North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-04

is demanded of US is to be up to constitutional
duties-to do for the South what the South have a
right to demand.
Gentlemen, have been some time before the pub
lie. My character is known--my fe is before the
country. profess to love liberty much as any
man living but profess to love American liberty
that liberty which is secured to the country by the
constitution under which we live, and l have no
great opinion of that liberty which goes over the
straints OF law or of the constitution Il hold the
constitution the United States be the bull wark
the only bulwark, of liberties and national
chart. don't mean that you should become slaves
under the constitution. That is not American ber-
ty that is not the liberty ofthe Union for which
fathers tought-that liberty which has given US a
right to be known and respected all over the world
Gentlemen, let me say to you that, much as / adj
mre the character of the people of western New ork
AS much as wish to retain your good opinion--if
you would ever place me hereafter in any xon
with public life, let me tell you that you must
not expect from me the slightest variation, even of
hairs BREADTH from the constitution of the United
States. Cries of IS Good good good !''l am a
northern man. was born at the North-educated
at the North-have lived all my days at the North.
know five hundred northern 10 one southern
man. My sympathes-all my synpa thies-my love
of liberty for all mankind, of every color-aIe the
same yours. My affections and hopes in that res
pect are exactly like yours. / wish to see all n
free-all men happy. Il have no associations out Of
the northern States. My people your people.
And yet am told sometimes that am not liberty
man because L am not free-soil man. Laughter
What am l, what was ever, what shall be here
after, if would sacrifice for any consideration, that
love of American liberty which has glow ed in my
breast since my infancy, and which hope will
er leave me till 1 expire! [Applause.] Gentle
men, l regret extremely that slavery exists in the
southern States, and that Congress has not power
act upon it, But it may be in the dispensation of
Providence remedy may be found for it. But
in the mean time hold on to the constitution of the
United States and you need never expect from me,
under any circumstances, that shall falter from it
that shall be otherwise than frank and decisive.
would not part with my character man of firm
ness and decision, and honor and principle, for all
that the world holds. You will find me true to the
North, because all my sympathies are with the
North My affections, my children, my hopes my
everything is with the North. But when stand up
before my country appointed to administer the
constitution of the couutry by the blessing of God
will be just. [Great apPlause.] Gentlemen, ex-
pect to be libeled and abused-yes, libelled and
! abused. But it don't d surb me. / have not lost
nights sleep for great many years. have some
talent for sleeping. CLaughter.1 And why should
We not expect to be Iibeed Is not the constitu-
ton of the United States libelled and abused Don't
some people call it the production of hell Is not
Washington libeed and abused =? Is he not called
bloodhound the track of the African negro! Are
not our fathers libelled and abused by their own
children ?-and ungrateful children they are and
afraid in cases, their mothers PLAYED false
Laughter.] How, then SHALL escape? don't
pect to escape, but, knowing these things, impute
no bad motive to any one The great settlement
| measures of the last Congress laws. Many re-
| and from other States, did not concur in them.
don't imputs any bad motive 10 them. l am ready
to believe they Americans all. They may not
have thought them necessary-they may have thought
these laws would be passed without their
| renee. Let all that pass away. If they
men who will stand by what is dune, and stand up
for their country and say that these laws passed
by majority Of the whole country-we must stand
by them and live by them-l will respect them all
friends Gentlemen, allow me to ask of you to-day,
what do you think would have been the situation of
the country at this time, in your judgment, if these
laws had not been passed by Congressl If the
question of the Texan boundary had been settled,
New Mexico and Utah had been left desert places,
and no government had been provided for thein and
If the other great measures to which State laws had
opposed many obstacles in the restoration of fug
tives had not been settled, / ask, what would have
been the state of this country now :! You men of
Erie county-you men of New York. abjure you
to go home tonight and mediate on these subjects.
What would have been the state of this country now
at this moment if these laws had not been passed
have g ven my opinion that we should have had a
civil war. l refer it to you therefore, for your
sideraon-meditlte on lido not be carried away
by notions ideas of ysics-think practical
ly on the great question of what would have been
the condition of the United States at this moment if
we had not settled those agating questions!
have stated that, in my opinion, there would have
been civil war. Gentlemen, will you allow me for
moment 10 advert to myself? l have been long
time in public e of course. not many years remain
to me. AT the commencement of 1880 saw
thing of the condition of the counry and thought
the inevitable consequence would be civil war. i
saw danger in leaving Utah and New Mexico with
out any governments prey to the power Of Texas.
this condition of things arising from the inter-
ference of some of the States in defeating of the
provisions OF heconstituton in respect othe restoration
offugltive slaves; and, gentlemen, made my mind
to encounter whatever mi ht betide me, and, allow
to say. something which not entirely xpeced.
A member of the House Of Representatives told me
that he had made list of lao speeches which had
been made in Congress the slavery question.
That is very large number, my friend, said but
how Is that Why, said he, northern gets
up and speaks with considerable power and fue ncy
until the Speakers hammer knocks him down then
gets up southern man, and he speaks with more
warmth he is nearer the line, and he comes out
against the North. He speaks his hour and stops
and it has gone on until have got one hundred
and forty speeches my list. Well said /, what
are they If the speaker, said he, northern
man, he held forth against slavery; and if he was
from the South, he abused the North and all these
speeches sent by the members to their own To-
caes, where they were the cause of the local rrita
ton which existed at the time In this way the 9TH
er side of the question was not heard that is the
way of it, thought that in this of things quiet
was necessary. You can't suppose that was indif-
ferent to the danger. I am Massachusetts man,
and know what Massachusetts used to be- am a
great while in Congress. will honor her, respect
her, and mean to do so as long live. [ApPlause.]
Well, gentlemen, suppose that on that occasion l
had taken different course from what did. If
may allude 10 anything Insignificant myself,
suppose that the 18th of March, instead of making
speech that would reconcile the country / had
joined in the general camor of party suppose had
said will have nothing to do with any accommoda-
ton will admit no satisfaction; will let Tex
aci do NaUu VIC will loau