Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-01

in the name and on behalf OF the people 81 NlI8ua,
declare and make known, that the powers granted
under the Constitution being derieed from the peo-
pie of the States, may he resumed by them whenso-
ever the same shall be perverted to their injury or
oppression"
Now, we ask you, can you possibly conceive OF
stronger language in justification of the right OF Sc
cession?
Why, it is the very thing itself for it speaks OF
the people of Virginia reServing right OF resumiRg
-~hatP Why, resuming the poTers which the sep
arase States were then comforting upon the consul
tuted authorities of the General Government. When
could she do this? Whenever the same shall be
perverted to their injury Ut oppression
Here then you have the open and unqualliled
declaration, that the Pcndletons, the Parkers, the
Nchaiases the Tavlo:s of Caroline the Marshals,
the Washingtons and Henrys, delegates IN the very
Convention that ratified it, enc and dH considered
that each Stale possessed the right to resume the
powers conferred, whenever they were perverted 10
their injury or oppression"
We could give you substantially the same IAN
guagr used by three four States at me tame
of ratification but this of itself is enough to put
doubt to flight
We conclude, therefore, that the federal govern
ment is neither more nor less than compact or
agreement among sovereign States, in which they
have entered into a written agreement among them
selres Cthe government being no party to the COM
pact) to provide a common government Tor express
lv stipulated purposes; that when this common
agent fails either to discharge the trust repoSed or
so "perrerts" abuses the powers conferred to the
injury or oppression" Of each any Of the States,
so as to fail Ito establish justice insure domestic
tranquility provide for the common defence, and Sc
cure the blessings Of liberty" each or any OF these
being failure, then it is both the right as well as
the most sacred duty of State to step forward and
release her citizens from any and from all the obli
cations she had previously imposed.
But it has been said by those miserable fanatics,
who are now threatening the incendarys torch to
our dwellings that this doctrine of secession cannot
be maintained for what then becomes OF the millions
of acres of public lands, the common property OF
all the States? Are the seeding States to have
all that may happen to be within their limits!
1t cannot be maintained say they, for as sover-
eighty is co-extenSive with domain, having the lat
ter, there would be no limitation to the taxing pow
er of the former; and even though the seeding
States might agree upon fair division of the lands
yet at any time the taxing power might etfectualy
render null and void the benefit supposed to have
been conferred
This, so far from being an argument against the
use, is at most only argument against the abuse
of the right Of secession; and it will apply with
equal force against many of our well secured and
admitted rights.
Take the acknowledged right that from time i'm
memorial the law has thrown around the hearth
stone and altar, You have the undoubed right forci
bly, to eject any person who shall come within your
enclosures unbidden and unwelcomed; and its la
billy to abuse is no reason with the law why 1t
should be withheld; for if not granted, greater
abuses might and would flow in its wake,-yOur
family would be inSulted your property pillaged,
and your life put in peril for then your house,
your castle of defence would Cease to give yOu as
now, protection, but it would. be invaded by every
man who sought quarrel with YOU
Just so with sOrereignty: it is the citizens castle
of defence from enemies without as well as Within
he is too aceak to protect himself and it is to the
protecting 9gS of his State, in her sovereign char
acter, that he looks up, and asks to be protected
from the war of determination which blind fanati-
cism is now waging,-in which neither age, sex or
condition will receive the least mercy at their hands
He cannot protect himself and he has the most
serious and honest apprehension that the govern
ment ct not.
Where, then, in the name of everything most sa
cred, can he go FOR protection, if not to the Slater
1t is a wide mistake to suppose that secession af
fects to have to do with any other than political
ties; these it does annhate, but the moral and
equitable right arising from any supposed partner
ship of the public lands, is not the least impaired
thereby.
No; so far from it. secession goes no further than
to prevent uniriendy concurrent jurisdiction over
the lands in question: leaving the equitable claim of
the cOpartners debt uncancecd and untouched,
and to be enforced precisely in the same way thst
all claims are now enforced between sovereiynS-by
appeal to their sense of justice, and should that
fall by an appeal to the last resort the ultima ratio
regum :; and in reSorting to the sword it is not be-
cause the State has right to Secede, but only be-
cause she claims, as consequence of secession,
rights, privileges and exemptions that do not attach
to it. and which are in no cay essential to its
else.
Nothing attaches to it but that which is essential
In 70 lie thn
equitable and moral obligation, pecuniary other
WISE not being necessary is not in the least affected
thereby.
Hence it is that nations always look to the govern
ment 'Hc ttctO" for any remuneration they may
have rghfmliy claimed at the hands of the govern
ment displaced
We trust then, that upon the abstract right of a
State to withdraw, we have made ourselves distinct
ly understood and we will now proceed to the re
naming interrogatOry, what steps should now be
taken by North Carolina to avert the impending
storm 2"
Here permit me to say, that although recognizing
the right am not yet prepared to say that the time
humble opinion, it has not and if therefore called
upon for advice, in the language of the Hon. A. II.
Stephens, of Georgia, would say, "let us do all
can, that in future If the worst come, 1t may
never be said We were negligent in doing our duty
to the last"
Let Inc still further adopt ms language ana say,
before looking to extreme measures let first
that erery thing which can be done to preserve our
rights our interests and our honor, well as the
peace OF the country in the Union, be first done;
for fully assured that such priceless heritage
the gaze and admiration Of the world T it can be
maintained intact by the perversions and miscon
structons of blind fanaticism is well worthy Of the
most watchful socitude of the most exalted patriot
ism.
We cannot saw that we believe il can but still
there is hope, and he who would not defer to hope
(although it may be faint and when he cannot poss
IDLY incur any injury thereby. and when there is
much at stake, loves Constitutional Union less
than | do.
We 90 in then for a Convention of States, but no:
for consultation of the entire South and that for
reasons we shall afterwards give
We are for inviting Maryland, Virginia, Kentucky
Tennessee and Missouri, into consultation with
North Carolina.
We would then lay down platform which
should be Southern in every essential particular We
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