The North-Carolina standard., 1850-08-28

you have once purp0sed-the simple Willingness 10
offer affront because you have tk power to offer
it. There is nothing of value to be accomplished by
it, no result to be produced-none in the world.
Ours has been simply asking, on the part of men
who hold out no longer, to be permitted to march
out of their ratification with their side-arms and
their flag flying. What has, so far, been tho answers
the answer in effect! Surrender at discretion: we
care not for your feelings. 1t is no motive for our
action that you have sensitveness upon this sub
ject, and that which will offend you is unimporant to
US: We will have the Wmot proviso we will vote
for it; We will vote for no bill without it.
The Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Davis) can
didy avowed his for being opposed to the COM
promise bill to be that it did not contain the Ilmot
proviso. II not the combination of subjects In
the bill, it not the undiscoverabe insult to Cal
iornia in putting her alongside of New Mexico and
Utah, which dictated his opposition, but the want of
the Wilmot proviso.
Now, sir, beyond this omission of useless and
amongst Southern offensive proviso, we have
asked only good and eectual law for the surrender
of fugitive slaves-a measure which the constitution
makes clear and imperative duty-a measure which
refuse US without utter disregard Of our
rights and of constitutional obligations.
Well, then, sir, if they will persist in refusing
| these most moderate claims-it they will no: listen
to remonstrances, but will, from motives OF real
affected humanity, disregard the injunctions of the
constitution, and in the wantonness of power insist
! on unnecessary legislation, what remedy have we y
or have any! Nous rerrons, as celebrated edl-
| under such circumstances is plain. When their ap
plications come into this chamber for relief and as
sstance for their suffering manufactures-when they
present to account of the discharge OF work
men and the closing of workshops, the dropping Of
all their industrial pursuits will, so lar as am
concerned resist all their applications and reject their
petitions. They will be addressed not to unwilling
ears, but to reluctantly though steny closed to
their appeal by of JUSTICE necessity, and self
protection. Yes, sir though every mandatory In
| xI IL d. ,h.,l1
dustral pursuits should be withered, though her
streets should be filled with sturdy beggars, and her
asylums and her poorhouses should every where be
filed her public and private charities oppressed and
overburdened, and though the remedy lay nmy single
vote, that should not be given. Not Mr. Presi-
dent (God forbid it y that should rejoice to look
upon their sufferings-not that wish to mar their
prosperity, that would deny relief if there were
any other possible by which could contend for
reasonable claims, for just consideration. Reason
they reject; persuasion and entreay they spurn they
answer claims with their notions, with sentimen-
tality they treat with our opinions, and judg-
ment, and wishes, and feelings. What then, is left
to US, OF at !eas, to me! l hold myself as having
no right to 90 out of the Union-no right to destroy
it-and have no wish, if had the right to do SO.
Then must stay here, and, by such means as the
constitution has put in my hands, endeavor to bring
Northern friends to pause for reflection Though
on this slavery matter they are with numerical ma
jority in this Union they cannot protect their indus
try without Southern help.
| Mr.. President, do not state what would do as
threat. Not at all. In the language OF my honor
able friend from Virginia, Mr.. Mason,] speaking
some time ago respecting the State he represents,
simply u" declare a resuired purpose"
Mr.. President, well from the resolutions of our
Legislature, which have read the Senate, from
the view have offered of the Proprety of things in
which hope to find cordial support at home, be-
lieye and deem it proper and correct to affirm, that
North Carolina will not be found disposed, upon any
occasion which is even remotely probably, to look
either directly indirectly to the dissolution of the
Union. If l am mistaken, still, sir, here occupying
position as Senator of the United States, must
act upon every subject which comes before me upon
my own deliberate Judgment. l acknowledge the
right of no man, Set of men. to command, or
authoritatvely direct my conduct, whether they are
the Legislature, the People of the State rep
resent. Whatever respect is due-and great and pro-
found respect is due to their opinions and Judgment,
and however important element for consideration
that opinion and judgment constitute-still my own
conscience and my own understanding must always
ultimately rule my own conduct, whenever these
into rreconcitabe conflict ith the opinions and
Judgment of others.
One word more, Mr.. President, and will cease to
trespass upon the Senate. There is another capacity
the capacity of an individual-in which wish to
Say word or two about my views of the obligations
resting upon me. Every gentleman must entertain
and upon his opinions. undertake to arragn
none acknowledge in each right to entertain, to
express, and to act upon his own opinions l claim
only the same privilege for myself. Now, sir with
regard the obligations under which stand to the
Government of the United States, entertain views
widely different from, if not directly opposite to,
| those ntmated by the Senator from Virginia, Mr..
Mason] and the Senator from South Carolina, Mr..
Butler.] Sir, l was born a citizen of the United
States-the first breath drew was as citizen ow-
ing allegiance to the United States. / did not come
into this world citizen of North Carolina only,
and have my allegiance transferred by her act to the
United States. was born citizen of the United
States owe allegiance to the United States. The
United States is my country; and the Government Of
the United States the government of my country.
acknowledge no more power of dsposing of the OBJ
legations have undertaken to discharge to that
try and that government, and which hope shall
| endeavor to fulfill acknowledge, say, no more
authority in the State of North Carolina to dispose
of that obligation than in the State of Virginia the
State Of New Hampshire to do it. If the State of
North Carolina had not united herself with the other
States of the Union under the constitutional she
had chosen to remain in the absolute sense inde
pendent sovereignty, would have vowed allegiance
to her, and to her alone, but she thought proper
raty the constitution of the United States, by which
the whole state of the was altered. The
stitution is not mere confederacy- is union it
forms constitutional government, and l owe para
mount allegiance to that government. Why, sir, is
not the constitution express to that effect? Surely it
IS and the very form of the oath prescribed for pub
lie officers by the State of North Carolina, immedi-
atey after her acceptance of the constitution declares
authorta.ivey the sense in which she understood the
obligation to the new government. BY that oath she
taught me, when under her laws took it, my adj
mission to the bar, that the authority of the United
oath bound myself to support her constitution, only
when not inconsistent with the Constitution of the
United States. was sworn to support the Consti-
tution OF the United States unreservedy and without
exception or qualification Therefore, MIR. President
without undertaking to determine what influences the
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