Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-26
WHICH Is THE MANLIER COURSE.

The Precipitationsts in Virginia and the South,
who urge so vehemently immediate secession from
the Union, as the only relief from present grievances
and impending wrongs under estimate the spirit
and power of the South, much as they fall below
the full measure of the rights of the South. We
cannot wait they tell us" we must act promptly,
or shall be crushed" Are they serious who ad-
dress this argument to our fears? Surely not! The
people of the slave States are some nine millions
strong Of desperate valor and skilled in the use Of
arms. And may not such people pause to take
counsel together mature their plans and make their
action, whatever it be, efficient to effect their pur-
pose? Who shall assa them? The North is divided.
Lincoln obtained some loo, 900 Northern votes,
and there were some 800 900 Northern votes cast
against him. Our friends voters in the North ex-
coed the whole vote cast in the South! In ballot
of 3,000. 900 of Northern votes they lack only
some 100000 Of majority We have, too ma
jorty in the Senate and House of Representatives;
and without their consent Lincoln cannot raise
dollar in money, nor single soldier to assail U.S.
The old forcebill under which President jackson
proposed to act has ceased to exist and there is
law, now force, under which an attempt can be
made to coerce u.s. Mr.. Buchanan who will remain
in power for two months is opposed to coercion
and Lincoln will find his hands tied, If he has
the will to use force. We are strong-the North
divided, and Lincoln powerlesS. We can take time
to mature our plans, and then move with a united
'front.' the firm tread and invincible power of ian
army with banners" And who shall dare advise
the bold and powerful South to run out for fear
Of being crushed?' The Union has nurSed and
cherished her into mighty strength and the South
knows no fear. This great slave power is not
"young child" Our fathers gave goodly herit-
age, rich in present blessings and all glorious with
the golden promise of ye. richer uton in the years
to come. And now, when some Of the heirs attempt
to misnianage this grand plantation, shall we, who
are equal heirs, "secede" and leave the whole in
heritance to them? We have equal rights in the
common territories. Shall "secede" and yield
them all without struggle? We have equal rights
to the common treasure and other public property.
Shall We abandon all a.? We have right to demand
the faithful execution Of the fugitive slave law;
right to demand the value Of slaves already escaped
and right to demand full performance of all the
covenants of the Constitution Shall not the people
of the Southern States wait to take counsel together
and see what is best to be DONE and what they can
do or will you give up all without an effort! Let
initiate fathers, and hold Congress" of
the aggrieved States and maintain what it may de-
eide is best to be done. If that Congress determines
to dissolve this Union let it initiate the old Cont
mental Congress, and make joint declaration of
Southern Independence; but we confess decided
preference for the holder policy of standing our
ground, and maintaining our rights in the Union
Should Southern Congress decide on separation, it
would of course include fair division of the public
property, the territories included, with such ar
rangements if possible, would secure peace be-
tween the sections. But separate partial seces-
sion abandons ALL and leaves weak and powerless
. for all time to come-RichmOnd Wing.