Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-12
Z speeck e Henry \. MINER, Esa.s

Jinks' on last Saturday, the 9Th instant We mere
" attempt the skeleton, from which one may form
some idea Of the full body In common with others
we were surprised on 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 bis hearers, but he condensed the facts and
guments of years into two hours history. Much
was expected-far more performed s.
Mr.. Miller commenced BY saying that it had been
some time since he had made speech on political
matters. He was not SO presumptuous 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 sin
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 &C.
tuated BY selfish improper motives; and for
such he felt sovereign contempt Those who
acted he did, from consciousness of right, might
we'll despse 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 10 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
candidate for Congress and for the Legislature not
that he desired to be candidate or expected to be
elected and not that he had solicited those stations
but because he was solicited to rum If he had not
heretofore asked office, why should he be thought
to- seek it now, at this late day? However bitter
the denunciations against him, they should not move
him inch. All he asked of his old political friends
was to give him fair hearing and candid judy
ment If they believed with him he asked them to
act with him. If they thought him correct, let
them say so. If he did not satisfy them that he
was right, he asked not their approval
In the last presidential contest there were three
candidates. At the South there was division be-
tween Mr.. Buchanan and Mr. Fillmore. Both were
considered to be sound, and all of US were ready to
unite upon either to beat Fremont because we con-
sidered 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 to beat
Fremont the Fillmore men con,ended their candi-
date was the stronger, and urged the Buchanan men
to unite with them. The election came, and Mr..
Buchanan 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 him if he carried out the principles laid
down in his inaugural.
The Kansas question arose. Robt. j. Walker was
appointed Governor of the Territory, and his ap.
pointment 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 was 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
whole 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 Congress? Two.thirds of
the Northern, all the Southern Democrats, and eight
all the Northern Black Republicans and Americans,
together with six Southern Americans voted against
it; and among these six was 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, two-thrds 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 shng!ed over with frauds-had it been
composed of nothing but frauds, they would have
voted for it had it not recognized slavery and no
| matter how pure, how free from fraud, they would
have voted against it 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, it was not submitted to the people. Was
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-
situations 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 were popular rights
They tell US the people OF Kansas had not fair chance
they obliged to for articles approved
| in order to get those approved. This position is
untenable, as each separate article cannot be sub
| mitted. What man was ever fool enough to make
| such propositi n? Constitutions matters Of
compromise, and as general thing must be adopt
| ed or rejected as whole. The convention Of 1885
made amendments to, our 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
oce cersa but they were 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 voteG
for it and some hundreds against it. But we arr
| told the Black Republicans did not vote. Whose
| fault was that? They had the opportunity to vote
| and no one was to blame but themselves that they
| did not vote Suppose in our gubernatoral cleo
ton only one party votes can the other party com
| plain that 1t is beaten7 How, then, can the Blacl
Republicans complain when they refuse to vote ane
| 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. o
/ should join the ninety Northern Black Republi
cans and six Southern Americans? l was told tn
Wing party was dead-its leading papers salt
so-and 1 saw neither Wings nor Americans at tn
North. They were merged in the Black Republican
party. saw only two parties at the North; tn
State elections there showed but two One was tn
Democratic national party, sustaining Mr.. Buchanan
and his administration, bile he sustained the con
stituton and the rights of the South the other tn
Black Republican party, led on by Seward, Wso