The North-Carolina standard., 1850-04-10

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REPLY OF MIR. HILLIARD,
ALABAnA,
To Mr. SrANLY, Of North Carolina, delivered in the
House of Representatives Of the United States, March
Mn. HILL1ARD rose and said Mr.. Chairman: The
Methodist Episcopal Church, with which have been
connected since attained manhood, devolves eer-
tain of its members. engaged in the various pursuits
of life, the duty Of enforcing, occasionally in public,
the religious truths held by that body of Christians.
This duty has been devolved me by that church.
am not insensible to the criticism to which it SUBJ
iects me; but such my convictions in regard to
the duty, that have no purpose of reinquishing it,
while live. sense Of this religious obligation,
has restrained all occasions, in my intercourse
with society, from any departure from the most per-
feet courtesy. Since my connection with the Con-
press of the United States, Ihave habialy forborne
to trespass the rights, or even the fags. of any
of its members. If on any occasion Z had done SO
from inadvertance, should, when reminded of it.
have promptly repaired the wrong. My selfrespect,
as we'll as sense of justice, dictated this course
and that have uniformly adhered to it, is well known
to gentlemen with whom have had the honor to
on this floor for years past. 1 may safely appeal to
gentlemen on both sides of the chamber to sustain
me in this statement.
On the other hand, have at all times supposed
that no gentleman would allow himself to allude in
any offensive sense to my religious profession There
exists strong disposition in vulgar minds to do this,
but believe that one has so far violated the rules
of decorum as to do so, with two exceptions.
A member from Pennsylvania, who addressed the
committee some days since, Mr.. Stevens, felt him
self at liberty to urge me to call on my lllusrious
friend, styled the President of the United States.
and announce to him, in inspired language, his i'm
pending doom. He selected the very language which
I IN <boo rofth tho Acc
is the man steaer;" and was to add to this solemn
entreaty to him to abandon his slave property. if he
desired to escape the Divine wrath. shall not offer
single remark in regard to the oensiveness Of this
language, in its application to the Chief Magistrate
of the nation, to myself member Of this House;
but shall leave it that prompt condemnation which
it will meet from every man who has any just sense
of propriety.
The other exception to which refer, is the men,
Der from North Carolina. Mr.. Stanly] who spoke
me, without single provocaton, on, my part, with
urging the ci,izens Of Stltes to shed each
others blood - and he proceeded, farther 10 charge,
me with design to break up this Union. sthese
charges gratutously made; it was not my Pntzz
pose interfere with the member, in the course
his speech. His very gross allusion to me, drew
from an unprecedented and indignant denial.
Gross as the assault upon me was-none could be
more SOL should have replied to it in less often
StVe language. "A mOmcntS IeueCslOn "ouiu nave
enabled to do So but my indignation was, for the
moment, rrepressible. / pronounced it false, as
it most certainly was. Still, SIR however little res
pect was due TO the member who could bring against
me such an atrocous charge, ought to have check
ed an Indignation, which, however natural 1t Is TO
= feel under such an outrage, impelled me to make
harsher reply than could have desired to make. in
cooler moment. But, sirx it was an impulse which
every generous man will at understand and ex-
euse
In looking around this arena, Mr.. Chairman, the
member had perfect right to select his adversary
but however much the world may applaud the dis-
ereton with which the member exercised his right In
singing out, it will not be likely to award him
an ovation for any success which he may win In the
contest. He thought it proPer-perhaPs L should
say prudent-to pass by all others, and to throw his
gauntlet Immediately at my feet, as he entered the
gladiatoral ringat the moment in which he referred
to me in manner which almost every other member
of the House, but himself, would have felt should
shield me fleasassault repeat, sir, the world may
applaud the. $1dber's discretion, whatever it may
say of his manliness.
Now, sir, deny that have on any occasion en-
ployed the Scriptures for the purpose which the men,
Der charges on me. Indeed, have never drawn upon
,hem as l remember, for any purpose whatever, in
vndicate slavery by single quotation from them.
In my late speech, expressly declined to argue the
question affecting the rights Of the people represent
ed by me, in respect to slavery, on moral grounds
because the argument would admit the jurisdiction OF
the forum and urged none but political consdera-
tions in support of those rights.
Much less, sir, have at any time sought to bring
the authority of the sacred volume to the support OF
violent distinctly and emphaticaly repe!
the charge Let my speech be examined, and it will
be found that the charge of the member from North
Carolina is without even the coloring of truth. 1t
was, am confident, hastily uttered. 1t proceeded
from the unbalanced character of that member mind,
and his malignant disposition towards southern mem-
bers who might be supposed ready to condemn his
had thought proper to search the Scriptures for
guidance at this time, am quite sure that should
have found nothing in them to encourage an aban-
donment of duty by who 10 entrusted by his con-
suents with the high functions of representative
nor to favor treasoDable surrender, his part, OF
the rights which he was chosen to uphold and defend
| am here as the representative Of others. Their
rights are committed to my keeping. Whatever
may encounter. shall vigorously and faithfully
tend for those rights. find nothing in human or
Divine teachings, to encourage to do otherwise.
On the contrary, if could shrink from their main
tenance, because of any apprehension Of encounter
Ing opposition from the open enemies false friends
of those rights, l should incur the censure Of the
whole Christian and political world. In my late
Scriptures, the object of which could not be tortured
to mean what the member has charged bat asserted
what every one must admit to be true, that in con-
stutional government, political TRUTH like revealed
tfuth must be open to the freest discussion right
oenied only BY desPotic govemment-which en-
Iorees tranquility by the crushing might Of power
and formidable only to tyrants and to traitors.
Tho other charge brought BY the member, in his
needless manner, as to my disposition to break up
the Union, is also wthou, any foundation in fact Il
Is an error into which he has fallen from the present