The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1855-07-04
Speech Of Hon. A, ]. DOnelsOn,
AT THE
Great American Meeting at New York,
=. June 18th. 1855
June 18th, 1865,

tant occasion. in connection with the Hermit
age, and the hero and patriot that word re
calls to your memory, is sufficient indica
ton OF the thought that is uppermost in you
mind, and to which must address myself
You desire to hear how |, an old frient
aud relative Of Andrew Jackson's ,--his pri'
sate Secretary during his Presidency, and fol
more than thirty years, up to the last hours
Of his life, enjoying the freest access to all
his papers, and maintaining the most intimate
and confidential relations with him,--ca de.
,end the principles Of the newly organized
Autobiography. Listen to me, fellow citizens
and think can satisfy you, not only that
am consistent, but that every motive of pa
triotism and public duty demanded Of me the
abandonment Of a party which no longer prac.
tees the old fashioned democracy of Jetfer-
son, Madison, and Jackson, but has done all
that il could 10 bring into dscredit the most
essential and Characteristic features OF that
Democracy.
Franklin Pierce came into power, to use
a sea phrase, in the wake OF the compromise
of 1850. That measure, carried through by
the united action Of such statesmen as Clay,
Webster, Cass and Houston, enlisted the
symphthies Of the American people, and was
welcomed in every corner Of our wide spread
union as a rebuke 10 those factions which
had labored, under the garb Of State rights,
to bring the Federal and State authorities in
open conflict with each other. At several
places in New England Mr.. Pierce stigma
tized the opponents OF that measure as moral
traitors. ile went so far as TO compliment
me for ms services in, what he called, a bat
tie for the Union. He declared that in that
battle lie stood where Gen. jackson did.
Now call TO mind What General Jackson
did,--what he id,--and what tile Demo-
cratic party maintained when the country
was III the crisis to which Mr.. Pierce alluded.
Do ynu remember the ordinance Of South
Carolina, arming her citizens, establishing
test oaths and declaring her determination
TO carry into execution her threat OF nullit-
catione The proclamation Of General Jack
son, denouncng the whole proceeding as
unauthorized, rebeliOns and traltorOus--the
force bin passed By Congress with great
prOmpmess, enabling the President TO repel
By force all the opposition to the execution Of
the laws: And then, gentlemen, do you re-
member the unanimlty with which not only
the Democratic party applaued its President,
but how the great body OF the American peo-
pie, looking above party and surveying only
the good Of the country, came forward by
thousands and thousands TO testify theirfes-
pect for statesman who faltered not IN the
performance Of high constitutional duty.
Mr.. Jefferson had said Of General Jackson,
after the victory Of New Orleans, that he fill
ell the measure Of his country's glory. But
the patriotic American people proclaimed,
when the old hero carried the constitution I'M
hurt through the struggles with notification,
that his name would hereafter stand By the
side Of Washington as the preserser d the
Union. Yes, gentlemen, il was here in New
York, that countless thousands came forward
70 greet the old Hero, and New England not
less than New York saluted with the acela.
mation ofjoy and loye..the man who, when the
safety Of the constitution was threatened. de-
clarel iear,essiy that he would not survive
its fall, but would uphold it, come what
might.
ROW, gentlemen, this was democratic prac-
tice IN 1882. Let US now see now General
Pierce has acted in crisis which he has adj
mitted 10 be full Of similar perils TO Us and
10 our postefity. When the compromise was
passed, you an know there was party call.
ed al the North Abelitionisis, and at the
South Nulliiiefs, who insisted that that mea-
sure was base surrender Of State rights, and
who SCI on foot measures which, il carried
out, would have produced immediate blood.
shed and civil war. This party at the South
had an organ whose columns teemel with the
dirtlest abuse Of every man who would not
subscribe % is scheme .of holding a Southern
Congress, with powers not only 10 declare
tie compromise unconstitutional, but TO pro-
vide for IL resistance, precisely a. South
Carolina had done in 1852. When the great
aud lameuied Webster delivered his speech,
on The occasion 81 laying tie corner stone 81
the new capitol, the response Of this SOUTH
ern Rights Democratic sheet was, that II was
vain ceremOny-that tie people ofthe South
should be putting their arms ID order 10 az.
tack TIC Nurth, instead &c INDUCING hopes
for Tie preservation u The Jniun.
Gentlemen, one uf lie frst acts of Mr.
Pierce was t0giNe tie editor Of that di.uniOn
sheet IN important Consular aud Diplomat.
'e oihee. Aud if YOU examine the character
81 tis appointments generally, you will find
that IN every quarter of lie country they
have been marked b. an open contempt Tor
wy profession a. TREND II The doctrines 81
tie Democratic party.
YES. gentlemen. assert without die fear N
successful fslli4bon from ans quarter, thai ihe
c1nlnei q President Pierce Is Distinguished, II
distinguished lpr anything, for insldiOus Or5osi.
ton % ths JOclnne Always malniaiael by lie
Democrats ptriF on tie subject 81 Safe ngai.
Nc Madison hes It'd us over and over aasin.
ihai his party IN 1913 tpudiaied lhe dOrune 81
nniltbcsiiOg ss claimed IS SonII CIR lina 10
1872. and q INSISTED On bg the Southern Cgnven.
tiOa ssstmbtj u Nashville. Y11 remember the
celebrated lsner u Mr. Madison. 10 Whirh he
thanks Nh Webster fvf biz sble rtiuiaiion d tie
absurd iae4 data Sale eoaldenfure her psncon.
effuftfuu III i. 3 COMMUNICATING a0afUsf II % gUa