Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1851-04-05
For the Southern Standard.
STARKvILLE, April g,


meeting of the people of Oktibbeha, on Monday
last. 1t was large and respectable one and a
more attentive audience l never Witnessed Mr.
W. L. Harris being in attendance upon the Pro-
bate Court, then in special session, was called on
for speech, and responded in a manner that de-
lighted the friends of the South, and carried dis
may to the submissionists.
believe, sir, l never heard that gentleman, ac-
knowleged as he is for ability, make more felici-
tous, effective and able speech Indeed, it seemed
to me that his positions and arguments were I'M
answerable. The repeated bursts of applause as
he progressed attested the delight and satisfaction
of his auditory. And what's remarkable In crowds
of this kind there were but two men that left du-
ring the discussion, and they returned before it
was over.
Would that the South had others such as he,
who forgetting party in the advocacy of the inte-
rests of the South, boldly step forward, without
reference to the future as to personal preferment
Then would we be entirely united, then would the
South be righted and the Union preserved.
cannot hope to give even fair synopsis of his
able speech, but the following some of the po-
sitions he maintained;
After expressing his qualification which an acct
dental visit professional business afforded him
of meeting face to face his old and valued personal
friends of the county of Oktibbeha Mr.. Harris
stated to the audience that he appeared before
them with no new opinions ; that he occupied the
same position which he had heretofore occupied
that those present who had honored him by their
presence in the two last political campaigns, in
1848 and I849 and who were now present, would
recognise the principles enforced by the
same illustrations, and often the gery language
used by him on the same subject then, when he
had the honor to represent, as a candidate, his
wing friends of this district two successive oc-
casions. He had then insisted on the equal right
of Mississippi equal protection for all her prop
erty in the new Territories, which was extended
by Government to other States of this Union He
had then denounced the doctrine of non-interven-
ton equivalent to the Wilmot proviso, and in
sisted that the Congress bound to protect our
property in the new Territories against the abo-
lition fanatics and felons, who would harbor steal
conceal it. Yet it had no power to destroy that
property. The business of Government said he,
is to protect, not to destroy. That he should not
now be found in the ranks of General Cass and
General Foote, with of his whig friends, adj
vocating what he has opposed with the wing party
for three years past ought to be matter of sur
prise to them, to those who knew him.
He was not a candidate for office. He had
neither motive desire to swap his principles for
popular name. He soughttrmh alone, and he cared
not whitherSoever it leads who or how few might
accompany him in the pursut-trusting his des-
tiny to the God of truth and the Ruler of nations
he would maintain his position. He did not in
tend to be driven persuaded from opinions long
held, and still honestly entertained, either by the
threats fattery of worthless demagogues. They
first essayed to SANDER him out of his position, in
the face of repeated written and published avow-
ais ; and made every neighborhood and street pol
itician in their employ to spread it far and wide
that he a secessonist-a Enthusiastically to
resort to desperate remedies for present grev-
ances, and more especially measure of resis-
lance to the compromise robbery.
He denounced the infamous ISLANDERS and their
authors in no measured terms. He then said,
finding their ISLANDERS recoing on themselves by
their late speeches, they have shifted their posi-
ton, They have now grown kind-they admit
that he is not for secession revolution, or any
violent resistance to past grievances, but object tc
his position, in opposition to the compromise and
in favor of constitutional State action raising oul
revenue from those who in ure us, and taking the
tax off of our own citizens-encouragng OWL
mechanics laborers and farmers, instead of the
Northern aboltionist-by saying that a remedy
it is not strong enough; that is harmless sort 0
thing, however, to which they have but little OBJ
lection, &c. &c, while they still cry that the only
question is between Union and Disunion, ant
they have the right side of that question.
Mr. Harris declared that no such issue existed
or could be made. The only issue is between low
and vulgar submission to admitted wrong ant
outrage in the late compromise measures fl
nal settlement for all time to of the SLAYER,
question, and open, manly denunciation of thos
measures, and peaceable, constitutional, legal re
sistance by State nonintercourse with those State
who persist in denying to Mississippi protection t.
her property in the new Territories, against tn
lawless abohtionist who may harbor or conceal GU
slaves when resident there.
Mr., Harris then stated his recognition of tn
doctrine of secession original, natural right
not parted with, but reserved by the compact c
union to each State He regarded its attempte
exercise by our State, alone and without expecte
assistance from her sister States as worse tina