The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1850-07-13

they we're in favor of treason or disunion.
They are gentlemen Of elevated patriotism,
and are ardently attached to the Union.
hope that wise and salutary counsels
may prevail, and that this distracting
question may at once be settled upon prin-
ciples of justice to the South.
While a member of Congress endeav-
ored to adhere to the principles Of the Mis-
| souri, Compromise and when bill was
before that body to establish Territorial
Government for Oregon, containing
clause inhibiting slavery, IN that Ierrifo-
ry-being compelled either to vote tor the
bill with that restriction, or against extend
ing the protection Of our laws to that dis
tant people, voted for the bill, together
with many Southern gentlemen. Some
partizan whig newspapers have seized on
this pretext, and charged me with
having voted for the Nilmot Proviso.
This charge is untrue, for | am. and ever
have been opposed to that Proviso, and
have never voted for it at any time or in
any way The restriction in the Oregon
bill applied to that Territory alone. all Of
which lies north of the Missouri Compro-
mise line, whereas the Wi!snot P.oviso
proposes to inh,bit slavery both Nort. and
buttons annexins Texas, which contained
Proviso excluding slavery in all that
part Of Texas. North of the same line.
These Resolutions were voted for by all
the Democrats from the South. yet in do
ing 80, we did not vote for the Wilmot Pro-
vi>o. While on this subject. it occurs to
me that if these Whig partizans would
spend more of their time in examining the
opinions OF their own candidates, and less
in mis-representing the opinions of Demo-
cratic candidates. it would be better for
the country Two years ago cautioned
| them against voting tor Gen. Taylor,
without a public declaration Of his opin-
ions. They would not take my advice.
but turned round and denounced Gen.
Cass as a WiImot Proviso AboIitioni>t.
and that too in the face ot the fact that he
had publicly declared his opinion to the
contrary. Gen. Taylor was honored with
| the vote Of North Carolina. and Gen. Cass
was defeated. Since then, who has done
| most for the .SoMh. Gen Cass or Gen.
Taylor Gen. Cass. although Instructed
by the Le islature of his State to vote for
the WiImut Proviso, boldly and eloquent
ly appealed to the North to do US justice,
| and openly proclaimed that before he
would vote to carry out the instruct tlons
to perpetrate this injustice upon the South,
he would resign his seat in the Senate.
His appeal to the people of his State was
sembled. and in spirit Of lberaity high
ly creditabIe to themselves, and still more
complimentary to him. repealed those in-
structions. This is the same Gen. Cass
who was charged in the late canvass with
being a Wilmot Proviso Abolitionist. How
stands the case with Gen. Taylor 1t
affords me pleasure to state that his
course has not done Justice to the South.
You looked in vain to his Annual Message
to Congress for any appeal to the North
! TO give Up your fugitive slaves, or to do
you justice in relation to the question OF
slavery. But you will find that he recon-
mends q miserable non-action policy winch
is. in the end, to accomplish the very OBJ
ject of the Wilnot Proviso.
This plan has become the scheme of the
Abo!itionists at the North. Gen. Taylor's
policy has already been denounced by the
veteran statesman, Henry Clay. to whose
e!oquence many of you have delighted to
listen. and around whose standard many
of you have delighted to rally. Yt, III the
face of these facts. my competitor. Gov
ernor Manly. in speech delivered before
the whiS Convention accepting the no'"i-
nation, in speaking Of the policy Of Gen.
| Taylor, said !:
$ The wing panty of North Carolina.
by ma "rity OF 5000 votes, contributed
10 briug BIN Into power. and we will be
the last to desert the standard of the brave
old soldier.'
| And again in the same speech he says
- The whis party may we'll congratu-
late themselves and the Nation, in having
at the head of affairs such a man, at such
u tremendous crisis as the present"
For myself, l must say, that I cannot
congratulate any portion OF the people OF
my State upon having at the head Of affairs
a man who persists in policy SO deadly
hostile to her dearest rights. In vain may
we make avowals of our devotion to our
| interests, If We elect and support those
, who do not represent those interests. Is
this bitter pill of destruction to be gilded
with the popular name Of a military chief
tain? The question is not whether sou
will desert the standard Of brave old
soldier" but it is whether you will permit
yourselves to be BETRAYED BY the mischiev-
Gus policy Of Gen. Taylor aud his cabinet.
While have opposed internal improve
ments by the Federal Government. yet |
have always avowed myself the friend Of a
fair aud judicious system Of Internal In
provements by our State. But l have
ever been opposed to such wild and ex-
travayant schemes as we're calculated to
| involve the State in large debt. without
the prospect Of return Of adequate ad-
vant.ges to the people. That may not
be charged with concealment, nor my