The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-01-01

ally determine for itself the occasion,
produced the natural result. While
such indoctrinators could, as party lev
ers, control the Federal and State pow
er and patronage, and arrogantly usurp
every form of opposition, they would
allow the revolutionary doctrine of
secession was forever ready to be in
voked. :,
The occasion of dissolution was anx-
iously sought and it was found in the
result of the Presidential election of
1860. The pressure of so great num-
of Senators and Representative with a
preponderance of Cabinet officers, who
controlled a weak Administration, aud
the possession of the great body ofleg-
islative, executive, and judicial officers
In the States, rendered the inaugura-
ton of a war to resist the national au-
thority an easy task, and a work which
the people could not themselves resist.
Had the people organized resistance,
the magistrates, who seized upon the
forts, arsenals and arms Of the Union
and controlled the militia, could have
treated them as insurrectionists, and
the President stood ready to recognize
the State authorities, even when pre-
pairing for war against the Union, as the
only men to be heard.
1t ought naturally to be inferred
that events SO fresh in memory, which
led to consequences so deplorable,
would not be again so soon tolerated.
And yet we declare to-day that the ma
ton is standing upon the same preci-
pice, threatened with the same dangers
from the same men, holding the same
principles and offices, and detiantly in
dulging in the same evil practices, re-
lying again for support upon the Fed
eral Administration. The secession
movement of 1860, the ordinances
which claimed to sever the Union, the
formation of the compact called the
Confederate States, and Inauguration of
a war against the national Government,
were all accomplished because in those
sections there were few State magis-
trates to oppose, and because the Fed
eral Administration and controlling
power Of Congress recognized the State
governments, even when inaugurating
open opposition to the national author
ity, and commencing an incipient Or.
as the only lawful representatives of
the States. The war came. Its di-
vision lines were marked by the houn-
daries which separated slavery from
freedom. But the rebellion had friends
and supporters in the free States, and
it had enemies-not tew-in the slave
States. The sympathizers with the
Union cause were more numerous in
the States bordering upon freedom
The supporters of the rebellion were
made to appear almost unanimous in
the States farthest removed from free
dom. But we assert that there were
always in every State large eleme-
ment who were opposed to the seces-
sion movement, and who were soon
made to feel and comprehend that the
war to perpetuate negro slavery also
meant war to destroy the liberties
If the white men, by CONSUMPTION, i'm
military rule, the suppress
sion of every manly sentiment, and the
purpose to establish an un-
despotism. This opposition
% the most revolving rebellion led
many a patriot, as the muster-rolis
show, to take arms as Union soldiers.
They staked all upon the fortunes of
var. If the national arms succeeded,
hese patriotic soldiers fully expected |
elief for themselves, their friends and i
whom they generally !
new, no matter by what adverse cir
they were surrounded. If !
hey failed, we all we'll understood that
eath, outlawry, and infamy awaited
IL national sympathizers. If the I'm
on army succeeded, we naturally ex-
ected that the nations enemies would
uffer at least the odium Of treason, and
re deprived of the political power which
nabled them to maintain such fearful
nd oppressive organizations.
We declare here that it required no
ess moral courage to be suspected of
Jnionism i'll the States we represent
han to fight in the most exposed col
mns of the Union army. Yet there
vas all the time a courageous few, who
,ere known and loved by the nations
lends, and prosecuted and despised by
le nations enemies, as friends of the
Tnion and well-wishers and workers
,r the national cause; and all through
he fearful struggle there were four mil
ons of human beings, descendants of
he African race, slaves, whom the enc
lies of the Union had charged for forty
ears with being always in preparation
'r insurrectisn, rapine, and murder,
nd the ever ready Instruments of abo-
tion incendiaries, whose suspected
served as excuses for lynching,
and hanging. These peo-
Ie were taught that the war was re-
waged for their freedom
lat the COMMANDMENTS Chief of the ma
on was trying to incite them to insur-
ction; that they were to be made mas
rs and the whites to become serfs,
lriahs, and slaves; yet, with a sublime
ith and moral grandeur, these slaves
quietly at home, the protect
s of the women and children whose
bel husbands and sons were fighting
r their perpetual eIslavement. No
surrection did they ever attempt; no
Is of outrage were laid to their charge;
no privations did they complain
ney hailed the Union soldiers as their
ends; they instinctively knew the
Mon men and women among them
the number oftwo hundred thousand
ey rallied around the Union standards !,
soon aS they allowed tO muStar nm