Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-01-06
Tho Path of Duty-The Path of safety.

Mr. EpIroR:-The suggestions and of peace made
BY Mr. Lincoln in his late message to the federal Congress-
position he does administrator of the laws under the
sanctity of oath 1t is extremely questionable whether
he has The right to prescribe oath different from his
to those struggling for the rights them
/ speak not of his motives misinterpret his
meaning but he expects the South to the whole
ashes for an imputed sin that day is far distant.
Ours is common calamity. Every muscle, tendon and
fibre Of the body polite has been shaken and sundeed by
it, 1t must be treated such But few of US now plead
innocence of any participation either by word deed in
this in fact all have less melted the combat
ants Then let bring all the good and the evil together
to the altar Ut The Constitution and there consult When
that anspcious moment arrives it will be easy task
heal the breach between and then either seperae
or united people, We viii 60 on ou, way rejoicing,
II is true have laid parricidal hands upon the Con-
stituton but not until it violated by those who
attempt to dictate to US terms of peace We admit that
we greged when abandoned the citadel of liberty
those who have since with high hand and uut stretch
ed usurped its authority but to admit that had
for conduct would be false Nor can we ever
take any oath not sanctioned by the authority Of the Con-
stituton.
There such stranger to the truth but he is
that the right to carry slaves into the territories.
was the apple of dscord in this struggle That the Con.
stution guarantees this right and that it is sustained bv
the Supreme Court there bind to deny and
if the opposite party will but admit it, may determine
its justice by the effect it produces upon those who
terested in the ISSUE Now lbstandng the territories
property yet if times have altered since the
of foreaherS that debarred from
our slaves lhther let lay down different policy in the
future for ourselves and postery If to exclude African
slavery from the territories will secure peace happi
and prosperity ation, let it be excluded. What
ever most conducive the happiness of the
greatest number of those who may be interested is the
policy and there no better plan than submit
such to the action of the people the ballot box
Much has been said of the personal liberty laws Of
of the Northern States. Upon the principle Of States
rights they had perfect freedom to any law for the
good of the people, accordance with the restrictions OF
the Constitution of the United States and which did
Their enactments, however. were not much thai
those of the Cotton States both sides occupying opposite
e1tiees and the difference being that said you shall
carry the negro where the laws prohibit slavery and
the other that he shall the Constitution oleates
and is wanted The people the best judges Of their
interests in ali these maters however, and it for
them alone to decide
We are told in dolefu strains by the President in ,is
message that England and France have Knocked o. cur
calamity had that The day for such absraties
as King Cotton. representation from Missouri end Ken
lucky, foreign Intervention and peaceabie Lac
passed. and that in III. eleventh hour W. would hes
of them. les, England and Frs,.ce have hee,
cold bouded and hypnc' cal in thar In
difference to woes aud their cou' act aditx of NJ
doubt OF the motive that prompts ths n-potosl
any other nation would have ered the issn she ha
but for the unfortunate nor rapin4f Whatever ma
be the views Of others fiery ,nty desire 10 se that an
when the power Of England france in his Western Cont
nent shall be broken. .
And now let The blooiy ,aoes of an hundred bait
race Let Us invoke the al "f Re,on Truh sna Jnst;c
e. us consult upor the ohisc Of peace and laying asst
saa Ist eaces, convey strifes from Il
na w cor deI hall, and may Heavenly Fat
sNs us SOON. shape course, that it may
1'u"U :" 5 e. ty and our happiness. ]. T. L.