The North-Carolina standard., 1849-08-08
EIcH, NORTH WEDNESDAY AUGUST

the proceedings of the convention would have assm-
ed party character and been directed to this object
had not the design been frustrated by the rmness of
the democratic members. =. 50 a.4 .s7q na ss%'
{ Now Mr.. Greeley will understand why did not
attend this convention But cannot understand why
he seeks my opinions this question in my letter,
which is wholly silent on the subect, and notin my
speeches and votes in the Senate of the United States
Eminent whig politicians whom.I could name, but
that it would be nyidious 70 do so, were invited to
attend the Chicago Convention, but neither answer
ed attended. thought it due to the gentleman
who invited to acknowledge. his attention.. and
did so, And this of courtesy, which constitutes
the only difference between myself and others, has
been made the text book whence my opinions are 10
be deduced, and by which my inconsistency is 70 be
proved. On the question of the power OF the United
States the subject Of internal improvements, my
sentiments in accordance with those OF the great
democratic party, and fully expressed in the reso-
lutions of the Baltimore Convention In the words of
one of those resolutions, i believe tha the const
titution does not confer on the general government
the power to commence and carry on general sys-
tem of internal improvements" and no, man living
has the right gainsay this assertion. But at the
same time ! have never disputed the right of Con
gress to improve some of the great rivers and lakes
of the Union national in their character, and imPor-
tant to the commerce, and some of them to the de-
fence of our country. While the democratic party
deny the power to devise and carry on vast system
of operations-whosee pecunary extent no man, can
foresee, and what is still worse, whose corruptng In
nuence, as Well IN the as OUT Oh
be viewed but with the most serious apprehension
the great majority of that party indeed nearly all OF
it, has advocated particular appropriations JUSTIFIED
by the circumstances of position and importance.
Almost at the time that declared my adhesion
to the resolutions of the Baltimore Convention, vo-
ted with equal good faith for bills in the Senate pro-
viding for the improvement rivers and hafbos and
lakes, and advocated their passage In my seat; and
this is precisely the reason why accuse many otthe
whig papers and politicians OF dlslngenousness or
which contained not word on the subject, was proof
of my hostility to all the action of Congress- in the
very face of my official course and of my publicly
declared opinions. And my position was that OF
most of the prominent men of our party, who, while
they held to the doctrines of the resolutions, held
likewise the power of special legislation and vo-
ted for the same bills do not know, indeed, that
there is single Senator who denies to Congress all
power to legislate over this matter Certainly Mr..
Calhoun does not, who adopts the wholesome doc
rine of strict construction. am aware that 1t is
difficult draw practical line at all tunes between
objects that ought and that ought not to engage the
attention of Congress and think, therefore, look
ing to the abuse to which the whole subectl LIABLE
that the efforts should be to and not to enlarge
the circle of power; and such understand to be the
views of the democratic party. -: ~ .slaa...
The other proof of insincerity, as have already
stated, is drawn from the fact that in my letter to Mr.
Nicholson took ground against the Wilmot Proviso,
excluding slavery by law from. the territories, and
now believe that slavery, with or without that re-
striction, will not be established there. And the
wonder is graVely expressed how could write
that letter and the letter of three lines to the Chca
90 Convention, and yet claim the character of an
honest man. 1t is much graver wonder to me, how
intelligent editors OF public papers, whose influence
public opinion is great, should venture thus to
deal even with political opponent, in utter disregard
of his position. 1t will not surprise you, but 1t
will any, who have viewed nay. course only In
party aspect, to be told that in that very letter to Mr.
Nicholson expressly stated my opinion to be, that
z q California
Mexico; and that the Inhabitants of those regions,
whether they depend their ploughs their herds,
cannot be slaveholders.'' quoted with full appro-
baton the opinions of Mr.. Buchanan and of Mr..
Walker, the former Of whom says: 1t IS morally
impossible therefore, that majority of the emigrants
to that portion of the territory south of $50 3U will
ever re-establsh slavery within its limits" Mr..
Walker, maintains that, beyond the Rio, del Norte
slavery will not pass, not only because 1t is forbidden
by law, but because the cooetrace there preponder-
ates in the ratio of ten to over the whites; and
holding, they do, the government and most of the
offices in their possession, they will not permit the
ensavement of any portion of the colored race, which
makes and executes the laws Of the county, And
to these remarks add The question, it will there
fore be seen examination, does not regard the
exclusion of slavery from region where it now
exists, but prohibition against its introduction where
does not exist and where from the feelings of the
inhabitants, and the laws of nature, sit is morally
impossible as Mr.. Buchanan says, t that it can
ever re- establish itselE' l have never uttered to
human benga sentiment 10 opposition TO these views.
And subsequent events, the events indeed OF every
day, confirm their justice, and render 1t impossible
that slavery should be reestablshed in the region
ceded to by Mexico. Such is the general opinion
in the non-saveholding States, among those who are
most attached the compromises of the constitution,
and most determined to maintain them. And do
doubt but there many persons In the southern
States who resist the Wilmot Provso with all their
power, as offensive to the feelings and Injurious to
The rights of the South, but who still believe it is
question rather Of principle than of action, and that
preparing exclusion which Con-
gress has no right to pronounce. Ess. .1sztsg Il
In the view here taken, the effort to engraft the
Wimot Provso upon an act of Congress, even if
Congress had the requisite power, is useless attempt
direct the legislation Of the country TO an object
which would be just as certainly attained without it.
If Congress have not the power, as / believe they
nave not, in common with large portion of the
people, it becomes worse than useless by becoming
And in addition to this, it pecu
arly offensive to one half of the States of the Union,
who see in it attempt to circumscrbe their rights,
and to mortify their pride of character. is.,,.I
q NJ man can look at the signs of the times without
being satisfied that the prosecution OF this question
producing the worst state of feeling; and though
rust that happen what may, our Southern brethren
will still cling to the Union, equally their ark OF
safety and ours still there evils short of separ
ation which every good citizen should seek to avoid
He should seek to- avoid all occasions of unfriendly
feelings to avoid as far as may be the agltations of
questions hostile, to the sentiments or interests of
different sections of the country, and thus tending
TO array one OF them against another. There is
enough passing in the Old World-and if there were
not, there is enough passing around nsto teach US
The nestimable value of our institutions. and that
these ought not be hazarded by internal dissen-
lions, unnecessary in their origin as they por
tentous in their consequences. =.
So much for the exped iency of urging measure
thus advocated and opposed! But POND this Sques-