Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-10-12
Extract from the North Carolina Standard, Of date
August 35th, 1868. .--ss.as =.

their rights in the territories even if be would
They intended, if he attempted such thing, to re-
sist him in tho Union, aided IS they would have
boon by one million of national men in his own Sec
tion IT. during this trial, be had driven our pso-
pie with their slaves from the common territories,
or attempted in any way by an overt act to impair
our right to our slaves in the States, they would
have aucceeded, With the help Of their Northern a.
lies, not only in checking him, but in Furnishing
him for such INSTRUMENTATION and corruption in
Office But the precipitate and wicked action of the
cotton States on tho one hand, and tho cruel and
wicked policy Of President Lincoln on the other,
left u no alternative. We were Obliged to fsht
our full brother Of the South our half brother of
the North. We chose to do the latter, and We acted
"wiscly." If We had not done so, We should haze
been trampied by both armes-ws should have had
civil war among ourseives-the North would have
despsed US for our want of manhood, and the South
would have regarded US as false to our own in
stncts and our own blood. We repeat our State was
not free agent-she Was Obliged to pursue the
course she did Thoughtful and sagacious mon,
while they trod unshriskingty tho path of duty,
saw before them the fires of civil war, but beyond
these fires all WAS darkness and uncertainty. Act
ing finally ~ they hoped, they put every thing
to tho arbtrament Of arms The result is partially
before us. The sbolitioniss of the North and the
original secessonists of the South acting and react,
ing on each other have in all probability proved
themselves the most sk,lful architects of ruin that
any age has produced" Slavery has suffered more
injury during tho last two years than would proba-
bly, have befallen it in the long sweep OF ify years
under the old government The peculiar champions
of the insttu,'en have placed it. we fcar on the hi
road to extinction. Ard inst here, We beg leave to
say TO the Observer is the source Of one the ost
serious apprehensions of our people The sudden
emancipation Of our slaves in our midst would be
the greatest blow which could be inflicted on South
ern society. It would ruin this generation beyond
redemption, and its effects wonld be felt for ages to
come. Nor would this ruin be partial. 1t would
include the non.siaveholder rs we'll as the slaveho!-
der, and finally the slave himself Subugation, if
it should be in reserve for Us would be emancips-
ton. Hence our people, while they are for contin-
uing the struggle and while they are still anxious
ifpoes,ble to make good their "tinal" separation,
nevertheless disposed 10 pry into the future, to
400 it. in the last resort something better than sub
jugaton cannot be obtained. II the worst should
them in the face a. it does not now, but as 1t
may, they would have peace under certain c!rcum.
stances yet if the worst should come, and they
could sec no honorable mode Of escaping it, they
would all die together with their slaves and their
little ones, fighting with a desperation which tho
WOrldh has never witnessed
The Obse-rsr 10 disposed to tvit US on our decla
ration in Nav, 1851. that this State had pledged to
tho cause her last man and Iast dollar" Let us
see this pledge has been redeemed. This State
has sent IS UOU men to the field This comprises
all her fighting population, (of course we did not
mean ~ include the old men and yearlng boys)
save those between 40 and 45, nowhelne cnnscript.
ed and about 10 600 able-boded original SECESSION
isis. who refused to redeem the pledge which they
authorized us TO make in May, 1861. So much for
the "last man." Our debt, County and State, is
equal in amount to ono tenth Of what the whole
Stale would bring in market. in silver and gold.
The last dollar i'll specie, or in convertihe paper
has long since disappeared The State could
doubt borrow Confederate money A. Q prelnm Of
two for one-tba1 IL, she could sell ono OF her
hundred dollar bonds for two hundred dollars bu,
ton dollars in gold will purchase one hundred dol
lars Confederate money and it follows that she
could Sell her 0o,ds for only ton in the dollar
in specie. So much for tho - last dollar" Were
gret to have to make these Statements but We are
Obliged do III self Gefencs
The O6ssrcer, very ingeniously, and very Justly
in ono sense, says tlat negotiations for peace can
be instituted only through the Confederate govern
nent But lnust LOOK at things NJ they are, and
would have them. Ii sir Lincoln should
so far recognize Mr. Dasis IS to open negotiations
with him, lie would surrender the whole question
of the To II eat with the Confederate govern
ment for peace is " recognize shat government.-
Will Mr.. Lincoln 10 thati No. Will he ever do it :
Not unless the Northern Governors and Legislatures
shail rise up and command him to do it. L. that
probsblei Not in the present status of things
Wemay s1srry the Northern people to such point
or might So interest foreign powers Is to induce
them to take steps which wonld lead to such 70
suit; but are these things probable Not jus'
now-not we fear, for some time to come What
then! Shall we again invade the Northern States
and so distress them by fire and sword IS to com
pei them to sue for peace Can We d. that? Are
VIC able to do it? We fear not What thenf l.
the federal government will not hear tho Confeder
ate government, ii may hear the sovereign States
The people Of the States, North and South, by mn
tu.l CO operation MY o6tIin "a istics If that
can DO done, tho par witL be at an end. Is it not
worth the trials If the two armies should ones
rest to listen to the Of negotiation, our woru
for it hostilities would not be resumed. The whole
question would pass and pass finally into the hand.
Of the statesmen of the two sections. Grim Wis
aged war would smooth his w.inkled front THE
arbitra:nent Of tho sword would give place to the
voice OF discussion aud negotiation-reason woul
I've substituted for passion and revenge, and the ex
ASPIRATIONS of the two sections cooled and sobere,
by reflection and calm survey Ut the entire s,tua
ton, past, present and future would leave the nina
Of tho country in condition to devise soma mean,
for restoring peace Oh terms h0nOrable 10 ALL Mo-
will these movements BY the States depress or dis
couraged our soldiers in the field On the contrary
they viii fight and endure With renewed chloe, full
ness when they know that their friends at homo ar
emitting NO steps that may promise to crown then
with the reverb of I'll tAsir TOLLS just and honor
abe peacs But it i said that some OF the cotto,
States are slrs.dy greatly distressed and that tho
may soon indicate wish For nsgotiato.s But the
are already sutusstsd md ~ The mercy Of Tho cue
my. Aissisapsi ADD Loaiaans are ptostra,e, sulle
and silent They have csassd 10 far n their pee
pie 1t home are concerned, both to fight and tall
for peace. They afs po~srlsss Sou,h.Carolin
and Alabama may soon be in smilar condition.
Must We await the action Of these States! And
We do, are We, with arms in our hands, unsubdueJ
with the port and spirit still characte:xin
our people, 10 be bsund BY What they a,ay asrs