Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-02
Washington City, January %, 1861.

To the Electors of Hertord County:
The subscriber respectfully presents himself for
the sutirages Of his fellow citizens OF Hartford
county, candidate for the Convention soon to
assemble in this State to consider the federal rcla
tionS of North Carolina. He does this with diff
dence indeed, and with full sense of the mighty
RESPONSIBILITIES of the position for which he offers but
with resolution 10 discharge his duties faithfully,
if elected and to act with eye single to the well
fare Of the people among whom he lives and with
whose interests and destnies his own are thoroughly
identified
Were the election of delegates to this Convention
strife merely for personal promotion, the subScri-
Der would be 10th to enter of the competitors
But it is no such struggle: it holds out such in
ducementS as are presented III an ordinary canvass
it appeals not to the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of SELF but to
patriotic devotion alike to our common country and
the State. EmOlumentS and honors it has nOne
save the rewards of conscience for well performing
the high duties of which it offers opportunity, and
the appreciation of his fellows for fifty fulfilling the
sacred trust repoSed in the successful candidate
THE UNION, framed by our fathers, and designed
by them to be the strong protector and benetcent
patron of American freemen for all time to come
THE UNION, under which we have grown in prosper
ity and greatness a nation, while our rights and
liberties as individuals have been year by year en-
arged to almost the last development of which civil
and political freedom is susceptible THE UNION,
which makes every American citizen the equal of an
European king, which gives US safety abroad and
security at hOme-this great confederate empire of
free people is now in peril, and witness the I'M
happy spectacle GIFTS impending irrevocabe dsmem-
berment and downfall before the termination oc the
first century of its existence The work of disinte.
grafton is begun already, and the pillars which have
supported its broad dome are crumbling and falling
one by one.
To arrest this work of demolition and to avert
the multform and myriad evils in which ALL South
as well as North, must share, should be the aspira
tons and effort of every patriot. Thus far North
Carolina has stood immovabe in her fidelity to the
Constitution, and her approaching State Contention
is to answer the momentous question whether we
shall rashly invoke the thousand mseres and ills of
separation, continue to stand 10y that great CON-
pact of the founders Of the Republic, which has
never done us any injustice, and just conformity
to which, in its spirit no less than in its letter. is all
we have to ask of our Northern brethren.
Briefly, then, am for UNION so long
can consistently adhere to it as Southern men. |
believe tits worth preserving and shall labor with
all my strength to oppose its precptate Reputation
on the part of North-Carolina At the same time,
however, shall contend as strenuously any man,
for the recognition of all rights in that amicable
adjustment of pending difficulties which foresee
and hope.
| shall take occasion, between this time and the
day of election, clearly and fully to make known my
views the question at issue before the people of
the county. OF such appointments may be made
notice will appear hereafter.
take this method Of announcing my candidacy
delegate to the Convention, because do not
recognize the propriety of making party nomina-
ton in this case and because think the friends of
the Union should have their champions in the field
without delay. If however, as may possibly hap
pen, they shall appear to prefer another candidate
for this county, hold myself ready to retire in favor
of their choice.
CHARLES HENRY FOSTER
= MURFREEsBoRo', N. c., Jan. 2Sth, 1861.