Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-21
For the Standard.
DISCUSSION AT CEDAR FORK, WAKE CO.

MR EDITOR: propose to give you a brief out
line of the discussion at Cedar Fork Academy, on
Saturday 10th inst, between Messrs. Badger and
Lewis and also an outline Of Mr.. Holden's remarks
at night [a- s.-s - = l -
Mr. Badger first addressed the audience. He said
that he stood before the people because they had
called him out meeting of Union men by ballot
had called him from the shades Of private life, and
he did not think that patriot, he could decline
He did not seek the place; he was getting old, be-
yond the age when ambition could prompt he
much preferred to pursue his profession, which a
large family compelled him to pursue for their sup
port But the people had called upon him, and he
could not refuse.
The question now presented to the people, said
Mr.. B., was UNION or DISUNIoN. Others will attempt
to convince the people that this is not the question
He then proceeded to show that the State Journal
was the authorized exponent Of the veiws and prn-
cpies of the Governor and the dominant party in
the Legislature. He quoted from the Journal an
article entitled Excellent Campaign Documents"
in which the Journal said, that the speeches of
MeSsrs. Fleming and Bridgers now ready call
ing upon the friends of the cause to buy them;
that they were put down at the low price OF $3.50
per hundred. Said Mr.. B., the more he sells of
these speeches the more money of course, he makes
He quoted from the speeches to show that they
thoroughly disunion that they might say they were
secession but said he, they disunon that they
were infanmatory, showing only one side of the
question:, Iney looked on Sue, anu HOC on
the bright side; that one, from reading them, would
suppose that the whole North was thoroughly Black
Republican. But there good men North, -Inen
who have voted with us on ali questions, who
have always commended for the rights Of the South
The North cast more votes against Lincoln than the
whole South. He contended that the South mad
rights in the Union and they should demand those
rights, and have the slavery question settled for
ever. He deprecated the hot haste of States south
of us. They had treated North. Carolina with the
greatest respect. They had consulted her on all
these great and vital issues They had always spo-
ken OF our State in terms Of the highest comm end
ation giving il the nice name of "a strip of land
lying betceen tco States" That from all these
sdcrations it behooved North Carolina to follow the
noble State of South Carolina. He did not have the
fine and sensitive feelings of honor and chivary that
some Of the hotspurs had; yet he knew his rights
quite well they did but he would take differ
ent mode of redress Of grievances. He said that he
believed that there still was hope that the Union
would be preserved that there were favorable indi-
cations that this question would he settled in man.
ncr perfectly satisfactory to the people North and
South that he would go for any plan which would
give satisfaction; that when failed he would try
another, and so on until the last hope was gone
then he would sec to the honor, integrity and
safety of North Carolina. Said he, AN AN OUT AND
OUT UNION MAN, AND WILL CLING TO THE UNION so
LONG OF HOPE, Others say
that they, too, are Union men but on condition
which, they say, is impossible. They say they are
for the Union if they can have heir rights, but
they say there is no hope-that they cannot get
them.
fear said he that they do not love the Union :;
for where there is no oUe there is no hope and love
is the handspring of everything. Those uho hare
hope, lie said, disunionists. (lIe here gave
very beautiful illustration Of love between lovers
| confess, said he, that love the Union, that it
cost immense sacrifice to make the Union, and that
ba, eho
be such as justify when North Carolina went out
she would go out-she toould not he kicietL'Out 6y
the Worth, nor dragged out by the South. She in
tended to preserve the Union by change in the
Constitution. guaranteeing to her and the whole
South, all their rights. But there must be time
We must put the matter before the people North
and South and he believed, firmly believed that the
North would grant it. But it takes time. Let us
" Watch and Wat" and seize the proper moment
Washington was not haSty and precipitate. Had
he been so, he would have achieved the indie
pendence Of his country. He watched the enemy,
and waited for the favorable moment, and success
crowned his acts Let us watch then, and North
Carolina will not be hurt; let wait until the
proper moment, and we can secure all for which
contender, and preserve and perpetuate the
Union.
There was Union still because some States had
gone out that did not dissolve the Union. There were
other States left and those States make Union
nor arc the seeded States the whole South There
are Virginia, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky and
North Carolina which are portion of the South,
and they have right to think and act as they
please, and they intend to do it Virginia, nohle
old Virginia has spoken, and asked all her sisters
to meet her in Convention and settle the matter in
| peace. Better to follow the example Of Virginia,
than SouthCarolina, to make an effort to preserve
! the Union for it is worthy Of all efforts.
| He alluded TO the manner in which the States had
! been carried for secession. False kilograms were
circulated the of the election to precipitate
them. 1t circulated that the federal troops were
then actually bombarding Charleston; that there was
great dissatisfaction in those States particularly
! North Alabama was opposed to secession that the
people deprived of the right of ratllying the
acts Of the Convention; that the right Of free discus
sion and free press were denied; that they were
allowed to speak and write just what they please
| France, you can speak and write what you please
provided the Emperor approve Of it.
He said that they had an idea South that Cotton
is King. He thought not. He disliked the title Of
king any way. They raise cotton, sell it for money
and then buy Yankee corn. Now suppose they say
you shall not have our cotton-we will not sell it
why, of course, they will not have money to buy
corn, and they must have something to eat They
can't eat their cotton he did not think that cot
ton the only king. He then read from a Flor
ida paper, stating that the people had only five days
in which to vote; giving also an account Of famine
ana calling the attention oil the Legislature to the
necessity of providing for feeding the people vel
as arming them; that they ought to buy some Yam
kee corn and bacon well as rifles and muskets
The paper stated that many were suffering anG
must suffer unless steps taken to furnish then
with bread. He then alluded to Floridas resumine
her sovereignty; said she was bought from the
King of Spain; that the President appointed
Council to govern her, and asked where she evel
had any sovereignty to resume; that when sht
came into the Union she then received sovereignty
from the general government; that the government
had spent seventy eighty millions of dollars fol
her, and as soon as the federal treasury becam,
empty she resumed her sovereignty. Little FlOridt
resumed her Souereignty! q : ) >
The time having expired, the Hon. ex-senator