Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-03-13
Mr., Hunter and State Rights.

Senator Hunters statesmanlike speech on the
Iowa land bill, on Tuesday last, we shall lay be-
fore our readers at the earliest opportunity. We
cannot refrain, however, from quoting from that
speech the following eloquent and truthful decla-
ton of the vitality of State Rights principles, and
of the ultimate triumph of the few, but faithful,
who now stand in the breach, until others come to
the rescue
Thus speaks Mr. Hunter with the prescience
of the statesman who judges principles above mere
temporary triumphs of party.
''But, Mr. President it was reserved for the
Senator from Tennessee, Mr.. Bell, to bring out
formal Indictment against the State Rights party
and all who professed their principles and opin-
ions. He said that it was owing to that party that
the old States had not received their share of the
land but he also kindly assured us that he meant
no dlsparagement when he called them the estate
Rights party" He was disposed to tread lightly
on the ashes of the of the dead and yet he could
not practice upon the charitable maxim ''De NOR
tuiS nj nsi b0num :" for he not only accused that
party of keeping the public lands, but Of various
other political sins and msdemeanors. Now, Mr..
President, L beg to assure that Senator so far as
am concerned, 1 consider it no disparagement to
to be called estate Rights man. assure him
that in my at least, he may call spade a
'spade, +" without risk of giving offence, and de-
nominate me by any name which describes my
OplulOuS am sorry 10 near, MT L T6SluenG, Jl1dt
State Rights principles are at SO great discount in
Tennessee, as to make it necessary to use phrases
of crcumlocation in order to prescribe to persons
who entertain them ] beg to tell that Senator
that there is still State Rights party in existence
that it has neither surrendered nor disbanded.-
They may be few in numbers. Their line may
have been shaken and shattered by the onset of
superior numbers but still they stand by the de-
fences of the right of the States and cling to the
Constitution of the country. Their flag is still fly
ing, and upon its broad folds are yet to be found
the stars, each one of which maintains its separate
place and its distinct identity Upon that field at
least, they do not ''pae their effectua fires" be-
fore the excessive light Of the great federal sun
| for one sir do not believe so poorly of the pow
of truth the American people, as to suppose
that such can be lost by their verdict, On
the contrary, [ say to them, and to all who hear
my voice. that | iure them in the language of
the dying Calhoun to his colleague, and bid them
''never despond'' Sir, they are few, l know, but
perhaps not too few to stand in the breach until
others may come to the rescue. Let them do their
duty for the day, and take appeal from the pre-
sent to the rising generation, who may come to
relieve them on the morrow. Sir, if | were to
dare to tell the dream of my fancy, should say
that seem to hear the distant tread of the thick
ening hosts-who will rally upon the defences which
guard the rights of the States, and will restore
the Constitution of the country-not, sir, the Con-
stitution it is now known in federal glasses and
degenerate commentaries but in all the rigorous
simplicity and purity ofits original creation