Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-05-29

are ansaleable it is now insisted that the same
limited power exists over the immense public do.t
main, purchased as it has been since the formation 1
Of the constitution with money raised by duties and
imposts. (Which it is admitted could not be given
away,) from France Spain and Mexico, at a cost of
forty two millions Of dollars, besides very large
sums paid to extinguish Indian titles, embracing an
area of country more than twice rs large as the
original territory owned and occupied by the United
States.
We deny that Congress has any such power over
this immense domain. We have given some of the
reasons for the faith that is in US, and have time
or space to go further into the matter to-day We
have purposely RETAINED from quoting to
tain our positions, though we may have adopted
some Of the arguments of others.
We know it is said donations of lands have been
made for some purposes, and the advocates of power
insist that if il right and proper to do this, it
is right and proper to donate for other purposes.
This is the main staple Of the speech of Mr.. Brown,
very ingeniousy handled, but it is mere begging
of the question at issue-nothing more. Instead Of
manfully meeting the argument of President Pierce
in his famous veto message. to which his speech
intended as reply, he first misrepresens his posi-
ton by saying that the President admitted the right
panes and other State institutions, and then says
there is nothing in the argument that lands cannot
be given to asylums and other institutions" Now
with all due respect We say that nobody ought to
know better than Mr.. Brown himself that President
Pierce admitted no such thing. The grants to the
new States for schools and colleges based, as
stated by the President, upon the consideration that
they will not tax the residue of the public lands
within their limits; and that grants to railroad com
panies we're upon the express condition that they
would construct roads through the public domain,
thus enhancing its value. And so of all grants of
the kind except some very small ones at an early
date, as to the deaf and dumb asylums in Conaec-
ticut and Kentucky, which the President admits
and insists were improperly and unconstuonay
made; but which he very properly says should
serve as landmarks to warn against the exercise
of powers not granted, rather than precedents to
establish the existence of the power itself.
A word to the Register, who has challenged US to
this discussion. Should it attempt to answer us
we hope it will rece argument fairly and square
ly; and resort to no such subterfuge as that to
which We have advesed.
We are free to confess that there have been
abuses, perhaps great abuses in disposing Of the
in the main, by the opponents of the Democratic
party, who have uniformly supported them, aided
by few who have, upon other questions been
with US.
Let us unite and put down these abuses, and not
act with those who have been guilty Of them, by in
sisting on general instead of partial plumber
These abuses all. the greater part of them, Of
late date. Shall we despair of putting stop to
themr Has that been the course of the glorious
old Democratic party, brave fearless and unyielding
upon every question involving principle? No; it
has stood by its principles through good and
through evil report, until it has conquered. 1t has
never been party Of expedients. For nearly forty
years it has fought against the power claimed for
the general government, off shoot from this same
clause in the constitution, to regulate the domestic
institutions of the territories and to exclude State
from the Union because of its federation of slavery.
At last We have broken down that claim, and the
highest judicial tribunal in the country has decided
that Congress had no such power. Shall we yield
now upon the plea of necessity, throwing the con-
stuton to the dogs to the still more selfish and
ignoble of dollars and cents? Never never!
Let stand by the constitution as our only safe
guard on this as upon other important questions,
take no more than theirs.
The ONO CONTESTED ELECTION. notwithstanding
Mr. Gilmers speech in favor Of his friend, Mr. Camp
bell, Black Republican, that gentleman (f it be al
lowable to call Black Republican gentleman) has
been unseated and Mr.. Vaandgham, Democrat has
been declared entitled to the seat. Campbell it will
be recoected, secured his election by illegal free
negro votes. Such is the man Mr.. Gmer chose to
defend Verify the lone dark lantern of our State
is growing darker and darker.
az Senator Sumner, of Massachusetts,, has again
sailed for Europe, having resigned his seat in the U.
S. Senate His head has become seft that he does
not like his own government, and he therefore seeks
congenial souls beyond the big waters. The Union
we'll remarks, it will be satisfaction to him to
know that his absence will not be regretted"
WESTERN N. G. RAnRoAD.-We had the pleasure
of seeing R. c. Pearson, Esq., President Of the Wes-
tern N. c. Railroad, in City on Thursday last
He was on his way to Norfolk to make arrangements
for sending up iron for his road. He informs us
that about eight miles of the track is laid and that
the work will now 20 on rapidly to Statesve, which
place it will probably reach in July.
H Jno. A. Dickson, Esq, is the Democratic
candidate in the senatorial district composed of
Burke, Caldwell and Mcdowell So far he has no
opposition.
John H. Pearson, ESQ.,, is the Democratic candi-
date for the Commons in Burke. He is opposed by
Tod R. Caldwell, X. N.
Albertis Higgins, Esq, Democrat, is a candidate
for the Commons in Mcdowell
UTAH AFFAIRs.-The runners from Utah are vari-