Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1861-01-23
Then and Now.

1t has been charged. both in newspapers and in
the Senate that the Standard has changed its course
recently on the subjects of secession and the Union
This charge is totally unfounded as we shall pro-
coed to show. .t. -r.s. .-:- .r.i sa-.-
In June last we said: -. s'.2
UNLESS moderate men at the South, who have
no designs against the Union speak out and endea-
vor to arrest the current Of sectonalism and dis.
union, tho consequences at no distant day must be
disastrous"
The above may be found in the Standard Of June
16, 1860. ..... (
Again, on the 10th of September, 1860, we said:
The election Of Lincoln, meet to dissolution of
tho Union or the destruction Of State rights, would
be the greatest of all calamties"
In the Standard Of the same date we said
1--WE are neither disunionists nor the friends or
apologsts Of disunionists"
In the Standard of the same date we said:
I'VE know of no Breckenridge man in the State
who is in favor of dssolvlng the Union. The
truth is North Carolina has never followed South
Carolina in any Of her movements in relation to the
general government. The Union is not likely to be
dissolved in hurry"
And in the Standard of September %, 1860, in
an article replying to the Newborn Progress we said:
1--WE think the Progress does Mr.. Clingman in
justice in saying he is in favor of dissolving the
Union in the event of Mr.. Lincoln's election. We
do not so understand Mr.. C1iag,nan's petition"
In the Standard of the same date We said:
but We are told that though John c. Breckin-
ridge and 10 Lane are not themselves disunionsts
they are nevertheless supported by persons in the
| cotton States who Well, what of that? We
admit the fact-but does that change the character
Of the ticket? Suppose Lincoln should be elected
and before any overt act is attempted by the black
Republicans some of these cotton States should go
about to seccde from the Union, what would he the
| course Of Breckenridge and LaEe? They could not
and would not go with them. Their PLATFORM their
anteccdents their declarations their localities
say nothing of their inclinatons are all against
| sudden and violent rupture of the federal bonds
They practical as well as sagacious statesmen-
The evil which would drive them into the maestrum
of revolution must not be imaginary, dinarily
probable, but imminent They must despair of jus
tice and equality under old forms before they would
accept the hazards Of attempting to establish new
| ones IN -
The above is sufficient to Ahs~ that we have been
consistent on this subject. We have not changed
Our opinions in June were our opinions in Septem
ber-our opinions in September we're the same We
entertained in November, when We were defeated ol
opinions. The truth is it is secession assailan
who hare changed. They declared to the people tina
they we're better Union men thar the Douglas OF
Bell men; but, after they had obtained majority
of the peoples votes, they changed position ant
| came out for disunion.
Some of the disunionists, We understand, express
surprise at the hold which the Standard has on tn
public confidence We can tell these gentlemen tn
secret of this,-ue hare nerer declared the people,
We commit errors and make mistakes, but the pee
pie overlook these errors and mistakes because the
know are true to them, and because they know
We have never deceived them, and will not ALLOW
others to deceive them, if We can prevent it. Be
hold the secret gentlemen! 1t is contained in tn
following line which you learned when you wer
little boys and which you have not practced NOR
than you should have DONE
Hoaesty is tie best policy"