Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-12-21
Mmtb- Garplinn 5tanharh
For the standard.
70 THE PEOPLE OF NORTH-CAROLlNA.

70 THE PEOPLE OF NORTH-CAROL1NA.
There was a time when such men as
Pitt, Fox, Wilkes, Barre and others stood
up in their places in the Parliament Of
Great Britain and openly denounced the
corruption of their rulers and their at
tempts to usurp unauthorized powers
These were bold men, but the people like
bold leaders, End will stand by them -
These men were backed by the people,
and the tyrants whose corruptions they ex-
posed, and whose exercise of unconstitu-.
tional powers they opposed, dared not lay
their hands upon them; and despotlc
ministry was at last levelled before their
sturdy blows, and the great principles OF
English liberty were restored in all their
strength and vigor.
Have we IN the Southern Confederacy
men of sufficient boldness to assail the cor
ruptions of our rulers, and of capacities
sufficient to expose them ITO denonnce
the exercise of unauthorized, unconstitu-
tional and dangerous powers on their
part, and to lay bare their insidious en-
croachments upon the rights and liberties
Vi Lll0 pOOpl0S Ii oOS III tiiO uttHiO "a IAiesS
liberty baptized in the blood Of our ances-
tors and bequeathed to us, let them ap-
pear. Let not threats intimidate them,
nor persecution turn them aside from their
purpose; but let the stern rebukes and
bold denunciations of patriotism be heard
in tones deep, determined and unmistake-
able. By such men the people will stand,
and shield them from all Vaccinations for
their destruction. 1t will be the voice of
liberty crying against oppression, and the
people will fly to the rescue.
If our liberties are to pass from us-if
freedom is to become thing that was, but
is motif our Constitution is to continue
an India-rubber string or sheet of brittle
glass, to be stretched or broken at the will
Of those sworn to support it, and to whose
hands we have entrusted its safe keeping,
let us not, as people, have it said Of us
by the world that we deserve our fate,
which would be true, for tamely, basely,
and INCREASINGLY submitting to it. If we
are to be subjugated, let it not be by those
we have chosen to lead us to independence.
live are to be enslaved, let it not be by
those who have undertaken to be onr de-
liverers., If we are to be conquered, let it
lie only when our arms are nerveless; and
let us not INTERESTINGLY yield, one by one,
and step by step, the great inheritance be-
queathed MS by our sircs. To wear the
yoke Of despot is CALLING enough, even
when compelled by brute force to bear it;
submit abjectly to the burden. In the
former case we should have the SYM
pathy of the world, as have the brave but
crushed people of Poland and Hungary !;
bat in the latter we should have, as we
should deserve, the scorn of all mankind,
added to our self-reproaches and our own
sense Of merited degradation.
The time for candid reflection, and for
bald and candid discussion, has arrived
1t is time for us to consider whether we
arc not fighting for change only of des-
potisms. Shall we rebel against one tyran-
ny but yield to more oppressive one g.
While striving for deliverance from one
yoke shall we meekly bow our necks to
receive anothera Is it only change Of
masters we desire2 Are we willing to be
enslaved2 And are we fighting only for
our choice whom we will serve8 I say it
is time for the people TO ask themselves
these questions, and calmly, seriously pom.
der them.
am aware that there are Castle Thun
ders and other Bastlles for the reception
of those who dare to exercise common
sense in their reflections, and to express
shcir sentiments deduced from such refec
tons. l am aware that it is accounted
treason in certain quarters for one to speaE
or;.ct as Judgment and common sense die
tate. am aware that an expression o.
opposition to any course of conduct on thu
part of our authorities is tortured into op
position to the government itself, and mad
the foundation for an accusation of disloy
atty. But though Castle Thunders ant
other similar institutions may contine tn
body until its proud spirit even frets it
life away, they cannot confne the min'
nor stif1e the voice of liberty. Even from
their gloomy recesses that voice will e
forth in thunder tones TO arouse the pee
pie to action against oppression.
The writ of ha6eas corpus, the grea
bulwark Of Eng lish liberty, we are credi
bly, informed, is about to be suspended
again. We have once submitted to it
suspension for a short period, and in m
opinion we therein not only erred, but sin
ned against liberty. We arc not even in
formed upon what pretext the suspension
is asked for, and we are not to know b.
whose votes it is done. In the dark ant
damning depths of secret sessions this viii
deed must be cousummated, and the PEG
pie must only know and feel oppression
without being able to point out those VIII!
have lent their aid to thus outrage thei
rights. Let such measure be ATTEMPTED
in Great Britain, with no more cause TO
it than exists here, and those who attemp
it will pay the forfeit that freedom shouit
ever demand from tyrants
Has war SO demoraized us that we have
ceased to love liberty, and lost all DISPOSE
ton to resist wrong and oppression excep