The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1868-06-13

THOS. J. WEAVER,
T. NJ KIRKLAND,
JAS. B. MASON.
CHAPEL HILL, N. c., June 9th, 1858,
MR.. d. b. GUTHRIE AND oTHERs-Dea,
Sers-Yours of the 4th inst, requesting a
copy OF my graduating speech for publica-
ton is before me, accompanied with a
similar request from my old friend and in
structor, Prof. Pool, and expressing, as it
does, the belief in regard to the speech /" that
its general circulation among our people
may do good" can but comply with
your request. / am aware that I shall
be thought lacking in "that chief rlory
OF young man." bashfulness but when
the time calls if ever time did call, for
men who dare to express their opinions
and maintain them, shall freely submit tn
the charge and bear without murmuring all
the evidence.
If my virtue be measured by the resistance
which l have given to the prejutlices of youth
and birth, may probably look for no incon-
siderable charity from a generous public to
which, by your desire, now submit what
spoken may have created some little sensa-
ton, but which am perfectly assured will
not bear very close reading.
With the kindest wishes for your happiness,
am gentlemen,
Your very obliged and humble serv't,
VIM. S. PEARSON.
For the Constitution and the Union.
My FRIENDS THAT day has, in my
opinion, now come, when the prophecy of
Thomas Jefferson, that we would be " all
Federalists. all Republicans" is about to be
fulfilled. The Calhoun school of politics is
dead forever. and happily so. Slavery and
State Sovereignty have sunk together into
the same grave, and their death is lamented
by few, except from sense of pecuniary
loss, or the transient sourness which sue
ceeds the overthrow of iong-cherished pref
udices.
The old Federalist idea of strong CEN
trail government has, on the other hand been
established beyond question or cavil, by the
result of the late war; while at the same
time we witness the inevitable consumma-
t;o, of tho nl1 Republican dogma of univer-
sal suffrage.
So that the expression eve, the people of
the United States" in the preamble to the
Constitution, will henceforth be understood
to mean, not 1.-The people of the several
sovereign States as construed by Mr.. CAL
houn: but the entire adult male population
of the nation and the equality of all men
as to rights, asserted in theory by the father
of the old Republican party in his immor-
tai State paper, is now practically enforced
by a new party of the same name.
In other words. we rapidly and insen-
sibly going back to old principles, and it
does seem to me that despite all :" the I'M
heard of proceedings" which have been
lately charged by one party to the other,
there is little that is new in all the wondrous
freaks of the present race of political par
tisans. Yet we of the South are, indeed, by
1T RI oli-
tors and superannuated party hacks, to be-
Heye that the Constitution and the Union
will be overthrown by the success of some
one party or other, and we occasionally hear
faint whispers of the advantages which
would accrue to US from limited mon
archy.
Pitiful fallacy of pitiful rarity! Ridic-
ulous that any ephemeral political issue
should be potent to do that, in attempting
which, Il whole people armed to the teeth,
and fanatic with the prospect OF success,
failed wholly and hopelessly
Why for well nigh century, amid all the
deaths of parties and of party measures
with great opposing opinions on questions
of public policy, carrying on foreign ana
domestic wars, we have yet managed TO
keep up our national existence, and are To-
dav stronger than ever before. The reVe-
nues are larger, population is greater, emil
ily. civilization has advanced in our estern
country more rapidly, and all our national
greatness stands at a higher pitch than at
any previous period in our countrys MS
tory.
No alarming signs of disease in the body
proper. though the Southern members are
ailino somewhat from the effects OF certain
war medicines imprudently taken no fall
tering in the steady march OF general pro-
oress no expressions of coincidence for our
condition by the friendly nations OF Eu-
rome: but vet men cry out q" the country is
lost - "The inevitable tendency of all
Democracies :" 6 So it was with Athens
and Rome, and other Italian Republics
Oh that we had limited monarchy!
NV friends. if this Constitution shall ever
he oyerthrown or the Union OF these States
he broken, it will not be after the fashlon OF
Athens, or Rome, or Florence, or venice, 1or
there exist between us and them-no marx
ed likeness. and the, to some delicious, WIS.,
~, of a limited monarchy in this country
will never be rcalized-such forms OF gov
eminent happening to those people only,
who are content to wage war Tor genera
t;ons with absolute despotism till certain
rights property, and sometimes restricted
political liberty are granted them ny the
brown the government of the United
States is sui generis The first, and with
the doubtful exception of the South Amerl-
can Republics, the only one of its KIND.
II exists under different civilization from
that which ruled the world when death fell
mon those old historic Republics. which
have in the stereotyped oratory OF young,
enthusiastics been so frequently oraggeu
upon the stage in all their gloomy grave
oIothes az solemn warnings to the American
,,eonle that the time forsooth had come
io6er then should transfer the g00erm"'ent to
the party out Of office. -, uo. tho
1rnion 10 still maintained on firm and liked
basis. and the Constitution is likely to T Tn.
d dergo no serious changes for the worse. Ihe
balance ofpowers, which the wisdom OF our
O"io"OO " 7: ii G.. tI,a aennpity of the GOV