Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-02-17

attacking me, shall have occasion to trespass on
your indulgence. -,
Very respectfully, &C.,
Messra HOLDEN q Wilson.
From the Washington Unian.]
Is Our National Party to be Preserved
It must strike every mind that the voting in the
House Of Representatives on the Kansas message is
the most important and eventful that has occurred
since the historical sessions Of 1850 and 1864.
In those sessions the spirit of natonasm triumph
ed after struggle the spirit Of sectionalism,
and the North pledged its faith with the South that
the question of slavery in the Territories should be
left to the quiet and peaceful settlement of the peo
pie residing in them, free from all outside nterer-
and intrusion. The democratic party especial
ly-the only national organization existing
itself party to this agreement, as we'll at the time
by frequent subsequent iteraons of its fidelity to
the principle which it was based. faithful ex-
ecution of this principle would effect complete set
tlepent of the slavery question between the North
and the Scuth-n connexion with the general prin-
cples of government held by the democratic party.
For the sovereignty of each State, and its right and
suficency to regulate it's domestic AFFAIRS sacred
from federal interference, which was held as card-
nal tenet of that party, had already removed the sub
ject of slavery in the States from the deliberations
of Congress; and if the reference of the same sub
ject to the people of the Territories for their own
wav free from outside interference could also be en-
grated upon the policy Of the country it was clear
that there would be final conclusion of all strife be-
tween sections on this subject in Congress.
Such was the leading idea that prevailed in the
memorable contests between the sections in 1850 and
1854. It was by slight stretch of theory, to treat
the Territories clothed, in respect to slavery, with
the same supreme prerogatves as the States them
selves and to regard any outside efforts to interfere
with the question of slavery within their limits as
partaking of precisely the character of similar efforts
to interfere with that question in the organized
States.
This was the inducement to- and the meaning of,
the solemn agreements entered between North and
South in 1850 and 1854 And into the national demo-
cratic party true to its conservative sentiments and
national impulses at undertook the execution of
this solemn intersectona pledge-vindcatng its ma
tiona'ity by espousing the principle involved in it,
and still more by successfully championing that prin-
ciple in the national contest of 1856.
Let it be remembered that nearly all the national
tiles Of the republic have disappeared one by one
The great religious denominations, and religious,
eleemosynary. and charitable societies which once
fourished under national organizations and bound
people together in bonds more endearing If less
strong, than a common constitution common laws
and institutions, common language and history, have
almost all been sundered in twain. But one or two
religious organizations survive in national form and
of political institutions we have only the federal gov
eminent and the democratic organization, the vita
ty and integrity of which last, as a national organi
cation. is the problem now in process Of solution in
the House of Representatives. in the test voting on
the admission of Kansas under the Lecompton con-
stitution.
1t cannot be denied that the majority party in the
North have ruthlessly, recklessy, and continuously
from first to last secuted the ntersectona pledges of
1850 and 1854. No sooner was the act of 1854 en-
grated upon the statute book than they organized
systematic movement to nulify it. break it down. and
set it at defiance. So far from leaving Kansas to be
filed up and peopied by natural emigration, they
srs o and
ing hirelng emgrants into the Territory to vote-not
upon their convictions of duty to the country, nor
with reference to the interests of the new communi.
ty, but to vote the sentiments of their New England
employers in consideration for their transportation
to the spot, the livery they upon their backs,
and the bread of ieness which they ate in their pro-
pagandist camps and settlements Nay, the uniforms
which they and the camp life they led suggest
ed to their employers a military organization and
propagandism by more than Fictitious voting-pro-
pagandism by force riot, and boodshed-was the re-
suit.
Everything that could he done in the Territory, by
money or bv arms. by the concentrated energy of
incorporated capital or OF drilled soIdery, with
Shsrpe's rifles and Colts revolvers in hand; every.
thing that could be done out of the Territory, by
wholesale agitation and the most enormous and un-
blushing system of counterfeit telegraphing and news
paper mendacity, was done to defeat quiet and
peaceabe settlement of the slavery question by the
"
interference and intrusion according to the ntersec-
tional pledges Of 1850 and 1854
So disguised have been the respectable portion of
the people Of Kansas with these shameful proceed
ings, that, contrary TO general expectation, much
larger number of votes cast for the slavery clause
the 21st December last the regular ballottng on
the Lecompton constitution, than was expected; and
that instrument has thus before Congress with
the slavery clause, although it is we'll known that the
systematic agtatons which have been kept up by the
majority party of the North have driven almost ev-
cry slave out Of the Territory.
The constitution with slavery has come before Con-
gress under these circumstances 1t presents no
question of practical advantage to the South, and it
is not within the power Of the most unblushng mem
dacty to pretend that the admission Of Kansas I'M
der it carry with it any triumph for the South
But there is more involved than consideration of
sectional advantage disadvantage. The question
is involved whether the enormous frauds and outrages
upon the solemn intersectional agreements of 1850
and 1854 which have been perpetrated by the North
majority party to be sanctioned or Iebuked?
The question is involved whether the minority party
Of the North. which have until now signaliy and
nobly adhered to and upheld those pledges will stand
to their national principles and party in the final hour
which tries mems prncipess Nay, there is more in.
volved than even these things.
The honorable Mr.. Seward boosted in the Senate
the other day in the following signifcants words:
81 am very sorry that the faith Of the honorable
senator from New Hampshire is less than my own
tie continued and fought BY skirmishes. and to de-
prive the enemy of every kind Of supplies Sir, I
regard this battle already fought. 1t is over
All the mistake is that the honorable senator and 9TH
ers do not knowit. We arc fighting for a majority
Of free States. There already sixteen to fifteen
and whatever the administration may do-whatever
anybody may do-before one year from this time we
shall be nineteen to fifteen"
His words are true The northern States have
majority in every department of the national govern
| ment The question is, how do they intend to use
their majority in subordnation to the guar
antees thrown around the minority section in the fed
eral constitution, insisted upon heretofore by the