Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-27
For the Standard.

tue OIapQdf0s
Mr.. EDITOR There seems to be much differ.
ence of opinion to what the political sentiments
Of the people of North Carolina, at this time, really
are Some OF the Destructive journals Of the State
charge that the letters published from time to time
in the columns of the Standard, showing public
sentiment in different parts of the State are manu
tactnred in the Standard Office; while one Of them,
the Fayetteville O5serrsr claims that the late Con-
gressionai elections showed that majority Of the
people OF North Carolina were opposed to the course
OF the Standard aud of the so:called peace party.
There are also a tew eminent men in the State who
contend that the peace men are in a small minority
that the proposition to call State Convention.
would be voted down by at least 10000 majority.
Now, these men are really sincere why do they op-
pose our proposition to submit the question Of Con.
yention or no Convention to the people? If the
people should vote down the proposition by such q
major!ty as they claim that they would, the whole
injury, any, which it produces to the Confederate
cause, would also cease; and the pence men would
be overwhelmed with shame and disgrace, for it is
we'll known that they claim to be in eery large
9a2gity 9g Do not mean to call in question the
never took this view of the matter before; and I
think now have reason to believe that they will
cordially and zealously CO operate with US in our
efforts to have the Legislature convened, and the
question submitted to the people. do not see
how they can do otherwise, if they are honest in
their opinions.
But if on the other hand, the people should.
really call q Convention as l have no doubt they
would nv a very large majority. who has any right
to complain The sovereignty of the State and of
the. people is not questioned. They unquestoua-
bly, have the right if they choose to exercise it, Of
assembling in Convention, to consult together for
the public good, and also to consult with the other
States of the Confederacy for the common veal
oFhey have the right in connection with the other
States assembled in Convention, to direct and con-
troll their common agent, the governpent at Rich
mond. They have the right to demand of that gov
kernment that it shall at enter into negotiations
for peace upon snch terms as they may direct, and
if it will not do this they have right to reoote its
powers and terminate its existence and then to in
stitute negotiations themselves. But the people Of
the State in Convention assembled, have still high
er powers. If the CO operation Of the other States
cannot be obtained, suppose no one will, at this
late day, undertake to deny that the State may re-
dress ber own grievances, of which she has many
and most serious ones to complain. The doctrines
taught by the States Rights men, and which they
learned from the great founder Of their party, Thos
Jefferson is that "a State must herself be the sole
judge of the tis the mode, the manner and meas
urs Of redress"
Nay, I do not see how any man could question
her right she thought it absolutely necessary for
her own safety, peaceably to sever her connestion
with the Confederate government and enter into
negotiations for separate peace. But while con-
tend for this right, do not mean to say that it
| ought to be exercised Immediately, if at all. The
people would undoubtedly elect their very wisest
and best men and ablest statesmen, to represent
them in such Convention. There would be her
Grahams, her Browns, her Dicks, her Dockerys,
her Settles, her Reades her Warrens, her Donpells
and host of others as wise and true as they, and
to them all of these matters could be safely trusted
They would never inaugurate any measures which
the honor ard safety Of the State did not impera
lively demand. Where, then, is the danger Of call
ing Conv ention in any event2
Another consideration to induce US to call Z Con
venton is that the necessity for it may become i'm
perative. Our State might possiby-which Goo
| forbid-be overrun during the next spring or sum
mer, as Tennessee or Arkansas now is, and then ne
Convention could be elected but by the consent o
our conquerors, and under such rules and Sesu.-
tions as they might establish In such an event II
would certainly be Of the very highest importance
that there should be 4 power in existence autho
r,zed to negotiate in the name Of the people.
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