Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-01-19

main, until, in some great civil convulsion, the
rights Of freemen shall again be asserted and es-
tablished A Convention could protect life, liberty
and property against assaults from all quarters, as
no other State authority is capable Of doing and it
could provide for preserving the very existence OF
the State in emergencies that may arise in the pro-
gress of the war.
The best friend to the Confederate government is
he who submits to its authority, and labors to con-
fine it to its constitutional limitations and the
worst enemy to the government to the South, and
to the cause of liberty is he who seeks to e1At that
government above the States to enlarge its powers,
and to render the judiciary and the freedom OF
speech and Of the press dependent on tho mere will
of those who have been called to administer its al
fairs.
The Observer and other papers, whose object
seems to be to draw Confederate troops to this
State for the purpose of oVerawing our people,
charge that great "agitation" is designed by the
friends of Convention, and that the Confederate
cause is to be compromised thereby. This charge,
like the others, il false. Our people are concerned
and anxious, but they neither agitated nor des-
perate. They are calm, collected, patient, firm, de-
termined. They mediate no act of revolution, no
breach of faith. If the common government does
not yet know and appreciate them, it may be their
misfortune, but it is not their fault five could
reach the ear Of that government or If it would
degn to listen to US, We would warn it in the most
earnest and solemn terms to let our people GLOns,
and not to lift the s0Ord or tho 6Gyonet against
them They have exposed their bosoms for nearly
throa 80 hi L., afkL
they have made, and are still making immense
sacrifices for the common cause-they have poured
out their blood and their treasure like water
to maintain that government in its place in
Richmond and to achieve, if possible, a common
Independence; and it would be a sad spectacle af
ter all this, to the arms of their own brethren
turned against them simply because they may as
semble in public meeting and request the Governor
to take steps to call State Convention. Was
South. Carolina stricken down-was even one Of
her citizens arrested when she called Convention
for the avowed purpose of seeding from the nion
No. Was Mr.. Davis arrested when he delivered
his valedictory in the American Senate, and de-
clared that he would return to his State and take
part in the movement to dissolve the Union No,
he went forth, and no man laid hands upon him.
Let North Carolina alone. She does not propose
in this crisis to follow the example of either South
Carolina or Mr.. Davis but she has the right, If
she chooses to exercise it after nearly three years
of wasting war; to sit as sovereign to protect her
own liberties against the encroachments Of her
agent and to see if something cannot be done TO-.
wards obtaining an honorable peace One rash or
violent act by the military power might lead to the
most calamitous consequences to US all. Our peo
pie may be persuaded, but not coerced They will
say nothing and do nothing which may Justly pro-
woke conflict, and if conflict should take place
the responsibility for it will not rest on them
1--WE speak as unto wise men; let them hear"
The Observer may continue its violent course
it may. denounce the Standard as much as it
peases, and charge those of our people who for
Convention with being Hartford Conveationists
and traitors but we tell that paper that it viii
find itself in the end more mistaken on this SUBJ
ect than it was in relation to the recent Congress.
sional elections. We are thoroughly informed as
to public opinion in this State, and as to the opinion
of our soldiers in the field; and do not hesitate
to say that we are behind the people and behind
OUR soldiers the views we have from time to time
expressed in this paper. We are not deceived
we know what we say to be true; and the elec-
tions next August will sustain these views by an
immense majority.