The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-12-24

A TRUTHFUL RECORD.
CHARLOTTE, Y. {


The Raleigh Standard, in reply to some remarks
of the Register, says:
One of the reasons the Register gives why Mr.
Gilmer and the Southern Americans cannot act
with the Democrats in organizing the House, Is,
that the Democrats have heretofore 'villifed" aud
"proscribed' them; and another reason is that the
Democrats themselves responsible for the pres
ent condition of the country.
Let sec what these reasons amount to: SO
far as yillifcaton and prescription concerned,
1T is certainly fair towards our opponents to say
that in this respect the two parties are even
Know Nothings have been as bitter and proscrip-
tive towards Democrats Democrats have been
towards them. We go further, and say that our
opponents have been extraordinarily bitter and
proscriptive; and in proof of this we point to the
fact that but few years ago they bound them
selves by solemn oathS not to vote for any Demo-
crat for any office, and to prescribe all Democrats
from Office whenever they should have the power
to do so. But suppose the two parties hare been
proscriptive one towards the other, is that good
reason why they should not cooperate nor, when
4 common danger threatens them, the Constitution,
the Union, and the prosperity and safety Of the
South Is this time TO talk about party-about
party grudges and party aims We are surprised
at our contemporary. We thought at one time that
he would lift himself above party on this moment
Gus question, and look only to the best means for
saTi0g the country; but his last issue shows that
party IS still IN his hopes and calculations. Mr.
Gilmer must be sustained, no matter what he may
do. No man is fit to be Speaker who endorsed
Helpers book. The Register agrees to that Mr.
Giner offers resolution, the effect Of which is to
prevent the House from saying what our neighbOr
agrees to, and what ouyht to be said; and yet Mr.
Gilmer must be sustained, and Mr. Gilmcr must
not be censurcd by Southern men. What is that
but party! What is that but disposition to
stand by mere man at the expense of the cOun-
try! What is that but declaration to the North
that MIR Gilmer is as true, when it is known that
he Is not as true as Southern men?
Tn reply to the Registers charge that the Demo
cratic party is responsible for the present cond-
ton of the country on the slavery question, i,
would be easy to prove that the very is the
fact. But for that party the black Republicans
would now have been in power; and that party
is well known and generally admitted, presents at
this time the only formidable barrier to abolition
aggressiOns. So far from havin" encouraged the
agitation of the slavery question, the Democratic
party has done everything It could to suppress it
The fact that it has failed to suppress it is not its
fault, but misfortune TO the country. But what
in the meantime, has the party to which our
neighbOr belongs been doing? Why, from the
very commencement Of the agitation in 1917, the
opposition" party has added fuel to the flame
ne cHllEe w niS party NOrtn was Tor the W ItnOt
PrOvisO, Mr. Clay himself declaring time and again
that he would never consent to the extension of
slavery. Every Wing Legislature in the free
States recommended, and every Wing member Of
Congress from the same quarter voted for that
prOviso, the object of which was to exclude the
South from the common territories. The same
members voted almost in q body against the fugi-
tive slave law. This same party ran for the Presl-
Gency in 1852 a candidate very Objectionable
on this very slavery issue, and intimately idCn-
titled with Seward, that neighbor Of the Regis
ter declared before he was nominated that he !
would not support hm-and yet he did support |
him. Finally. the Wing party went to pieces, |
the prime cause of its dissolution being that it was
so abOltionzed North that Southern Wings would !
not act with it. Then had the Know Nothing |
party, and then the black Republican party. Both
of these parties the ruins Of the oil !
Wing party. First Wing, then Know Nothing, |
then Hdck Rcpubiic0n. This is the truth Of his
tory. Our neighbours Wing brethren in the non
States agated against the South until
they disbanded and became Know NothingS, and |
their next step was into the ranks ofthe Seward ,
party. Let him deny and disprove this if he can. !
While the Democratic party demanding JUS |
tice for the South, and endeavoring to suppress ag
tation against her Institutions, neghbors poll |
tlcal allies were waging fierce against lis, |
and denouncing as a "doughfaca' or hypocrte !
every Democrat North who stood up for us If
those persons in the free States who were once !
Wing, but who now black Republicans, would /
cease to assail the South, and cooperate with the
national Democratic party, we would scon have |
peace, and the Constitution and the | Mon would /
be safe The responsibility of the present unhappy
condition of things is on hcm, and not the Dem
ocrats