Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-22
For the Standard


Mr.. EDITOR There seems to be much differ
ence of opinion as 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-
factured in the Standard office; while one of them,
the Fayetteville O6seroer claims that the late Con-
gressional elections showed that majority of the
people of North Caroinawere opposed to the course
of the Standard ard Of the so-called peace party.
There are also fen eminent men in the State who
contend that the peace men are in q small minority,
that the proposition to call State Convention,
would be voted down by at least 10000 majority.
Now if these are really sincere why do they op-
pose proposition to submit the question Con-
vention or no Convention to the people? 1t the
people should vote down the proposition by such
majority they claim that they would, the whole
agitation would at once cease-and Of course all the
injury if any, which it produces to the Confederate
cause, would also cease; and the peace men would
be overwhelmed with shame and disgrace, for it is
we'll known that they claim to be in Gerry large
majority. / do not mean to call in question the
candor sincerity of these men, but certainly they
never took this view of the matter before and
think now have reason to believe that they will
cordially and zealous!y co operate with us in our
efforts to have the Legislature convened and the
question submitted to the people. I 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 a Convention, as 1 have no doubt they
would By very large majority who has any right
to complains The sovereignty of the State and of
the people is not questioned. They unquestiona
by 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 tie other
States of the Confederacy for the common veal
They have the right, in connection with the other
States assembled in Convention, to direct and con-
| troll their common agent the government at Rlch-
mond They have the right to demand of that gov
ernment that it shall at enter into negotiations
for peace upon such terms as they may direct, and
if will not do this they have right to TecoEe its
powers and terminate its existence, and then to in
sttute 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 her 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 ia State must herself be the sole
Judge of the time the mode, the manner and meas
ure Of redress"
Nay do not see how any man could question
her right if she thought it absolutely necessary for
her own safety, peaceably to sever her connection
| with the Confederate government, and enter into
negotiations for a.separate peace But while con-
J 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 Donnells
and host of others as wise aud 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 enton in any eventp
Another consideration to induce US to call Con
vention is, that the necessity for it may become i'm
perative Our State might possibly-which Goo
forbid-be overrun during the next spring or sum
mer, as Tennessee or Arkansas now is, and then M
Convention could be elected but by the consent o
our conquerors, and under such rules and regula
tions as they might establish. In such an event i
would certainly be Of the very highest Importance
that there should be a power in existence autho
rzed to negotiate in the name of the people.
PACIFICUS.