Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-24
REMARKS OF MR.. DICK,
OF GUILFoRD,

1.tTelleu Iha' nO uau Seeu pTeVenteu, on lOttncr
d ,asion, from concluding his remarks upon the
"a t&tion now under consideration, as the points Of
d4cnssion were then fresh in his memory. lie was
d 10th TO consume the valuable time of the
s bate nor would he do so but for the personal al
III ions made to him by the Senator from Columbus.
1(Eeyer, before he proceeded to the vindicaton OF
hsIself be desired to Testate his objections to the
bin. which he had heretofore fully discussed
IN The first place, said he, the Legislature cannot
rN 4tfqlly confer the power upon the Governor to
fy troops into the limits OF another State. North.
"a elina has delegated the war-making power to
Confederate government, and she has now no
TehYed right to raise troops except in self defence
III ase Of InsurrectiOn and INVASION Neither have
Wtiany official information that other States have
ash I'd our assistance nor have we given our con.
SEMI DOR such States to march troops into our bor
deIls tits the duty ofthe Confederate government
to9lefSnd North Carolina The existence of that
goysrnment depends upon her successful defence
WE, then, should the>State assume unwarranted
poFer and incur unnecessary expense North
Galblina had already spent more money and fur.
nished more men than any other State and there
certainly ought to be some limit to her extravagance
in re treasure and blood Of her people. Her troops
wetB clothed by her liberalty and fed from her
So |hS9ses and if she continued to assume the du
~ responsibilities of the Confederate govern
mefit She would exhaust herself of men and bank
rupt her credit If our Home Guards and State
truips are marched out of our borders, it must be
done under the authority of the Confederate gov.
erninent, and her forces would thus at once become
subject to its CONTROL and the State be deprived Of
all military strength, and surrender at once her
sovereignty and the liberties of her people. Who
could then enforce her laws? Who resist the en-
croaehments Of powerp The Home Guards and
State troops are needed at home TO preserve the
peace by the enforcement law, to meet the sudden
emergencies of local Defence to keep the slaves in
proter subordination to raise supplies for the army
andihe starving population. North Carolina can
not be Just to herself if she furnish another to
this war.
The State troops, continued the Senator, were
raisd upon the express condition that they were
MOTTO be sent out of the State. Must that contract
be yolated2 Must the State, for tho first lime, DIS
regard her pghted faith, and that too to her own
cJIZens Most Of the State troops were not liable
to conscriplon, and many Of them came from their
homes within the enemy'S lines. Must such unset
fish patriotism be rewarded by State periidy !?
North Carolina may be oVerrun, her fields may &c
desoated and her people slaughtered but she oug ght
at every hazard to preserve her faith unbrOken and
her honor untarn she'd
Ii would be unjust to the Home Guards said he,
to take them IRON their peaceiul pursuits, and
without military training place them in the front
OF veteran armies. They could not make success
lu resistance, and their undiscliplIned vaor would
but lead them to slaughter. man may be brave,
"a
Mr.. Dick said that he had fully set forth hrs %.
jections TO the resolutions on former occasion,
and having now restated the prominent points that
they might be fresh III the memory Of Senator'S he
would briefly reply to some OF the personal allu.
sionsfnade IN the previous discussion.
L. vas charged. that he was responsible for this
war, having voted for the secession of North Caro-
iaa lie never believed i'll the right Of secession,
and w could never have any confidence in a gov
ernitnt which recognised such principle IL
was aIecment Of dIsOrganlzItion and would always
be dsitructive TO any form ol government. He had
Alwals.regarded the preservation of the Union, as
the Arrest ueans OF securing the slavery OF the ne
gro aid the liberty of the white man, and the start
HDg avents consequent upon disunion had not
changsd his opinions. He went for dIsunion not
FROM Hhoice but stern necessity. lie had spoken
and ekIed against disunOn before the dread catas
trophe came. lie never had justified the precp-
tateaetion OF the Cotton States aud he would
as long as he valued justice and truth. When Vlr-
gnia seeded, the geographical position of North
Carolina required her to take sides with the other
Southern States. Ii she had remaine1 neutral she
would have been the battle ground Of the Contend
ing parties, and have been utterly deSolated.-
North Carolina was firm in her devotion to the
Uniop. She had no wrongs to redress by revolu-
tion memorable law oSelf preservation forced
her to leave the government which she had so long
maintained and honored. can never forget said the
the ordinance Of secession was passed member
Of the secession party proposed that three cheers
be given to South Carolina. On that side of tho
house the proposition was voci(erously executed,
but the Conservative men gave no sign or voice OF
approval. They were cool and calm, but sorrow
WAS depleted in their faces. They were thinking OF
the many fond associations they were compelled to
break, and werc looking with anxiety and appIe
hension to tho terrible consequences which t. fu.
ture might disclose.
Since that time the Conservative party has en-
deavored by wise counsels to preserve the liberties
OF the country, and bring the revolution to sue
cesSiul termination. But their cDunsels have been
disregsrded-the affections, of the people have
/ been alienated from the government by repeated
outrages upon their dearest rights, and the coun-
try has been brought to the very verge of run.-
The men who commenced the war have shown
themselves utterly incapable Of controlling the
storm.
1t had been said by the Senator from Columbus,
upon this floor, that he desired no information
upSa the state Of the country-he was ready to act
and act now. That Senator is representative
of mis- party, continued the speaker, and is truly
consistent. Upon all great questions, he has
spoken and voted for the government and against
the liberties of the people. Such spirit had been
manifested By the administration at Richmond, and
its fruits have been urissSrtdne and disaster. Mr..
paisis had recently exhibited more enlightened
Il
beaefit 70 the country. The light of reason is be
ginning to break upon the top of tue mountain, but
;he little hillocks are still in darkness.
Mr. Dick said that it had been stated that he
wbuld be the last man. he avoided the dangers Of
I TIE war. He had always been a peace man. He
i'd at least been consistent and he hoped that the
,,hr men would manifest their sincerity by acts,
aid not by mere empty declarations Tho lost
min may only be found in the snug cJ0n hOLtOws,
which have been made by the government for its
nkts and favorites. The habits If the i.ly H.
iJstrate the habits of some of the war men. When
tlie coon is in his hollow he growls if he is ap.
attached aud will bite the hand that offers to take
+ bis corn If he is dragged out sometimes he makes
! good fight, but he GttOays shows wonderful
f1Spensity to get back into his hollow. If this
ebantry is destined to be destroyed, the Lrst MN
ysiIl be an original secessionst; and as he sits
Amidst the ruins which surround hiw, he will not
Initiate the stern old Roman amid the ruins of Car
t3age, and shed tears for the desolatIon war -ha:
srought for it he had tears to shed, he would shed
ahsm now while his country is wrlthing i'll her