The North-Carolina standard., 1849-12-26
CAROLINA WEDNESDAY MORNING DECEMBER &C. 1s4s

ordinance its authority was questioned by Of
the abiest of that day but let it pass. The at
tempt to settle the Wimot Provso now on the basis
of the ordinance of 1857 is vain effort The Will.
mot Proviso is selfish scheme, which proposes tc
seize upon and appropriate the entire territory acqur
ed from Mexico, by the common exertion, and com
mon treasure, and, what is more, the common blood
of the people of this whole country for the benefit
the non-slaveholding portion of this confederacy.
1he people OF the southern States who bore their
full share of the cost of the war; whether you regard
the outlay OF money tha still more precious expen-
dture OF human life, are to be denied any partieipa-
tlon In the fruits of the victory. Can you expect
them to bear it? Would you not despise them if
they did! You admit that there already exists an
insupeble barrier against the introduction of slave
~ into those Territories and yet You insist upon
Guiding 1t, by bringing the authority of this govern
ment which ought to protect the rights of all its citi-
zens ahke-to provide for its exclusion by positive
Legislation. If you persist in this course, gentlemen,
you must take the responsibility of all the
quences which grow out Of it. gentleman from
North Carolina, now before me, Mr.. Clingman, ]
one OF the most conservative who occupies seat
this floor, has clearly stated, in his letter, the
settled purpose of the whole southern people in
gard to this measure and he added, that people
had been known to prosper long after submitting
unjust and degrading encroachment on their hts.
We do not intend to furnish another illustration of
that great political truth. Spare US, gentlemen the
necessity of choosing between submission to unjust
and degrading encroachments on rights, and a
Let me remind you of the relations which we hold
to this threatening question Your policy is agrees
iUes ours is defensive. You seize the machinery of
the government, and turn it against We ask you
to forbear, and to leave in the enjoyment of what
ever rights may possess. 1t Is In your power to
save the Union; it is in your power destroy it..
Garry out the measures with which you threaten u.s.
and it will then be too late to save it. You cannot
keep down the elements which will heave beneath
the government, which to-day displays its glorious
tn he he fires Of he
earth cannot be kept down by the weight of the noun
tains which press them; they will flame up. Nor is
there strength enough in this government to keep
down the feeling which the eonsummation of the in
justice you contemplate will arouse throughout the
whole southern country.
/ You have heard Virginia speak through her legs-
lature Alabama has passed her resolutions in solemn
form; and the voice of Mississippi comes up like the
rush OF her own great waters. l feel at liberty to
speak out plainly. l have been charged with being
too national-with cherishing profound attach
ment TO the Union, that ready to surrender the
rights of the South to it. do regret a sin
gle exertion which L have made in behalf of the
Union. If l can do anything towards avertng i'm
impending calamities, shall gladly do it. But
90 further. If having eyes, you refuse tosee,
and having you refuse to hear-if you will not
regard tie remonstrances of people thoroughly
reused by the unjust measures with which they are
threatened, my mind is made up to stand with the
people of that oppressed section of the Union, in
sistance to your measures and your power. You
have the majority; but the will of majority cannot
disturb the great principles of the constitution. In
government we protected against the tyranny
of popular majority-the worst of all tyrannes-
by the provisions of the constitution. When the
power of the majority transcends the limits of the
constitution, it ceases be law and becomes usupa
ton.
Now, gentlemen, 1 have spoken out freely what
felt it to be my duty to say. We must look the dam
gers which threaten in the face The Union must
be saved. Do not suffer men, whose vocation 1t IS
to agtate dangerous questions, to drive you upon IA
tai measures. There is patriotism enough and there
is rmness enough, arrest TIE evils which threaten
MS. l repeat what l have said-those of US who sit
with you as representatives from the southern States,
on this side of the chamber, can go no further.
The people of the State of Alabama look to this
Congress ~zih the deepest interest. They will hail
with Joy the triumph of patriotic and magnanmous
policy but if other councils prevail, and your leg
isation should be misguided to deprive them of
rights which they hold dear, they will, believe,
throw off the authority of government which has
ceased to answer the ends for which it was created
l still hope that the cloud which hangs so darkly
above us at this moment will pass away, and that
our country will go forward in its glorious career
enjoying the highest internal prosperity, and giving
the world the nobest example that has ever been
furnished of liberty and order, of strength and tran
1uilty.