Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-17
From the HilIsborough Recorder

The current of public opinion sets strongly for
making the Hon. VIM. A. Graham our next Gov
ernor. was glad to read your article some weeks
ago on the subject In times of revolution, laws
and constitutions often suspended, and the honor
lives liberty and estates of the people placed the
keeping of single man. The unconstitutional, ar
birary and tyranncal decree set up by the supreme
power al Richmond as we'll as in our own State, is
suhclent to awaken every lover of justice liberty
and social order, lively interest in the question,
Who shall reign over US who shall be next Gov
ernor? need not tell your readers allude to the
decree gone forth from Richmond that they are to
deliver up their guns to Mr.. Ashe for a price, if
they will, and whether they will or not it must be
done, if Mr. Ashe wills it.
Another stIetch of arbitrary and unlimited power
is the seizng by the Confederate Government of all
railroads belonging not only to citizens but to sover-
e'gn States And not to be endured is another
wrong, SEEING the bodies of citizens belonging to
the sovereign State of North Carolina and transport
ing them to Richmond for trial
Certain members of our Convention are trying to
stlgmatse the whole people of North Carolina by
the passage of hateful and 10 be hated sedi-
ton act, which means the people shant talk against
the Government or their rulers Such sentiment
is worthy OF Lincoln. If he could have suppressed
all talk against hmsefand his government he might
have had more tranquil time. The government is
weak that can be talked down, and if let alone will
fall OF ITSELF Governments are never talked down.
1t requires blood to establish and blood to destroy
them. Our people work too much and read too lit
tle not to allow full, free and unrestraned discus
sion upon their government, laws and rulers 1t
was once said IN the presence of Mr.. Jefferson,
Man cannot be trusted with the government of
himself" Then" said Mr.. Jefferson, "how can
he be trusted with the government of others ?"
IT the members OF the Convention are not to be
trusted to talk of the government and rulers as they
please, who will trust them to lay restriction and
penal acts upon the people in this particular? If
they think they sinned in too much talking against
Lincolns government, let them talk less against the
Confederate government.
If you will have the people reconciled to govern
ment and not speak evil of it. let them retain their
guns, let them have their trials at home and by
their own laws; above ALL let them talk freely, and
in their own way, not the Convention dictates
But to return to the question of Governor.
know nothing better calculated to multiply the
peoples miSeries, and to hurry the country into
final and complete ruin, than placing weak, ncom-
petent, and even inefficient at the head of af-
fairs. Much as We have suffered, we have not seen
or felt the worst. The enemy are upon our SOIL
threatening us with fire and sword thrstng for
blood, ready TO murder, and then to rob- The fu-
ture is full of triumphs it is also full of accidents
calamites, dangers and deaths. We cannot afford
to experiment in any such folly as placing unknown
untried men in high places.
Who IN these perilouS times does it behoove the
people to elect as Governor? virtuous man {?
no;-a truthful man? "a man of courage?
no; "a man Of intellectual endowments and great
attalnments? no. No one of these qualities will
do The man for Governor must have not one, but
all Of these qualities.
No man possesses all of these qualities in more
pre-eminent degree than Governor Graham. No
man has given to the people more examples of dis
interested patriotism, political wisdom, and public
virtue. Every patriotic citizen could think and
speak of his election with honest pride, feeling
confident that he had committed to safe hands his
interest, honor, country and ALL None could feel
rebuked subducd save the political intriguer,
whose patriotism borrows zeal from the prospect of
office The soldier, periing all for his country,
will feel an honest pride in his Governor, when he
reflects that he has four sons who share his hard
ships and partake of his tolls.
Pat Inc down first for Graham, and next for the
man who, like Graham, has steady and permanent
rule for his conduct, both public and private.
HAWFIELDS.