or for
declaration Of purpose on the part Of the States
ttIcni
2. That additional guarantees or assurances shall
be demanded on the more important of these points,
in the forms of checks and balances OF power to be
defined by amendments to the Constitution Of the
United States.
g. That responses to these demands from the re-
spective States shall be requested within fixed and
limited period, to wit: on or before the LIST day oil
October next, if possible.
| 4. That in the mean time, it be recommended to
the people of this Commonwealth, in the event the
federal authorities shall, under any pretext what
ever attempt to enforce their claim of jurisdiction
over the people of the seeded States as by collect
ing the duties for revenue divertng the transit
entrance of commerce. or in any other mode, by
force of arms to resist such exerton of force by al
the means in their power.
5. That the federal authorities be requested tt
withdraw all occupation of the places ceded in thu
seeded States and to reduce the forces at Fortress
Monroe and Harner,s Ferry nj Fort M