Year: 1863

Assertions are one thing, and proof is another


The Rsgster has furnished no proof of our inconsis-


tency. Our course, based as it is On principle has


been uniform from the very beginning of the


troubles now upon the country. We have always


denied the right ofa State to secede from the former


government except in the event of a deliberate,


papablo, and dangerous infracton Of the Constitu.


tion." Because we were true friend of the South


because we foresaw the devastation and ruin which


would result from secession, and because no de.


hberate, papable, and dangerous infractlon of the


Constitution" had taken place, we opposed the Sc


cession Of the cotton States the Editor of the Reg


ister did; but when the result of that secession


and of the proclamation of Lincoln, in April, 1861,


other alternative was left to North Carolina but


to fight the South or the North, we chose the lat


ter and therefore advocated and voted for the act


of separation. Is there any Inconsistency in thatf


We have since advocated vigorous prosecution of


the war, and have sustained the government in all


constitutional measures to that end. 1t is not our


fault the fault of those with whom we act that


the war has not been vigorously prosecuted. The


most magnificent resources any people ever had


with which to commence and carry on q revolution,


have been, to large extent msapplied and wasted;
and the enemy has steadily gained upon US from the
first Every position he takes, he holds If our
forces defeat him, as they nearly always do no ad-
vantage is taken of the victory but both sides pre-


pare again for battle, and the same bloody scenes
are re-enacted with no definite result The people
of both sections are tired Of the war, and desire
peace. We desire it on terms honorable to our own
section; and we cannot expect it on terms dshonor
fha. nfh cooEiN u Iol.o ak.
as long as we are invaded and in driving the enemy
from our soil-in taking prompt advantage of such
victories as we achieve, not in invading the enemys
country for We are not strong enough for that but
in dslodging him from his positions on our own soil


but while we believe in this policy as the best and
only policy for the present. we also hold that the
friends of peace in both sections should give utter
ance to their views, and should thus pave the way
for negotiations, to which both sections must at
last come, as the only means for closing the con-
test five could negotiate noW so much the bet
ter. Thousands of valuable lives would be saved,
and much devastation and ruin would be stayed
Is there any inconsistency in this? What are We
fighting forP Not for war surely, but for peace
We do not fight because we want to- but because
we are obliged to- And we tell the Register that
if the Southern cause should fa-if the old govern.
ment should succeed in conquering these States
and in re-establishing its authority over them by
force the blame for it will not rest on the old Union
men or Conservatives of North. Carolina They
have done and are still doing .heir whole duty in
this unfortunate struggle though they get thanks
for it from those for whom the Register speaks whose
property and persons they are defending and shield
ing with their blood.


But the Register says we are pre-eminently in
consistent" on the subject of secession. We know
we are q weak, erring mortal, like our neigEbor,
and that We frequently make mistakes in our cslcu
latons to the condition Of and what is best for,
the country; but we refused to go with South.Car-
olina wien she contemplated disunion in 1851, and
we refused to go with her, as the Register did in
$780, until forced to do so. We not only admit
this, but we are proud of it In the Standard Of
July 2Sd, 1851, we said:


at is clear that vast majority of the people OF
South-Carona have despaired ofthe Union, and have
abandoned all hope Of return by the general gov
ernment to the true principles of the Constitution
We deplore this state of public opinion in that gal
lant State; and if our voice could be heard BY her
people, and could have any effect if heard would
appeal to them in the kindest and most atectonate
terms to pause in their course. Their interests
the interests in common of the people of all the
slaveholding States; and the blow which is intend
ed to strike down South Carolina will not fall upon
her head alone. Her cause is the cause of the
South and her true policy is, therefore, not to sep
a-ate herself by her action from the other slave
holding States.


Should she seeede by herself she will draw no
State after her. Her sister saveholding States will
neither 90 with her. nor will they see her coerced
and trampled down their judgment has been pro- !
Al -
for secession, at this time is not sufficient it may
be, in the course of few years, the Union may
live on, according to the Constitution gathering
new States within its folds and adding new lustre
to the common flag" i


These were our views in 1851. Is there any
material difference between them and those we held
in 1860 We think not But the Register charges
others with Inconsistency What has been the |!
course of that paper? In December, 1860, it de- !
clsred that the dissolution of the Union for any
cause would be fraught with "woes unutterable |
and innumerable that Mr. Lincoln would not !
commit aggressions upon'the South, but ought to |
be submitted to q constitutionally Presi-
South Carolina had no special claims to |
the confidence or respect of our people-and that I
she ought to be "Iesisted that is, coerced if |
her attempt to dragon" North /
Carolina " into treason and civil war" Non, how
sver and for some time past the Register has been
IN ultra South Carolina sheet, and has denounced
every one as false and disoyal to his section who
,ould not, with it. approve and laud the course of
hat State Let the Edl.or and his friends think of
lis present position and views, and then read the
ollowing and blush. Surely he is the most "pre-
,pnently inconsistent public man that ever lived.
20a fhc houc 1rh knnu h,,kl urof |
If the history of the country of its politics. will
augh at the ridiculously Inconsistent" figure
which our neghbor cuts. In 1860 he was Con-
srOatiUs, as the following article shows; now he
kinks Conservatism but another name for treason.
)h, Mr.. Syme!


rFrom the R.IeiOb ReOisier of Deoember 1 1901