The North-Carolina standard., 1850-05-15

the last. Sir, we would have wholly failed in the
election of Speaker on democratic grounds, if the
scnded the rule requiring majority of the votes to
elect and in its stead substituted the plurality rnle
and that result would have been produced because
northern democrats would not vote for southern DEM
ocrats.
But was there no sectional feeling manifested by
the South, when the election of Clerk of the House
took place? The one, the democratic candidate,
sided in the North and the other the whig candi-
date resided in the South. Did the southern demo-
Gratis adhere to the democratic candidate! No. sir
they even did worse than the northern democrats,
who refused to vote for southern democratic Speak
er. They not only abandoned the democratic candi-
date but they abandoned the democratic party Joined
the wings, and by their votes elected the whg south
ern Clerk, in opposition to the democratic northern
Clerk. Col. Forney, candidate, the favorite
of the democracy of the North he had always been
the eloquent champion of democratic principles and
he had conrageously stood by the constitution in de-
But still this sectional feeling overpowered all other
considerations. and he struck down by the South
for the sake of the South. advert, Mr.. Chairman,
to those elections with no unkind feelings. My OBJ
ect is to show to what extent this sectional feeling,
which is but the forerunner of disunion, has been
carried here in the legislative hall of the nation
But this feeling has not merely manifested itself in
these elections. Who SIR that loves his country can
forget the terrible scene which exhibited in this
chamber on the 18th of December last, in which the
honorable member from Georgia Mr.. Toombs] acted
SO conspicuous part? had but few days before
taken my seat representative of a constituency
that had always stood by the Union, and always will
stand by it, come what may and if a thunderbolt
had fallen at my feet, could not have been more
shocked than I was a. what then saw and heard.
The honorable member did not hesitate I" to be-
fore this House and the country, and in the presence
of the living God, that by your Legislation you seek
New Mexico, purchased by the common blood and
treasure Of the whole people, and toabolish slavery
in this District, thereby attempting to fix national
degradation upon half the States of this confederacy
I am for d;sunion and if my physical courage be
equal to the maintenance of my convictions of right
and duty, will devote all l am and all have on
earth TO its consummaton."
Sir, how was this language received! With cries
of treason-treason No, sir; cry Of treason was
uttered, but shouts of applause echoed through the
hall. Those plaudits, that memorable occasion,
not from the galleries, but from honorable dis
tinguished, and prominent members of both the po
tical parties Of the country. The sentiment uttered
not the sentiment of the honorable member alone.
The response which it received from southern repre-
sentatives showed that it the sentiment of the
South and sooner had the sound Of his voice
reached the southern States than it was echoed back
with legislative approval. know that the free-so
viewed this as the language Of "a jealous and impas
stoned man but in this they are mistaken. II the
Provso become a Law, they will find that the sent-
ment uttered by the gentleman from Georgia will be
the all-pervading sentiment of the South. 1t has been
repeated again and again this floor, by other south
ern representatives. and to this hour, member from
any section of the South, whether whig democrat
with one solitary exception. Mr.. Stanly.] has disa-
vowed the sentiment Grave senators and representa-
tives who have always been DISTINGUISHED for their
prudence and moderation, and for their sincere attach
ment to the Union, have also solemnly warned us
that if the Proviso become law, the Union will be
at end. Sir, is it not time for the people of the
North to take heed to these warnings! Is not time
a.. ~. 4f H.
nion mot in that pecuniary spirit which estimates
its value in dollars and cents but in that spirit of
patrotism which, looking far beyond its commercial
value, estimates it by the many and great blessings
has already conferred upon mankind, and by the count
less blessings il is still destined to confer upon gen.
eations yet unborn. Is it not time for them to pause,
and inquire how long they teach from their pnpts
and their schoolhouses that the institutions of the
people Of one-half of this confederacy sinful and
wicked and at the same time the union Of the States
continue!
But. sir, for what objects is the Union thus pa-
ced in jeopardy! Is it for the purpose of still fur
sher enarging the liberty of the citizen and obtain
ing guarantees for his rights Is it for the pur
pose of eecng, by constitutional means, great
reform! Is it for the purpose of eectng any object
demanded by any great public exigency whatever?
No, sir, but it is for the miserable object OF doing
that by human laws which Nature and higher
Power than any earthly tribunal have already done.
So far as regards the Territories of New Mexico and
Utah. Nature herself has inerposed barriers against
the introduction of slavery far formidable and
prohibitory than any Legislative enactment by Con-
gress could possibly be. The whole of the country
embraced in these Territories is high mountain
gion, with adaptation in soil. climate, or Produc-
ton for slave labor. The adoption of the Wilmot
Proviso for these Territories would have about as
much practical effect in preventing the extension
of slavery therein it had in the Oregon Territory,
OF as it would have in Canada, whenever the people
of that northern cline ask to be annexed to the
United States. 1t stated in speech delivered
few days ago by distinguished senator, Mr.. Dou-
glas, the authority of Fremonts explorations, that
the lowest point the lowest valley of the Great Ba
sin, marked the map of those explorations, is
more than four thousand feet above the ocean, and
that the average elevation of the valleys is at least
five thousand feet. Why, sir, what better antslaye
ry provso the most ultra free-soer desire than
the one which Nature herself has enacteda "When
you ascend toward the heavens, twice as high as the
Allegheny mountains, in order to get into valleys
surrounded by mountain ranges many thousand feet
higher, and covered with eternal SHOWS do you not
think tasks the distinguished senator that you have
found charming country and lovely climate for
the negro, and especially for the profitable employ
ment of slave labor =" Sir, it is time that the hon
est-minded portion Of the community, who are sin
cerely opposed to the extension of slavery, should
look at this question in its true aspect. II they do
feel certain that they will longer suffer them
selves to be used for the purpose of promoting the sell
fish and political objects of few designing and am-
bitious men. Fanaticism ITSELF it seems to me, must
be convinced that slavery could not even be drircn
by Legislation, into the Territories of New Mexico
and Utah.
Sir, l do not believe that slavery would, under
any circumstances, have been introduced into any of
the Territories acquired from Mexico. The valleys
of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, in California,
were the only places which, By mere possibility,
e u,;rbt have heen exended But the Giyer of all