Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-17
The state Convention.

Inc Staie convention.
This body adjourned on Tuesday last, after ses.
sion of % days, subject TO the call of the President
and portion of the members; and if not re-assem-
bled before the 1st of November, 1862, it will be
dissolved.
The Ordinance and Resolutions which were adopt
ed will appear soon in the Standard.
On motion of Mr. Barnes, the thanks Of the body
were unanimously rendered to the Hon. Weldon N.
Edwards, for the ability, dignity and impartiality
with which he had presided over its deliberations;
and in response, adjourning the Convention, Mr..
Edwards delivered with much feeling the follow.
ing admirable address,
DELEGATES: For this new proof of your kindness
to me- pray you to accept all the acknowledge.
ment of which grateful heart is capable. am
unable to give utteraHce to the emotions excited oy
the kind compliment just paid me by your resolu-
ton. 1t affords me the pleasing assurance that the
same unremitted application to duty and the same
earnest cndeavors to comply with its strictest re-
quirements, which induced your generous approval
at former sessions have been employed by me du-
ring the lsbors of the present; and it is highly
gratifying to believe that your tolerant spirit and
unmeasured indugencies have left me nothing to
regret save the blunders-I hope they are few
may have committed; and that in regard to them,
need only appeal to your generosity for forgive
ness.
Allow me, gentlemen, to refer for moment only
to the stirring times IN which we have acted, and
which are still in progress Our acts will speak for
themselves; they will tell the future historian to
what record to look for fidelity in duty and patri-
otto conservatism in council; they will vindcate
this body against the undeserved censures which
are, with witless extravaganza, aimed at It. 1t
would, indeed, have been strange-we should have
been derelict in the discharge of the grave duties
| Iol
esteem, more precious than all else besides-had we
pandered to the preudices of the ignorant, or heed
ed the croakings of the discontinued. Our duty was
to country, and that, am persuaded, has been
discharged in spirit and with intentions that leave
| no sting behind and which should commend our
conduct to the favorable consideration of all men.
| We shall in good time, return to those who gave
| them the powers entrusted to us unmpaired, and
verify believe unabused. War is scourge to any peo-
ple-and that in which We engaged is the worst
of wars, but l think l know the popular heart of
North Carolina we'll enough to believe that her no.
| BILE and gallant sons would even welcome such a
war with all its calamtes than stoop to the
base humiliation of craven submission, an igno-
bic surrender of the rights of freemen Other peo-
pie have bucked their armor and have rallied in
the tented field to meet the shock of war, for the
purpose of acquiring rights. We, on the contrary,
| are engaged in glorious struggle-not to acquire
but to maintain and defend rights, already ours by
|
the very people who now seek treacherously to de-
spoil US of them-ours by the will and endowment OF
an, all-wse and over ruling Providence A brave
and virtuous and Christian people contendng for
rights vouchsafed to them in sacred trust by kind
Providence if they Will but show themselves duti-
full and faithful guardians of such trust may repose
with confidence that the same Providence will shield
them in the darkest hour of their trials that His
power will be their strength. Let us then be just
and true to ourselves, and put our trust in Him
who holds in the palm of His hands the destinies o.
nations and individuals, and my word for it, the
vessel of State freghted with the fortunes of the
sons and daughters of the South will ride out the
storm in safety.
Gentlemen, we are about to part. | affect moth
ing when say it is painful to separate from friends
whose companionship, in all its relations, social ant
official has been to me the source of so much graft
fication and pleasure feel that have contracted
to you debt, which no time can obterate-but il
is debt of the heart, which would not if / could
extinguish My fervent prayer is. that peace ant
prosperity may be speedily restored to our beloved
country-and that each and all of you may share
without stint, their richest blessings. safe return
to your families ard friends, and all happiness eve
await you and them.
l. remains for me only to announce that this Con
ven.ion stands adjourned, subject to be convened
only in the manner prescribed in your own ordi
nance.