Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-08-26

can % done, the soar .oiU be at an end. Is tin
"o.'a the triall If the two armies should on !.
80. 20 listen to the voice of negotiation, our wo
- :. nostillties would not be resumed The who !.
.s''0n would pass, and pass finally into the ham
VI the Statesmen Of the two sections. Grim-v
'sea war would smooth his wrinkled front 1T
aio'rament Of the sword would give place to II =
,o''s OF discussion and negotiation-reason wou +
&c substituted for passion and revenge, and the e
'pefsaons OF the two sections, cooled and sober,
" rejection and calm survey of the entire stu.,
aCn' past present, and future would leave the mi,
y tue country in . condition to devise some mea,
or restoring peace on terms honorable to all. N
viii these movements by the States depress or d.
courage our soldiers in the field. On the contrar
{ 'hey viii tight and endure with renewed Cheerful
ness when they know that their friends at home j
o'n,t''ng no steps that may promise to crown the
w'tn the reward of all their toils-a just and hon.
aoie peace. But it is said that some of the cote
states are already greatly distressed and that til,
may soon indicate wish for negotiations. But tn. {
are already subjugated and at the mercy Of the en-
N.Y. mississippi and Louisiana are PROSTATE, sull,
ana Silent They have ceased, so far as their PEI
pie Ut home are concerned, both to fight and tai i
ior peace. They are powerless. South Carolir !
ana Alabama may soon be in similar condition.
Must we await the action of these States And. !
we 90, are We, with arms in our hands, unsubduef !.
wA the port and spirit of freemen still characteristic
our people, to be bound by wha: they may ayr ::
TOT They are in no condition to offer terms, b.
are. We may interpose to obtain terms for the !,
and ourselves, but they are comparatively powe j.
less, with the hoof Of the invader already on the !.
breasts. The O6serrsr says, "if we bad gain.
some great victory or series Of victories recently
" there would be some sense in proposing to neg
tate" But when shall We gain even one great vi
torys Still, suppose We should, we hope we ma.
what would be the resultP What is to become /
Maryland Kentucky, Missouri, and Western Vi !
ginias Does any one believe that great victo,
would not encourage our government to insist th
oil these States shall 60 with us2 Will one gre:
victory, or series Of victories wrest from the emf
my, the Mississippi valley2 Are we likely to r..
capture Vicksburg Port Hudson, Memphis, Mattel ;
ez, and Nashville, or either Of them Z We fear no
Can we even drive the enemy from Newbern, in OF :
own State? Will we be able three months hen. !
to hold the Wilmington and Weldon Road? ]
Charleston safe Is Richmond entirely sale : Thes :
are questions which deserve the most serious cor
sheraton. Reasoning and reasonable beings mu. !:
look ahead, if they would profit by the lessons q,
the past provide for the future. The farmer VIII
pitches his CROP and the mechanic who casts off b; ;
work, look ahead and provide for events sha
those who have in charge the affairs OF great pee
pie be less thoughtful and less forecasting? eth
wise man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, III
fools pass on and are punished" @
The Obssrcsr does US the justice to say that " !,
are opposed to reconstructing the old government,
We are opposed to it. and have been from the first,
whatever some of our correspondents may have bee'
permitted to say to the contrary; but having pu:
the whole matter on the issue of the sword
having discarded reason under the pressure Of c,
cumstances We could not avoid and having appeale
tophyscal force we do not hesitate tosay, before
would see our State permanently subjugated AM,
trodden down. IS Mississippi is, we would consen
to restoration Of ~ old government the estab
1sAment Of Lew common government With a!
our rights guaranteed, as the lesser evil. But "
would avoid this by all the means in our power, a
a great political and sectional humiliation; an.
hence We are for fighting and talking at the sam
time for some settlement which will leave at least
portion Of the slaveholding States under separate
common government If forced to choose between
the two evils we would rather I've aoith than under
the Northern people. Our resentments are a,
strong as they can be against those who have car
ried fire and sword through our country, and many
of whose soldiers have committed wanton and cruel
outrages on our people; but We could not as ra
tional being, sacrifice the happiness and the lives
of both races in the South merely to crafty hatred
and revenge.
fhe Obsercer thinks We have given way befor.
the assaults of our enemies, and have acted indis
creetly under numerous provocations. We may
+ have acted ndiscreetly, but we have not been pro
vokea to it Many of the assaults Of our enemie.
in the newspapers we never read-some of them VI
notice in the Standard, and then forget them. Ou
course is the result Of serious deliberate considers
ton. We do not regard our enemies. Their as
saults never occasion more than q passing emotion
of pity, scorn, or contempt.
We confess we are touched by the earnest appea
which the O6seroer makes to Us to discountenance
the meetings being held by the people; and if "
thought their tendency as injurious as they are con
sidered by the Obseruer, should not hesitate t
beg the people to discontinue them. But we ar
not responsible for them. They had their origin il
the policy of the administration at Richmond, an
! in the great desire which exists for peace. Tn
public press may be able to modify the action 9
! these meetings in some respects; but the publ
l man who denouuces these meetings, or denies t
the people the right to assemble and consult an
speak freely for the common good, will snap like
I pipe stem in the torrent We-do not fear
hear the people speak, even amid the thunder
I of revolution. The philosopher who attracts tn
: lightning from the cloud is powerless to arres
{ the hurricane which is generated in its bosom
Our columns always open to the people, and e'
peciay to those of them who agree US in opir
I ion. We hope never o.see the day in North Carr
lima when the people will be denied the privilege