Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-12-04
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.

vote of North Carolina. The following Electors,
being the whole number, were in attendance:
For the State at large, JAMES G. DoBBIN.
First District, WILLIAM 81. THOMAS.
Second District, BURTON CRA1GE.
Third District, WALTER F. LEAK
Fourth District, ROBERT P. DICK
Fifth District, ABRAHAM RENcHER
Sixth District, L. OBJ. BRANCH.
Seventh District, SAMUEL ]. PERSON.
Eighth District, D. G. W. WARD.
Ninth District, THOMAS BRAGG.
The Proclamation of the Governor, converting
the College, was read by D. G. W. Ward, of the
Eighth District.
On motion of Mr. Bragg, Walter F. Leak, of the
Third District, was appointed President of the
College who, being conducted to the Chair, re-
turned his thanks for the honor and spoke as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the Electoral College: 1 return you
nv warmest thanks for the unmerited compliment
YOU have Just bestowed in selecting me to preside
over your honorable body.
To say that do not feel proud of the honor you
have conferred would be TO indulge peurile and
unworthy afectation, unbecoming the occasion, and
altogether at variance with the emotions of my bosom.
AT period since my entering into public ilie'
have been called upon TO address an audience poll
cal otherwise, in which laboreo unoer ds gred
decree of embarrassment as do on the present &C.
casion.
NV embarrassment originates less from not know
ing what to say than hop TO say it; feeling know
YOU and each of you and those around can more
properly appreciate than describe
While have been ever ready, under any and up
on all occasions, TO stand forth the humble advocate
of the principles of my party, and In the hour
of their greatest need, now, the. battle having been
fought and the victory won, feel no disposition to
indulge in any, the slightest remark, that may be
calculated to wound the feelings OF the MIST SehSl-
tive gentleman present.
Yes in the language Of our distinguished political
leader, with the of noble, high minded and gen.
erous impulse the hour of victory IS always the hour
of magnanmity; and, gentlemen, need not say that
such k9OlO your sentiments.
That political controversy, circumscrIbed within
proper limits, is both right and commendable, we
presume is what we'll informed mind will deny.
| will 90 further and say, that while 1t IS the very
element that sustans the vessel of State great care
should be taken that the excuses of party feeling
should be restrained within proper limits, lest its
malevoence should generate a spray ard bewllder
the pilots course, and end in the wreck o. the whole
ships crew.
We have been contending, and as know and be-
lieve both sides, honestly conendng for principle;
we have, met each other before the proper forum,
and then and there entered into our respective views
of governmental policy and now congra tuate you
and congratulate the American people upon the YER
dict which this day to record
They the jurors of the respective vicinages, have
declared, in thunder tones, too loud to be unheared,
as well too significant 10 be misunderstood, that
the principles of Democracy as handed down to US
from political fathers the principles best cal
culated to make US great, prosperous and hap
Py, people.
ing men known entertain the principles which the
majority of the freemen of North Carolina have en-
dorsed
Yes, we have here assembled, and organized our
aelvea Electoral COlleUe in tho
OF this array of intelligence and responsibility, we
about 10 cast votes for President and Vice
President Of these United States.
An important political right right, which while
1t illustrates both the theory and practical operation
OF our government proclaim the world that Ameri-
can Democracy rightly understood does not consist
las has been falsely charged) in every mans govern
ing himself, but in every mans having the right to
choose his own Governor
When We say that Democracy is equality, we do
not mean absolute but relative equaIity equality
per but that kind of equality consistent with the
governor and governed.
American Democracy has as much TO fear from er.
IRENE equality, as from marked inequaIy-as much
from RIGHTEOUSNESS which is excresoence of ber-
ty: as from arlsocracy, which is scion of monarchy.
No, gentlemen, Democracy we have proclaimed
It, is conservative in its character and has one
sing levelling trait.
No man for one moment doubts either the patriot
ism or the Intelligence of either of the great political
parties. |
The patriotism of both locks to the improvement
as we'll as the preservation of common country, |
and the only difference consists in the means employ
ed 10 attain that end.
Patriotism, allow say, have often thought
is word little understood by those who are most /
noisy In its commentator.
That is not patriotism which, by overlooking the ,
nean' has an eye single only to The end even though
that end should be national aggrandzement
NO national elevation should ever be pursued al
the expense of national character.
Justice, the love of right, the practice of right !
!or rights SAKE these should always characterize the
intercourse CT nations, well as of individuals.
we should never forget, in the language of the !
inspired pensman, " thai righteousness exalteth ma
non," and verify believe that any departure there
from Will In due time receive its merited retribulion.
man has the natural rig 10 the fruits of his own
nous"y' but he has no right 10 appropriate his own
use the industry Of another.
So 1t IS with nation il has natural riobt tn i'm
prove lis own condition, but it has right to secure
It's owD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT at the expense Of another
Such has been the course of The American
people, nor of those who constitute the American
Democracy.
They have always in the language of the sage Of
The Hermitage asked nothing but what is righ,nether
Will they ever submit to any thing that is wrong.
American Democracy, while it ever stands ready
10 secure The greatest good to the greatest number
mas never yet went so far as to be ready embark
upon crusade for the wide worlds freedom. and
while it deeply sympahzes for the oppressed of all
nations it never will quit its own to stand upon for
eign ground"
NO. 1t stands infexiby opposed 10 the wild sway
o popular PASSION TO the lust of conquest and to the
intense cravings of hot blood for awless qualification
ouch is Fouriersm, Agravianism, Fanny Wright
sm' but 1t is any thing else than the Democracy
have enforced.
In