Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-06-08
=. = NortJ-Garplina 5tanhar1
For the Standard.

Nully-N/AtutlaH. "ta'tu"t "
A-sl,t' .->7i - For the Standard.
Coy. vance's Wilkesboroush Speech.
Nix. EDiroR;-This speech which has attraetei
great deal of attention, both IN ana ons OF Inc
v.s reviewed in a mastery manner by writer in
the Standard Of the 9th of April, over the signature
Of Conservative, but as that writer took no no
tice of the historical portion Of the speech hope
you will indulge Inc with space in. your paper TO
make some remarks upon those portions OF It, as
we'll az upon the historical subjects to which nc
slludes.
It will BE remembered that the worthy Governor
sets out in that speech with the declaration that ne
ia going to do what is very rare in a polt'c!an,
"tell the truth" Yet if His Excellency has failed
to ell the truth" in those parts o. his speech IN
which he endeavored to warn the people against the
terrible consequences of some Of the measures of
the Conservatives, especially Of Convention, ne
may be pardoned for in such cases he had to rely
upon his own Judgment and could only give his
own opinions, and was quite as likely to be mlsta-
ken as any other man. But when passing from
those subjects be attempts to enlighten the people
by citations from familiar history, he should be
held to the strictest accountability. admit the
Governors object was good one-the encourage
,nent of our people in the struggle for independence
q
that he would have scorned to make any statement
which was not strictly true. Nor was it necessary
that he should, for cause which will not succeed
by the aid of truth alone, will not succeed at all,
nor does it deserve to- .
giving the facts truly as they are, and let the peo
pie Judge for themselves how far the Governor
redeemed the pledge made in the outset of his
speech. Abiding to the struggle Of the States of
ollo nd fnri ind ho
Phillip the II, and his grand armies and those of
his successors for eighty years and their miserable
little country, denominated outcast by men and
Gods finally triumphed preserved its liberties and
secured permanent peace, despite the efforts of
tyrant who held millions of men in subsection !"
The reader unacquainted with the history of the
events would naturally be led to suppose that the
provinces contended single-handed for "eighty
years with the then gigantic power of Spain
Such, however, was far from being the case; but
the history of that struggle is in many respects
one of the most interesting in the world, | will
hastily sketch its outline,
The countries composing. the Netherlands, as
they were generally called, were distinguished in
ancient history. We learn from Caesar that they
were among the most stubborn of the tribes that
opposed the progress of the Roman arms. One of
the provinces l believe was never entirely subu
gated by them, but was allowed to retain its an.
Gent laws and institutions. They were also among
the first who, under the lead of the noble Batavian
Claudius Ciyis, attempted to throw off the Roman
authority. After the fall Of the Roman Empire.
they become part Of France, and formed part Of
the magnificent Empire of Charlamagne When
the Empire was transferred to Germany they re-
NAMED for many years with France. In the ninth
or tenth century, however, they were again trans.
ferred to the Empire and were divided into o
number of small principalities, and governed by
number of petty sovereigns. There was a Duke of
Brabant Count of Holland, Count of Flanders,
Count of Hainault a Bishop Of Utrecht and many
others. The prerogatives of all of them were more
age liberal. In the fifteenth century the sovereign.
ty all these countries fell to the Duke of Burgundy,
Philip the Good" some by inheritance,
some by the usur atoms of the rights of his neice
Jacqueline Of Hainault Thus united under single
they became one of the most fourshing
countries in the world. Their sovereignty descen-
ded from him to his son, Charles the Bold He was
not in any sense of the word statesman, and
possessed none of the attributes of warrior but
personal courage. He deserved the appelaation of
" the Bold and never deserved any other. He
however, nearly succeeded in crushing out the lib
critics of the Netherlands, and subvcNng their free
constitutions
Upon the death of Charles, they fell by inheri-
lance to his daughter, Mary of Burgundy, a prin-
cess offender years. Durin Z the early part of her
reign, the Netherlands took advantage of the occa.
sion to recover back all and more than all the
liberties which they had lost by the usurpations of
her father and grandfather. The cities OF Holland
Flanders and the other provinces, called conven-
lion at Ghent The result Of their deliberations was
the formal grant by the Duchess Mary of the "Groot
Privilege" or Great Privilege, the Magna Caarta
Of Holland. Although this instrument was after
wards violated, and indeed abolished it became the
foundation of the Republic 1t was recapitulation
and recognition of ancient rights not an acquisition
OF new privileges. 1t was restoration not Revo.
luton. This Charter summary annihilated all the
despotIc arrangements of Charles the Bold. The
law, the sword, the purse were all taken from the
Sovereign and placed within control of Parliament
No law, no taxes, no edct could be imposed upon
them butby the consent of the provincial estates
" Certainly for the fifteenth century," says Motley
" the Great Privilege was reasonably liberal
constitution"
Afterwards, the Lady Mary married the Arch
duke Macmillan of Austria, subsequently Emperor
Of Germany. After few yeaH she died from
fall from her horse leaving the inheritance to her
son Phillip, a minor of four years, which thus
passed to the House of Austria. When Phillip.
surnamed the Fair" arrived at mans estate, he
married Joanna, daughter of the celebrated Fcrdi.
nsnd and Isabella, King and Queen of CASTLE and
Arragon. The eldest son of this marriage was the
celebrated Charles the v. Upon the deaths of Fer
dinand and Isabella he succeeded them as sovereign
Of CASTLE and Arragon thus uniting them into The
single compact kingdom Of SPAIN Upon the death
OF his father he succeeded him in the sovereignty of
the Netherlands. He was subsequently elected EN-
peror Of Germany, and thus became the most pow.
erfol potenta:e that Europe had seen since the DAYS
o. O. onaremagne. Though king in Spain, and an
emperor in Germany, he was but Count in Hol.
Land and Flanders, duke in Brabant He was an
iiberal and despotic prince and totally disregarded
the Constitutions granted by his grandmother, Ma
y Of Burgundy, which he was enabled to do by
means Of the power derived from his other domin.
sons. After many years of successful warfare. he
vas worsted towards the close of his career by the
Protestant princes of the Empire especially by Mau
us llse'or Of saxony against whom he had takenup
arms 70 prevent the progress of the Reformation Of
which be was the avOwed champion. This war was
terminated by the peace Of Passau in 1855 BY which
the protestants Of the Empire obtained complete
federation. The Netherlands being nominallv With,
~ the circle of the Emnire cl.;mod d. Gun