Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-05-02

Court for dinner. A. j. Dargan Esq, announced to
our citizens his intention of running as candidate
in this Congressional Districts for election to the
next Congress- as tho representative of said District
We had not the pleasure of hearing Mr.. bargains
speech but understand he took the ground that he
is Whig-that he is not satisfied with the compro-
mise measures of l850-nor with the course pursued
by the General Government towards the South--that
for the sake of peace he is willing to abide by said
compromise if it be faithfully carried out-that he
believes in the abstract right of any State at any
time, to secede from the Union but he is not in IA
vor of secession at the present time, &C. This we
believe is substantially Mr. bargains position but
as We did not hear his speech ready and will
ling at any time to stand corrected if we have in the
slightest degree misrepresented that gentleman.
After Mr. Dargan sat down, Thomas S. Ashe, |
Esq, offered Daniel Websters sentiment to wit -
Liberty and Union, and forever, one and in
seperable,' which heartily responded to, and
strongly applauded
To this sentiment rather to the time of its in
PRODUCTION, Walter F. Leak, Esq, of Richmond OBJ
Ijected We believe he took the ground that though
the sentiment well enough in itself yet it's in
PRODUCTION at that time seemed to aim at throwing
damper over the sentiments uttered by Mr.. Dargan
and Mr.. Leak expressed himself astonished that a
southern would give such sentiment at such a
time, &c. MIR Leak did not at all like the compro-
mise measures of 1850; but for the sake of peace
he was willing to abide thereby, provided the fugi-
tive act were carried out right He believed in the
right OF State to secede, and to choose its time
expedent at present. and he not in favor of the
measure. This speech, as we'll as Mr.. bargains, we
had not the pleasure of hearing and if we have
been misinformed are willing to be set right.
| MIR. Ashe then got up and sustained and defend
ed the sentiment he had offered. He said he had
1 never conceived the idea that citizen of Arson
county, or any one else in the Court House, would
for momeut object to the sentiment, and he was
astonished to hear speech made against it. Mr..
Ashe denied the right of State to secede There
power in the federal Constitutions nor in the
construction of any part thereof under which State
could possible secede. The United States Constitu-
ton, and all laws made in accordance Herewith,
were the supreme laws of the land, and that every
State, as we'll as every individual bourd to
obey them as such: That no State could do any
act at variance WITH contrary to the federal
Constitution and that as secession would be con-
trary 70 the intent and meaning of that instrument
a State had no Constitutional right whatever to Sc
cede.
| Mr. Ashe thought the Supreme Court of the Uni
ted States the proper tribunal for determining the
! constitutionaty of law.
Mr. Leak asked Mr.. Ashe if he believed the Chief
Executive of the nation had the power-or ought to
exercise it if he hadto call out the troops of the
United States to oppose State in its sovereign
pacty as a State Mr. Leak wanted Mr.. Ashe to
give positive and decided answer to this.
/ Mr.. Ashe said that it not only the privilege
but the duty, of the President to that all laws
made by Congress under the Constitution were duly
executed He sworn to do so; and that when
he did not he was perjured, and therefore acted
wrong. That when State in its sovereign aRy
other capacity acted against the constitution any
laws made Hereunder, it became the duty of the
Executive to all the power of the General Gov
eminent to force such State into subsection, even
though the State might be crushed thereby. He
wished it distinctly understood that the Executive
had not only the right but it was his bounden duty
to do
Mr.. Leak asked Mr. Asbe what course State
North Carolina, for instance-ought to pursue if
Congress were to 60 outside the Constitution and
abolish slavery in the States.
Mr.. Ashe said that if ever Congress did such an
act, North Carolina would rise man and resist
such usurpation to the death. Mr.. Ashe believed
that every State had this natural and inalienable
right but that it was natural right, and not de-
rived from the United States Constitution and that
it was reUot1ui0n or recOlt, and not secession.
4 Mr.. Leak then intimated to Mr. Ashe that as the
federal government much stron ser than any of
the States or number of such States, there a
likelihood that such State States might be crush
ed in the struggle, and asked what then
Mr.. Ashe said that was very true but that the
agrieved State States must trust to the justice of
their and to their Cod did their fathers in
the revolutionary struggle when fighting a power
immensely superior to themselves as Great Britain
then
Mr. Ashe also stated that he merely gave the SEN
timent and made the few remarks which he did, as
citizen of Arson county, as he had no Intention
them at any future time. OF being candidate for
any Office in the gift of the people,
After Mr. Ashe sat down Mr. Leak again got up
and spoke for length of time. He admitted that
the General Government had the right to IN
dividal but not States that it astonished him that
gentleman of Mr.. Ashes standing, Abilities birth
place, parentage &C., should hold such doctrines,
&c. lie said that Mr.. Ashe well as himself could
trace with pleasure their blood back to the heroes OF
the revolution. Mr.. L. again stated that though he
was willing to abide by the compromise measures,
yet he could not where the South gained there
by. He thought said compromise insult to
the South and if he had been member of Congress
at the time of their passage, he would most assured
ly have voted against them. Mr.. Leak seemed to
think that under the fugitive act slave owner could
not his property if he could it would cost
more than it would come to. He thought the Brit
ish Government at the bottom of the slave agi-
taton because they could not with free labor, grow
cotton as cheap the south with her slaves, and
therefore wanted slavery abolished, so that they
might be all on the same footing For this reason
3 George Thompson now in the country agitating
the question, &c.
l Mr. Ashe defended the views expressed by him
l He thought he could give good reasons for every
thing said by him. He thought the South had gain
ed by the Compromise measures. Slaves could be
and had been brought back under the law. In fact
f there was only one place where the law had been
totally frustrated. That in Boston. That city
had however, lately retrieved her character Slaves
could now be brought back from there on proof OF
ownership. &C., and he thought there every
, prospect of the laws working we'll Mr.. Ashe
thought the South gained on the territorial ques-
ton According to the joint resolutions under which
Texas was admitted into the Union, territory belong
ing to that State North of certain degree of lati-