Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1853-02-05

lished for Utah and New Mexico, and the slave trade
in the District of Columbia has been abolished, and
these several measures have been acquiesced in and
carried into effect; and whereas resistance has been
made in certain places to the execution OF the FggI
tive Slave Law and efforts are being made to effect
its repeal render negative and null its provisions
Therefore
ResOiued, That in view of these things. and mas
much as under the Constitution of the United States
we are entitled TO an efficient Fugitive Slave Law
that we have right 10 require that this latter law
shall be sustained and carried out in good faith, and
that any National Convention nominating Preslden-
tia candidate shall unequivocal and plain language
declare it be the purpose OF said convention faith
fully to carry this law, and that its nominee shall
ex press his concurrence in such a proposition.
| Though at this time my proposition was regard
ed as an extreme one, yet before the Convention
assembled in the following June, such was seen to
! be the state of opinion in the Southern country
that the supporters of General Scott, contrary to
their original intention, found themselves obliged
to adopt resolution endorsing the Fugitive Slave
Law. | required more, however, than this, VIZ !:
not only that the Convention should declare it to
be its purpose faithfully to carry out this law" but
also /" that its nominee should express his concur
renee in such proposition" In other words, L
required that General Scott, after his nomination,
should in the words of my resolution, "in une-
quivocal and plain language, declare it to be his
purpose faithfully to carry out this law" This,
however, he after his nomination, took especial
pains to avoid doing. His letter was SO evasive
and equivocal in its terms, as to make it manifest
that he intended to give no such pledge lie ac-
cepted the nomination with the resolutions aneX-
ed," implying only that he liked the nomination
so much that be took it notwithstanding the OBJ
jectionable resolution fastened to it. Instead of
saying in unequivocal and plain language" that
he would carry out this law he only referred to the
past incidents of his life, which were very equivo-
CAL or rather adverse to the carrying out Of these
principles.
saw at once, on reading his letter, that he had
not the slightest claims Inc for support. While
advocating the adoption of my resolution, m my
remarks, published at the time referred to, used
the following language:
al say. then, that l cannot support the pending
proposition to fix the time and place for holding a
National Convention. l will not in any mode give
my sanction TO the calling of such convention I'M
condtionally. If l were 10 do so, should feel my
self bound In honor 10 support its nominee. l am
therefore, willing join in calling it only condi-
lions such expressed in part by my resolution
am willing that those gentlemen who desire 10 do so
shall hold convention and present a nominee but
shall then decide for myself whether vote for that
nominee or not. l mean 10 say that shall not sup
port the individual merely because he has been nom
mated by that convention.
The nomination will neither help or hurt the person
selected. ia my Judgment wish, therefore, TO be
understood neither advocating opposing the
calling OF this convention, and do not mean to be
bound by its action go further than my sense of
of all the circumstances, determine what ought to
do"
You will thus see, fellowcitzcns, that l. in view
of all the difficulties of the position of things, left
myself free to adopt whatever line of action sense
of duty might afterwards prompt to take. Be
ing in respect bound by the action of the con-
vention just in the situation after it had act
ed that l had been in before it assembled. But
before that convention acted, was not the whole
South opposed to General Scott Who repeat
in our section was then for him! If others felt
bound to surrender their convictions to the decision
of the convention, at least did not so feel, having
reserved the right to accept re ect the nominee,
as might best comport with my sense of duty. If
the whole people of the South had like myself
kept out of the convention, how many would have
gone for Scott appeal to you all to say if prior
to his nomination, it was not the general feeling
that he ought not to be brought forward or sup
ported.
On the appearance of General SCOTS letter of
acceptance having thus waited to the last moment
to allow him to set himself right these great is
sues, proposed to my colleagues, Messrs. Outlaw
and Caldwell, that we should join in publication,
stating the grounds of our opposition to him. This
proposal subsequently, Oh several occasions re-
newed to them. On their declining it, resolved
to postpone any publication my part until
reached North Carolina so to be ready, before
my constituents to repel such attacks as foresaw
would be made on me. This determination
communicated to many. My colleague, Mr.. Cald-
well, remembers that the last day of the session
when we shook hands, authorized him to say that
should not only take the field in my district a
gainst General Scott, but that my reasons should
also be publisheda sufficient time before the cleo
ton to enable every body to understand them.
may add that my opposition to General Scott was
so constantly and publicly stated in conversations,
that have reason to suppose that any member
of Congress was ignorant of it. l also had occa-
son in answer to letters received to write to that
effect to many persons of both political parties i'll
different parts Of the State prior to our last August
election.
But, fellow citizens, had still other objections
to the support of General Scott. He declares in
his letter of acceptance that he will neither cotn
tenance nor tolerate any sedtion disorder faction
or resistance to the law or the Union, any Pc
text, in any part of the land" This declaration is
so broad and so strange, that we might, perhaps,
regard it as rhetorical flourish were it not pat
of well-considered and carefully prepared paper
1t is inconsistent with every notion of the limitations
of our constitutional system of government, and
at war with every principle of the old Republican
party. Mr.. Webster, formerly identified with the
Federal party, and noted for his efforts to strength
en- the Government nevertheless declared in public
address within the last two years, that if the North
should break the bargain on its side, and fail to
deliver up fugitives, that the South would be re-
leased. Mr.. Clay, whose L" unionism was never