The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-03-02

Convention was deemed unnecessary. Mr.
McRae said that he only quit the field when
assured that his constitution would not per-
NIT his continuing the canvass, and after
having foreign mission pressed upon him
by Mr. Pierce! With regard to this ex-
PLANTATION we would remark, that it is a
little strange that the gentleman never
found out the weakness of his constitution
until a letter reached him at Lumberton,
Robson county, informing him that he
had been appointed Consul to Paris. He
said the appointment was given with a full
knowledge of his position at that time. We
| asserted the contrary on the authority of a
highly respectable gentleman who at that
time had opportunities of knowing some
thing about matters at Washington. We
heard on more than one occasion, at home
and abroad, that the Administration did not
know Mr. McRae's position when the ap
pointment was given him; but after hearing
his explanation Of the matter on Thursday
evening we are free to confess that our in
formation upon this point seems erroneous.
There is no doubt about one thing, and that
is, when Mr. McRae started out on that can
vass he was urged ON by disappointment.
He had applied for a full mission $50 under
stood at the time) and when refused and
rendered consulship in Central America,
he took the field for Congress. He stated
in his remarks on this subject that the Pre-
sident had offered him any consulship in
Central America he might want. But we
presume this did not satisfy him, and only
become reconciled after receiving the ap-
pontment to Paris.
We have occupied considerable space in
reply to Mr. McRae's remarks concerning
! our article above quoted, for the reason that
we thought his course justified the publica-
ton of that article, and his speech here
demanded that we should sustain its truth
! fulness. He did US no more than justice
when he said that he supposed we had no
personal enmity against him. as he had
| never done anything to cause such feelings
on our part We again assure him that
we have 10 iil-feeling for him, but on the
contrary, regret that his political course
| Has D0en Sdcu Us 10 IeNuIIS all ApOSllIt'li
of his Inconsistencies.
1t is unnecessary for US to say anything
about the gentleman's attempt to be witty
at our expense, or his effort at ridicule.
Nor is it important for US to allude to his
unfair and ungenerous remarks concerning
| tho editor of the Standard, Mr. Holden.
These things appeared to excite the risi-
| bilities of few persons of the opposition
who were present-about six of whom did
the pplauding-three at a time-with
! some effort.
After getting through with the Standard
and Democrat, (Which papers seem to have
caused the gentleman great deal of I'M
easncss, Judging from the large portion of
his speech devoted to them.) he proceeded
to advocate q distribution of the public
lands. We feel under no sort of obligations
to give his arguments upon this point, but
will aIIude to some of them as far as space
will admit at this time.
We took 40 notes, and therefore have to
rely upon memory; but it shall be our aim
to state the gentlcman's positions correctly
as we have not the least motive or desire to
misrePrescnt kim.
Mr. McRae's main arguments for dis
tribution struck US as being similar, if not
precisely those of the opposition for ten
years past, and which have appeared from
time to time in the wing and know nothing
papers, and been refuted by democratic
papers and speakers as often as put forth.
He said he considered the distribution
question Of more Importance than any
other. 1t wes of more Importance than
the slavery questions; for the South had
been greatly humbugged on that subject
from the passage of the Missouri Compro-
mise Up to the time of organizing Kansas
and Nebraska territories. He thought the
South had made a great mistake with re-
gard to Kansas-that he did not think it
material whether the territory was admitted
under the Lecempton Constitution Or not;
but If he were in Congress he would defer
this opinion to that of the whole South.
He eulogizcd Stephen A. Douglas, and
said that democrats ought to be careful
how they read him out Of the party. We,
too, think that democrats ought to be care
full how they act in such matters but Mr.
McRae should remember that Douglas and
all the abolition Senators are now standing
side by side against the President and the
united South in regard TO the admission
of Kansas, and thus subjecting himself to
be viewed in the same light in which dem
ganizcr and an enemy.
With regard to internal Improvements.
he thought that North Carolina ought to
have some of the public lands with which
t. build her Railroads. He was in favor
of building the Western extension, and the
Wilmington, Charlotte and Rutherford
Railroad with "our share " of the public
lands. How kind
He compared the condition of North
II