Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-07-23

Denclency
Mr.. ASHE said
Mr. CHAIRMAN: My purpose in rising to address
the committee. is to make exclusively political
speech, and would not even for this purpose con-
sumo your valuable time. if it were not for my de-
sire to make personal explanation. This indul
gence, conceive will be the more readily granted
ME. it is the first time during this session have
claimed the attention Of the committee for an object
not strictly and properly under considerations til
we'll known, Mr. Chairman. both here and at home
that am humble, but uncompromsing adherent
and advocate of the creed of the Democratic State
Rights school. and that have always believed and
maintained that the preservation of the political in
situations ofour country depended upon the dey elop
ments in their full force and vigor of the principles
! of this party. Under the influence of this convic
ton, and doubtless nstigated by truly fial love
for the State, which in part represent hestatef
not, during the last Congress, to throw myself in
opposition to what has been msnamed the compro
mise measures. | refer to these heterogeneous bills
reported to the Senate by the compromise commit
! tee So hostile deemed these measures to the con-
stitutional rights of the several States composing
this Confederacy so unjust. oppressive and insult
ing, to the people represent. that If know myself
would rather have seen the roof OF this noble Hall
fall and in its fall crush every member of that Con-
gress than that they should have become the laws
! of the land.
But the will of Congress determined Otherwise
and odiouS they were, they have become the set
tied laws of the land and in com junction with them,
ded rights of the South Congress passed what is
known as the fugitive slave law. The practical val-
he of this law never very highly appreciated, but
regarded it more in the light of an experiment,
by the operation of which. valuable touch
stone, we could test Northern feelings. By it
could judge whether the Federal Constitution or
the dictates of the higher law was to govern and
control our Northern friends. This view of this law
was not peculiar to to the South. On the
contrary. highly distinguished and worthy patriots
of the North considered it in the same light, and
hestated not to grapple with the political monster
the hydra. the higher-aw principe, with both sword
and seethng iron. The monster dashed and strug-
ged but his struggles were rather the commissions
of death than aspirations for victory. Sir the South
owes debt of gratitude to those great patriots. |
care not under what banners they may range them
selves, will always acknowledge the obligation.
1t was the force of this feeling which induced
some months since to vote for suspension of the
rules. in order to enable my worthy friend from In
diana Mr. Fitch to introduce his compromise res
olutions, though strongly opposed to either House Of
Congress passing isolated resolutions either for tie
purpose of affirming disafrming the efficiency Of
general laws yet. under the circumstances my
| of duty would not allow me to act otherwise. and
subsequently. when resolutions on the same subject
were offered ty my honorable friend from Georgia,
i MIR. Jackson, with the amendments of his ell
league. Mr. Hillyer. | voted against each; for
each devoid of any recommendation which
would justify me in sustaining them Neither Of the
two latter could be considered extension of the
right hand Of felluwship-as the offering of the olive
| branch of peace and goodwill from the North SIR
slow to believe that any revolution had taken
place in Northern sentiments on this subject but
recent developments have satisfied me that under the
vigorous blows of the friends Of the Constitution ia
nattciSm has been made to :" lick the dust"
| Among these developments the action of the late
Democratic National Convention in Baltimore is of
itself overwhelming. Personally. desired add-
ton 10 the platform of 1914 and I848 to be adopted
by that body They were sufficient if adhered to in
good faith. to insure protection to the rights of the
States, and this is all we demanded but our North
friends said, No, we have fought the great bat
tie, we have overcome the enemies Of the ConStitu
ton, and the result of our victory want incorpo-
rated in our national platform" Sir, such an ap-
peal, when addressed to the generosity and patriot
ism of any, even the most ultra Southern man. was
irresistible. 1t was the fresh laurel Of a glorious
victory most feelingly wound around the bleeding
| heart of the South. 1t an assurance that the
doctrine of the StatesR Rights Republican party had
regalned its ascendency. Sir, | will read to the
House few OF the resolutions constituting this plat
form:
s That Congress has power under the Constitution
to interfere with or control the domestic institutions
several States and THAI such and prrer
judges OF everything appertainng to their affairs
prohibited by the Constitution that efforts of the Abo-
tionists Others made induce Congress to interfere with
questions OF slavery or to take nepient steps in relation
thereto are calculated to lead to the most alarming
gerous consequences that all such efforts have an ey
ta6e tendency to diminish the happiness of the people and
endanger the stability aud permanency of the Union
ought not to be counenanced by any iend of our political
institutions
ResoEred, That the foregoing proposition covers and
was intended to embrace the whole subject slavery aga
ton in Congress and thorere the Democratic party of the
mon. standing upon this Laonal platform will abide by
ami adhere to faithful execution of the
compromise measures settled by the last Congress-he
for the retaining of fugtves from service labor included
which ac being designed express provision
Of the Constitution with fidelity thereto be repeal
ed, or so changed to destroy impair efficiency
Resotrcd, That the Democratic party will resist all at
tempts at renewing Congress the agitation
OF the slavery question under whatever shape color tho
! attempt may be made
These resolutions clear, perspicuous. and for
| chile. No skeptic doubt their meaning No
State Rights patriot deny their truth But how
ever strongly their intrinsic merit may demand our
admiration, the utmost unparalleled unanimity by
which they were adopted by the Convention repre-
sentlng as 1t did the Democracy of every Northern
state should disarm us of all opposition Although
not delegate, was present at the Convention and
occupying most favorable position for both hear
ing and seeing. feel no hesitation in saying that
out of the two hundred and eighty delegates
present not five dissenting voices were heard upon
their adoption 1t has been asserted that many
members had left the Convention before these reS6-
buttons were adopted This is to my certain knowl-
edge unequivocally false. The Convention was
full; was crowded fully much as it had been at
any previous time during its proceedings
| Now, Mr.. Chairman, most earnestly invite my
Southern State Rights brethren to give these addi-
uona resolutions fair and attentive consideration.
| DO they not cover the whole ground What strong-
J er, what more grateful assurance could we ask at
the hands of our Northern friends Let us then,
draw the pail OF oblivion our past differences,
and rlttlng our shoulders TO the wheel, raise up
from her beam ends the good old ship Constitution;
clear OF her deck, and being manned with a true