North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-04-02
DEMOCRACY AND FEEDER ALIsM.


In 1874. Mr.. Clay was the candidate of the Wings
was run by the Republicans. In this contest the
issues more fairly Joined than they had ever
been before. Mr.. Clay took ground boldly for Ma
tonal Bank, high protective Tariff, and distribu-
ton among the States of the proceeds of the public
lands; but the most important issue of any involved
in that campaign, that of Texas annexation Mr..
Clay opposed this measure, and the Democrats, from
Maine to Louisiana, advocated it with much enthu-
siasm. .-.
In this State the Wings avowed themselves in ia
vor of National Bank, and against the Independent
Treasury and the annexation Of Texas. We have
the proofs before US, and will produce them if
statement is denied.
The contest was a fierce and bitter one. 1t was
fought in open field, with the objects and princ-
Piles of each party clearly inscribed their respective
banners. The Federalists were again defeated and
Mr.. Clay, who had been deiied and worshPped by
his partzans during the campaign, sunk once more
to the dimensions and appearance of man.
Mr.. Polk went into power. His election secured
the annexation of Texas, that of Mr.. Jefferson had
added to our domain the broad and fertile Territory
of Louisiana and under his administration the indie
pendent Treasury established and the Tari-taxes
of the people were reduced. The Oregon controver-
sy was also settled and the result of the war with
Mexico, the boundary of Texas established.
and the immense regions of New Mexico and Cali
fornia were acquired. MIR. Polk served four years,
and declined a reelection. He went out of office in
the full blaze of the triumph of his measures and
principles, respected by his opponents, who had but
so recently vfed him and moderated his abilities,
and honored and applauded by millions of the
who had contributed to his election.
During the progress of the Mexican war, however,
under Mr.. Folks administration, the agitation of the
Slavery question was revived, and this agitation was
seized upon by his opponents a sure means of en-
barrassng his action and of dividing the Democratic
party. Mr.. Polk asked of Congress two millions of
dollars, to be used in negotiations with Mexico for
the purchase of Territory and to peace with
that power. The Wing leaders had uniformly OPP
posed every thing which he had proposed +; they had
opposed the war, and the acquis iion of Territory
the result of it; and the opportunity offered of
crppng and humbling the Chief Magistrate of their
country-though they might at the same time prOong
the which they deplored-was not to be thrown
away. In order, if possible, to elude detection, they
induced Democrat Mr.. WimoD to offer Proviso
to the two million appropriation b to the effect that
the Territory thus to be acquired should be kept for
ever free from Slavery involuntary servitude."
Every Wing member from the free States uoted for this
ProDiso, while the Democrats, in the House. with
few exceptions, voted against it; but the aPpropra
ton was defeated, ard the war went on.
The agitation thus commenced, was industriously
kept up by the Wing leaders in the free States OPP
position Slavery in the new Territories, and the
prohibition of it by act of Congress. made the
test in all their eections and by this means they not
only gained strength with the masses, but they
ceeded in distracting the Democratic party in many
of the free States. All this done out of opposi-
lion to Democracy, and with the view of electing
Wing President in 1913. True, the country had just
passed through war with foreign foe, without
their aid in the public councils and with but little of
their sympathy; and the agitation of this Slavery
question was fraught with ruin to the harmony and
integrity of the Repubc-but what of that Was
it important, to them, that the Locofocos should
be put down! That Wing should be chosen Pres
ident who would give them 6 the spoils"! And
was it not in character for those who opposed the
war Of 1912 and James Madison. to oppose the Mex
lean war and James K. Polk
The Democratic Convention assembled, at Balti-
more, in the Spring of l64S and nominated Gen. Cass
for President. The Democrats, in their National
Conventions, had invariably planted themselves ON
the platform of opposition to anti-Savery agitation
and this occasion they occupied their old ground,
and emphatcally denounced any and all attempts to
lake " incipent steps " in the public councils in
relation to the Slavery question. Gen. Cass. their
nominee, only approved what his party had done
in Convention this subject, but he declared the
Wimot Proviso to be both nexpedient and unconsti-
utiona and unjust to the slave States.
On the other hand, the Wings assembled, and, af- |
Ter session marked by unusual bitterness and dis
cord, they L" slaughtered Henry Clay and nomina-
ed Gen. Taylor. They were silent, as they had al
ways been in their National Conventions. on the
question of Slavery. They presented Gen. Taylor
o the people for their suffrages no-pGrty man;
ind they claimed for him upon the further ground
hat he had been successful chieftain in the very
war which they had denounced as " unrtghteous and
lansnobe While all their leaders in the free States
If their Southern leaders (ike Mr.. Badger.) admit
ed it's constitutonaity, they held up Gen. Cass to
he Southern people Abolitionst, though he had
spoken out boldly for rights and in the North
hey assaulted him, and urged the people oppose him.
IN the ground that he trucker the Shareholders
md Southron in his sympathes. 1t twas in vain that
lis Southern friends pointed to his recorded opinions
his locality condemned him-he was citizen of a
rec State it was in vain that his Northern friends
rgued that he wished only to be just to all portions
,fthe Confederacy and to preserve the Constitution
ais opinions were tortured and perverted and the peo
lie were told that he obedient instrument of
he Cotton lords - and of the grasping and exclu-
No;,bor he the thousands Of