The North-Carolina standard., 1839-02-13
MIR. EDWARDS SPEECH.
DEBATE ON MR.. RAYNER's RESOLUTIONS.
Iu Senate, eth December 1888.

Iv Senate, 9Th December, 1888
Whereas, we believe that great crisis has
arrived in the political histRFy of our country,
on the issue of which, we conceive the safety
of our free institutions to depend,-aud where
as. we consider il our bounden duty, as the rep
reseptatives of the Freemen of North Carolina,
to express in calm, and dispasslonate language,
our opinions on the great questions, which have
been for some tine and some of which still are
agiating the public mind:
L. Resolved therefore, That this General AS
semby do condemn in the most decided manner,
that act of the Senate of the United States ex-
puno1ng the records of that body, as paipable
violation of the plain letter Of the Constitution,
and as an act of party servlity calculated to de-
grade the character of the Senate.
g. ResoLred That resolutions ought to be
passed by the Senate of the United States, con-
demnatory of that act, and resembling the reso-
lutions authorising it to be done.
8. ResoLUed, That this General Assembly do
condemn the sub-treasury system, which this
administration is endeavoring to establish. as
another item in that series of fatal experiments,
OF this and the past administration, which are
the main source of that arrangement in the cur
reucy, and prostralion of commercial credit which
have been so severely felt of late. in every branch
of industry-and which if suffered to become a
law, will, by its tendency to augment executive
power, to unite the purse and the sword In the
hands of the executive, and to destroy the credit
system, by the exaction of specie in the Govern
ment dues, ultimately change the real character
of our Government, and place in peril the liber-
ties of our country
4. ResOlved, That we consider the public
lands of the United States. as The common pro-
perty of all the States and that therefore con-
denim the late act OF Congress, allowing settlers
on the public lands the right of pre-emptIon at
the minimum price, as an acL OF gross lnJusuce
to the old States who originally ceded them, or
who contributed to a common fund for their pur-
chase.
s. RESOLVED, That we believe that the proper
and EQUITABLE disposition of the public domain,
is. to divide the proceeds arising from their sales.
among the several Slates of the Union, accord
ing to the ratio of their Federal population.
g. ResoLued, That we do most solemnly pro-
test against the wasteful extravaganza OF the
present administration, and their prohigate ex-
penditure OF the public money. which not only
creates demand for heavy taxation, in order 10
meet the exorbitant appropriations OF the Gen
eral Government, but Which tends TO the corrup-
lion of public morals and the degradation of the
national character.
7. ResoIUed, That the power and patronage
of the executive department of the Federal Gov
eminent have increased to an alarming extent,
and ought to be diminished.
g. ResoLred That our Senators in Congress,
will represent the wishes of majority of the
people of this State, by voting to carry out the
foregoing resolutions.
g. ResOlred, That the Governor of this State
be requested to forward copy of these resolu-
tions to each of our Senators in Congress with
a request that they lay them before the Senate
of the United States-and one to each Of the
Governors of the several States of the Union.
with request that they lay them before their
respective Legislatures.
Mr.. EDWARDS rose and said
Mr.. Speaker-When this subject was post
poned Yesterday, at my instance, little did
expect | should feel so much reluctance in ad-
dressing you today. l affect nothing, Sir. when
| say, l should be deferred by the magnitude OF
the undertaking. from debating these resolutions,
did not feel perfect confidence In the cause
espouse-and in the adaptation of the principles,
it is my purpose to vindica!e, to the preservation
of free government My position here, and the
array of numbers and talents in favor of this
measure, place me in attitude, not little dis
piriting-and we'll calculated to embarrass in the
progress of the remarks propose to submit to
the Senate
Personally, Sir, have no regrets that am in
political minority on this foor-nor any fear
ofmortifed feeling should this discussion result
in the adoption fthe whole of these resolutions.
But as citizen of North Carolina-who would
not see her deprived of the smallest portion OF
her character for political consistency and devo-
ton to principle; citizen Of the U. States,
who sincerely desires that the lines of partition
between the powers of the General and State
Governments should be preserved In all the
freshness of young life; and the division ol
powers In the same government, be it Stale or
Federal retained in full vigor-L should deeply
depore such a result 1t would not be tri-
umph only of party over party by which politi-
cal power is transferred from one set of public
agents to another-that would be merely the
thing of day but it would be triumph over
principle; triumph over the constitution; a
triumph, whose consequences might most perui-
elOusiy affect the stability and permanency OF our
free institutions. 80 f+
pose of these resolats6ns, it is due to myseH to
premise, that it isSTat this time, my purpose