The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-12-14

war for State independence, and was
not willing to put in jeoparday the price
less jewel she had gained. After a care
full examination it was concluded that
the proposed constitution did not suffi-
GENTLY guard against usurpation by the
usual resort to implication of powers
not expressly granted, and declined to
act upon the general assurances that the
deficiency would soon be supplied by the
needtul amendments. In the meantime,
State after State had acceded to the new
union, until the requisite number had
been obtained for the establishment OF
the Constitution between the States so
ratifying the same"
With characteristic self-reliance North
Carolina confronted the prospect of iso-
lation, and calmly resolvedif so it must
be to stand alone rather than subject to
hazard her most priced possession, COM
munity independence.
Con6ding in the security offered by the
first ten amendments to the constitution,
especially the 9th and 10th of the series,
North Carolina voluntarily acceded to
the new union. The 10th amendment
restricted the functions of the Federal
government to the exercise of the pow
ers delegated to it by the States, all OF
which were especially stipulated.
Beyond that limit nothing could be
done rightfully. lfcovertly done, under
color of law, or by reckless usur-
patton of an extraneous majority, which,
feeling power, should disregard right,
had the State no peaceful remedy !!
Could she as State in Confederation,
the bedrock of which is the consent of its
members, bye bound by compact which
others broke to her injury? Had her re-
served rights no other than paper
barrier to protect them against invasion?
Surely the heroic patriots and wise
statesmen of North Carolina by their
sacrifices, utterances and deeds have
shown what their answer would have
been to these questions, if they had been
asked, on the day when in convention
they ratified the amended Constitution
of the Unithd States. Her ex ex:eptional
delay in ratification marks her vigilant
care for rights she had SO early asserted
and so steadily maintained.
Of her it may be said, as it was of Sir
Walter Scott in his youth, that he was
always the first in row and the last
out oft" In the peaceful repose which
followed the Revolution all her interests
were progressive.
Farms, school-houses and towns rose
over subdued wilderness, and with a
mothers JOY she saw her sons dis
tinguished in the public service hy intelli-
gence, energy and perseverance, and by
the integrity without which all other
gifts are but as tinsel. North Carolina
grew apace in all which constitutes
power, until in 1912 she was required as
a State Of the Union to resist aggressions
on the high seas in the visitation OF
American merchant vessels and the i'm
pressment of American seamen by the
armed cruisers of Great Britain.
These seamen generally belonged to the
New England States; none probably
were North Carolinians; but her old
spirit was vital still; the cause of one
was the cause of all, as she announced
when Boston was under embargo.
At every roll call for the common de-
fence she answered. Here" When blessed
peace returned she stacked her arms for
which she had no prospective use. Her
love for her neighbors had been tried and
not found wanting in the time of their
need why should she anticipate hostility
from them?
The envy, selfish jealousy and criminal
hate of Cain could not come near to
her heart. Tfnot to suspect such vice in
Others be indiscreet credulity, it is a
knightly virtue and part OF an honest
nature. In many years of military and
civil service it has been my good fortune
to know the sons of North Carolina
under circumstances OF trial, and | could
make list of those deserving honorable
mention which would too far extend this
letter, already, fear tediously, long.
Devotion to principle, sell-reliance and
infexible adherence to resolution when
adopted, accompanied by conservative
caution, were the characteristics dis
played by North Carolina in both her
colonial and State history. All these
qualities were exemplitied in her action
on the day of the anniversary which you
commemorate. If there be any, not
likely to be found with you, but possibly
elsewhere. who shall ask: How then
could North Carolina consistently enact
her ordinance of secession in 1861 ?" he
is referred to the Declaration of Indepen-
dence of 1875; to the Articles of Con
federation of l777, for perpetual union
of the States, and the secession of States
from the union so established; to the
treaty of 1882, recognizing the indepen-
dence of the States severally and dis
tinctively; to the Constitution Of the
United States, with its first ten amend
ments to the time-honored resolutions
of 79S-99; that from these one and all
he may learn that the State, having won
her independence by heavy sacrifices, had
never surrendered it nor had ever at.
tempted to delegate the unalienable
rights of the people. How valiantly her
sons bore themselves in the war between
the States the lists of the killed and
wounded testefy. She gave them sacri
fetal offering on the altar of the liberties
their fathers had won and left as an in.
heritance to their posterity. Many sleep
tar from the land Of their nativity. Peace
to their ashes. Honor to their memory
and the mother who bore them.
Faithfully,
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