Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-07-26


If not, why give them legislature at all-why al
low them to make laws upon any subject? If they
are capable of selfgovernment does it require any
higher degree of intelligence to legisate for the ne
gro than for the white man. to prescribe the rela-
tons of master and servant than those of husband
and wife, and parent and child?
But in order to excuse themselves for so palpable
Reputation of the great principle of sefgovern-
ment the abolitionsts tell that slavery is VIOLA
ton of the law of God and therefore the people OF
the Territories and new States should not be en- :
trusted with the decision of the question as proyd
ed in the Nebraska bill. Without stopping to in
qure into the sinfuness of slavery a religious
question, do maintain that the mode provided in
the Nebraska bill for determining the controversy
of its existence exclusion by referring it to the
decision of the people, who are Immediately inter-
esed and alone responsible is strictly in accordance
with the divine law. When God created man, lie
placed before him good and evil, and endowed him
with the capacity to decide for himself and held him
responsible for the consequences of the choice he
might make. Tremendous applause and cheers
This is the divine origin Of the great principle of
selfgovcrnment [Applause.l The Almighty breath
ed the principle into the nostrls of the first man IN
the garden of Eden, and empowered him and his
descendants in all time to choose their own form OF
government and to bear the evils and enjoy the
blessings of their own deeds. The principle applies
to communities and Territories, and States, as we'll
as to individual men. The principle applies to Kan
well as to Pennsy lvania-to Nebraska as well
as to Virginia. The Constitution of the United
States is in perfect accord with this divine principle
to govern themselves and reap the harvest of the
seed they may SOW. Immense appiause-cries:
That is right" " that is right
/ repeat, therefore, that the Constitution of the
United States does not establish slavery abolish
it anywhere; nor does it either enlarge diminish
it's area. 1t recognizes and protects all the nstitu
tons of the different States, however dissimilar
whatever their character, provided they not in
conflict with any of its provisions. Wherever slave
ry exists in any State by virtue of the local law,
there the Constitution recognizes and protects the
institution; and wherever slavery is prohibited by
the local law the Constitution recognizes and pro-
tects the prohibition in such State The Consttu-
ton of the United States is the supreme law of the
land, to which all must yield implicit obedience.
[Appause.]
1t authorizes Congress to legislate upon the sub
ect of slavery in two cases only First for the sup
preston of the foreign slave trade and second for
the surrender of fugtves from service. Congress
has eXerted in good faith the full measures of its
thority in both The abolitionists avow their
to abide by the Constitution and law in
the one case, where the introduction of any more
slaves into the United States is prohibited for the
that the result is in harmony with their views
But in the other casc where the act of Congress
passed for the express purpose of carrying into e
feet plain provision of the Constitution, by return
ing the slave to his MASTER these abolitionsts
say they will not abide by the lawthey will tram
pie upon the ConSttuton-they will set at defiance
the constitutional authorities and bear alot the STAN
dard of rebellion against the federal government for
the that this clause of the Constitution and
the law for carrying it into effect do not harmonic
with their views. Their doctrine is that they will
abide by and claim the benefit of the Constitution !
and laws whenever and wherever they tend to adj |
vance their peculiar theories and opinions and on |
the contrary, they will resist both the Constitution
and laws, with force and violence, whenever that |
line of policy is necessary to the accomplishment of
their philanthropic views upon the subject of slave
ry. Efforts now being made to organize new !
party-a great northern sectional party-upon the |
abolition platform, and to carry on offensive war
against the local and domestic institutions of onehalf
Of the States of the Union, under banner which |
shall proclaim to the world that they claim for them
selves the protection of the Constitution which they
deny to those upon whose rights they make war
that the Constitution is binding upon their oppo-
lentS, but not upon themSclvcS-and that they hold
themselves at liberty at all times to obey resist it
Is may best suit their purposes. Whatever name
shall be given to this new political organization
whether it shall be called wing, abolition, freesOil,
Or know nothing-it viii still be the antagoniSm of
he democratic party. Whatever may be the nature
If the contest or the prospects of success, the de-
nocracy of the nation must stand firmly by the Con-
tuton as it is, yielding implicit obedience to all of
is obligations, and carrying into faithful execution all
If its provisions. Cheers and continued applause.]
We must maintain the supremacy of the laws, put
lown resistance and violence wherever they may
ur, and be ready to punish the traitors whenever
he overt act Of treason shall be committed Ire
nendous cheers and applause.
Fellowcitizens, it has been said that in the bosom
# this new political organization there is q secret
ociety bound together by the most solemn and ter
IDLE oaths-I knoac not its name-[laughter.] In
uire of whom you may, and the answer will be :"
ont know" LRoars of laughter] And from all
he information l can get 1 inclined to believe
hat " know nothings is their name. Tremendous
oars of laughter
l was about to say, and / presume that the facts
onnected with your recent election in this city have
FINISHED you with sufficient evidence upon the sub
ect; have been informed that there exists in the
osom of this political organization, a secret
Official society, bound together by the most terri
lie oathS, to prescribe every man, whether natural
ed or not, whatever his political or religious
who had the misfortune to be borne in
foreign cline, and, like our ancestors, driven by
Official or religious prosecutions to flee from their
alive land and seek an asylum in America. Is
1ere such organization among you? [Cries
f Eyes," Eyes" There Isl" There isl
1t is also said, and with how much truth you have
luch better opportunities of knowing than l. for of
lis knoW nothing, [roars of laughter,] that this
,cret society which controls the nominations and
rects the movements of the allied forces against
lie democracy, binds its members by the most SOL
mn Obligations to prescribe every man who wor-
hips God according to the Roman Catholic faith
0 matter to what race he may belong where he
as born. [Cries " That is it," They do. u 1t is
so said that your recent city election controll-
l by this society-that your city government is
DIV being managed under its auspices, and that the
rection and in accordance with the principles of
[Cres 6 That is So" 1t is 1t is"
ON all sides.
This secret society whose members profess to ,
know nothing" with the view of conceang their =