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

my people he takes occasion, at this conjuncture
when his section is threatened, by the overwhelming
power Of majority, to approach the feet Of power
ton, may enable him to furnish. He spoke of the
wrongs which his section has endured, in terms
which were listened to with satisfaction only by
those who oppose the very rights which he was sent
here to uphold and vindcate: His caQ1ss Of remark
could hardly ai1 70 FL southern men with i9dlgna;
d0h, and even northern men with -coptemRt. He
goes over whole field of controversy, and can
not find single grievance of which the South has
a right to complainant even the disregard of the
constitutional provision to surrender fugitves from
labor, which northern gentlemen themselves admit
to be wrong. He becomes, indeed, The champiQp
Of the majority invites Them - pless
and Mlea9sn& ms own peopla If they resist, with the
@intaTY power Of i6e Gozssaaaani,
However ready may be. on all proper occasions,
to do homage to the high qualities of the North, can
not, at moment like ths-when the whole strength
| of that powerful section of the Union is arrayed
against the South-hesate to take part with the peo-
pie, among whom Providence has cast my lot, in the
great struggle through which they are now passing
Nor can l comprehend how any southern man-ac-
quainted with the history of his country, familiar
with the wrongs to which the South has been SUBJ
ected in regard to the question now before Congress
can, for moment, forget, forsake the cause of
that generous and gallant people. The nobler SYM
pathies of naure-n the absence of all the obi
cations of patrotism-should impel to range our
selves the side of the feeble against the strong.
The course Of the member from North Carolina seems
me ia13tTage both it does violence alike to the
riotism and whether is considered in regard to
or to his country it is not likely to be commended for
its elevation, its generosity, Or it's manliness.
gentleman from New York, Mr.. White, who
sits before me, observe intimses that he approves
the course of the gentleman from North Carolina, in
coming to the aid of the North at this conjuncture,
and says, that the gentleman from North Carolina
sees things through the same medium that he does.
That is than have chasged for the gentleman
from New York has, on every occasion when ques-
ton up affect ng the rights of the South, voted
against the South. He has, on every occasion, from
first last, voted for the Wilmot Provso, and sus-
ained Colts resolution as to slavery in the Distret
Of Columbia.
These gentlemen, sir-the one coming from New
York, and the other from North Carolina-sent here
by constituencies 90 widely differing upon this ques-
ton, see things through the same medium!
thank the gentleman from New York for the time
Fly remark. He admits the extraordinary position of
the member from North Carolina and he accounts
for it by saying, that they things through the
same medium" Such are the concentrations which
"a southern Representative receives when he lends
himself carry out the objects of northern power.
Sir, when at home, did what Icould to allay Sec
tional feeling. spoke for the Union; pointed to
it's glorious ensign, floating in conscious pride over
this broad continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific
and borne by adventurous seamen into all the
ters of the globe. urged tho people who surrounded
me, and to whom the widest appeals were addressed
by those who undertook to ride down, to cherish
patriotic regard for the whole country; and assured
them that act of aggression their rights would
be made by Congress- and that if it attempted,
the would be arrested by the President of their
choice But, sir, standing here, in the midst of the
Representatives of other States, have felt tito be my
duty to resist every measure which would be regarded
by the people, for whom speak, encroachment
on their rights their honor, and to urge upon this
great body, representing the whole country, the views
which they entertain of question which so deeply
affects them. To have done otherwise, would, in my
judgment, have been gross abandonment of duty
duty to my immediate constituents, and to my whole
country. While have thus aimed to do my duty
here faithfully and efficiently, have in my cores
pondence with those represent, contributed what
could to encourage sound sentiment at home-to re-
press, rather than to excite dissatisfaction. have
stated my hope in the just action of Congress-, and
my confidence in the President. l have discouraged
ali movements toward eecting sectional organiza-
ton, believing that an occasion would not arise, call
ing for any other of redress than those which
tho Government afford. In the early part of the
sion when it was impossible to foresee what would be
done, joined my colleagues in addressing letter to
the Governor in the hope, that the real settlement OF
the people of Alabama would be uttered in firm and
moderate resolutions the part of the Legislature
and that the Executive of the State would be empow-
ered in the event of serious aggression being made
by this Government upon rights to bring the sub
ject before the people themselves, to decide upon it,
as they alone have the right TO do.
Such, sir, has been my course, adopted under high
sense of duty. My aim has been to maintain the
rights of the people represented by me, and, at the
same time to avert from the Union every cause Of
trouble-so little do deserve to be classed with
those who desire to break up the Union. God grant
that it may out-ride every storm
1t is not to be denied, that those who represent
feeble section, must sometimes appear to be mprac-
tcabe. Their constituents depend for their security,
upon strict observance of the organic law. This
they must insist upon; it may put them in conflict
with majority their frmness may even threaten
shocks to the system but they must hold their posi-
ton-for when they abandon it, they surrender the
rights which they Were appointed to guard, to the
unchecked dominion of power. This Government,
without the Constitution, would be an absolute des-
potism.
Those Of us who have contended for the rights of
the southern people, and have demanded for them the
protection Of the Government, may be denounced for
a time-raitors may assail us-the. .surges will
dash against us but when the storm is gone by,
and the great question before us s settled, reason
and truth will reassert their dominion, and will vind-
cate Us against the charge Of faction It will then be
seen how much we have contributed to restore the
action of the Government to its course. and that
determined resistance to aggression is the only eec-
tual mode Of maintaining conservative principles.
In our contests here, sir, this must be borne in
mind. In the language Of Edmund Burke. " some
thing must be allowed to the spirit of liberty.
shall do my duty; no considerations shall deter me