The North-Carolina standard., 1849-07-25


lavishly bestowed upon the august deverer of Cal
hounias. s--i z-. ~ e-ai., v- f-l... =
1t is amusing enough to observe with what per-
tnacity Mr.. Benton keeps up his pursuit of the IA
he makes in his Jefferson City speech are all made
with Mr. Calhoun His denunciations are all for him.
He Fidicules him-he rnaligns him-without stint
or remorse He mentions no other sgner of the
Southern Address by name at all. He glances, to be
urvely, and almost if by pure accident once
or twice, at those who united with the draughtsman
of the address in the act of subscribing it but affects
to recognize every mothers of them 's fol-
lowers . of sort of idolized political leader. His
reason for adopting this particular is obvious
enough he imagined that there yet lurked in the
public mind remnant of that prevalent preju-
dice against Mr.. Calhoun the expounder of nuli-
fcation; and supposed that if he could manage to
connect our movement last winter with the noted
measures of State resistance adopted by South Caro-
lima few years since, his triumph in the contest
which he has sought would be quite an easy one. Be-
sides, he had but little right expect that Mr. Cal
houn would come into the at all with such an
antagonist himself, he is well known very sell
dom indeed to notice anything which chances fall
from Mr. Benton IN the Senate, and to cherish for him
only a sentiment of immeasurable contempt. By
cautiously avoiding any special allusion other sign
of the address, he expected to be able to assai
them thus indirectly, without affordng them pre-
text for retaiang his hostility. regret feel
PEELED to disappont this anticipation Of impuniy.
Representing, as l have the honor in part to do,
valiant patriotic, and Unon-loving Constituency
WhO upon all questions which Involve
the honor of the nation therown domestic securi
ty, united to a mana constituency firm, discreet,
enlightened; who,
But know their rights, and knowing, dare maintain;
Prevent the long aimed blow,
And crush the tyrant when they rend the chan:''
Acting by the authority of such constituency, in
high place. dare not prove recreant before their
enemies, patiently permit my standing and good
faith trusted functionary to be called in question
by any inflated and presumptuous demagogue that
has ever yet cursed the republic with his presence.
| respect Mr.. Calhoun very highly, and believe
that few better, purer, and more patriotic men have
ever lived earth but whilst am not ashamed to
acknowledge my high reverence for his mind and
character, not afraid of being regarded by any
man who knows me as his obsequious follower. A
few days will determine, whether he who has been
set forth our leader, may not in spite of his known
aversion to controversial ste and the feeble state of
his physical health, prompted by the peculiar peris
of the hour, deep and swelling OF long accu-
mulating wrongs and this last vandaic outrage upon
his feelings and character snatch the sword of ven-
geance from the scabbard where reposes and WELD
it with giants strength for the destruction of such
have seldom appeared in the world since
the old days of Mythical renown.
Perrupt 4cher0ntG HercuIeus labor:
until he shall consider his assaants worthy ofdeath
at his hands, it would ill-become one wholly
uncommissioned for the purpose to presume to lift
lance in his defence. shall confne myself to points
which involve alike the honor of all who subscribed
the Southern Address. What are the circumstances,
connected with the origin oil
ument2 They are easily stated, and as easily COM
pretended. Let it be borne in mind, that when the
meeting or convention of the Southern members of
Congress was held in the Capital last winter various
aprressiens of most serious character had from time
to time beencommited upon the peculiar Institutions
of the South graphic delineation of which will be
found in the address ITSELF These aggessions must
have been serious and alarming all will admit
that the outrages perpetrated within few years past
have been grosser and vital than any heretofore
complained of; and since it is fact, also, that so
early as the year 1880, Mr. Benton himself, who now
has the effrontery to declare in his Jefferson City
speech that he has seen no danger to the slave
property of any State in this Union from the action
of Congress-; then, nineteen years ago, In his speech
Foote's resolutions averred, with every appearance
of deberaton, that the passage OF general emancl-
patton law by Congress was not only by no means
improbable, but the contrary absolutely certain,
in the event Of the success of certain measures then
on FOOT When we held our meeting in the Senate
Chamber a resolution had been introduced into the
House of Representatives, the object of which was
repeal all acts parts of acts hlch recognize the
existence of slavery, which authorize the selling OF
disposng of slaves in the District of Columbia and
almost enough votes had been cast in support of this
resolution to carry it trumphantly through AT this
period, also, resolution had PASSED the House, by
a vote of lO7 to 80, instructing the Committee on
Territories forthwith to report bills providing for the
exclusion of slavery from California and New MexI-
CO. This had been followed up by bill providing
for the taking of the votes of the inhabitants OF the
District of Columbia inclusive of slaves and free ne
groes upon the question whether slavery should not
be abolished therein. A resolution had passed the
House, by vote of 90 to 49, directing the Commit
tee on the District of Columbia to report bill, SO
soon as practicable prohibiting the slave trade In said
District Upon all these several questions much
exciting debate had occurred, and the language of
reproach and menace had been freely and fercely
employed by certain abolition members. Various
new recruits also, had in the progress OF these trans
actions been tc take their stand amid the ranks
of our enemies. Mr.. Benton affects to think that
there was nothing in the least degree alarming in this
state things though repeat, he had expressed MS
fears of the passage of general emancipation law
by Congress early 1630 yea, had asserted that
the passage of such law I" almost absolutely
certain in the of the of measures then
on foot.' We of the meeting did not agree with MI
form about and around that there absolute
nece ssity for looking at to safety and
that of our constituents. We believed the Union
itself to be in eminent peril, and resolved to do
all in our power preserve it from destruction The
meeting which had been so much denounced was
accordingly convoked. No secrecy whatever was
observed or enioined on the contrary, the utmost
publicity sought to be given to the whole affair.
Mr. Benton asserts; in his Jefferson City speech,
that our meeting gotten up by Mr. Calhoun:
statement groundess could not have been haz-
-arded So far as l know or believe, Mr. Calhoun
had no parcipancy whatever in getting up this par
ticuIar meeting do believe that he knew 1t was
to be assembled until most of those whose presence
was desired had beena already summoned. gave an
account of this meeting, to Its origin and obects
on the 23d day of February last, which no one under
took at the time call in question, and which do
not beieye that eveh the redoutable Senator from
Missouri will ever be rash enough to deny IN my