The North-Carolina standard., 1850-01-02
Fer the North Carolina Standard.

ton upon present Developments THAI we have fallen
upon strange mes and had our destinies cast among
men peculiar to the present age Can it be supposed
that one living few years ago, properly rejecting
upon the loyalty of our citizens and tie deep interest
generally manifested by the statesmen Of North Ca
rona in paci6cating all measures that tended to dis
turb peace, would have had the least appsehen-
sion that in short time North Carolinian would
rise up in the midst Of excitement and contention
about matter as dear life ITSELF and endeavor
to defeat pacifcation that likely in all human
probability to settle the matter in all time to come
Did any one suppose that Carolinians would be
found wanting in the hour of action when rights,
guaranteed by the Constitution under which we live
and have 30 far prospered were invaded and Union
threatened with disunion by those who wish to see
old Constitution mangled and cut to pieces, and
a new one framed excluding us from the Union BY
dePriving US of our property! No, indeed. The
hope was rather entertained that North Carolinans
would ever be found defending the principles which
first linked as together as brothers, and insured the
prosperity that has subsequently ensued. This hope
painful as it may be to us ALL can be no longer en-
tertalned. For, by reference to your paper of the
18th December, l see it stated that the Hon. MI.
Stanly, North Carolinian, the first to oppose
Resolution in the Wing Caucus, that simply stated
ing slavery in the territories of California or New
Mexico nor any law abolishing slavery in the Dis
rict of Columbia" This position, strange as it may
seem, has been taken by North Carolinian. He
has taken the side of the opposition to the above
Resolution and it therefore becomes MS to examine
his grounds of opposition. This we propose to do
impartally and with due respect to the Hon. Repre-
sentative OF portion of the citizens of State
Representative who has assumed position not to
be envied by his most humble constituent.
Mr. Stanly, it is stated. said there could be no
doubt as to what he thought these subjects, being
be doubt what he thought on these Subjects
since 1t sa fact notorious to the entire country that he
stepped aside from his party, in company with two
other gentlemen during our last State Legislature,
and not only voted against Resolutions containing the
true, sae and tenable position of Southern men
these Subjects, but he also entered his protest at
large upon the journal of the House, expressive of
his entire disapprobation of any Southern nterfer-
ence in order that Northern aggressions might he
stopped 1t will be Observed that in this celebrated
protest which we suppose Mr.. Stanly intended as a
declaration of his sentiments upon these subjects,
he assumed his first against The Resolutions
adopted by the Legislature of North Carolina, that
8 the name and authority of North Carolina was
usurPed to reprobate certain politicians of the North,
who were not named, and to intimate forcible re-
sistance to recent proceedings in Congress, which
Now, Mr. Editor, we submit to the people of N orth
Carolina, if it is to be presumed that Mr. Stanly was
ignorant of the fact that these Resolutions in
tended to operate against the anatica spirit that pre-
vailed in the session of Congrass Immediately pre-
Legislature of our State Is it to be presumed that
he was ignorant of the names of those gentlemen
who labored in Congress to fasten the Wilmot
Proviso upon the country! But doubtless Mr..
Stanly was afraid of fastening the odium of having
voted for the Wilmot Provso upon some Northern
politician whose character was very dear to him. If he
will point US to that Whig friend Of his at the North
who has ever voted against that abominable Provso,
we will agree with him that that mans name ought
to have been left out Of the catalogue of Northern
politicians :" ' to denounce" whom the Protest as
serts " the name and authority of the State was
"usurped." Do we infer that Mr.. Stanly wished to
specify names, in order that there might be injury
done to any particular individual! Then it follows.
as matter Of course that he ought to have been spe
cifc in naming those against whom he intended a
blow in his 5th reason of said protest, where he
sers that the undersigned protest against the vote
of the majority as being we'll calculated to give en-
couragement to reckless politicians of the South
well as North, who seem determined to rule or ruin.
Mr. Stanly asserted in his protest that it was edo
ing" the people of North Carolina great injustice
under certain contingencies such, for instance, as
the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia,
one of the contingoncies specified in the Resolu-
tions-to give up the Union of the States Upon this
question: whether it would be unjust to create' such
impression with regard the people of North Caro-
lima, shall not pretend to offer opinion of my own,
but simply give the views of Mr.. Stephens of Geor-
gia, who is too much of Badger Whig to require
endorsement from me, an humble and obscure Demo
crat, when his sentiments allow to do con-
scientiously. While the resolution that have quot
ed in the commencement of this article was under
consideration, Mr.. Stephens said AS to the abo-
lton of Slavery in the District Of Columbia mat
ter in principle to the South of the utmost importance
all he had to say, and he said not this in threat but
10 Sorrow and for information, that if attempted and
persisted in by the men who now had power-that
is, the numerical majority in this Unon-the Union
must and will be dissolved. The Union could not
be held together-it was not in the power of its best
friends to hold it in the District OF
Columbia was abolished by the action of Congress-
Which of these gentlemen is right, whether
both, we submit to others to decide Is it necessary
Mr.. Editor for us to 60 and quote more at length
from this Protest. in order to explain the position Of
Mr.. Stany upon tbese subjects! Is it not sufficient
that he was found voting in opposition to the entire
Whig party, save two members, upon these sub
jects, and thereby declaring that Congress did pos
sess the power which the Resolutions denied Is
not this conclusion inevitable! Do find in the
Protest any sentence that places him in the attitude
of friend to the South the Constitutional rights
for which we contend Do we find any thing like
manly argument against the Resolutions Certain.
ly not For we find that he rather attempts to rdi
that have ever been asserted by our most judcious
statesmen. But, adds Mr. Stanly, s. this, speaking
of the Whig Caucus, sis no place for their discus
sion." Indeed, Sir, may we presume to ask where
that gentleman would consider an appropriate place
for their " discussion! He opposes the mainten
ance of our rights in the Legislative body. He op
poses them in Caucus meeting, where lthe general
principles upon which parties are to act are not un
frequently set FORTH and he says that it would be
just to assert that the people would resist unde
certain contingencies" That is, assert that he
as one Of them. would not. Where, then, are we t
trust him! Is it not certain that be is unsafe
for the South under any circumstances People o.
the Eighth Congressional District do you not now
see, late alas that you suffered party considera