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

ALEleH WEDNESDAY MoRNlae MARCH y 1850

III, AtOAS - II OxAAS ~ AAA ~ 1A3'tSvv Y
if it must let us be prepared for the duties ii
shall demand. and with manly hearts, to sacrifice
every thing else for domestic atsrs, the rights
of our posterity, and our sacred honor. & s.
Mr.. President, rejoice once more to seq meetings
holden in our State without respect of parties. Il s
! almost the only cheering circumstance growing out
OF this sectional question, that brings nearer to
each other at home. The sense of common danger
wakes up within US those kindly feelings which par
| ty bitterness had subdued. The danger which we
are now contemplating, and against which we are
endeavorng to provide, is in part the bitter fruit of
party strife Year after year, for many years, has
party spirit been increasing in bitterness has even
marred the relations of social life 1t has DESTROYED
those safe standards by which fitness for Office ought
properly to be tested-capacitv and integrity. And
men of all parties have come to make availability the
only question in our elections. This is the same
spirit which leads at the north the heterogeneous
army now making war upon southern rights.
In conclusion, permit me to say that we of the
south are not altogether clear in this matter. To
some extent our blood will be upon heads
the worst should come. We have in good degree,
pandered to the factious spirit of local distinctions
In many respects we have acted most unwisely and
unjustly to brethren at the north ;we have not
made proper allowances for the position of public
men in that part Of the Union. We have been un-
reasonable in our demands upon them, and have
sent controversy. We need not wonder that the
opinions Of men take their hue from surrounding cir
cumstances, and that there is tide in the opinions
as well in the affairs of men, and that both these
tides have their ebb and food. No incident much
affects the opinions of men as their interest. This
matter Of slavery stands upon the footing with
everything else. If it were to the interest of the
greater part Of mankind to dispense with the of
horses, and very small portion of men were left
who found to their interest to continue their use,
think that their altogether right and proper
perhaps even praiseworthy. But that majority
would soon come to denounce it most fragrant
injustice to that noble animal which God had made to
enjoy his freedom in the boundless plains and the
tackess wilds; and not be subjected the drudgery
of the plough or the cruel inction of the whip and
spur. And 80 who hold slaves in the strict of
that term, in very small minority, although our
slaves in fact free and happy than the larger
portion of the called freemen who more truly
slaves. The majority of mankind have not found it
to their interest hold slaves in the strict sense of
that term, and might be expected, very ready
to denounce it in those who do, and especially in
those who are under the most irresistible moral ne
cessity to continue to hold them. This very moral
necessity under which live makes their denuncia-
ton the more violent, for the devil is always the
most disposed to meddle where he can do the most
mischief; and YOU will always find mankind more
ready to censure you for differing from them in things
that you cannot avoid than in things that you can
contempt than vice. These all moral evils
that we may deplore, but they are not likely
to be eradicated. 1t is in vain for to endea
vor to convince the proud Pharisees scattered all
over the world, for almost every man is Pharsee
upon every subject where he make plausible
moral argument one side reproachfal to others,
when he himself finds temptation in that direc-
tion and especially if what temptations he may have
are in an opposite one.
Compound for sins he has q mind to
BY damning those he's not inclined to-
We shall never gain anything in the present state
of the world by argument in favor of slavery in
the abstract. But we appeal to the regard of
northern brethren for the compromises of the Const
tution-to their of interest in preserving their
political association with US, and allowing Us to make
in quiet those staples from which they chiefly derive
their wealth-to their sense of Justice and those
ties of blood which stronger between and
them, than between them and the of Africa.
Those dspassionate and wise men who respect these
views and who, upon constitutional principles would
have always stood by Us, we have caused to be kill
ed off politically by requiring them to stand out and
proclaim themselves pro-slavery men before any cr-
sis demanded such sacrifice. Just as wise would
it be for General, in anticipation of battle, to
quire his soldiers to stand out and be shot at with
loaded rifles, that he might know whether they could
be relied upon in the day of battle. Quite rea-
sonable would it be for to say to another W no
proessed to be his friend, that he would never be-
ieve him until he should openly insult some man
whom he knew to be his foe. Aman runs no risk
at the South by Wanting prosavery opinions in the
abstract, or in any other way But it is not 80 at the
North. 1t can never be done there without some
moral risk for such sentiments against strong
current which no wise man would like to encounter,
but urgent necessity, or for some great good
to be achieved, well knowing that whenever he does
it, it is at the risk of drowning. We have not con-
sidered this; and one after another we have need
lessly sacrificed useful northern men by compelling
them ayow pro-slavery opinions on insufficient oc-
casions. And even after compelling them to this
needless display of frendship-when they magnani-
mously exposed themselves in this discharge of NOR
al artillery for grati6cation have told them
that still dstrusted them because they north
ern men, and for no other reason, and refused to give
them confidence. Thus have we been continu-
ally weakening ourselves, and but for our own foy
I am persuaded where we have now corporal's
guard the north should have had egons to stand
by Us in the defence of the constitution. But still
i've strong confidence that there is sufficient polit-
cal integrity and good at the north, to aid us
in averting the consequences to which we aPpre-
hensivey looking; and that all that is needed. is that
they shall know that will be true to ourselves,
and will not meanly desert them when they shall
have committed their political fortunes to the cause
Of honor and justice to the south.
For these reasons, l think we should cause our
selves to be- represented in the Nashville Convention
And that is all that it would be wise for at pres
ent to determine, this all-mportant subject This
being done our glorious Union will continue through
indefinite ages, growing and spreading until the stars
upon banner shall become countless host; and like
the blue canopy heaven, which represents, be look
ed up to by men Of all nations with reverentla ave.
Mr.. SrAsLr, Of North Carolina is pfofusely quot
ed the North show that under excess Of pro-
vocation and wrong, will the South resist. They
havea right to the authority, far it is available
Mr.. Stany, undoubtedly, has given pledges to keep