Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-09-01

escence gave to those who arrayeo themselves In
hostility TO the compromise policy.
And this leads me to advert to some incidents In
the proceedings of the great parties oil the coun.
try In the States of New York, Pennsylvania. and
acts. select these three States because 1t would
consume much time to review the action OF all
the northern States second because these three con-
sue the leading and controlling States OF Inc NorLn'
and by their power and influence give tone and d.
rection public sentiment in that section and last
y because of their especial connection In bringing
before the nation the name OF Winfield Scott ior the
Presidency. .
On the 10th day of September, 1850, Immediately
subsequent to the passage of the compromise meas
ures, and whilst the compromise congress was sun
in session, the democratic State Convention OF New
York assembled at Syracuse. From that convention
cheering voice issued, 6 congrauatlng the country
upon the recent settlement by Congress of the ques-
tons which had nnhapPiy divided the people OF tese
States and deprecatng all sectional agitation the
orh or South calculated TO impair its sacred o6hgG-
lions, or to threaten its perpetuty. -,
On the 18th of September, 1850, Congress Sill
in SESSION. the Wig State Convention of New
York assembled likewise at Syracuse. From THIS
Convention voice issued approving the comPro,
mse-none deprecating further agitation OF secuona
issues-but the contrary, resolutions were adoPteo
virtually repudaling the compromise, and declaring
it TO be the solemn duty Of Congress, notwihstano
ing the perilous crisis through which we had JUST
passed, .to extend the anti-savery ordinance over
Utah and New Mexico, on the first indication mat
slavery likely to be introduced into those 1errl-
rories.'' Thus opening afresh the bleeding wounds
of the country and kindlIng with renewed frenzy TIC
| fire of sectional agitation and strife.
The Wings of New York did not stop here, but
they passed the most marked resolution, rendering
the warmest thanks of the convention to William H.
Seward, distinguished as the course of that gentle
man stnineny was, by hostility to the compromise
and more especially to the fugitive slave law. 1t IS
true, some thirty members of the convention seeded
from this body, upon the ground. as they declared In
their address, that the design OF the Convention was
to convert the Wing Party of this State into an apo
ition party or rather TO destroy the Wing party and
to build up an Abolition party upon its rulns; and
yet these seceders, at subsequent convention
| held at Utica, ratified all the nominations made by
the Syracuse Convention. and amongst others, the
nomination of Washington Hunt as the candidate tor
the Office of Governor, who had previously Pn0ilcly
declared, in letter addressed by him to the Pres
dent of the seeding Convention, that he dePlored the
passage of the fugitive slave law in its present iorm
and he expressed himself in favor of such modifica-
tons of must have deprived IL OF all Vaiue 10 the
South.
/ In this Syracuse Convention no recommendation
was made for candidate for the Presidency. 1t &C.
Cured shortly after the approval by MI Flmore
of the fugitive slave law to justify any such formal
action. But it is fact, asserted upon this hoor and
not denied, that Immediately after the approval by
Mr.. Fillmore of the fugitive slave law, the name OF
Gen. Scott as candidate for the Presidency was
placed at the head of every paper in New York under
the influence of MIR. ward. Time had not yet been
given to put the machinery in motion which was des
tined to impair the confidence OF the people OF New
York in one, native and resident of the State
whose elevated and patriotic character was known to
Them and upon HON they had so recently cast their
votes for the second Office in the gift of the people,
and who by the death of Gen. Taylor, had now sue
ceeded the first The most decisive blow that these
political managers could at that early period venture
upon was to express their distinguished confidence
| in VIM, H. Seward-the man who stood before the
State the avowed antagonist of Mr.. Fillmore-who
condemned without reserve his whole policy, and
who was then preparing to marshal his well-drlled
forces to overwhelIn and crush him in the North.
The Wing party might have been nationalzed; it
might have been made powerful. Had the compro-
mise resolution been adopted under circusst
give satisfactory Of its sincerity; had
the distinguished representative Of the princ
bodied in that resolution been trumPhantly placed
upon its pedestal; and had the northern Wigs rail-
lied his support at the polls in manner to testify
that they had the hearts to honor and support man
who had the frmness to maintain the constitutional
rights of the South, then indeed confidence might
have been inspired in their patriotism and fraterna
sympathies that would in some measure have atoned
for years OF hostility and warfare upon instiu
lions. But the opportunity is past: the nationality
Of the Wing party is gone; sectIonallsm must forev-
er predominant in lis present organization Scott may
succeed. He may become President. But success
or defeat will be alike fatal to it. Its inevitable
destiny is have its northern wing hereafter absorb
ed in this great Abolition Free-SoiI party of that
ton.
1t is, then, manifest that with my views of Gene
raj SCOTS position u the present canvass, he
receive my support. Shall be neutral in this con-
test! No, sir; that is alike inconsistent with my
sense Of duty.
Franklin Pierce stands before this nation, in this
contest, the represen atve OF that conservative COM
promise policy, which l was sent here to support,
and upon whose infexible maintenance depend the
peace and tranquility of this Union. No man who
looks his past course to the influences to which
he must be indebted for this election, feel the
slightest emotion Of apprehension for its disturbance
while he occupies the executive chair have area-
dy shown you that with the first burst of sectional
agitation and tumut the North, in the fall of $780,
he repaired the post of Duty and before large
semblage of his countrymen threw the full weight of
his high character, of his unbounded personal popu-
arity, of his great and acknowledged Abilities into
the scale of the Union. His presence there upon
such occasion, and under such circumstances, was
an evidence of his patriotism. His remarks NANTES:
just appreciation OF the importance of that crisis.
and of the necessity and justice of recognizing the
constitutional rights of the South. Since that day,
every of which have any record every remark
f which in any authentic form has reached the public
eye every letter which bears his signature breathes
the anxious and profound inter in the main
enance of that conservative policy. And in his let
ter of acceptance which contains the last decara-
ton of his viv;s, he sneaks with the frankness Of
soldier and with the fullness of patriot, who es-
the influence which this question must ex-
ercise over the destnies of the Republic:
81 accept the nomination upon the platform adop-
ted by the Convention, not because this is expected
of me candidate, but because the principles IL en-
braces command the appreciation Of mr judgment, and
with them believe 1 safely say, THERE HAS
BEEN NO WORD NOR ACT OF MY LIFE CONFLICT
e My first acquaintance with General Pierce dates
close observer of his public Time does not
or,hI