The North-Carolina standard., 1850-03-13
NORTH CAROLINASTANDARD.

4.aa RALEIGH: ~
= WEDNESDAY. MARCH "a. 30.
'.s5 MR.. CALHOUN's SPEECH.
We need not invite the attention Of readers ia
the Speech Of MI. Calhoun. which we publish to.
day, the Slavery question, Every one who takes
the slightest interest in publt affairs will of course
read it, eagerly sought for as tits in all directions.
This Speech of the great Carolinian is one Of the
ablestin humble opinion. and have read all his
Speeches. again and agan that he has everdelivered
presents the searching and powerful analysis,
the logic, force, and simplicity of dicton. and
the same for the rights of the States and the
perpetuity of the Union, which have so marked all
his previous efforts If we cannot agree with him
in all his vews it is because, perhaps, he goes deep
into the Of things than any other man, and
describes in the distance the heads of coming events,
they peer up by one, long before any other eye
has discovered or located them. If fifteen years ago.
verify believe, the whole people of the South had
taken their stand by him in resisting Abolition ag-
gressions-had denied, as he has always done, any
and all jurisdiction Congress the question Of
Slavery-and had kept this question out of Congress
and out of struggles for the Presidency, the present
should have had, instead of it, harmony, concord,
sense of justice in the Northern mind, and cordial
feelings on all sides of fellowship and brotherhood1
On the 5th instant, the day after Mr.. Calhoun
marks were delivered, Mr.. Foote rose to express
his dissent, with great respect, but nevertheless most
decidedly, from some of the views advanced by the
former gentleman. He objected to the allusion by
Mr. Calhoun to the importance of an amendment of
the Constitution additional safeguard for South
rights and he also maintained that it unjust
and ungenerous to that all the people of the
North were I" "hostile'' to the South Mr. Foote said
he satisfied with the Constitution as it isall he
asked that it be carried out fairly and justly to-
wards the South. The PROPOSED amendment could
be obtained, and, if insisted a sine qua
dissolution was inevitable. Mr.. Calhoun replied
briefly. He said he had not spoken of "sine qua
,ons but he would say that |" unless there is pro-
lection in the Constitution against - the hostility of
the North to the institution of Slavery, the two
sections never will be in harmony" We do not re-
gard him as making this proposed amendment indis-
pensable to an adjustment of the question: but be-
lieving that, without the amendment, adjustment
be had which will be respected for any consdera-
BILE period by the free States. In relation to the
North he said there were many citizens there who
were willing to do US JUSTICE but there was ma
jority in opposton'' to Gin every portion of the
North.' That was what he meant. He was grat-
fled at indications in that quarter, witnessed
in the New York and Philadelphia Meetings, and he
approved of many of the sentiments uttered at these
Meetings; but he was not to be deceived. The ten
dency of these Meetings was to deprive us of all
rights in California, not by the Wilmot Proviso
but by much more efficient MEANS" He looked " to
the end of things, and not to the means TO acts
and not to ,cords.
We think, with all Difference and respect, that Mr.
Calhoun attaches much importance to " the equi
ibrium" of power between the sections; and we
gard his alluson to an amendment of the Constitution
as unfortunate. Such thing can never be accom-
pshed. If desirable, it doubtless would be in the
abstract it is nevertheless impractcabe. The free
States will to it, and in addition to this
the people of the South have always cont-nded for
the Constitution it is, fairly. equisaby, and honestly
administered. They will not abandon this ground.
That portion of Mr.. Calhoun's remarks which is
devoted the irregular and revolutionary action of
the inhabitants of California, and the interference Of
the Executive will strike the reader with much force.
Indeed the entire Speech is of great power and
is destined to exert much influence on the public
mind. We believe the general effect from its dis
semination and perusal viii be eminenly beneficial
to the country and trust this effort, together with
that of Mr.. ebster, will he instrumental in produc
ing a speedy and final settlement of this unhappy