Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-21
no the Voter. Of Mnks County.


on your minds that am in favor of using force
against the Southern States, and that / would not
oppose the marching of troops across this State to
reinforce Fort Sumter. This impression does me
great injustice, as will proceed to show.
said at Rolesville that while / was opposed to
coercion, and while 1 would oppose any attempt to
march troops across this State to reinforce Fort
Sumter, or for any other purpose still would not
Tesist-MEANING BY FORCE OF ARMs-the marching
of troops to reinforce Fort Sumter. | said this,
because that Fort now held by the United States,
and held on the defensive; and said this, because
orth-Carona is still member of the Union, and
because l, having to support the federal Con-
stitution, could not take up arms against the
United States WithOut committing the crime Of
treason.
If had said that uouH resist by force of arms
Mr.. Lewis would have replied then you are noD for
resisting the federal authorities, whereas but few
weeks since you condemned in the Standard the
seizure of the fort in this State below Wilmington,
which act of resistance. / saw the eatch or
rather the trap that had been laid for me, and
avoided it as above stated.
Now, fellow-citizens, 1 distinctly declared at
Rolesville that was opposed to marching troops
across this State for any purpose-that was Op-
posed to the doctrine of coercion-that | repeated
what had SAID in the Breckenridge Club, in this
city, last October that knew of no federal road
through North Carolina and yet in the face of all
this an attempt is made to produce the impression
that l am in favor of coercng and subjugating
Southern States! Invent further and said, that
was neither disunionist nor SubmiSSionist-that
was in favor of exhausting all honorable efforts to
preserve the Union-that l would not despair as
long as a ray Of hope remained; but that, in the
last resort would stand with and by my section,
and that before would see North Carolina nsulted
or degraded by any power | would dispute every
inch of ground and fight to the last in her defence.
This is the substance of what said, having used
figure of speech in relation to the State in the
event of any power attempting to degrade her.
told Mr. Lewis at Roesville that his question
in relation to Fort Sumter raised an extremely i'm
probable, if not impossible case, but that was
frank man, and no one should say that appeared
even to evade questions propounded to me. | told
him at Cedar Fork that his question was ridicu
lous one-that he well knew that Fort Sumter was
south of this and south of Charleston harbor-and
that even if troops could be marched across this
State they would have to fight their way for more
than a hundred miles, through hostile people, be-
fore they could reach Fort Sumter. | explained
this matter at Cedar Fork substantially as have
explained it here; and yet the charge or rumor still
circuates that | am not opposed to marching troops
across this State, and not opposed to coercion.
am opposed to marching troops across this State
and am opposed to coercion. said this at Roles
Vile and Cedar Fork and l repeat it here.
Felow-citizens Holden is dangerous man |"
because he is true to the people and opposed TO dis
union. This is the secret of all this bitter and I'M
scrupulous warfare against me. The diSuniOnists
hate me because have stood between them and the
accomplishment of their unholy purposes, and be-
am still true to the Union of the States and
the glorious banner of the stars and stripes. The
| appeal is to you, fellow-citzenS. If you are
for the Union stand by at the polls on the 2Sth
OF this month, and stand by my associates on the
ticket, Mr.. Badger and Mr.. Busbee; but if you are
against the Union, vote against us. Tam a Union
man.
| respectfully appeal to the Union men of Wake
county to bestir themselves and to put forth their
best exertions-not for me-not for individuals, but
for the great ITSELF Beware Of false charges,
false reports and sensation dispatches, especially
during the coming week. Let us determine to be
moved by nothing gotten up by our opponents for
effect; but let us "prore all things anil hold fast to
! that whieh as good W. W. HOLDEN.
Raleigh, Feb. 49, 1861.