The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-13
NUMBER sol.

NUMBER Sol.
restraint upon their efforts to abolish it. second
class declare it to be great and heinous crime
against the natural rights of mana crime, however,
countenanced by the laws and allowed by the Consti
tuition. Against the continuance of this criminal Ii
cense they stand pledged to employ all their powers
and unite all their strength to repeal the laws which
allow Its perpetuaon, and to alter the Constitution
which gives it protection. e.ss
There is third and as yet more numerous class,
who consider slavery great political evil, which
ought not to be extended, but ought to be curtaed.
Now we know that argument is wasted and time mis-
spent in addressing the understanding of the two first
classes named. Nothing s unavailing than le-
gal argument or demonstration in political economy
when opposed by moral feeling in those to whom it
is addressed. If the feeling be sincere, copsciencs
ressts efecually the force of demonstration; if in
sincere the task is yet hopless, because truth
can have no legitimate influence. These parties must
increase, because religious fanatcism and excited
sympathies for wrongs, either real our supposed,
move with resisIess power upon the human heart.
ou may address to the third class, and they
may be conv jnced far at least to leave
evil of slavery, but they cannot consent to its
extension; conclusion in which they all concur.
From this third class, who, to say the most for them,
are not the most active in opposition to southern in
terests all the recruits to the first named must come.
And they have gone over to them with fearful rapid
iy. In vain does the still small voice of reason
ter its conclusions the storm of passion the raging
OF Phrensied excitement overwhelm its whispers
and all are drawn by the same impulse to the same
position.
These, sir, the Of agitation and disturb
ance deeply seated in the nature of things, and be-
longing to the case. again ask, who the agita-
tors -who are the disturbers! 1t is manifest that
statesmen and southern States have been
aggressive. The Missouri compromise gave away
slave territory without consideration. settlement
OF the question, as it was hoped, unjust to the South,
but acquiesced in the price of peace The history
OF the past and the present events expose the deo~
sion. Was the south aggressive here Has the
south violated this compromise, or made attempts to
DO SO! Under cover Of the right Of petition, she
abolition of slavery in this District and elsewhere,
was agitaed in Congress- The right Of petition,
cured in the Constitution, was for the redress Of
grievances, not for niicting wrongs-to obtain the
rights of petition nnusty ,vihheld, not for tho dos
rnc'on of the property Of Others property guaran,i-
here The appropriation of the entire public do
main to the citizens of the non-saveholdng States
an infexible adherence of numerical majority to
the w ilmot proviso although the whole south most
solemniy declares that the act will most assur-
edly produce separation from the Confederacy 10
the south aggressive here ! The assertion Of not
only the right, but the duty of Congress to abolish
slavery in this District the forts, arsenas and dock
yards within the southern and slavehoIdng States,
where property has been ce'ed to the Federal Gov
ernmen for purposes of defence, although the south
has with great unlnimity pronounced solemnly that
dlsunlon must be the consequence II the south ag-
gressive here! The deliberate notification Of sol-
emn provision OF the Constitution, not only by de-
cnng legislation. but by positive of State
laws, which prevent the execution of the provision
relating to fugitive slaves, thus, fact aording pro-
lection to kidnaPpers and bounty to thieves. Is
the south aggressive in this? The recent assertion
thaT olnA,,~ 80 W. Al ~ Z
er over, and ought to interfere with slavery in those
States which have been admitted since the adoption
OF the Constitution; thus exposing the southwest to
this desolating power. Is the south aggressive in
! this! And, as if this were not sufficient cause of
evaporation, the superadded usurpation of the Exec
utive in the case of California; State called into
existence by Executive power, excluding the South
by constitutional provision, under government
which, to say the least Of it, revolutionary, and
in defiance Of authority. Grasping at one effort the
ges to all but those whose swords aided in winning
the possession, or whose blood stained its SOIL
ask. is the south aggressive here No, sir the
south has never been aggressive on the north.
challenge the records Of history the memory Of
man for the instance That history in its instructive
annals, will perpetuate the evidence of forbearance
nequalled-loyalty to the Union unparalleled and
devotion to the Constitution which knows no equal.
This patience, this loyal sentiment, this enduring
tachment to the Union, under such provoking injn-
those who wrong us, that we are not in earnest in
our warnings-not determined in our purposes of
resistance Perhaps We in some measure deserve
this manifestation Of contemptuous incredulity Those
who have offered insult with impunity, may some
times safely calculate the pusillanimtv of those
who have been insuted. 1t may, however, be true,
that our patriotic attachment to the Constitution the
only bond OF union, cannot be appreciated by those
frequent violations of its acquisitions have rem
dered them insensible to its obligations.
Unscrupuious men are apt to forget that there il
any such restraint as principle, any such monitor in
the human bosom as conscience. Sir it is because W.
believe that disunion is better than emancipation tina
any result Is preferable the attempt to give eoua
ty to the two by legislation-a belief openl,
expressed and found fixed in eyery southern mind
which has induced those who pursue policy drec
ted TO the production of those results, TO cali us dis
unionists. The army of Wilmot-provso free soiIer
have surrounded Us with numerical majority. The,
hold their position and send bands Of armed abo
iitionists as skirmishers to bring on the battle.
successful, they will claim the honor Of negro etan
cipation. Whilst the struggle lasts they reproae
the combatants as the causes of disorder. And
their allies are discom6tted they will have to bear th
blame OF the assault We are told that ultra south
ern statesmen and northern Dolitionsts agree in de
string disunion. And this tauntng remark is run
through all the changes in order to discredt all south
ern men who speak of resistance. It ia true that tn
open abotonists, both here and among their const
tuency in the non-saveholding States, do advocat
disunon, as duty which thew owe to God and mar
OF certain convictions as regard
the sin OF slavery. No concession short of uniyer
sal emancipation will satisfy them, both in State
and Territories. They deny the obligations Of Il,
Constitution and the Union which it creates and r.
culcae its abrogaton, enon disobedence to s autho