Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-07-12

in electing to fill the distinguished Office
for which have been nominated, my earnest exer-
tions shall be directed to the advancement of the
prosperity and happiness of the people of the State
and to give to North Carolina that rank, influence,
and consideration among the States of the Union to
which she is justly entitled
Very respectfully, your obcdent servant,
DAVID s. REID.
To Messrs Ro. Strange, G w. Caldwell, James s.
Battle, John S. Eaton, John Exum, Committee.
To the People of North Carolina.
My name having been presented to you can
didate for Governor, at the ensuing electng is my
apology for this address As do not claim the sup
port of any man, against his honest convictions of
duty to his country, shall address myself to the
reason and understanding of the people, and cheer
fully abide their decision
Believing that the great measures of public policy
advocated by the Democratic party were calculate
to promote the prosperity and welfare of the coun-
try have given to those measures my cordial sup
port If asked what these measures are, may point
to our statutes and the history of the country for
answer. I may point to the overthrow of corrupt
National Bank and the establishment of the Consti-
tutiOnal Treasury to the repeal of runOus Tariff
system, and the enactment of the more liberal policy
embraced in the act of 846 and to the acquisition
of large valuable, and fertile Territories destined
to add wealth and strength to this great country
These, and other measures, may point to, as proud
monuments OF the PATRIOTISM the purity, and wisdom
of Democratic policy. Although a Democrat owe
no allegiance to party farther than the policy of such
party is calculated to promote the good of the coun-
try.
The adjustment of the slavery question is sub
Ject of deep interest to every portion of the Union,
and more especially to the South, with whose fate
interests and destiny inseparaby ntertwined
Long before my entrance into public lite the aglta
ton of this subject led to what is Familiarity known
as the - Missouri Compromise" Although beliey-
ed that, in entering into that Compromise, the South
had for the sake OF peace and harmony: conceded
too much to the North, yet when came into public
life was disposed to carry out that Compromise in
good faith. We had a right to expect and to de-
mand of the North, that she would, on her part
stand by the Compromise But in this we have
been sadly disappointed. A very large portion of
the people of the North now seek to violate it, by
demands incompatible with the interests the safety
and the honor of the Southern States The Terrific
ry of the United States acquired by the common
blood and common treasure of all the States and to
appropriate it to the use some of the States the
exclusion of others, would be violation OF every
principle of justice and equality. Moreover, vast
amount of slave property is every year escaping into
the Northern States, and most of those States, In
stead of faithfully carrying out the compromises OF
the Constitution, actually interposes legislation tc
prevent the recapture of fugitive slaves. In this
way the South has lost millions. This grievance
demands redress. The slavery question is of Vita
Importance to To the North it is mere alb
stract political question. To Us, it is not only
question of right, involving incalculable amount
of private property but the perpetuity of the Union
and, above ALL the domestic quiet and security Of
ourselves ana families. Inc CflStS deInG1lQS L0t IN
South should take firm stand defence OfherfaghtS
[ have always been Union man. yield to no mar
in devotion to this glorious Union, and desire to SEE
it preserved and perpetuated to all time After the
enjoyment of civil and religious liberty, there is NJ
object more desirable to me than the preservation
the Union. But the best and surest MEANS in my
humble opinion, to preserve and perpetuate the I'm
ion is for the South to take firm and decided stanC
in favor of her rights, against the entertainments
the North.
Il Of tho inf of call
ing the Nashvill Convention, yet personal acquain
lance with large number of gentlemen, both Dem
ocratS and Wings who were in favor of that Conven
ton, enables me to repel the charge that they were
in favor of treason disunion They gentle
men of elevated patriotism and ardently attach
ed to the Union.
hope that wise and salutary counsels may prevail
and that this distracting question may at once b.
settled upon principles of justice to the South.
While member of Congress l endeavored to ad
here to the principles of the Missouri Compromise
and when a bill was before that body to establish
Territorial Government for Oregon, containing
clause inhibiting slavery, an that TerritOry-bein
compelled either to vote for the bill with that
strction against extending the protection of GU
laws to that distant people, voted for the bill
together with many Southern gentlemen: Som
partizan Wing newspapers have seized on this pre-
text, and charged with having voted for tn
Wilmot Proviso. This charge is untrue for | an
and ever have been opposed to that Proviso, an
have never voted for it at any time or in any way.
The restriction in the Oregon bill applied to tina
Territory alone, all of which hes north OF the Mis-
souri, Compromise llne whereas the Wilmot Provis
proposes to inhibit slavery both North and South
that line. | voted for the Resolutions annexin
Texas which contained Proviso excluding SLAYER
in all that part of Texas, North of the same line
These Resolutions were voted for by all the Demo
Gratis from the South yet in doing we did not vot
for the WiImot Proviso. While this subject,
occurs to me that if these Wing partizans woul
spend more of their time in examining the opinion
of their own candidates. and less in misrepresentin
the opinions of Democratic candidates, it would
better for the country. Two years ago | cautione
them against voting for Gen. Taylor, without pull
lie declaration of his opinions They would not tax
my advice, but turned round and denounced Ger
Cass as Wilmot Proviso Abolitionist," and thu
too in the face of the fact that he had publicly d.
clared his opinion to the contrary. Gen. Iaylt
was honored with the vote of North Carolina, an
Gen. Cass was defeated Since then, erho has do'
most for the South, Gen. Cass or Gen. Taylor! Ger
Cass, although instructed by the Legislature of h
State to vote for the Wilmot ProviSo boldly and ell