Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-01-29
REMARKS OF Mr.. THORNTON,
OF WARREN.


Of the Whole, on the Slavery Resolutions.
Mr.. Thornton said: Unwilling as am, Mr.. Chair
man, to prolong this discussion, and anxious as
know many gentlemen are to bring this debate to
close, still must ask the indulgence of the Com
mtee for short time. The only apology will Of
fer and the only claim to your attention will make,
is the promise that my remarks shall be very bref.
i Mr. Chairman, with the distinguished gentleman
from Hertford consider the question before the
House, the most interesting one to the people OF our
State that has been contemplated and this Leg
slature will doubtless reflect upon it with degree
of consideration commensurate with its gravity, and
political bearing upon the welfare of the State. In
the few remarks design making shall say nothing
concerning the admission of California into the Union;
neither shall speak of the organization of Terrific
rial Governments for Utah and New Mexico nor of
the bill concerning the Texas boundary line, of
the for the suppression of the save-trade in the
District of Columbia, rs much as condemn that act
but shall conine my remarks to that single in the
compromise which more Immediately concerns my
constituents. l regard the fugtive-save law the
bond of peace between the North and South. Let
that bond be broken and every person must that
dissolution of this Union will inevitably ensue. No
man believes, if the fugitve-slave law is repealed,
orif its execution be resisted or nulided, that this
Union can be longer held together. We demand
the execution Of that law Internationally. Shall we
permit band of fanatics-of designing factionsts
to outrage Southern citizens in the pursuit of their
lawful purposes! 10 call these agitators fanatics,
is to honor them. They the worst foes to liberty
| and 20 the hopes of man. Even Arnold, villain as
he was, was a better man than the Northern Abo-
tionists. While he sought to betray his country, he
professed to be to his frends but the Northern
Aboli,ionst would not only betray his country, but
! he would put the knife to the throats of all.
! Have not already been told, Mr.. Chairman,
during the present short session of Congress, that
the freenen of the North will resist the execution of
the slave law the deathhat it requires
them to do worse than murder7 Is the onward move
ment of this insane crusade against rights, nev
er to be stayed Ii it ia, it is high time that meas
nres of resistance were put in progress. l say moth
ing of the action Of the Vermont Legislature, we'll
calculated to arouse the apprehensions and the feel
ings of the South. say nothing of the action Of the
Ohio Legislature, to which allusion was made by the
distinguished gentleman from Wake, whose Speech
listened to not only with attention. but with much
satisfaction. But will say that fearful crisis in
the history of this country has arrived-that thick
and dark clouds are gathering around US, and that
nothing, l fear, will from the calamities of
dissolution but the interposition of an overruling
Providence. For the sake of continued peace and
the Union, North Carolina is willing to acquiesce in
the action Of the last Congress this question: There
is small portion of the State Mr. Speaker about
which can speak with confidence. feel safe in say
ing-I feel fully authorized in saying to you, that
ninety y-nine out Of hundred OF those whose Rep.
resentative am in part this floor, willing, for
the sake Of peace and the Union, to abide by the
OF dustment passed at the last session of
Congress but should the North, for the FUTURE re-
fuse to keep the aith-Tefuse to DO Justice, then
that small but gallant portion of your State will be
prepared only for stringent but extreme measures.
| In my humble opinion, this Legislature, representing
it does the sovereignty OF the State should say to
the North in the emphatic terms-in the clear
est and most unequvocal language, that North Car
olina will regard the repeal of the ugitiveslsve law
as dissolution of the Union. If that law be re-
pealed-and doubts but that desperate efforts
will be made, either at the present or some subsequent
session of Congress to repeal 1.-THE South will
sort such measures as she may deem best for her
own security and her defence, call those means
by what name you please. We have already made
great concessions for the preservation of the Union.
In the hope of preserving the Union we are willing
abide by these concessions but let no Imagine
that the South will support the Union when the Con-
stitu,ion is disregarded and tramped under foot Let
the North respect rights, and will support and
defend the Unions let the North disregard rights,
and we will defend them out OF the Union. This
| whole controversy between the North and the South
has come down this single, this issue; and
the solemn responsibility Of the decision of that
rests upon the Northern States. If a dissolution of
the Union takes place, it will be the act of the
slavehoding States and not our act. In the hands
of the Northern States is the destiny of this country
paced-upon them lie, the responsibility of destroy
! ing this happy Union res around which cluster our
brightes, hopes and warmest affections. Sir, upon
| this grave aud momentous question desire to speak
out and clearly to- define my position. am in favor
of the fugitive-slave law in all its parts, and 60
far as to say that its direct repeal by Congress- its
virtual repeal by the free States in refusing
it out or in preventing it from being carried out,
would Justify North Carolina in seeding from the
Union. go further and say, that if necessity re-
quires it, am for enforcing the provisions of that law
at the point of the bayonet.
Sir, hold the Federal Government to be the result
of a compact entered into between sovereign and in
dependent States; and all powers not delegated in the
Constitution of the United States, reserved to the
States or to the people thereof. Among these reserved
rights is the inestimable of watching the OPP
erotions of the Federal Government and Of protecting
the people OF the States from oppressive and uncon-
stitutional egisation-a right which North Carolina
has never surrendered. l am not in favor of exerc-
sing at this time the right of secesson-l only assert
that it is right which the States would exercise, if
found essential to tie preservation OF their liberties or
the property of their citizens.
1t will be remembered, Mr. Chairman, that in the
course OF the eloquent remarks of the gentleman from
! Cumberland, he read extracts from letter written
by Mr.. Macon to MIR. S. P. Carson, and for which,
in the name and in behalf Of my constituents, now
offer that gentleman my hearty thanks. Sir, this is
the language of Nathaniel Macon on the doctrine OF
sccession-of Macon, whose name is dear to the
people of Warren, and who was regarded by them as
one Of the purest and wisest OF men:
- have never believed that State could nullify
and remain in the Union, bat have always believed
that State might secede when she pleased, Provi
ded that she would pay her proportion OF the public
debt, and this right have considered the best guard
to public liberty and 10 public justice that could be
desired and it ought to have prevented what is now
felt in the South-oPpresslon.
j "IHe Proclamation contains principles contrary tO
,Dhat ,ua, the Con,titution Modification. 1t is the
great of the administration which, except that,
has been satisfactory in high degree to the people
who elected the President. When confederaces be-
gin fight liberty is soon lost. and the Government
as sooh changed. A Government of opinion, estab.
hod hv flr