Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-03-17
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD
WAsn.nerox. M.rch 13. 1858.


WAsnmeroS, March Is, 1858. |
The absorbing theme. Of conversation and praise |
is the mastery and eloquent speech delivered in the
Senate on Thursday evening BY Senator Benjamin
of La, on the bill for the admission of Kansas
State. '@- |
In his opening remarks he stated that the subject
of slavery, so far ~ involved in the issue
before the country was narrowed down to the point |
whether it be competent for the Congress of the
United States. directly, or indirectly, to exclude
slavery from the Territories. He disputed the
sumption that slavery is the creature Of the statute
law of the several States where established that it
has no existence outside the limits of those States
that slaves are not property beyond those limits;
and that property in slaves is neither recognized
protected by the constitution of the United States
nor by international law.
In noticing the bred Scott case, he commented in
terms OF mercess severity on the insinuatons made
by Seward, that the trial of that case was a mock
one, and the Judges in collision to cheat the coun-
try In mentioning the Chief Justice of that Court,
Judge fancy, he used the following touchngly beau
tiful and eloquent language: Il know not Mr. Pres
ident whether you, as l, have had the good fortune
to see that magistrate in the administration Of JUS
tce in his own circuit, in the court sitting below
u.s. OF which he is the honored chief. / know not,
SIR whether has been your good fortune it has
been mine, to hear the expressions of affectonate
reverence with which he is spoken of by the people
amongst whom he has passed his pure, his simple
and his spetless life. l know not sir whether you
have listened as have with interest to the express
ions of respect and admiration that come from the
members of his bar in their familiar intercourse with
each other-spontaneous tributes worth thousand
iabored eulogies, to his eminent sagacty to his vast
legal learning to the mild and serene dignity of his
judicial department.; above all sir above ALL to the
conscientious, earnest, almost painful sense of re.
sponsibiy with which he holds the scale of justice
in even and impartial hand between the litigants
whose rights depend upon his judgment.
NJ hn SC old -~ll w. &c.
ties of age have bowed his venerable form. Earth
has further object of ambition for him; and
when he shall sink into his grave after long
of high office in our country, trust that do not
rudey or improperly invade the sancity of private
life in saying that he will leave behind him, in the
scanty heritage that shall be left for his family the
nobiest evidence that he had died as he had lived.
being honorable to the earth from which he sprung
and worthy of the heaven to which he aspired"
In this necessarily brief mention, cannot do JUS
tice to this great speech of the Senator. To have
fully felt and appreciated its power and conclusive
reasoning, it should have been heard. Many tear.
full eye in that crowded chamber attested the bound
less influence which the eloqence of this gifted states
man welded over the human heart, and many
pale, trembling Black Republican sinner "grew
small by degrees and beautifully less, as with I'M
firing hand he rained down his sturdy blows
You have, doubtless, learned that Cook has been
confirmed by the Senate Postmaster at Chicago,
ILL.,, should infer from this action that the pledge
given by Judge Douglas that he would procure
strong and convincing evidence of Cooks unfitness
and utter want of character has not been redeemed
ard further that his violent opposition to the
firmation arose more from feeling of personal hos
tlity than from any conviction of his incapacty
and unworthiness.
The " Little Giant" will soon find-if he has not
already done so-that, notwithstanding the high
and enviabe position he has held in the Democratic
party, and the full confidence and honors he has
enjoyed, he is politically great and influential in
that party, only, so long he is true and faithful
toit
RP. Dick, Esq, of Greensboro has been Zap
pointed by the President and confirmed by the Sen.
ate as United States District Attorney for North
Carolina.
But little business of striking general interest has
been transacted in the House of Representatives du
ring the past week the sessions being mainly de-
voted to hearing dull, prosy speeches on the ever
lasting Kansas subject On Thursday, however,
the monotomy was somewhat relieved by Mr. Har-
ris of Illinois raising question of privilege. The
novel proposition upon which Mr.. Harris based his
question was that the Select Kansas Investigating
COMMITTEE of fifteen had not executed the order of
the House, and Mr.. H. desired to submit minority
report; he and his Black Republican allies having
several days since objected to receiving the report of
Mr.. Stephens of Ga, who represented the majority
of the Investigating Committee. Be it remembered
that this is the same conscientious popular-sover-
eighty "-shrieking Thomas L. Harris, who protests
so vehemently against the Lecompton constitution
not expressing the will and action of the people
of Kansas, whilst he denies to the majority of a
legally constituted committee who have thoroughly
investigated the matter with which they charg-
ed, to make their report The Speaker decided it
was not question of privilege, and Mr. Harris ap-
pealed from his decision Mr.. Stephens moved to lay
the appeal the table which lost by flee votes,
Mr.. Gilmer Of N. c., voting with the Republican
party.
The House then postponed the subject till Friday.
On taking up the question of "appeal the Speaker
stated fully the grounds upon which his decision
was based, anc cited numerous precedents of former
Congresses in support of it. running debate en-
sued, and motion was finally made for the Sec
ond time, to lay the appeal on the table which was
lost by too votes-Mr. Gilmer again marching
boldly up in the Niger worshipping phalanx. The
Black Republicans, including the pure, immaculate
erasmus Benejah Matteson, who had taken advan-
tage of the absence of the friends of the admins
traton to spring this question, grew alarmed at
the increasing votes the Lecomptonites mustered
and began to talk of compromises and "equita-
BILE arrangements" which we're Indignantly repudi-
ated Mr.. Harris at length thinking that q" discre-
ton the better part of vaIor soithdreU his ap-
peal.
Mr.. Gmer who has thus far acted with the Black
Republicans on this subject is am aware, bitter
partisan, and his political prejudices such that he
has no relish for anything tnctured with democra-
cy, however paatabe it may be; yet can scarcely
permit the thought that he will when the final srug
gle comes, vote with Harris & Co. Mr. GiImer has,
believe, some Quaker constituents in Guilford coun-
ty whose antislavery notions he may be catering to
in his present votes. This, however, is mere con.
lecture and have been unable to obtain any clue
as to his future intentions.
1t is generally understood that Mr.. Walcot who
has been in Jail some weeks for refusing to testify
before the House committee will, by order of the
House be discharged from its custody and handed
over the q. s. Marshal of the District to be tried
upon the indictment already found against him by
the grand jury. $780,.
The Committee on the Lawrence, Stone & Co.
case have succeeded, am informed, in tracing some