Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-03-01
SPEECH OF HON. ROBERT STRANGE,
DELIVERED AT THE SOUTHERN RIGHTS MEETING, HELD
IN WILMINGTON, ON THE 29TH JANUARY, 1850.

O@t AOOO'
DIR. THOMAS III. WRIGHT and VIM C.. BETTEN-
COURT Esq, Secretaries of the Southern Rights meet
ing held in this town the goth January, have p1a
ced in our hands the following letter from Hon.
ROBERT STRANGE to them accompanying the copy
of his speech delivered upon that occasion, and fur
nished by him in compliance with resolution of the
meeting. This, along with the speech, we take
pleasure in laying before our readers. No copy of
the letter of the Secretaries has been retained
sequently we are unable to publish it
FAYETTEVILLE, Feb 18th, 1850 5,
Genttemen-Your favor of the 5th inst. was re-
ceved by at this place few days ago, covering
resolution of the States Rights Meeting holden at
Wilmington, on the 10Th ult, requesting copy of
the remarks made by on that occasion, for publ
cation In which letter you very kindly add your
personal solicitations
am very grateful to the meeting, and to you,
gentlemen for the very iatterng expression of APP
probation of what said by me on that occasion.
If consulted my own reputation, should consider
it wise to withhold my assent to your request But
do not feel at liberty to consult with my own ease
or my own reputation, when they come in COMPETE
tiOn with your wishes.
have therefore, we'll as / am able sketched
the substance of the remarks made by me though
do not vouch for their accuracy. should have
complied with your request, but professional engage
ments have interfered with my wishes, and left me
but little leisure for the performance of this duty
Accept the assurances of my highest respect and
l am, gentlemen, your friend and ob't servt.
ROBT. STRANGE.
DR.. THos H. WRIGHT AMI VIM C. BErrENcouRT,
Esq, Secretaries.
Mr.. CHAIRMAN-Perhaps mere personal matters
may seem out of place occasion like the pres
cn but does not like to appear before the public
in false position. l would not have it supposed
that seek to obtrude my views and my action upon
the people of New Hanover and Whining ton-but
wish it understood that have attended this meeting
and taken part in it's deliberations at the special
quest of number Of friends resident in this place.
1t is a solemn thing to see an assembly of sedate
and respectable men, embracing all parties, and of
every employment with anxious faces, enquiring of
each other-What is to be done? 1t indicates some
grea evil, either existing feared This is no holy
day occasion. We have not met to rejoice over the
birth of nation. We have not met to celebrate the
trumphs of its manhood and vigor. But it is to con-
template the greatest nation upon earth laborng
der the premonitory symptoms of disease per-
haps of dissolution. Threatened with commissions
which may disocate every joint in its mighty frame
and tear asunder its gigantic limbs To endeavor,
if possible, it be too late to apply remedy
that may avert such dreadful consequences, and
soothe the rritated before they become fully
excited. I am glad that Wilmington is among the
earliest portions of the State to engage in this mpor
tant work. Petersburg has been called the cockade
of Virginia With equal propriety may Wilmington
be called the cockade of North Carolina In every-
thing noble generous, and public spirited she is ev
the first to act and to act efficiently 1t is but in
character then for her to be on this occasion among
the first to act to throw off, as it were, from the
heart warm and vital current, that may give pull
sation to every artery near and distant in wide
spread State. But the question is-What should we
do We desire to soothe and to save the life of the
patient and not further to excite, when excitement
is already great to threaten the most alarming
consequences While at the same time we should
not, from imbecile tmidity, withhold such decided
of practice may shield from the imputa-
ton OF suffering the patient to die for the want of
remedies suffcie2tly strong and active.
That the South has Icen wronged, and is threat
cned with yet serious wro2gs no one can deny.
But L do not propose to repeat a recital ct tnose
wrongs which have been already made with sufficient
animation by my friends who have preceded me. It
is not my purpose to infame your feelings but to aid
in the enquiry-How those wrongs are to be met ?
Any decided expression the part of this meeting,
further than is done by the resolutions on your ia
bic, would be premature. We there express the
anxiety we feel-our warm, heartfelt attachment to
the Union while at the same time we declare that,
honor and just of the claims of their pos
terty induced Revolutionary fathers to sever the
tics of blood and political association when they could
longer be maintained but at the expense of these
should the necessity impe u.s. upon like con-
siderations, however reluctantly to sacrifice even
ardent love for the Union to honor and the just
claims of that posterity for whom it is duty to
provide Yet we desire to make every effort for the
preservation of the Union, and meet not for the
purpose of discussing plan of dissolution, but to de-
wise one by which it can be honorably prevented. =
This it would be inexpedient to do in a primary
meetng-to attempt further than to devise some
mode by which we may have opportunity of q
grave and deliberate conference with all those who
stand related to the subject in like manner with our
selves. Not to forestall, by any expressions in ad
vance of our own views, the free and dspassionate
result of such conference. The conference itself il
all should decide upon and even that conference
only in the event that future developments may make
its necessity more apparent. The distant period
therefore of the first Monday in June next would
fix upon for the meeting at Nashville In the mean
time, the further action of Congress- and of those
who agitate the subject at the North will enable
to Judge more properly whether such meeting be ne
cessary at all and if necessary, what that meeting
ought to do This nitatory step is particularly call