The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1858-07-27

and Republicans to defeat the friends of Mr. Buch-
anans administration, and solely on the issue that
it has taken ground for onr rights under the Con-
stitution He would aid i'll such work-so
ruinous to us--So dangerous to the Union He
believed the great of the Democratic party of
the North conservative and true, that to it alone
could we look for aid against the Vaccinations of
the Black Republicans, and thus believing, he was
resolved to stand by that party. If We abandoned
our friends in that section, where could we look
for aid? Such conduct would be as ungenerous
as it would be impoltic and suicidal.
Mr. NJ referred to many other facts to strength
en- this view, and show the dangerous tendency of
that party which at the North has been able to
unite in its ranks all the elements of fanaticism
and place itself under the lead of men who declare
that the war shall not cease until that is accom-
plished which will end in ruin /! In view OF
that ISSUE that conflict every other political ques-
ton sinks into nsignifcance. He would sustain
no man who subordinates it to any even every
other issue. They all but dust compared
with it.
Mr. NJ. proceeded to discuss other questions.
All the political issues which divided the Wing
and Democratic parties in time past were obsolete,
buried ard forgotten, except distribution, and even
that came in shape which the old leaders of the
Wing party would never have recognized. He
denied that Mr. Clay ever cOntended for any such
system redistribution the neophitcs OF the pres
ent day contend for. lie would have secuted,
scorned such system. He read from Mr. Clay's
great report of 1882 to show that he was for dis
tributing the proceeds of the public lands achen
they 'cerc not needed to pay the expense Of the gor-
crnn,c7u, or far arar purposes, to pay any debt
which he government might In that report
he repudiated and denounced the policy of giving
away the lands to the States eratuitOusly-that
Congress had right to surrender its charge over
that part of the public property any more than
over the custom, the navy, or Notifications. Mr.
Webster said the same thing on various occasions.
He (Mr NJ discussed this subject at much length,
denied that since the year 1914, distribution
had ever been made Il principle of the Wing party
national party. 1t could not be found in
any Of their national platforms. 1t was never i'll
tended by the great of that party to take away
the lands their proceeds and then tax the people
to replace the amount for the support OF the govern
ment. They were too wise and patriotic for that.
The government is now in debt, and what folly it
would be to give away this source of revenue when
it is thus needed, and go through the expensive
and oppressive operation of taxing the people to
supply the deficiency thus created. He was
against it wrong, inn olitic and at war with the
spirit of our institutions. He believed that the
great leaders of both the Wing and Democratic
parties would ha, secuted proposition to divide
$50 GOO 900 of acres of the public lands, especially
if lying in the territory Of any Of the States,
amongst the States. 1t would produce dscOrd
violence, speculation, frauds heretofore unknown
to history. He opposed to squandcring
the public lands. Such scheme as the one re-
fcrred to would be system of wholesale squander-
ing.
Mr. NJ. next touched on the State debt. He
warned the people against relying or the public
lands to pay that debt. He denounced the efforts
some were making for patizan purposes, to saddle
the Democratic party solely with the responsibility
of State Indebtedness. 1t was to say the
least, unjust and unfair. 1t well known that
the Wings were equally if not much more respon-
siblc for those debts. Who contracted the debts
to be paid in 1850 and 1860? 1t was shameful
thus to shirk just responsibility. Such conduct
we'll calculated to break down all confidence in
the legislature of the State He hoped the people
would frown upon such conduct. The patriotic
course is to meet the obligation, face the response
bility, and not waste energies in quarreling
about who brought it on U.S. He was for maintain
ing the faith and credit of the State at all hazards.
have attempted but brief sketch of Mr. Ms
remarks He was frequently applauGcd, and what
he said made deep impression There were
some. whose partizan feelings were too bitter to
permit them to do him the common justice to hear
what he had to say. He declared that vitupera-
ton and censure had no terrors for him. He in
tended to do what he believed right, regardless of
consequences" JOHNSTON.