North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1850-12-14
sPEECH OF MIR. SHEPARD,
1F PAsQUoTANK,

Resoiped That the Constitution the United States
was compromise of conflicting interests, ordained and
established by the people the several States Older
to form perfect union establish justice, ensure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence,
promote the general tceLare. and secure The blessings
of berty 10 all the paroles. and that whenever its
provisions are so perverted enlargeds that fails TO
secure these objects the weakest member of the con-
federacy it ceases TO the Constitution agreed and
becomes The creature the within aud Caprice of dom
nant majority alien in interest to the oppressed, the
most dangerous and ntolerant ofall Governments
q Resolred, That although We love the union OF the
Statee and view its destruction great calamity we
nevertheless regard the right to secede from II as right
OF sclfdeience and protection, winch the people oi
North Carolina have never SURRENDERED, and never can
surrender with due regard tt cir own safety and well
fare and that whenever majority OF the people OF
North Carolina shall solemny resolve that they cannot
safely remain in the Unon it is not only their right but
is their duty secede and 10 punish such of her cit
zens as refuse submission to her sovereign will.
Resofued That whilst claim the right of seces
sion right reserved to the people, and not surren-
dered by the Constitution believe it 10 be en-
treme remedy and that should not be resoed to,
less all to preserve the Union and to protect the
property and insure the welfare OF the people, have
manes;ly failed.
L. Resoloed That the fugitive slave bill lately passed
by Congress in conformity with the provisions oil the
CONSTITUTIONS and that its repeal alteration tend
ing impede of slave from Tetakng Ills prop
erty, will be regarded as undouoed and sumcen S W.
dence that majority OF Congress are nnrestalneo oy
the express provisions OF the Conshution ana 'ha
time has arrived when it becomes the duty OF the Peo
ple of North Carolina to decide whether they Will suo-
init to an unlimited Government or VIII resist lis en-
aroachments boldly and effectively
: ResoIped That property in slaves being recoguiz-
"a both bv be Constitutions of Moth Carolina and OF
the limited States much the duty of the General
overnment 10 protect and defend slave property as
il its duty TO protect and defend any other species of
propertv and that any action of the General Govern
ment preventing the emigration 81 slave properly 10 any
Territory of the Uninn assault upon such property
tending ultimately destroy it, by the slow but sure
process OF circuscribng it, and preventing It's remoV-
al to countries better to its profitable occupaon
than where it now is found
Tho ipius Ire dane tn he
ding States by the late admission of California into the
Union would never have occurred, had the Souh been
united We therefore invite the Cooperation OF the slave
holding States in demanding IRON the General Govern
meut an adequate protection for such slave property as
may emgrate any territory belonging TO the United
States or should be deemed more advisable an equal
division of such territory between the ehoding and
the slave holding Statos of the Union.
ResOlUed That the Governor be requested to trans
nit copy of these resolutions 10 the Governors of the
other States Of the Union, with request that they be
laid before their several Legislatures.
The subject of domestic Slavery as it exists among
u.s. forcing itself upon the public attention. and the
consideration of il as it affects the permanent prosperity
of the country no longer be avoided. 1t sub
ject of vast importance, and encompassed with nrn
sic difficulties troublesome to solve than any
before presented for the consideration of man. In
stead of being the football of party theme for
the rawlings of fanaticism it appeals to the calm con-
sideration of every who has any regard for the
welfare safety of either the white the black
1t demands attention from the statesman as intimate
community, and from the moraist and philanthropist.
as it affects the morals and happiness of large class
of human beings.
The time has arrived when it is not only the duty
of every thinking man to examine the subject in Ill
its bearings. but late political hurrying to
solution this the most embarrassing problem which
has ever been presented 10 the consideration of free
,.eople.
1t is consummate folly for any Southern man TO
suppose he avoid any of the embarrassments con-
nected with this subject should unwse or hasty leg
islation seriously affect the value of the property
the security of the owner.
The destruction of this property in our midst will |
involve in mass of ruin and insolvency both |
States and Communiiies-boh those who own slaves |
and those who own only lands-both those who live
by their own labor and those who live by the labor
of others. These propositions apparent that / |
presume man who has reflected in the most super
fetal manner upon the condition OF the Southern
States, as it is affected by slavery can, for moment,
doubt their truth.
dent. have been astonished the supineness and
indifference manifested by the OF the people of
North Carolina, during the agitation which has ex-
listed In Congress and other portions of the Union,
upon this subject.
One would suppose that our people were either the !
most apathetic philosphc on earth-that they
equaled the Turk in faalism, else they supposed
themselves exempted by some special visitation of
Providence from those ills which flesh is heir to-
know it is peculiarly difficult to operate on the pub
Inc mind OF population entirely agricultural, living
retired upon remote and isolated plantations Such |
population is naturally confding honest themselves
they do not suspect dishonesty in others attending to
their own business and disposed to interfere with
The business OF their neighbos, they suppose all the
world similarly occupied. They are not aware and
viii not believe that large numbers of individuals at
the North OF talent and education, live by exciting
the popular mind and that Southern slavery has been
seized upon by these dsturbers of the peace and quiet
of the Country, aoding every facility for their
neiarious purposes. Another great reason why the
people Of North Carolina have manifested so little
interest In this subject of such vital Importance TO
theIrapplness and welfare has been the extraordi-
nary conduct of the two leading party papers in Wash
ington City, the Union and Inteuencer These
Two papers, which were known before to agree
upon any subject whatever united in decevinp the
Southern people regards the scope object and i'm
portance OF the free soil and abolition movements at
the North. What was their object, it is unnecessary
now 10 enquire, would it be difficult matter to
ascerain if we would only remember who it was that
voted the numerous lucrative printing Jobs which
enrich so many men about the purlieus of the Capto
Such has been the success of these pdpers com
bInIng to sing tune, that hundreds in North Caro-
Una honestly believe that the majority of the
Northern people determined to enforce the Con-
sttutona provisions regards slavery; that they
have no disposition to deny the Southern peope
Their equal rights under the Constitution and that The
aboonlsts are mere fraction of the community con-
ienpbe for their numbers and need only to be lei alone
IN order to sink into insigni6cance. All attempts at
Inc South TO resist the combinations of the aboIitonsts
ny similar combinations denounced as treason
aoe and whilst the influence and spirit of abolition
were shaping and controlling every election at the
worth, from that of President down to the lowest
state or Federal officer, Southern people were de-
nounced as dIsioya to the Union because they met
gether In convention ascertain the dangers TO which
they were exposed, and to consult about The most eff
feciual mode to resist them.
systematic dpc ntioox