Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-03-03
REMARKS OF GEN. BRoGDEN,
OF WAYNE.

Mr.. SPEAKER l rise to express my great surprise
at the unmanerly and unjustiable personal attack
which the Senator from Hertfdrd (Mr. Rayner,D has
thought proper to make upon me and must be per-
nted address him in the language of Hamlet to his
fathers ghost:
"Bo thou spirit of health, goblin damn'd. LII
Bring with thee airs from Heaven, or blasts from hell,
Be thy inens wicked or charitable
That will speak to theel"
Sir regret thai the Senator from HEREFORD has
respect for my feelings, no sense of Justice and
regard for the deccncies and dignity OF lie. tbs
arrogance and presumption can be equailed only by
the vieness of his nature and the viruence OF his
heart. He has fully displayed his austcre and die
tatoris spirit, and his fractions and disingenuous
disposition. His assault upon me is uncourteous,
unprecedented, ungenerous and unjust And L
would say to him, in the language OF st. Paul. " evil
Communications corrupt good manners BY what
authority does that Senator undertake to lecture me
for the faithful performance Of my duty to my con-
sttuentsY What right has he to arragn me Tor the
free and independent exercise of the privilege secnr
ed to Inc by the Constitution Of the State? BY what
code of ethics morals does he assail me for the
conscientious discharge of my legislative duty? Sir,
he has plainly shown that he is ompted by motives
as vruent and vengeful in their design they are
mean and deSpicable in their conception. lie has
arrived at that degenerate degree OF reckless tauy
and of moral turpitude, where vauitlng ambition
oerleaps itself" And although he seems to have
lost his reason, will address him in the language
Of Lord Roscommon:
"Immodest words admit of no defence.
For want of decency is wont Of sense
He has fully exhibited his venomous and tyrannical
feelings his vicious and loathsome purposes, and his
total disregard Of the courtesies and cvltes which
should characterize the department and dignity OF
Senator. Why does he make me the special OBJECT
of his foul and malicious attack? Why should he
pour out his seditious rancor and wrath upon me?
He shows that he is entirely caOus to every noble
and generous principle of justice and proprety, and
to the moral and social impulses and feelings which
ought to regulate the intercourse and ASSOCIATION OF
EQUALS in the Senate of North Carolina. What right
has the Senator from Hartford to attempt to rebuke
me? Am accountable to him for my legislative !
acts? Has he the arrogance and presumption to
think that he can dictate to me with mpunlty! Has
he such Unsuitable avdity for notoriey as to sup
pose that he wantonly tamper with me without
the least provocation? Whence did he derive
any authority to impugn my motives or to censure
nv conduct? If is not his design to wear the cloak
of discrimination, why is he much opposed 10 the
yeas and nays being recorded upon the journal OF
the Senate? Is it because he wishes to act in dis
guise and concealment? Is he afraid to " face the
music" if his votes put upon the record! Is 1t !
in accordance with his political principles to en-
deavor to dodge evade the responsibility of his
station? Does he " love darkness rather than light.
because his deeds are evil:' Is he afraid for the
people to know how he votes? These inquiries may
be worthy of some consideration, inasmuch as he Is
opposed to the yeas and nays being entered upon
the journal. He wishes to be thought brave and
in his course and yet he dsiikcs very
much to be compelled to record his name. There
need be no stronger evidence of his deceptive and
Ubiquitous purposes and designs, than his desire to
keep up appearances and to shun responsibility
He is, as Hudibras says:
GA creature of amphibious nature
On land BEAST fish in water;
That always grace OF sin,
sheep without, wolf within"
Sir / spurn his wretched and reprehensible i'm
putatioRs, and hurl them back to the corrupt and
polluted source from whence they came, with the |
scorn and contempt which they justly merit, And
although they emanate from malicious heart, they
Knob has
cedent for audacty in the history of the Legislature
Of North Carolina.
1 had not even announced whether should vote ,
for against the bill and yet the mpertinent Sen
ator from Hartford, totally regardless of every prin
cipe and consideration of Justice, courtesy and de-
cency and moved and instigated by despcable de- q
signs says that am disappearing my constitu-
,nts? Sir if am disappearing my constituents '
hey have the ght to tell me so, and whenever they
hink proper to select some other person to repre-
ent their interests, I shall bid adieu 10 this hall,
cast longing, lingering look behind" =
When I was an humble plough-boy, poor and un- /;
,nown without education and without the favor of
wealth. the influence of riches, / was elected to =
he Legislature by the patriotic people of Wayne; =
md have served them longer continuously than any =
member from any other county in the State. have
all times and upon all occasions frankly and free
Y. declared my political principles and opinions, and
have invariably been literally sustained by my
lind and generous constituents. They have long
onfded in my honesty and fidelity, and [ am at IL
ached to them with the innate warmth and feeling t
f flal affection. | am bound to the people of
Wayne county by the ties of birth and parenage, q
y the recollections of the past, by the bands of
-ends and home, by long residence and association
nd by attachment and regard springing from W
manifestations of appreciation and favor, which grap
lie me to them with hooks of steel" am bound a
them by all the chords of social and domestic IL
iiss and by feelings of gratitude for proofs of pub
c confidence early bestowed. am the humble de- Il
ositary of their confidence, and am accountable
them for my public department here. They are CT
ls and generous in their treatment of their public
and trust they yet prepared to sacr-
&C merely to appease the magnity of an unprin-
ped demagogue. They will require the evidence of
ome overt committed directly orndirecty against
ler best interests, else humanity will be allowed to
lead nay cause, and justice demand forthwith my W
ceuttal. The Senator from Hartford should be- o.
are how he pronounces me guilty, before am put d
pom trial and the evidence is heard in my behalf L
he people who have honored with their conf C!
ence aRd support neither unjust cruel oppres- 81
We, yransica and they will not hold him GU It. re
IS who attempts to act such part, and to estab o.
sh for them character abhorrent to all the better III
engs of their native disposition No, sir, no. l tt
lank my God that yet live in a country where Y
umany and justice have not been entirely st1ed p
I'd strangled by the ferocious spirit of uneeng VI
wage, and vicious designs l trust that yet live a,
nong my countrymen, who have too high a regard L
justice and liberty to witness the untarnshed rep OF
alton of one individual in society, however hum i'll
rent and mangled merely to crafty factious VEN d.
,ance. Sir, that Senator is filled ca
with that dull, rooted callous impudence, r
Which, dead to shame and every sense 10
Ne er blush unless, in spreading vices snares ~
Ha on pirf