The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-08-17
FAYETTEVILLE, n c., AUGUST II. 1850

tant duties OIL me. They are such. now
ever. as must .esard as consistent with
those of my own State. My opinions ant!
judgment may be very different from gem
tlemen who have but one government to
serve.
Mr. President, my opinions of duty vary
very materially from those which have been
expressed by the honorable senator from
Kentucky MIR Ciay1. If. sir. the honor
able senator from Kentucky is anX Gus for
an occasion to try the strength of this gov
ernment, perhaps he may bong about the
occasion by measures of injustice and OPP
preston, of which believe him the COM
mtted advocate. Sir, it will never be
brought about any otherwise. 1t may be
FASTENED, anc If SO, it will be by those who
consult the apparent strong. And | will
say that, if that occasion ever shall arise
for trying the strength of this government
against a sinsIcState, or a lumber of States,
who may dispute its authority, the senator
and myself will be found in very different
attitudes. Sir, if understand his pro-
position, (and it is not the first time he has
made it here it is that under no circum-
stances--untler no circumstances would
he be found to resist tile federal govern
ment, provided its measures should be
adopted by a mere majority, having the
sanction of his judgment that they were
constitutional, and the sanction of a ma
jority would make anything constitutional.
In other words, the States of this c0nfed-
eracy are to have their destinies and their
rights subjected to the arbitrary decision of
an uncontrolled, self-sustained. and inter-
ested majority, and that makes the law for
him; and he says, sir, that he will follow
the standard Of such government to blood,
and that if any State, or the people of any
State, should raise the standard of resist
ance to such measures, he will be found
ready, with his arm and voice, to stand by
that standard and minsle in the blood Of
civil war. The State of South Carolina,
Mr. President. has been too often alluded
to for one other representatives. to mistake
the aim: do not think that South Caro-
lima has ever gone further, or has gone as
far as other southern States in the Union.
The senator from Kentucky limited his re-
mark to single NGe, Or the people of
single State. My friend from Virginia
noticed that part ofhis remark, and | shall
not add anything by way of application.
But, Sir, he has said that the Wilmot pro-
viso, that the abol ton of the slave trade
of the District of Columbia, or the aboli
ton of slavery anywhere, any measure that
could be adopted, connected with this bill,
that he could regard as constitutional
should have his support, calling to his aid
the bayonets of this confederacy to put
down all measures of resistance. lie ad
vocates the doctrines of Il despotism, un-
der the disguise of name. MIR President,
believe North Carolina, Ger
tainly South Carolna-I speak for her
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi--and /
speak confidently of these States-have
said, in solemn Legislative resolves, that if
the Congress Of the U. States shall enact
the Wllmot proviso, oriany kindred meas
ure to insult and degrade the States whose
rights would be threatened by them, they
would resist it: some form or other; and
will say to the honorable senator that he
might find something more than pleasing
the gallery necessary to sustain him Ia
such conflict. The gallery. with their
endorser near me, eht not be SO potent
as appearances would indicate.
Mr. President, believe the honorable
senator is Virsinian by birth. Sir. he
,as in some degree. reflected honor on his
mother, and has given reputation to the
State with which he has been identified
kentucky, | award him all that history
will award him, and what history may not
leny him; but | will bring to him a beau
iful illustration OF the feeling which child
eels for the mother, even under the
temptation of commanding duty. When
was combining with the allied
powers to make war with BonapaIte, he
was both sovereign and an ally;- but it
vas one of the most touching incidents of
history that, while he was willing to devise
measures to put down Napoleon Bonaparte
:ho was as an enemy to Europe aud the ma
ion of which he was sovereign,h ,he said, when
le approached the confines Of France, he
could not press hostile foot upon the land
IF his nativity. Such sentiment would
not control the honorable gentleman. |
leard the honorable senator from Kentucky
Jay shat II Virginia, true to her history,
should undertake to maintain her resolu
ions and resist the Wilmot Proviso, and
,tler acts of injustice and oppression
oroug hit about by the acts of this govern
cause of resistance, he would be found
his blood upon the soil of his
birth, to put her down as a traitor to- the
or government, as he calls
t. Sir. those who have been spoken of as
-esisting l have enumerated: they are
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. They
all made'the same declaration 1t is for
or history to say these resolves are good
when the OCCASION shall occur, as indicated
n them. 1t will be for history to say how
ar their sons will be found ready to CO.
operate with the federal government in
D y Inn ysshI L h rtofo n a