Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-02-08
WHAT SAY THE wHIG pREssEs now,

We iusenued 10 say. 1t Is fortunate tor the South
that in the impending struggle with abolitionism, i,
will not encounter the opposition of the Executive
branch of the Fedora! Government" The South
had this opposition to contend against under Gen
Taylor's administration; it had more or less of it
under Mr.. Fillmore's; but under Democratic auspi-
ces VIC have the whole weight of the common gov
ernment thrown in the scale in behalf of our rights
The Enquirer says:
1t is fortunate for the South that in the impend-
ing struggle with abolitionism it will not encounter
the opposition of the Executive branch of the Fed
eral Government. Wespeak not without authority,
when we assert that in respect to the proposition for
the repeal of the Missouri restriction the Admins
tration occupies no neutral or adverse ground The
amendment to the Nebraska bill, which restores to
the South the rights that were surrendered by the
Compromise of 1920, has the express and emphatic
sanction of the President, and the whole power of
his Administration is pledged to its support The
South could expect nothing less of President Pierce
The least abandonment of the highest ground, in
respect to the constitutional rights of the South
would not only be Inconsistent with the uniform
tenor of his past course but would involve viola
ton of the generous confidence which the South re-
posed In the character of Mr. Pierce.
Mr.. Pierce was the nominee of the Southern De-
m"cracy, and he selected with special refer
cnce to the protection Of the rights of the South
1t was thought, and as time will demonstrate it was
thought not without reason that of all the true
OF the North Mr.. Pierce possessed in largest meas
ure the will and the capacity to arrest the encroach
ments OF abo:itionism. His nomination was in no
respect and in no degree the result of chance in
consldcrate action. in giving him their support,
SoutheTn men consulted their interests, and his
unsuspected soundness in the slavery question con-
tributed more than anything else to his triumphant
election 1t was impossible, therefore, after such
evidences OF confidence on one side, and obligation
OH the ether, to expect that Mr.. Pierce would do
otherwise than he has done i'll respect to the Ne
braska question In espousing the cause Of the
South in this controversy, he but vndicatcs the
sstency of his public life, and redecms his pledge
to the country.
When an attempt was made, by a combination of
disappointed ottice-seekers and trcacherous Demo
Gratis, to persuade the country that the AdHnistra
ton had thrown itself into the arms of the freesoil-
ers, this journal abated nothing ofSts confidence in
Mr Pierce or his Cabinet but laborcd with zeal and
consistency to strengthen their hands for the work
before them. And for this we were denounced by
the " hig press and sympathisng faction of Dem
ocrats, as aiding in an assault the rights of the
South How triumphantly the present attitude of
the Administration, in respect to the Nebraska ques
t:on justities onr confidence and support, we need
not stop TO explain. Suffice it to say that the prompt
determination of Mr.. Pierce to throw the whole
weight Of the Administration the side Of the
South III the controversy which he forcsaw and the
ygor and fidelity with which he follows up his pur-
pose, more than repay the zeal and devotion display
ed by the Southern Democracy in his support The
balance of oblgation is restored and Mr. Pierce pcs
scsses claim to the support of the South, which
will fail him rot in any emergency or against any
opposition.
The appointment of a few repcntant Freesoers
to Office was held by the Wing press to be conclu-
sive evidence of the ansoundness Of the Admins
t:ation 1t was Of Use to quote in dlsproot OF
this charge the declarations o. the President in his
If-a1. 9th 1oSS han
it was said could acquit the Administration OF tine
suspicion of Frcesoil sympathies. 1t is by acts OF
the most unequivocal and emphatic character that
the soundness of the Administration in respect to
the rights of the South is vindcated. While the
Whg press Of the North-of every complexion and
of every name-are opposing the repeal of the Mis-
souri, restriction, and while the hg journals OF the
South are ominously silent on the subject, the Ad-
minstration is sustaining the South In its demand
for justice and equality The fact will weigh more
with the country than the scnseless accusations CT
an unscrupulous party press"
For months past the Wing presses Of the South
have been charging Freesoilism the administra
ton, and have attempted to sustain the charge by
pointing to few appointments made to Office of re-
pentsnt Barnburners in New York and other States.
That was matter of policy; but here is question
in which principle is involved, and upon this test
the most important that be applied in public af-
fairswe find the administration Of President Pierce
firmly planted on the compromise measures of 1850,
and on the side Of the constitutional rights of the
South. The confidence of the Southern Democracy
has not been misplaced-the pledges given in the
inaugural have been redeemed-the great principle
Of non-;ntervenon by Congress in the slavery ques
ton has been clearly and boldly endorsed and yet
Southern Wing presses, which affected to be alarm
ed at what they even regarded as few Freesoil ap
pointments either silent grudgingly admit that
the administration is in the path of right and duty.
Such is the policy pursued by these journals on one
of the most important issues of the day, and this
with the fact palpaby before them that their allies
in the free States arc almost to man against the
administration in its efforts to advance Southern in
tcrcsts, and confderatng with the abolitionsts
proper, headed by Giddngs and Grcely, to prevent
the passage of the bill introduced by Judge Doug
las on this subject But these presses will be COM
pell.d by the popular voiceto speak out-silcnce or
reluctant approval, will not be tolerated at a time
and on question like this. Nor is the administrs-
ton responsible for the revival of the agitation for
the bill Of Judge Douglas proposes nothing more
than to carry ont the principle contained in the
s. compromise of 1850, that the people of the Ter
ritories and States alone entitled and not Con-
gress) to say whether they will have slavery or no.
Those .eto resist this principle arc the agitators;
and however much Southern men and sound North
mon may regret that the agitation exists, they
gll look upon it as an evil the result entirely of
abolition doctrines and Influences and not only this
but they will hold to arigid accountability before the