Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1853-10-15

press throughout the Union with afev honorable ex
ceptons, were never more manifest than In its recent
grOundless and interruptions attacks upon the ad
ministraton. Failing to find anything to complain
of in the policy indicated in the inaugural as the
basis of future Executive action or In anything thai
haslthus far transpired in the conduct of the Gov
eminent, the concentrated energies of the whilom
supporters of Scott, Greedy and Seward, have been
most abundantly bestowed of late in falsfying the
character and opinions of the appontees of the Ad
minstration and of the purposes of the Executive
This work of calumny and detraction has been
prosecuted to extent we do not remember to have
surpassed even in the midst of the highest po-
ltical excitement. The Abolition Wing papers at
the North abuse the President for the appointment
of Southern to Office, and proclaim Yerifica-
ton of their predictions, freely made during the
canvass that he would be the tool of the slave
power and the cotton interest On the other hand
those presses and politicians at the South, who but
few months ago were working shoulder to shoulder
with their feesoi allies of the North to elevate the
Scott Seward and Greedy party into power, quite
noisy in their denunciatons of Gen. Pierce be-
cause he has appointed say they, freesoers to of
flee.
We cannot remember now an instance of North
ern man being appointed to Office under this Admin
istration who has not been assailed by the Scott
Wing journals at the South freesoiler. Not only
has this been the case but North Carolina has the
additional honor of having within her borders an
Editor, of the immediate retainers of the Hon.
Ed Stanly while that mirror of chvalry resided in
this State, who conconcted and published the absurd
and mOnStrOuS falSehOOd that zen. Pierce had ap-
pointed free negro to office in this State True,
after this vile fabrication had answered its PURPOSE
the Editor humby and penitently acknowledged his
error and asked forgiveness of the respectable and
highly qualified officer whom he had slandered; but
venture to assert that not one in a thousand of
the papers which published this falsehood have
corrected it. Of piece with this free negro story
have been most of the assaults made upon the Ad-
ministration by the opposition press.
For the last six weeks the walls of their wrath
ON he of
Dix of New York and taking the vague rumors
and surmises of newspaper gossps, connecting his
name with the French mission, text, they have
wasted of ink in indScriminate vituperation
of that gentleman for his eesol opinions and of the
President and his Administration for their alleged
freesoi sympathies. They have proved false proph-
cts, and their pretended apprehension that Gen. Dix
would be appointed Minister to France is pre-
text to enable them to assa the Administration In
order to accomplish this object they have preferred
charges against Gen. Dix which, may be seen by
reference his letters published in another part of
this paper, are in great measure unfounded-char-
ges which, unfortunately for those who made them,
suggest recurrence to the antecedents of some of
Their most distinguished avorites and to provoke
a comparison of their views with those of the OBJ
noxious Dix.
We disclaim any intention of defending or excusing
Gen. Dix, any one else, North South, Wing or
Democrat, who proclaims himself opposed to the
tension of slavery on this continent. At the same
lime despiSe the hypocrisy which attempts by
senseless clamor and vague denunciation to impose
cheat upon The country, and seeks to create the
Impression that it is possible to avoid the appoint
nent of men in the North who entertain these OBJ
opinions The fact is that the opposition
% the extension of slavery into the territorial pos
sessions of the United States is at the North al
most universal sentment-and if entertaining such
sentiment be freesoilism, majority of the North
I'm Democratic party, and the entire Wing party, |
10 far as we know, are justly chargeable with this
rhine.
But some of our contemporaries appear oblivious |
N this point, and intent upon assaing Gen.
oierces Administration that they have forgotten how
hort time has elapsed since they sung and shouted
md voted for man who wished to meliorate slavery
to determination, let ask them in all candor
n case Gen. Scott had been elected, where in the
vide circle of Northern Whiggery could they have
ound man fit to fill any responsible Government
fice, whose opinions would have been more favora-
lie to the South than Gen. Dix's? Let them select
he most illustrious examples of Northern modera-
ion, loyalty to the Union and friendship to the South
those who are regarded as the representatives of
he conservative Wing sentiment of the North-for
Instance Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Fillmorc-and how
lill their opinions upon slavery, slavery extension
nd the Wilmot Proviso compare with Gen. Dix's?
some respects they will be found to be identically
be same; in others they are much more objection
BILE than anything that can be attributed to MIN.
In 1888 Mr. Fillmore in his celebrated Erie letter
eclared his opposition to the annexation of Texas,
nder any circumstances, as long slavery existed
mere. He declared himself in favor of abolishing
internal slave trade between the States and also
favor OF the immediate aDOllQOn OF slavery the
district of Columbia. Can anything worse than this
e fixed on Gen. Dix? If not why are those who
BE nothing to condemn in Mr.. Fillmore for express
lg such sentiments so earnest in their assaults
ZEN. Dix.
If it can be proved that Gen. Dix is freesoiler it
an also be established by the kind of evidence
lat Mr.. Webster freesoiler. 1t is notorious
lat up to the day of his death Mr.. Webster bit
rly opposed to any extension of slavery where it
id not exist; to the admission of any more slave
tates and was in favor of the Wilmot Proviso. In |
is celebrated speech in the Senate the compro-
ade by him in 1887 as still embodying his views on
lie subject of slavery:
II frankly my entire unwillingness to do
lything which shall extend the slavery of the Afri
N this continent, add other sLape holding
tGtes to tile Union. shall do nothing, therefore,
favor or encourage its farther extension"
After quoting the preceding paragraph, he contin
IS:
II have nothing, sir, to add to nor take back from
ese sentiments"
In this same speech of the 18th March, 1850 after
wing history of his opposition to the annexation
Texas, he declares that various occasions be-
7een 1887 and 1916 he had expressed his opposi-
On to the admission of any more slave territory.
hen follows an extract from a speech made at
oringfed, Mass, in 1S47, in which he says among
her things:
We hear much just now of a p0naceC for the
myers and evils of slavery and slave annexation,
hich they call the "Wimot Proviso." That GER
inly is just sentiment, but it is sentiment to
rm any new party upon. 1t is not sentiment on =
hich Massachusetts Wings differ There is not a
an in this Hall who holds 1T more tfrn1Zu than T