North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14

L
Gilman jealous Of the character of his State they
nevefh sless true, and the people would profit from
them if hereafter in all matters deeply affecting their
own interests, they would seek The truth from more
reliable Sources than newspapers in Washington City
dependent for existence upon official patronage.
At the last session of our Legislature, two years
ago, than twelve months before Congress passed
what is called the compromise upon the subject OF
slavery series of resolutions passed upon the same
subject expressing what thor ght to be nearly the
unanimous opinion of the people of North Carolina
will now read two of these resolutions for the re-
Election cf the Senate. The fourth resolution Is In
these words:
Resoired, That the enactment ofany law by Congress
which shall abel sh slavery the stue trade Ia the DIS
of Columbia, shall directly or indirectly deprive
the citizens Of the States of this right Of
with their slave property. Unto any OF the territories oil
the United States and of exercising ownership over The
same, while in the said Territories viii DE an act nor
only of gross injustice and wrong, Dur me exercise u
power contrary the true meaning ana spirit Oh tue
Constitutions and contemplated by the trainers
thereof. . n:
sentino voices, and the House with but ten.
| The fifth resolution is in these words:
RESOLVED That while do not intend hereby TO be
understood conceding that Congress has The power
under The Constitution enacta law prohibiting slavery
in any portion of the Territories of the United States
the sake OF preserving the peace and promoting
the perpeuty the Union, are willing that the oasis
of the Missouri Compromise should be adopted IN refer
the recently acquired territories OF New Mexico
aud California by extending the line then agreed upon
to the Pacific Ocean.
This resolution passed the Senate with but two
dissenting voices, the House with six-nearly an
! unanimous vote of both political parties.
would ask the Senate to remember that these reso-
lutions passed before the coming in OF General
Tavlo1's administration, before any action had been
taken either with California or New Mexico to make
! their accomplishment impossible; they were l may
say the unanimous opinion of the two parties IN the
! State at that time-the wish of North Carolina.
State deeply interested in the question Of slavery,
| yrhi has
character, and which gave large majority for the
elevation of General Taylor to the Presidency.
These resolutions were laid before the Congress of
the United States, but attracted attention, and pro-
duced no results, and simply now serve as record
that the Legislature of that day did all in its power
for the safety and perpeuy of the Republic in an i'm
porant crisis In governments constituted like ours
based upon public opinion, Legislative bodies can
simply point the way for all other purposes their
acts inefficient, unless sustained by the active
cooperation of the people.
The cry of disunion raised in Washington City
last winter and spring, adrot movement cal
culated to alarm the public mind and divert it from
sober and attentive consideration of the action of the
Federal Government And, sir, the planners of this
movement have succeeded marvellously; they have
persuaded the people believe, that the late compro
mise, passed in entire contempt and disregard of the
resolutions of our Legislature, has saved the Union,
and launched it forward in long of honor and
prosperity.
| I have never Mr.. Speaker at snv time believed
there danger of violent ACKNOWLEDGMENT of this
confeteracy My reading of history teaches me that
there is but one instance record, of people light
ing for a great principle. j aude TO the revolution
of 20, when land jobbers, spectators in gov
in the public funds, had but lit
tie voice in the movements of the people. That age
of vrtuous sentiment is gone, and has been succeed
ed by one of cold pretence.
The Southern people too comfortable and
prosperous resist the action Of the Federal Govern
ment with any other weapon than resolutions, and
mass meetings, which have ceased to attract any at
tention When the action of the Federal Govern
ment begins to bear openly upon their prosperity,
when it is visible to the dullest capacity, they may
then rise in their might, but it will be like the rising
of Sampson after he had been shorn of his strength
in his hours of dalliance they may pull down the
temple of liberty, hut they will be able pre-
serve it, or strengthen il.
1t has become matter of history that had
North Carolina. together with the other Southern
States, zealously cooperated in urging the principles
laid down in these resolutions, the Missouri Com
promise line would have been extended to the Pa elf
ic, and opened that region to slave emigration
for all time TO / contend moreover that this
is the only way settle this great question, without
bringing incalcuable evils upon the country, evils of
untold magnitude which no Legislation remedy.
1t is little remarkable that throughout the long
discussion on this subject, no Northern man OF the
most liberal principles seemed to think that the in
stltutIon OF slavery great Industrial interest,
which the Federal Government had no right to de-
stroy directly indirectly. The slave property of
the South is worth upon moderate estimate 1000
millions of dollars it is the of two thirds the
wealth of the whole Union, and yet the Federal Gov
eminent only denies all obligation protect from
its numerous enemies, but most grudgngly and re-
luctanty carried in the fugitive slave bill
press clause of the Constitution. l do not believe
there is government earth-no, not the utocrat of
all the RHssias, which would large and impor-
portion of its subjects with such harsh and cruel
injustice.
1t is manfestly now the settled determination of
the majority of Congress TO permit no more slave
territory be added the Unon-to restrict slavery
within its present boundaries. Such sentiments
have been announced upon the floor of the Senate by
the Two leading minds of the country, Messrs. Clay
and w ehster, Southern, the other Northern
man. Upon this principle the late compromise
passed. and such it has been acquiesced in by The
people of North Carolina. 1t becomes to
examine situation, and what is to be our flu
ture condition under the operation of this law.
1t is worse than idle for any man to distract his
mind with'discusson whether slavery is an evil or
blessing. We find it an institution existing amongst
us. forming the substratum of our social system,
which Legislation remove, and with which all
tamperng produces more evil than good. In my
judgment Providence has permitted the barbarous
African to be brought here for wise and bene6cent
purposes Guided by the science and energy of the
white man, the power of endurance of the negro
has been the sole and only means of reducing vast
regions of maarous country into cultivation, which
would otherwise forever have remained wilderness;
and, sir, unless mistaken Legislation nereres, when
the mission Of the is fulfilled here, the in
scrutable wisdom may carry it to other regions SINH
ay situated, subdue the earth and to replensh it.
Why then should the black race be confined with
in their present limits! Why not throw wide as
possible the doors of emigration that they may gradu
ally and without disturbing the industry of the
try, seek climates better adapted their habits; and
constitutions, than North Carolina Virginia and Ma