The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-01-08
For the Western Democrat.
OUR FEDERAL AFFAIRS.


United States-now, alas united no longer.
Being solicitous as to the position my own be-
loved State would assume In tie present crlss, |
have watched the movements of her Legislature to
see whether anything of importance was dong.
As yet [ have seen nothing. 1t is true the bll to
the State has passed the Senate, which is the
last have heard of it. For about six weeks the
members have been discussing the question to
whether the Legislature has power to leave the
calling of a convention to the people unless two
thirds of each house concur in the proposition to
call convention. And some of them cite the
Constitution of North Carolina, article fourth sec
ton first which reads thus: "No convention of
the people shall be called by the General Assembly
unless by the concurrence of two-thrds of all the
members of each house of the General Assembly"
This seems to me to be wise provision. But
does any one suppose for moment that its trainers
thought of disabling the Legislature to call con-
vention in a case of emergency when the people
were clamoring for it p? No sirl This is not
contest between two sections of the State about
altering or amending any part Of the State Consti-
tuition 1t is contest between sovereign State
and sectional party north Can any point
out the analogy between the two cases? The case
in hand is between us and several of the Northern
members of our great family of co-equal nationaE-
ties. And now, Sir, is not our Legislature taking
least disposition not to leave matter of so much
moment to the people, who are the sovereigns,
whether they act wisely or not ? Who are the
sovereigns, the Legislature or the people? | say,
most emphatically, the People. The Legislature
is only the agent Of the people to carry out their
wishes 1t is true we have placed our legislators
watchmcn at their posts that they may blow the
trumpet and warn the people, when they see the
sword coming upon the land, Gas Ezekiel directed
his people to do) and if the people would not
take warning when they heard the sound the
watchmen should be guiltless-their blood should
be upon their own heads. Our chief Magistrate
has sounded the alarm. What has our beloved
State done? Has she responded? Let the people
judge. The attitude of her Legislature is aptly
illustrated by an anecdote related of certain Yam
KEGS during the last war with England When
sent to spy out the enemy, they refused to pull
rope as sailors till they should each receive
double portion of rum; but while they were await
ing the issue, they all taken prisoners by the
enemy. Dear to them. So will it be a bad
family quarrel to US if we are to omit action till
the enemy is battering down the wall.
Now, are we making any more friends at the
North? [ think not. Are we making any more
in our State? l think not. Then where are
we making friends-in our sister States south who
differ so much from US, believing it to be their
!
One Of them has already gone, and more of them
will soon follow. These are grave questions.
But to which of these parties will we attach
ourselves, the North the South? "Oh," say
some, " wait for an over act" Will they give us
some surety chat we shall then be in no worse
condition to extricae ourselves from the snares of
our destroyers than at present Some seem willing
to try it awhile under the Lincoln fsg forgetting
that thereby they signify their willingness to do
thing to which they sworn not to submit in
their own State That is, to serve where the
black race rule even to the fourth generation.
Even that remote degree is not declared the white
citizens equal-one eighth negro blood is ex-
cluded Now I make the inquiry, whether the
rumor be true that the Vice President elect is
tainted with this kind of blood ? Will some one
please answer? -t.
| do hope all our members will take these things
seriously to heart and lay down all party strife so
that the 7th We will have no cause to say to
them Malachi said to the priests in his day,
"you have been partial in the law" but following
his advice, may we all be able to come and lay
our offering at the foot of the altar and confess
our faults, and go to work like brethren so that
it may be said of us, Paul said of the Christians
at Jerusalem, "Behold how these brethren love
each other" -.- -.-~
believe that each State when she signed the
Constitution of the United States, saying We,
the people of the United States, in order to form
a more perfect union, establish justice, insure
domestic tranquility provide for the common de-
fence, promote the general welfare and secure the
blessings of liberty ourselves and our poserity
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America" [ say when they
signed that instrument each and every State,
through her delegates, always did maintain that
all power derived from the people Congress
had no power except what was clearly delegated;
all power not so delegated, remains to the people
of the several States, or their State Governments;
and the people may resume all granted power
whenever 1t shall be necessary for their happiness;
each and every one of the States which
feels herself aggrieved by majority of the part
ners to this compact is at liberty to seeede, the
contract having been broken. What else could
she do? 1t is absurdty to say that the creature
is above the creator.
Now, sir, when agents have been put into Office
States legslate in violation of the Constitution of
the United States, SO that agents, the officers
of the General Government, cannot enforce the
laws, what alternative is left but to seeede?
Don't the President of the United States tell you
that the North has been pushing this thing forward
for more than quarter of a century, and that un-
less change of sentiment takes place at the North
it must bring about dissolution of the Union
noticed, shortly after our Legislature met, that
one of its members brought up resolution declar
ing vindicating secession fit to hold Office In
the State; and when the DILL to the State came
up he would not vote for it for the present lest it
should alarm his constituents. [ should like to