Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-01-17
DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE.
Rem0rhs Of Hon. B. F. Hallett, of Massachusetts,,

adjournment,
uary 1, 1852
GENTLEMEN OF THE COMMITTEE: This is the last
ofhclal act which the Democratic National Commit
zee VIII probably be called upon perform before
us functions will expire oy the meeting of tile Ma
tlonal Convention which have this day recon-
| mended. Will you indulge me in word or two be-
tore our final separation And the first shall be my
thanks to the committee for the cordial and efficient
manner In which they have co-operated with Chair
In every movement that has been made fulfil the
duties of appointment " promote the democratic
cause. One of the most important have now
accomplished In recommending time and place for
holding that National Convention which the whole
democratic party look with confidence for the concern
trauon OF public sentiment upon the candidates who
are to be supported (and if supported assuredly
eleced) by the democratic party throughout the u
mon. Is there not good omen of the harmony of
that convention, and the triumph of its nominations,
In the results of meetings, where gentlemen,
coming together from the whole thirty-one States of
this Union, have agreed with such entire unanimity
that not single negative has been recorded in
all our proceedings
And now, gentlemen, what are the duties and pros
poets of the democratic party of this Union! Here,
on this first day of the year 1852, in the receding
half OF this eventful century, upon what land and
what people shines this glorious of the new
year! Extending from the northern Lakes to the
Cult of Mexico, from the Atlantic to the Paci6c-a
North American republic of thirty-one States and
nearly thirty millions of people, with annual emf
grafton of almost half million, and yet territory
ample for al-what boundless expanse what
mighty future in progress and power! Such to-day
are the United States-such because they united,
and so to continue and progress so long they
tnue in the Union but each with the sovereign
right to dispose of its domestic concerns under the
constitution.
Well, then, gentlemen, who, under the blessing of
God, has made the country what it is2 Emphatical
ly the democratic party of the Union. Every line
in history will record that verdict of the past. At
every crisis of progress, the demand of the republic
can and democratic party has been Advance while
the cry of the federal and wing party has been, back
ward, and never onward Aye, at every step, and
step by step, the democratic party has carried the
country forward. and dragged the federal party along,
hanging at the wheels of progress, and retading, in
every possible form, the march of the country onward
in the mission of her high destiny.
From the first day that the first Stale formed
out of territory asked to be admitted into this
Unon-I mean Tennessee, in I796-the federal par
ty began-anG has since continued, down to the
annexation of Texas AMI Cafornia-the camor of
| more territory and more StateS-' the United
States as it is ~
And but for the farseeing policy of democratic adj
mnissrations. and the democratic people who made
them, the United States, if left in the hands of the
federal party, would have been she ,Uas-with the
thirteen original Atlantic States, and few appen-
dages, created into States, within their immediate
territories. And what, then, would this Union have
been this first day of the year 1852! feeble re-
public, with national character abroad, and at home
surrounded by other petty republics viceroyatles,
small colonies, jealous of US and of each other,
and exhibiting to the world conflict of feeble pow
ers, TO be played off against each other by European
diplomacy.
Is there single in historical fact in this esti-
mate! Who anne led Louisiana in 1902 against the
deadest hostility of the federal party Jefferson,
backed by the republican party. Who reclaimed
Florida from Spain, against the same opposition
The democratic party. Who recognised the indie
pendence OF Texas at the first moment without wait
ing to if Mexico, by the aid of some foreg n in
tervention could not conquer her back again! An
drew Jackson. And who brought her into this u
Mon, the first Independent State united to out of
independent contiguous territory! democratic
Congress and democratic people, And need speak
further-of Oregon and California the war of 1912,
and the Mexican war, and all this country is, and is
| to be, if we are but true 10 ourselves!
All this has been the fruit of democratic policy and
democratic administrations; and the great secret of
all this extension has been the simple principle to
which the democratic party have adhered of non-n-
and the admission of every State, with all the
rights of the original States. And in this way, and
this way only, the democratic party has gone from
infancy TO manhood, still extending the Union, and
still making the Union sronger and therefore it is
right say that the democratic party, which, in
spite of wing opposition, has made this Union as 1t
is, is the party of the Union to sustain the Union.
And, further, have the right to say that the de-
mocracy is the party to whom rlghtfully belongs
because they the great majority the admnistra
ton Of the government of this Union, and from whose
hands it has departed temporarily but with in
jury to the county, and backward cast in her great
destiny.
| Why, gentlemen, what spectacle is there to-day
at the seat of government The party commonly
power here by President and his cabinet and their
officials and yet look abroad and what we Of
thirty one governors of Staes the wings count
but four. Even New England yields them but soi-
tary chief magistrate, (Vermont.) OF State egis-
latures they scarcely claim majorities in both
branches of fUe, while in Congress, which is to make
the laws heysare in minorties in both houses wholly
unprecedented
What party, then, is this to hold the general gov
eminent at all And what party is it to go before
the people of the United States and ask them for
extension of power another four years No. gentle
men, the weakness of opponents is such that the
only fear is may have too much confidence in our
strength and fall out by the way. This gave the OPP
position the administration in lS4S The democratic
party cannot commit such suicidal mistake in 1852
And it is the wise deliberations of the National
Convention we have to-day recommended that the
country looks with confidence for the restoration
of her natural guardians OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES and to in
sure this need only mutual confidence in each 9TH
er-the mutual confidence of the South and the North.
| Why, when we look back to the hunedrd battles
achieved by the united democracy of the North and
South, who shall dare to interpose discord to
sever this ancient bond of fraternity! What, on
the hand is abstraction of right of seces.
sion which may by possibility be exercised in some
unknown emergency, which nobody thinks of put
ting in force now1 Or what the darker side of the
picture, is this pernicous spirit Of nermeddling in
the domestic concerns of the States, and epudating
the compromises of the constitution that sustain the
Union What either of these elements, N orth
or South that they should now, when this disturbing
question IS finally settled, if we will but say so, be-
come an instrument of dscord in the democratic par
ty, the harmony of our national convent on