North Carolina standard., 1851-01-15

tnelr own puOIcduOHS u was Dut the Otner Qdys
:" saw an article in the Tribune newspaper of New
York. the organ of the abolitionsts, advising III,
party be qhiet for the present, and probably fey
will adopt this suggestion they may permit The pre-
sent session OF Congress pass quietly of. that thu
SouI may calm low and as usual 90 toseep suppos
ing the subject finally settled. new Congress- vii
}cone In is aready ascertaned that Mr.. Seward, ht
higher law advocate has majority of the New orl
members his avo~ed champions, and the balance ad
uniting the purity and justice OF his motlves merely
doubling their expediency. MIR. w ebster, the cham
pion of the Constitution, has been defeated throHgf
his friends in lawloving Massachusetts Ohio is II
the hands Of the freesoers. Here are three ieaoine
Northern Staies, powerful from their Posltion tnel
numbers, and their wealth, under the direction OF
man who acknowledges no control over his Dina Id
naticisui. A new move will be made upon me 10
| litica chess-board Washington; members OF Con
grrss will become excessively excited they VIII
make the most violent speeches; they may even ilm
the duration of the Union as one gentleman dld las
winter to one little fortnight In the midst OF all this
storm and fury, some gentle animated ny me o
intense and patriotic devotion to the Union, Will rise
in his seat and propose compromise, the amount OF
which will be The abnitionists will gain large part
of what they contended for, and We, by submission
will, signalize our love of Union. -.. -.
And Sir, should reject the Resolutions of the
minority will not invite the very course have
here predicted !-will not proclaim TO these Peo-
pie that we acknowledge no right IN the people OF
North Carolina TO withdraw from the Union for any
purpose whatever! But. say the gentlemen on the
other side, although do uot admit the right of Sc
cesson, will rebel or revouonizf.
| will now proceed, Mr.. Chairman, in reply to the
gentlemen from Chatham and Gulliord, and explain
this doctrine OF rebellion and revolution, and show
that it will their purposes and tha II II
means any hing practical useful, II must be pre-
ceded by srcessiorr In tac the gentleman from Ghat-
ham admitted that he differed from me only IN words
Now, Sir, would ask that gentlemen if this is time
when the thief robber is in the house, to quarrel
about the mode OF ejecting him !
am not advocating secession at this iItne mere
e ,rOlI,
and say, it is necessary they should now assert It.,
that should a crisis unfortunately arise when 1t
shall be necessary for them to il, they may UNDER
stand how, and III what way, they must defend the'-
selves.
will not follow the gentleman from Chatham into
his investigation into the old Confederation we don't
differ that subject. understand the gentleman 10
admit the character of our present government,
as stated by Mr.. Madison and Mr.. Livingston, 10 be
in the words of the latter, "parlly popular, acting
directly on the citizens of the several StaeS-paruy
fderalive, depending for its existence and action on
the existence and action of the several States. That
gentleman further admitted. that North Carolina had
" right to oppose her strength and her sovereignty
to the augrpssonS of the General Government, but
this, he conended, revolutionary right, and not
right OF secession.
1t is safest Mr.. Chairman in all controve rsies, be-
fore YOU commence the discussion, to settle the mean
inr of the terms you mean 20 use. | have never
csntendcd that secession was right der we'd from the
Constitution. say in my resolutions, /: is right the
people of North Carolina have never surrendered,
and if they never surrendered il, it must still remain
with them; otherwise our Government is not one of
compact, with only powers delegated by the people,
but one of consolidation.
This is rot only nee sssary, but an navoidable,
inference; and is answer to say, that secession
would destroy the government Undoubtedly it would
destroy the government, and so would revolution,
which the gentleman con nends for, If successful.
As said, Sir, it was best TO settle the meaning of
words let examine what Is the meaning OF the words
~ |. 4, a. 10
finer of the III. aning of words, says revolution means
ia change of government III State or country -
rebellion he defines, - an insurrection against lawful
Thus in England, in 1858, it was called
a revolution, because the government was changed
from the divine right of Kings, to government by
King, Lords and Commons; our revolution in l776,
was Justly called, because it changed the govern
OF this country from the British Parliament. and
vested all authority in the people, and proclaimed
them TIE source Of all power,> will be seen by
reference the first section of bill of rights,
which says al political power is vested in and de-
rived FROM the people only
Now, Sir, have heard of but four original forms
of government, viz: The monachica, the aristocrat-
c, the democratic republican, mixture of these
three. The American people have universally prefer
red the democratic republican, nor have any OF
those gentlemen who contend for what they call the
right OF revolution, vet told to which of the other
forms they propose going when they get ready for
change. presume, therefore, Sir, from their silence
on this very important poIn that they did not use
the word revolution In its true and legitimate sense,
but that they meant rebellion.
] am confirmed i'm this presumption from the fact,
that they all contend that they do not mean TO leave
the Union, hut to resist within it, which is nothing
more than rebellion, insurrection against lawful
authority; for if they do net mean to leave the Union,
it is misnomer TO speak of the right of revolution
They certainly do expect remain in the Union,
and change its form of government.
1t is apparent then, Sir, that the gentlemen from
Chatham and Gulford by the right of revolution
mean the right of rebellion if any such right be-
said to exist.
The right of revolution, or the right ofthe people
to alter change their form of government, is right
asserted in the Declaration of Independence, admit
ted by all public men, and not denied by any oil
tine gentleIuen who have spoken, although think
they have mrsapprehended lis application. low this
right be exercised by the people of North Caro-
lima, if they obliged TO remain in the Union,
passes my comprehension. Here Messrs. Haugh-
ION and l:ilmer arose and denied having contended
it obligatory the people to remain in the Unlon
when asserting the right of revolution. Mr.. Shop
ard continued. do mean, MIR. Chairman, to mis-
take The argument Of either of the gentlemen if
have been fortunate as TO understand It, lcontend
that secession is not only necessary result In GO
vernnen of compact, but that it is an indispensable
prerequisite the right of revolution that the people
of the State organized political community
should have the right 10 withdraw from the Unlon
contend moreover, Sir, that this right ofrevolution
which ancestors won in l776, and athrned IN the
Declaration of Independence, must be surrendered,
and rest contented with rebellion. unless we
still have the right to withdraw from the UMon
W hat is this right of revolution admitted by these
gentlemen, yet to belong to the people OF North Car
olina, defined in Declaration of independence!
will read the declaration from the sacred instrument
WHICH says, "That whenever any form OF govern
ment becomes destructive of these ends, viz-the
welfare of the peoDle-it rUt of the people to