Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-06-19

Whiggery though out of power and therefore un-
Influenced by Executive patronage, and supported
only by those great constitutional and republican
principles embodied in your resolutions, they march
ed up manfully to our support, and gave for the
fugitive slave law % votes in the House OF Repre-
sentatves. and support equally generous and noble
in the Senate. To them and to them only are we
indebted for this measure of justice and protection
to our rights and upon them and upon them only
must we depend for its full and faithful execution
think l can say, without the fear of successful
contradiction, that there is not known and decl-
ded Whis State among the free States, that either
has not taken active to defeat the fugitive
slave law, that has not renamed neutral as to
show a wish that others should defeat it. While
on the contrary, there is not Democratic State
among the free States, that either has not taken
active to enforce its execution or that has
not expressed themselves in clear and unequivocal
language in its favor. Time does not allow me to
enumerate the many noble examples among the
Democratic free States. But there is one that
stands out in such bold relief that cannot pass
bv 1t is a noble State, and one that has and
we'll deserves to the proud cognomen OF the
keystone State-the stone which supports the arch
upon which rests a noble structure-the Union OF
the States. In this great contest she has shown
herself worthy of her proud position.
A few years ago the Wings obtained power in
Pennsyl vania, and. following the example of the
Wings in Massachusetts,, passed law prohibiting
the use of their jails for the confinement of fugi-
tive-slaves. In 1850 the Democrats carried the
Legislature and Immediately passed law to repeal
the former law and restore the of their ails to
the confinement of fugitves. Johnston, the Wing
| Governor, was then in power, and instead Of CIV
ing effect to the popular will, put the bill in his
pocket and thereby defeated it. With this bill in
his pocket and the blood of Gorsuch on his hands,
| he was nominated for reelection by the Wings
and Abolitionists combined, of Pennsylvania. In
this trying emergency, what was the course of
the Democrats? Did they quail before this foul
standard bearer, and animated by the love Of
Union, they went out to battle for the constitution
and the laws and nobly did they bear themselves in
the fight. The rights of the South were de-
Tended upon the freesoil of Pennsylvania
that they loved slavery, but because they loved
the constitution and the Union. 1t was a noble
struggle in noble cause, and we'll entities Penn
sylvania and her sons to the gratitude of every
Southern heart.
! 1 might multiply examples and refer to events
which have recently occurred in the Capitol at
Washington, to demonstrate still further the char
acter of the two parties. But time does not al
low. l have drawn sketch of the two great par
ties of the country, of their principles and meas
ures and l ask every impartial man to look on this
picture and then that and tell me which of these
parties is most to be relied for the protection of
Union of the States 1t seems to me the way
farng man, though a fool, could not err therein.
Mr.. President, have but few words to say OH
State politics. On that great measure of popular
rights FREE SUFFRAGE, as we'll as its distinguished
author and defender, DAVID S. REID, the gentle
man from Fayetteville (Mr. Dobbin) has left very
little to be said. To attempt to add to what was
so we'll said by him would be superfuous the
attempt to paint the lilly or add colors to the
rainbow" But 1 wish to do the Wings the JUS
tice to say that hereafter they may act in any way
they please upon the subject of Free Suffrage and
I shall never have the right to charge them with
having abandoned any principle or violated any
promise, for they have made none. Though very
communicative upon subjects of less Importance
and about which there is no controversy, on this
great question Of popular rights, upon which the
public mind has been intensely excited for the two
last elections and upon which those elections main
" turned, the Wing Convention met and adjourned
without having uttered one word for the public ear
Here is a great question of constitutional reform
which received a majority of threeffths in the last
General Assembly. which is to be referred to the
next General Assembly for their confirmation by a
majority of two-thrds, and then submitted to the
people for their approval as provided for in the
stitution; a measure which is half completed, and
which has been and is, and will continue to be the
leading and controlling question at the polls and
yet the Wing Convention met and adjourned with
out having given to it one word OF approval or one
smile of encouragement. But silence upon such
a subject, under such circumstances, speaks langu
age which none can mistake; they were they have
always been, against it, and yet afraid to avow that
opposition. They therefore gave this question, SC
dear to the people, the goby, and am greatly mis-
taken in the intelligence and patriotism of the people
if, at the polls, they do not give them the go-6y
l trust it is not to be the settled policy of this
country that our political rights are to depend up
) on the amount of property we may possess 1t is
not so with our political obligations. That poor
man who now enjoys only half the political rights
of his wealthy landlord when danger hovers over
the country, is called upon equally with that veal
thy landlord to fly to its defence. He leaves g
wife that is dear to him, children who depend up,
on him alone for bread, to stand upon the rough
edge Of battle to Defend not his, but the property
of Others. The enemy is driven back, and he re-
f turns to his humble home, proud of having done
his duty but when he approaches your ballot box
he is turned away and told, "you cannot vote be-
cause you do not possess fifty acres of that soil yor
have so nobly defendedT We can suppose a
stronger and more aggravated case-the father falls
upon the rough edge of battle and pours out his
blood in defence of his country his wife is left to
r helpless widowhood and his children to inherit
f nothing but an honest name and true American
heart it may be that their very poverty results
from having lost their father in their countrys de-
fence, and yet when these men approach your bal
lot-box they are turned away and told "they can