Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-01
From the Progress ]

Boyce. Mr.. Boyee speaks with a candor and bold
ness rare in revolutionary times. From the partl-
Fan and sectioaast he suddenly full grown AMER
IcAN statesman. He is the first statesman of the
South since the war commenced, who has had the
maGliness to come before the public as an Amer
ican-as national statesman-and give utterance
to national views and national sentiments, daring to
tell President Davis and the powers that be, the
truth and the whole truth. He was, believe, an
original secessionist At that time his Judgment
was blinded by partiZan zeal and sectional feelings
Time and events have sobered him, and he has re-
gained his lost equilibrium. He now takes calm
and diSpasSiouate view Of matters anG sees his for
mer error, and he has the manlineSS to give ut
tersnce TO his convictions Such is, imagine the
history of his mind. 1t is the history of many
thousands Of Southern minds, who have not, like
him. the nerve the moral courage, to brave tempo
rarily public opinion and sentiment in order to
render great service to their country.
Mr. Boyce once saw no hope OF preserving hoer-
ty i'll the South but through permanent separation
from and eternal hatred fthe North. He now sees
none but IN reconciliation with the North. He
gives his reasons for his present opinions, and, IN
my humble judgment they are conclusive. The
opinions which he now entegtaiDs have been enter
tanned by me from the beginning "without vari
ableness or the shadow of turning" and for the
same reasons as we'll as some others, have been
often expressed. Mr.. Boyce takes the ground that
if this continent is to be divided into two more
separate nations they must of necessity become mil
itary despotiSms This position he proves from
the history Of European countries. Indeed, nothing
be certain than that when one of the
powers so formed establishes a standing army as a
permanent institution, toe others must do so like
wise cease to exist This condition of things
evenuates sooner later, in the formation of as
many military despotisms as there are separate pow
ers. Il cannot be otherwise.
All the governments founded upon the RUNS OF
the old Roman Empire were very limited-in fact
very free,-England was perhaps the least free of
any of them. They all maintained their free Con.
situations until the system Of standing armies was
established on the continent. Then, one after an
other they became absolute and liberty ceased to
exist the continent Of Europe forever, except
among the mountains of Switzerland. England,
saved by her insular situation from the necessity OF
keeping standing army not only retained her an
Gent liberties but extended them. Her monarchy
has become more and more limited, until since the
revolution of 1858, the Democratic branch of her
government, the House of Commons, has become
supreme in the State. If the continent of America
should be divided into two or more Independent
powers, what guarantee have we that the same con-
dition Of things will not obtain that has obtained
On the continent of Europe? None whatever In
deed as Mr. Boyce says, the events of the last
three years prove conclusively that such will be
the case.
But suppose there was no danger to liberty by
the establishment Of two or mere powers in what
was once the United States, an American statesman
would do well to ascertain whether or not separa-
tion practicable. At the commencement of
the secession movement most Of the Southern states
men, like Mr.. Boyce were too much infamed hy
sectional hatred to calmly investigate the matter.
Now that much Of that hatred has expended itself
in war, and as consequence reason is again re-
Stunning her sway, would it not be well enough for
US, since the first fury of the storm has spent ITSELF
to cast anchor, take our latitude and ascertain
where we are?
When we take survey Of the country which
once composed the United States, it is difficult to
resist the conviction that nature Intended it 10 con-
tain but one great nation, at least that it could
never be divided in the way in which it is now be-
ing attempted. Nature certainly never intend ed
that the mighty Mississippi and its tributaries should
water or drain more than one nation Close the
Mlss sppi to the Northwestern States by transfer
ring its month to another nation, and they become
the most completely landlocked country Of any con-
siderable dimensions in the world. 1t is not for
moment to be supposed that the people of that Sec
ton would ever consent, under any cir cumstances
to any such transfer In the very act Of giving
such consent they would be signing their own
death warrant. 1t is useless to promise them the
free navigation OF that great river. They reply,
You can give no stronger guar antee than q
mere treaty stipulation ard like all treaties it will
be liable to be violated or reScinded whenever the
party making it SHALL of its own mere voliton
choose to do SO. We har not forgot en- how many
wars have been produced - Europe by the violation
ofJust such treaties. And, though ,ve may have
no particular reason TO question y0ur good faith
yet nothing can ever induce us 70 place ourselves
In your Pcver." Nor can we blame them. What
ever many of us may tinRk now tn ere is no doubt
that we would entertain the same opinions and the
same sentiments were we living there.
Ii my premises are correct this country can never
be divided SO as to separate the Northwestern from
the Gulf States, without reversing en- memorable
law of nature That is impossible. The North.
western people DU have outlet and even Yam.
kee ingenuity will be unable to make the great river
change its course and flow Northeast to the Allan
tic The only hope, then, of permanent separation
that can see is TO induce the Northwestern States
to join our COnfederacy. We must 90 this or this
revolution ulU fail. At least that is my honest
opinion. Can we induce them to join us? That
question will be answered by the way they may
vote at the coming Presidential election. Nv own
opinion is firmly that we cannot There is no great
statesman In that country favoring such a move
ment who is able to control it so as to insure sue
cess. VallandIgham is 4 man of some genius, but
without the Judgment or weight of character neces-
sary for such an undertaking. Voorhees, is bril-
liant orator of the meteoi,ic orier-nothinc more
Douglass alone possessed the weight of character
and the ability for such.an undertaking. and he is
no more |, therefore, con clude that we have no.
thing to hope from that source. In my humble
opinion the only way in which the country could
be divided consistently with the laws of nature
would be for the States of New Y ork PENNSYLVANIA
and the New Eng land States to form one govern
ment, and the remaining States another, or perhaps
two others, never separating the Northwestern and
Southwestern States.
Having nothing to hope from the Northwestern
States, what are our chances for success | agree
with Mr. Boyce that there will never be any armed
intervention in our behalf Indeed, no sane man
now expects it. Taking it for granted that the
Northwestern States will remain true 10 the North
ern government, and what the end will be, is re-
duced to mathematical demonstration. Their vast
superiority of numbers and resources is such as to
enable them if not to subugate u.s. to annihilate us,
unless Providence should specially order it other
wise, and we can see no indications that He will.
Nothing then is left for US to do but to carry on
this war to our destruction or negotiate a peace