Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-22
For the Standard.

Mr.. EDIToR:-The General Assembly of North
Carolina will soon meet and doubtless many impor.
tant subjects will be brought before that body.
The situation of the whole country requires the
best and wisest counsels to prevail; indeed, unless
they do prevail and unless prejudice and i'll feeling
be buried in the councils of the several States,
well as in the nation, we are ruined people now
and forever, and that republican form of govern
ment handed down to us by noble ancestry will
perish without possibility of recovery. I hazard
nothing in saying that North Carolina has as much
power, nay more, at this time in bringing about q
settlement an honorable settlement of the difficult
ty now existing between the Confederate States and
the United States, than any other State, North or
Sonth. She has it now in her power to lay the
corner stone to the settlement Of the pending diff
culties. Will she do it?
Georgia has spoken by her Legislature and ask
ed for cooperation. One of South Cardinals noble
sons has spoken, and now will North Carolina fol-
low in the wakep
1t is we'll known, sir, and those who advocate the
doctrine cannot deny it, that there but i'm
portant point upon which the Conservatives of
North Carolina differed and that difference causeda
split in the Conservative party at the August eec
ton. That point was this, certain leading gentle
men belonging to the Conservative party refused to
take any steps towards negotiation until some one
of the cotton States should move the matter but
said when that should be done, they would join in
and use their influence for negotiation. As be-
fore said, that has been done, now will they move
If they do not they deserve the everlasting re.
proaches of their fellow citizens.
l can see but ore difficulty in the way to pre-.
vent the action Of the General Assembly of North
Carolina, and that is this Gov. Vance n his last
election received heaOy vote from the Destructives
or Administration party of the State, and if that
vote causes him to waiver and not to recommend
the subject of negotiation to the General Assembly
according to Conservative principles and he has the
power to control sufficient number of his support
tf
prevented.
Gov. Vance is now hanging upon q slender thread,
and his recon mmendations to the General Assembly
in this matter will be pregnant Of great deal of
veal or woe. In his canvass for Governor he en-
deavored to make his old friends believe that he
good Conservative as ever; indeed, he said he
S0as as good Conservative as eUer. If he is, he
will Recommend action and prompt action on the
part of the General Assembly and CO operation with
Georgia; if he does not and co-operates with the
Destructives in their mad course of ruin he ought
to find himself lower than the lowest The wheat
must be sifted from the chat, and the members Of
the General Assembly of North. Carolina must look
before they leap if they intend to try to their
country from utter ruin. Their constituents are
watching them with eagles eyes, and let one Of
them who represents Conservative constituency,
fail to recommend negotiation although he may
have been elected (as has been the case) by the
Conservatives and fraud of the Destructives he will
be hereafter and forever doomed to ignominy. Let
them beware, keep their garments unspotted, and
cherish the principles of liberty aud freedom.
think, sir, q Convention of the State Of North
Carolina ought by all means be called to take into
| consideration two subjects:
| 1st An amendment of its own Consti tuition, so
as to change the election Of members of the General
| Assembly to annual instead of biennial elec-
ton, and for the Assembly to meet annually. The
times require members fresh from the people.
3D. According to article 9th, section 1st, of the
| Confederate Constitution, to join any other two
States and "demand Congress to 1" summon Con-
pentio of all the States to take into confederation
an amendment Of tho ConStitutiOn giving to tho
sovereign States the pO,Oer Of opening negotiations
| Nth the North"
These are grave subjects, and will no doubt re-
ceive their due consideration. This cruel will
never be stopped by Abraham Lincoln and Jeffer-
son Davis something must be done to start nego
tiatiOns. Judging from their acts they have lost
their reason, and act as mad men. l hope North
Carolina will no longer lag behind but move for
ward IN the good work and place upon her brow
the laurels TO which. she is entitled. More here
| after. ZETA.