North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-03-19

all amused yesterday with the attempts of the gen.
tleman from Maryland, Mr.. McLane, I in reply to
the questions of the gentleman from South Carolina,
to explain in what Democracy consisted. His defni-
| ton was that Democrat was he who stood by and
honestly carried out the objects and determinations
OF the party organization. This definition he twice
gave In reply to questions.
Mr.. McLane said this was not his statement, and
proposed to explain.
Mr.. Clingman continued.
regret that the hands of the clock are moving too
rapidly, to permit to give the gentleman the floor.
L may be mistaken about the precise terms he
did use. The members of the House generally are
quite likely to recollect what he did say, he
l. He said further in continuation that Democrat
in l849 he that voted for Cass and Butler, and in
1874 for Polk and Dallas. Amusing as was the ex-
hibition made by the gentleman on that occasion,
doubt whether any other member of the House would
not have found it difficult to define the distinctions
between Wings and Democrats, as national parties,
at this time. The truth is, Mr. Chairman, the
old issues which formerly divided those parties,
have now disappeared, and for want of the old land
marks the lines of division are scarcely percePtbe.
(Mr. McLane said that they still existed in his opin-
ion.)
Them sir, it is very extraordinary that the gentle
man on yesterday was not able to point them out.
Though cross-examned by several members. and wor-
red for quarter of hour, he not able to lay
hold of any one of these old landmarks. They must
have been buried very deeply under ground to escape
detection by optics as keen his. There be no
doubt, Mr.. Chairman, that the Wing and Democratic
pares essentially divided as to measures, have
now become mere factions. By factions, mean as
from parties, designate bodies
OF men, not separated by weli-dened principles, but
only by political animosity, or because struggling
against each other for Office. Such associations, are
usually the most mischevous. Wanting the disin-
teresedness and purity, which struggle for princ-
pie is apt to engender, they become utterly sell
fish. and tend to political corruption. have no OBJ
lection therefoe, to party combinations formed
as the government of the country is ky thereby to
be in better, rather than position. Though
Ill Il
called Union party, yet had objection to the
movement saw at once that party could not sta nd
upon single mere negative idea, and that before it
could progress, it would have to adopt positive prn-
ciples to regulate its general action. If those prn
ciPles, when promulg gated, had contrary my anti
cipations, accorded with my views of what is sound
policy better than the principles of the antagonist
party, then should not have hestated to cooperate
with them. say now, Mr.. Chairman, that if the
old republican party of the days of Jefferson and
Madison, that party which was broken to pieces in
1925, by reason of its having nominated FIVE presi-
dental candidates in the ed-if that party could be
called together, upon its old principles, would ath
march under its fag than that of any other likely
to be found. l know that its has sometimes
been brought into disrepue because many protesting
the name, have in practice apostatized from its prin
cIPes, while others have incurred ridcule by thei:
msapplcations Of those principles. True religion
has been brought into dsrepute by the hypocrisy of
its professors, and good coin is sometimes discreded
by counterfeits.
rights of the States, strictly defining the powers of
the federal government and limiting much as pos
slble the lines of its action. those only which
our system can permanently stand In the part of the
Union from which come, the great body of meR of
all classes, have originally belonged proessed
the principles OF that party. Many of the old
tederallss having seen the mischief of different line
of policy, would be ready to embrace its principles
As for myself, sir, shall at all times be ready to
sustain whatever measures sound policy, and the per-
nanent interests of the country shall in my judgment
require, without regard to the parties individuals
with whom may for the time be placed. A public
man here can find no compensation for his surrender
of the right of private Judgment and independence
of action on all practical issues of moment In con-
cusion have to say that think the present revenue
ystem ought to be reviewed, and modified in some
respects. The frauds in the collection of duties COM
planned of should be renedied far practicable
but those who are making most clamor are doing it
with view of deceivng the country as to their real
object, which is to foist it tariff enormously high
am ready myself now to vote for a specific duty on
Oar iron, for example, but will as the gen.
leman from Ohio proposed last session, to make it
S2O per ton, or even to Increase it generally. Every
body knows that the the rate of duty the great
IT the temptation to evade itby fraudulent devices. If
here were time, which there is not, at the present
session, should be willing to review the whole sys-
Elm. Some of the duties are too high. Others pos
lbly ought to be increased The mode of assessing
many of them ought unquestionably to be changed.
While would be willing for the sake of revenue to
zee an imposition on every thing that is imported, l
ay now, that if any article ought to be mad alb
olutey free of duty, 1 know none having stronger
laims 10 the exemption than railroad iron.
The navigation laws, too, need essential mod6ca-
ion Why should not the agriculturist, when he has
onveyed bis produce to the seaside, not have the
rvege of sending it off in the vessel that will car
y II cheapest By extending the reciprocity system
atey adopted with Great Britain but limited to the
oreign commerce) to the coast-wise rade the enor-
nous rates of freight between Southern and !
Iorthern ports would be greatly reduced Our farm
rs and citizens would be gamers thereby. Nor do
think that our shipping interests would materially
uer The adoption of the reciprocity system in the
oreign trade has not injured all. It's extension
'ith proper qualifications ought to be objected to-
)ur ship owners would doubtless sustain themselves
lough their freight would be less than under the
resent monopoly. Let the question of Canadian re-
procity and the free cation of the ST. Lawrence
considered in connection with these things. They
re perhaps right in themselves, but should prefer
lat the system should be examined as whole at
he same time. I
With reference to the bill now under consideration {
have little to say The strongest objection to the f
7stem of internal improvement its liability to gross
ouse, by reason of its partial tendenc es well as
lie dishonest political combinations which it is apt
give rise. For of the items in this bill can h
adily vote The Mississippi river is proper subject
# expenditure So is the opening of the inlet AL
emarle Sound, which my colleague Mr.. Outaw,1 p
IS so much at heart. The same may doubtless be Il
i'd as to some other appropriations for works on the
"a coast and Oh the lakes. My vote, therefore, on
matey assume; but the inclination of my mind is a
Tongy against the system. ] doubt whether it
ill not always be managed as to be productive
mischief rather than benefits.
Why QUAKERs WEAR THEIR HATS. Quakers in F