Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-15

OQI NII0o, WItuu THO poS6 w 6tto
been more disastrous in military point Of view
than in their effects upon the civil and political as
peet OF affairs The dangers of . civil and polltical
nature which have been threatened almost from the
9 announcement Of the war, seem about to eulminate
with theprSsnt session Of Congress
- ltiS prudent at tins time 20 refrain as much as
possible from censure it may be that the exlgen
ces OF the country ars unavoidable result Of IN
eSit6b ev snts that little blame reasonably
attach to any official or Department of the gpyr9-
ment further than for the want Of foresight when
is generally inseparable from the ffaiity OF human
wisdom. But, emergencies have arisen that seem,
in some degree to Justify measures very dangerous
mot only tha consequences but by reason OF the
precedent which may be made th5 ground for fu.
ture action and still luEther departures from these
fundamental maxims law and liberty, up n which
alone rest the security and freedom Of the people
and the States. By reference to the many bills res
Olutions and proposals for action now before Con-
Rress the most inexperienced observer is obliged
to see, that assumptions Of power the most danger
Gus, and measures the most questionable are sup
posed requisite to the pubic safety aud 70 the sue
cessfu prosecution of the war. It is evident, that
the powers eeded to the general government by the
Confederate Consultation are not deemed sufficient
for the crisis under the well settled Interpretation
of them meaning and jmplicationS and that powers
not eeded must be assumed, or new and ddestiona
bic constructions given TO- the Constitution, to ena
BILE the government to grapple with the dangers and
perpexities of its present position. Here is gov
ernmentspressed by the force of arms to the immi
Aent danger of subYersion, but still aboring under
the restraints of limited and defined powers and be-
set BY thu very proper and natural jealousy of Its
people and. constituent States--Eigilant IS they
should he Of Inc least threst upon theiF liberties
and alarmed at the first appearance Of arbitrary
: power. Add to this the fact that the Confederate
goTerpment is not recognized by any nation, and is
-entirey repudiated and ignoredby the federal gov
ernInepS with which Il is. at wsr. And then, the
conflicting judicial decisions of the State Courts
the conflicting views Of Executive duty held
by the Governors and the diversity of private sent
shent and interest all conspire to add perplexity
and embarrassment -. 5e<1-,- 49,. go -
Now, Sir where lies the ability and. authority to
untange this web of difficulties, bot in Conventions
to be called by the individual StatesIr Let each
State cali Convention OF its people under the forms
and requirements of its own Constitution, and thus,
in its sovereign capacity, speak upon the present
posture Of affairs The partial suspension of active
hostilities during the winter affords aspresent op-
portonity fer this course of action, which may not
sRgais occur, until toolate. North Carolina may as
siHeA lead as any other State The Governor might
COZ VeRe the Legislature, at once and the Cunven
ton be called without delay, and commissioners be
semitic the other States for.the purpose of urging
corporation. It could do haFm-while the in
dcatiSns clear that such step is not only neces
saTy but Indispensable to the safety and preserva
ten of the country and its institutions Ii mig
indeed cause some similar action the part Of the
&orthern States aud bring theirsoveFeign aNthori-
y and rights to beaDupon the governmeutat WASH
sington., s-.s .sgas ~ b, .',t1t oai e .
But it may be asked, what could these GOnVen-
tons dos They might do much. Should they see
proper to advise or sanction the exercise Of ques-
tonable powers or doubtful sxpedents on the part
OF the Confederate government the people of the
various States would yield q more ready obedience
and appreciation. And by such advice and sanction
any EVIL precedent would lose its force upon future
action because it cou not be appealed to without
bringngup the necessity ofagain resortng tosimi-
lar authority from the several States This view of
the effect upon the force of dangerous precedents,
supposed to be neeeSsitated by the emergency of
the present time is matter of no small importance,
ntrinsically-but taken in connection with the &C
customel jealousy of the people and the States it
cannot with safety, be overlooked 1t is fully IN
derstood and deeply felt the people and the States
that the justification of the least assumption of arbl
trary power, the ground that it is required for
toe public good," should be most carefully scruti-
nized because it is Of all pretexts the most easily
made. If assumptions of power at this time are
really necessary for the public good their sane
ton by the State Conventions would remove not
only the evil of the precedent but also State ieal
ousy-and it would go very far TO quiet the fears
and opposition of the people and such Conventions
might prevent adverse decisions in State Courts and
conflicting Executive action. -
will not mention any measures of the Confeder-
ate Congress invdiously or for the purpose of GEN.
sure. But for disqualification, somewhat in detail,
let US reeur to the seeming breach of faith by re-
tanning the twelve months men-by the conscrip-
ton of principals who have furnished substitutes
and by laws affecting the contract set forth on
the fAee Of Treasury notes. Ada to these the legal
suspension of the writ of habeas corpus within
limited districts threatened by the enemy-folowed
by the illegal suspension of it in districts not SO
threateued-and the virtual suspension OF it in all
parts of the country, by the actuasrress by mill
Iary officers Of citizens not connected with the army,
and their transportation to military prisons, where
the writ of habeGs corpus is deniei and resisted
And now propositions of still more alarming char
ecter are pending and likely to become laws-and
even the establishment OF military dictatorship is
mentioned and discussed. All this is urged upon
the ground, that the condition of the country. has
reached that critical point of extreme danger where
pressed by armed foes and interna necessities, x
traordinary measures must be TAKEN or all be los
If such be really the case, the time has arrive 4
when the States should hold Conventions consult
upon the state of the Republic and to take such.
steps as are most proper for the "public good -
be those steps, either the strengthening the hanis
of the Confederate government or urging upon it
the submission of propositions for an honora Die.
peace - ,-,-,.,..,----------
Would IL nut bs wen Tor North Carolina to move,
at once while comparatively free from the influence
of federal armies /, The vcissitudes q war may
soon place the State in condition in which the
election ofAelegates to Convention would not be
untrammelled 1t would be better to elect Con-
Sgntoa now, than to be compelled to hold the cleo
lions under such circumstances environ the States
3oi Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas and
louisiana p - OBSERVER. ?.
TIE SrRAGeLERs.-A gentleman who has travelled
of late extensively in the Confederacy. informs Us
that he has met everywhere vast number of sok-
diers-as large number, he thinks, there are IN
camp-who are now absent from their duty. This
agrees with the reports we receive from every
quarter, and which are confirmed by the declaration
Of the Secretary Of War; that the larger part Of the
or,ny ORC ahSenf from their posSs friend of oDFs