Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1858-06-16
Speech of Henry w. Miller, Esq.

ly attempt the skeleton from which one may form
some idea Of the full body. In common with others
were surprised, the conclusion of his speech,
to find that he had been speaking more than two
hours. The time did not seem half so long. He
not only crowded two hours into one in the lifetime
of his hearers, but he condensed the facts and
guments of years into two hours history. Much
was expected-far performed.
Mr.. Miller commenced by saying that it had been
some time since he had made speech on political
matters. lie was not so presunptuous as to think
his opinions entitled to any great weight, further
than they were sustained by facts and arguments;
but he claimed to be honest in his purposes and sim
cere in his intentions. He had recently declared,
publicly, his intention to support Mr.. Buchanan's
administration and those who sustained it-he was
willing to stake his fortunes with Mr.. Buchanan and
with the party sustaining him. He had not come
there to deal in unkind remarks towards his former
political associates; he felt unkindness towards
them and if he did, it was unnecessary to express
it. Some had declared their belief that he was ac-
tuated by selfish or improper motives; and for
such he felt sovereign contempt Those who
acted. he did, from consciousness of right might
we'll despise those who attributed unworthy motives.
He acted from principle, and those disposed to de-
nounce him could do so to their hearts content.
Did they believe he desired office? Did they
think he had taken his present position in order to
obtain office? 1t was not so. For eighteen years
he had served the Wing party, and during that time
he had never asked for office. True he had been a
candidate for Congress and for the Legislature, not
that he desired to be candidate expected TO be
elected and not that he had solicited those stations;
but because he solicited to If he had not
heretofore asked office, why should he be thought
to seek it now, at this late day? However bitter
the denunciatons against him, they should not move
him an inch. All he asked of his old political friends
was to give him fair hearing and a candid judg-
ment. If they believed with him he asked them to
cf let
them say so. If he did not satisfy them that he
right, he asked not their approval
In the last presidential contest there were three
candidates. At the South there division be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Mr. Fillmore. Both were
considered to be sound, and all of MS were ready to
unite upon either to beat Fremont, because We con-
sdered him sectional candidate, an enemy to the
South and to the constitution, and his election as
the death. knell of the Union. The Buchanan men
contended that their candidate the stronger, and
urged the Fillmore men TO unite with them 10 beat
Fremont; the Fillmore men conended their candi-
date the stronger, and urged the Buchanan men
to unite with them The election came, and Mr..
Buchanan was found to be the stronger as his
friends had claimed, and contrary to the predictions
of the Fillmore men. His inaugural was approved
by all men at the South. Wings, Americans and
Democrats determined to give him fair trial, and
TO sustain hun if he carried out the principles laid
down in his inaugural
The Kansas question arose. Robt. j. Walker
y,
pointment was acceptable to the South, for he was
then considered sound. In short time, however,
; he began to side with the Black Republicans, and
Democrats and Americans denounced him. con-
vention called according to law, constitution
formed and sent to Congress- Walker opposed this
constitution, but Mr. Buchanan sent special mes
sage to Congress endorsing it. This message the
who South approved. Among others the leading
Wing paper Of the State approved it. The general
sentiment that if this constitution was rejected
because it recognized slavery, the South would not
stand it.
How was the vote in Congress2 Two thirds Of
the Northern, all the Souther. Democrats, and eight
Southern Americans voted for the constitution; and
all the Northern Black Republicans and Americans,
together with six Southern Americans, voted against
it and among these six one from North
Carolina. Which was right? Were the ninety. odd
Black Republicans at the North and the six Ameri-
cans at the South right, and the whole Democratic
party at the South, twothrds Of it at the North,
and the eight Americans at the South wrong? Why
did the Black Republicans vote against the cOnsti
tuition? Frauds in its formation were alleged; but
had it been shingled over with frauds-had it been
composed of nothing but frauds, they would have
voted for it had it rot recognized slavery and no
matter how pure, how free from fraud, they would
have voted against because it recognised slavery.
They were ready to resort to any thing to break
| down slavery.
! But what reason do the six Southern Americans
give for voting against the constitution? Because,
say they, 1t was not submitted TO the people. w as
| the convention compelled to submit it? Had Con-
gress any right to go behind the constitution and
! enquire whether it was submitted or not? The con-
stitutions Of many of the States, the constitution Of
North Carolina included, had never been submitted
to the people. The people in the several States did
not vote Upon the constitution of the United States
and our forefathers knew what popular rights.
They tell the people Of Kansas had fair chance
as they obliged to for articles not approved
in order to get those approved. This position is
untenable, as each separate article cannot be sub
| mited. What man was ever fool enough to make
such proposti n? Constitutions matters OF
! compromise, and general thing must be adopt
! ed rejected whole. The convention of 1885
! made amendments to State constitution, which
| were submitted all together. Some opposed
to the election of Governor by the people and in
favor of biennial sessions of the Legislature, and
| uice rersa but they compelled to vote for both
! or against both.
But in regard to the Kansas constitution the sla
| very question was in fact the only ISSUE and thai
was submitted to the people. Some thousands voted
for it and some hundreds against it. But we are
told the Black Republicans ud not vote. Whose
| fault was that? They had the opportunity to vote
and to blame but themselves that they
did not vote Suppose in our gubernatorial cleo
plain that 1t is beaten? How, then, can the Black
Republicans complain when they refuse to vote anc
others carry the election?
Where said the speaker, should be found
Should join the forty Northern and entire South
ern Democrats and eight Southern Americans. OF
| should join the ninety Northern Black Republi
cans and six Southern Americans? l was told th'
Wing party was dead-its leading papers sale
so-and saw neither Wings nor Americans at th'
North. They were merged IN the Black Republican
party. l only two parties at the North; th'
State elections there show ed but two One was th
Democratic national party, sustaining Mr.. Buchanan
and his administration, whlle he sustained the con
stitution and the rights Of the South the other thu
Black Republican party, led on by Seward, W lsoI
md fhorc opdyv orrip inst he Snffh m On