The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-16
THE SOUTHERN PRESS.
SPEECH OF
Hon. William B. Shepard -,


D.lirersd in the Senate, November 9Th, upon
The follo,oing Resolutions, submitted By him
self:
!. Resolred, Thst the Constitution of the
limited States wa,, n compromise of conflicting
interests, ordained and established by the peos
ple of the several States, ain order to form a
more perfect vnion, establish justice, ensure
domestic tranquility, provide for the common
defence, promote the general ,cefare, and secure
the blessings of liberty" to all the parties, and
that whenever its provisions are SO perverted or
enlarged, that it f. lis to secure these objects TO
the weakest member of the confederacy, it ceases
to be the Constitution agreed to, and becomes
the creature Of the within and caprice of DOM
inant majority, alien in interest to the oppressed,
the most dangerous and intolerant Of all Gov
ernments.
. Resolved, That, although we love the union
of the States, and view its destruction as great
calamity, we nevertheless regard the right to Sc
cede from it as a right of self-defence and pro-
lection, which the people ofNorth Carolina have
never surrendered, and never can surrender, with
regard to their own safety and welfare and that
whenever a majority Of the people Of North
Carolina shall solemnly resolve that they can
not safely remain in the Union, it is not only
their right, but it is their duty to seccde, and to
punish such of her citizens as refuse submission
TO her sovereign will.
3D. Resolved That whilst we claim the right
of secession, as right reserved to the people,
and not surrendered by tho Constitution, we be-
)ieye it to be an extreme remedy and one that
should not be resorted to, unless all means to
preserve the Union and TO protect the property
and insure the welfare Of the people have mani
testify failed.
4th. Resolred, That the Fugitive slave bill
20 it,c 70 if u-itb
the provisions of the Constitution, and that its
repeal, or any alteration tending to impede an
owner of slave from re-taking his property,
will be regarded as undoubted and sufficient evil
dence, that a majority Of Congress are unre-
strained BY the express provisions of the Con-
stitution, and that time has arrived, when ii
becomes the duty Of the people of North Caro-
lima to decide, whether they will submit to an
unlimited government, or will resist its encroach.
ments boldly and effectively.
s. Resolred, That property in slaves being re.
cognzed both by the Constitutions of North
Carolina and of the United States, it is as much
the duty of the General Government to protect
and defend slave property as it is its duty to pro-.
tectand defend any other species of property, and
that any action of the General Government pre-
venting the emigration of slave property to any
territory Of the Union, is an assault upon such
property tending ultimately to destroy it, by the
Slow but sure process Of circumscribing it, and
preventing its removal to countries better adapted
to its profitable occupation, than where it now is
found
6. Resolved, That the injustice done to tho
slaye-holding States, by the late admission o
California into the Union, would never have oc
CURED, had the South been united: We there
fore invite the co operation of the slave-holdins
States IN demanding from the General Govern
ment an adequate protection for such slave pro
ncrtv AZ may engrate to any territory belong
mo to the United States or should it be deemed
more advisable, an equal division OF such terri
tory between the slaveholdng and the non-slave
holding States Of the Union.
T. RESOLVED, That the Governor be requested
to transmit copy Of these resolutions to the
Governors Of the other States of the Unior
with request that they be laid before their sew
eral legislatures. -,
The subject Of domestic slavery rs it exist
among us, is forcing itself upon the public atten
ton and the consideration Of 1t as it affects tn
permanent prosperity Of the country can N
longer be avoided. 1t Is a subject of vast import
nnce, and encompassed with intrinsic difhcultie
more troublesome to solve than any ever betor
presen. ed for the consideration of man. lnstea
Of being the oot-ball of party or theme TO
the rawlings Of fanatcism, it appeals to the cain
and sober consideration OF every one who has
any regard for the welfare or safety of eithe
the white or the black race. It demands atten
ton from the statesman as intimately affecting
the prosperity and safety of the whole commun
sty, and from the morast and philanthropist a
It affects the morals and happiness of larg
class Of human beings.
The time has arrived when it is not only tn
duty of every thinking man to examine the SUI
ject in all its bearings, but late political event
are hurrying to a solution this the most embar
TO the consideration ola free people.
1t is consummate folly for any Southern MAJ
to suppose he can avoid any of the embarrass
ments connected with this subject, should un
wise or hasty Legislation seriously affect the
value Of the property or the security OF thu
owner.
The destruction Of the property IN cur midst
will involve in one mass Of ruin and insolvencN
both States and communities, both those WIZ
own slaves and those who own only lands; boil
those who live by their own labor and thos
who live by the labor of others. These propo
stions are so apparent, that presume no ma
who has reflected in the most superficial man
ner upon the condition of the Southern States
AZ it is effected by slavery, can, for moment
doubt their truth.
62tietlnS myself tlese PtoPoSlt'oho W po oe'
evident. / have been astonshed at the supine
ness and Indifference manifested by the mass O
the people of North Carolina, during the agt"
ton which has existed in Congress and other
portions of the Union, upon this subject.
One would suppose that our people were ci-
Their the most apathetic or philosopbi bic race o"
earth, that they equalled the Turk in fataiism
or else they supposed themselves exempted b.,
some special visitation of providence from those
ills which flesh is heir too" know it is pc.
culiar!!v difficult to operate on the public mind
Of population entirely agricultural; living re-,
tired upon remote and isolated plantations.
Such population is naturally contiding; honest
themselves they do not suspect dishonesty in
Others; attending to their own business and not
disposed to interfere with the business of their
neig hbors, they suppose al the world similarly
cuped. They are not aware. and will not be-
leve that large numbers Of individG2ls at the
North, of talent and education, live by exciting
the no -ular mind, and the Southern slavery has
been seize,l upon by these disturbers of the
r. q :I:., g., tha;. ,efarious purposes Another