The North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1834-1850, 1850-03-27

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Speech of Hon. Robert Strange,
Delivered at tie Southern Rights Meeting, in WI
mingson, January 20, 1850.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: Perhaps mere personal matters
may seem out of place on an occasion like the pres
ent but does not like to appear before the public
in false position. would have it supposed that
seek to obtrude my views and my action upon the
people of New Hanover and Wilmington-but wish
it understood that have attended this meeting and
taken part in its deliberations at the special request
of number of friends, residents in this place.
1t is solemn thing to see an assembly of sedate
and respectable men, embracing all parties, and every
employment, with anxious faces. enquiring OF each
other-What is to be done. 1t indicates some great
evil, either existing feared. This is no holyday
occasion. We have not met to rejoice over the birth
of nation. We have not met to celebrate the tn
umphs of its manhood and vigor. But it is to con-
template the greatest nation upon earth laboring un-
der the premontory symptoms of severe disease. per-
haps Of dissolution-threatened with convulsions
which may disocate every joint in its mighty frame
and tear asunder its gigantic limbs. To endeavor, if
possible it be too late, to apply some remedy that
may avert such dreadful consequences. and soohe the
irritated nerves before they become fully excited.
am glad that Wilmington is among the earliest por-
tions of the State to engage in this important work.
Petersburg has been called the cockade of Virginia.
With equal propriety may Wilmington be called the
cockade of North Carolina. In everything noble. gen.
erous and public spirited, she is the first to act, and
to act efficiently. 1t is but in character then for her
to be on this occasion among the first to act to throw
off, az it were, from the heart, warm and vital cur
rent that may give pulsaton to every artery near and
distant in our wido spread State. But the question
is-What should We do! We desire to soothe and
to save the life of the patient. and not further to excite
when excitement is already great as to threaten
the most alarming consequences While at the same
time we should not from imbecile tmidity, withhold
such decided course Of practice AZ may shield US
from the mputaton of suffering the patient to die for
want of remedies sufficiently strong and active.
That the South has been wronged, and is threaten
ed with yet more serious wrongs, no one can deny.
But do not propose to repeat recital of those
wrongs which have been already made with sufficient
is not my purpose inaame your feelings, but to aid
in the enquiry how those wrongs are to be met Any
decided expression the part of this meeting, fur
ther than is done by the resolutions on your table,
would be premature. We there express the anxiety
we ee-our warm, heartfelt attachment to the Union;
while at the same time declare that honor and
just sense of the claims of their posterty induced
our Revolutionary fathers to sever the ties Of blood
and political association when they could no longer
be maintained but at the expense Of these should
the same necessity mpel upon like considerations
however reluctantly, to sacrifice even ardent love
for the Union to honor and the just claims Of that
posterity for whom it is duty to provide. Yet
desire to make every effort for the preservation of
the Union and we meet not for tho purpose of dis
cussng plan of dissolution, but to devise one by
which it can be honorably prevented. This it would
be inexpedient to do in primary meeting-to attempt
further than to devise some mode by which we may
have opportunity of grave and deliberate confer
with all those who stand related to the subject
in like manner with ourselves. Not to foresta, by
any expression in advance of views the free
and dispassionate result of such conference. The
conference itself il all we should decide upon and
even that conference only in the event that future de-
veopments may make Its necessity more apparent
The distant PERIOD therefore, of the first Monday in
June next, we would fix upon for the meeting at
Nashville. In the mean time, the further action of
Congress- and of those who agtate the subject at the
North, will enable US to judge more properly whe-
ther such meeting be necessary and what that meet
ing ought to do This initatory step is particularly
called for the part of North Carolina, for it is
greatly to be feared her position is much msunder-
stood by both the parties to this great question. Our
wide extent of territory and sparseness of populaton
IOgetnef win nose geographical disadvantages which
prevent that speedy interchange of sentiment be-
tween portion and another Of the people, enjoyed
BY other States renders it necessarily very slow in
collecting, and, therefore, in expressing, the public
sentiment of our State. This slowness Of express
ion has been usually attributed popularity in
the people themselves, involving the impuation of
Betan stupidity or phlegmatic indifference. Never
was there greater error. In no part of the Union
are the pulsations of the heart warmer the opera
tons of the intellect more active, than among the peo-
pie of this State But from the causes already as
signed, our aggregate action is altogether consis
tent with these individual characteristics Public
opinion everywhere must have attained certain vol
ume before itss action can be felt; and this volume
must be in proportion to the numbers and space upon
and within which it is to act.
The public sentiment of North Carolina, therefore,
upon this great question: is not yet understood abroad
perhaps even by great many, not fully understood
at home. il important that it should be understood
both at home and abroad and now is the time to be-
gln It's expression. This expression must begin
way at and in which it better begin than here, in
the adoption Of these resolutions. They embody, 1
believe, the true sentiments Of the people of North
Carolina, and it is allimporant that it should be
known that they do 1t is important TO onr own po-
son among onr sister States. 1t will have decided
of Southern brethren look upon rs with contemp.
tuous doubt construing silence into sordd love
for the flesh pots Of Egypt dastardly fear o the
consequences to which expression Of our opinions
may lead: These doubts shoald be dspeled, for our
honor and for the success OF The common cause. I
fear greatly too, that the nysders Of our rights from
count ~ an iy s s;sse wicked ass.ui.S upon
the great Southern fily u ana that Ne will be found
heacheroueeto oay bfetkssn and our fathers house
This emboIlsno tt6n ID fheir diabolicai attanpts.
Ons party = diesteeed b the want Of confidence