The North-Carolina standard., 1850-08-28
NORTH CAROLINA STANDARD
RALEIGH:
AUGUST as. 1850
MR.. BADGERS SPEECH

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We publish in to-day's paper, some extracts from
Mr. Badgers Speech on the bill for the admission of
California, which we think will give our readers a
very corec. idea of the whole. We have rarely seen
the same amount of political heresy in so small a
space. 1t is the very quintessence of submis
sion and federal consolidation. We give these ex-
tracts, which we consider fair sample of the whole
Speech, that the people Of the State may see how
their Representative speaks, what sentiments North
Carolina is represented as holding, and that they may
know how appropriate are the epithes of federalist
and submissionist, which sometimes apply to the
Wing school of politicians and which the Wing pa
pers are in the habit Of pronouncing scandaous and
vituperative. feel compelled to enter solemn
protest against some of the positions taken by the
honorable Senator, and warn the public lest they
should be msled at the present crisis by Sonorous de-
clamation about the Union. 1t may be of little i'm
portance what abstract and speculative opinions
man may entertain upon any subject, but when his
opinions become principles of action and rules of con-
duct they are of vital importance, and hence deem
it highly important in the present alarming state of
public affairs that every man should reflect on his
duties to the country and his rights under the Consti-
tuition. While the breeze is fair and the sea smooth,
the ship may sail in gay and gallant trim but when
the storm is abroad in its fury, and she is tossed
about, as plaything, by the mountain waves, then
every defect in mast or cordage, every worm-eaten
timber in her hull every imperecty caulked seam in
her sides, is discovered.
The people of North Carolina devotedy attach
ed to the Union. They have accustomed themselves
to look upon the Constitution with pride and rever-
ence, as rich legacy from their fathers, and as the
noblest monument of their wisdom They would
regard the dissolution of the Union as among the
greatest of evils but not the greatestthere is one
greater-submission to government of unlimited
| authority; and such government ours would un-
doubtedy be if the opinions declared by Mr.. Badger
should obtain generally among the people of the
States and become the settled policy of the Govern
| ment North Carolina is welded to the Union. but
when the of the marriage contract are violated
| when her friendly remonstrances are treated with
con,empt-when she perceives settled policy on
the part of Government to degrade her in common
with the other Southern States-when her rights
tramped in the dust and there is hope that re-
turning sense of justice will her ghted, though
like Hagar she should 20 forth destitute and forlorn
with fearful eyes and saddened heart, still she neh
er can nor will remain at the sacrifice of her rights
and honor. She has honestly hoped for the best but
mistaken for timidity; and her peaceabIe and law
abiding people daily settling down into the belief
that she must take bolder and decided stand
and their minds becoming prepared for exgences
which too probably will arise. Her gentle spirit,
reused to desperation. begins to know something OF
"The stern joy which warriors feel
When gazing on the glttering steel =!
She will never consent to buying peace. as recon-
~ b,,M NJ R,1 tn a Of
the Tariff to protect Northern manufacturers
dition that they shall no molest about Sa-
very. She will never consent to pay "black mall"
No! her cry as of old, is" millions for defence,
but not cent for tribue.'
Itsounds strangely in the of North Carolinians,
whose fathers, after long hesation fearing lest they
bargaining away the Liberties Of themselves and
their children at last yielded reluctant assent to the
Constitution of the United States, believing that it
recognized fully the rights of the States-to hear that
the States count for in the Union than Conn
ties in State that the Constitution provides '' not
Confederacy, but Union"!
Can it be that the heat of the weather, the ex-
citing debates of the Senate chamber, have stricken
with " midsummer madness" the distinguished l..
L. D., and the venerable conscrpt Father? else how
could he have forgotten What is expressly declared
in the 9th and 9th articles of the amendments to the
Constituton-that "the enumeration, in the Consti-
tuition, of certain rights, shall not be construed to de-
ny or dsparage others retained by the people-that
the powers delegated the United States by the
Constitution, prohibited by it, to the States, are
reserved by the States respectively, to the people,.
! If the Union is sovereign and Independent, why do
find lst section, lst article) the expression all
Legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in
Congress-, &c.; and where is the necessity of emu
meratng particularly the powers of Congress
Shall we be told that the Constitutional compact is
a Union and not Confede'acy, when each of the
States is equally represented in the Senate; when
the House of Representatives is composed of Repre-
sentaves of the people of the States, and not of the
Union at large, elected they are by electors whose
qualifications are prescribed by the several State
Constitutions; and not by general election of all the
people constituted electors with qualifications defn-
ed by the Constitution of the United States? Has
the Senator forgotten that when the election of Pres
dent devolves upon the House Of Representatives,
they vote by States would he, in his zeal for con-
solidation overleap all the barriers of the Constu
ton =!
Let briefly advert to the history of the present
Constitution By the Confederation of 1779 the States
rvation each State of its freedom sovereignty
and independence and of every power, right and ju-
rsdiction, not expressly delegated to the United
States in Congress assembled and the consent of at
least nine of the States, was necessary to certain
measures. Congress was, to a considerable extent
dependent the individual States for the means of