Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-09-21
The Register on &c Democracy and Slavery"

The Register On - democracy anu Slavery"
The Raleigh Register has recently contained some
articles on this subject which for Misrepresentation,
msstatement, and assurance have never been equal
led. We propose to reply to these articles and we
will do so briefly in this and subsequent numbers of
the Standard. We say briefly for we do not wish,
on this or any other subject to draw too largely on
the patience of our readers.
The Register invokcs Everlasting infamy" on
the heads of Southern Democrats on account of their
course on the question of slavery !-apoogizes some
what for the opposition of Northern men to the in
stitution but asks, what can be said in pallitation
Of the conduct of Southern Democrats-men reared
from birth amidst slavery and all its surroundings
and men who claim to be- of all the Southern peo-
pie the exclusive champions of the institution of
slavery?' u
Here is direct and unqualified impeachment of
the integrity and soundness of Southern Democrats
on question which, in North Carolina, involves not
only property to the amount of from one hundred
and fifty to two hundred millions of dollars, but
domestic repose-the peace and very safety of our
firesides! Is the Editor in earnest? Does he mean
what he says? And what, gentle reader, is the
foundation on which he makes so grave and gross
charge? Why, the foundation in substance is,
First, The Democrats supported Mr.. Van Buren
for President in preference to Judge White and Gen.
Harrison: and that Mr.. Van Buren, admitted the
right of Congress to abolish slavery in the District
of Columbia"
Second, The Democrats failed as all merely human
efforts would have failed to arrest the abolition ag
+ot;o nd ;od hv Tohn 0nipcy
Adams, Joshua R. Giddings, and others.
Third The Democrats elected Mr.. Polk President
over Mr. Clay; and Mr.. Polk signed the Wilmot
Proviso in the Oregon bill.
This is the substance of the charges contained
in the first article of the Register on the subject
Did you ever hear the like?
1t is true the Democrats supported Mr.. Van Buren
and it is also true Mr. Van Buren, admitted in his
Jnnius Amis letter. that Congress had the Consttu
tona power to abolish slavery in the District of
Columbia. Unlike the Register we conceal nothing,
but admit all the facts as we proceed But while
he thus admitted the Constitutional power, he de-
clared and repeated the declaration in his Inaugural
Address in 1887 that he went into the Presidential
of every attempt the part of Congress, to abolish
slavery in the District of Columbia, against the
wishes of the slaveholding States" and he added,
"no bill conflicting ri these rie,rs can receire
my Constitutional sanction" The Register has
carefully withheld these declarations of Mr. Van
Buren from its readers, thus affording additional
proof if any were required that it is determined ia
discuss, for party ends and in party way, ques-
ton which is far above party. The truth is NO
President was ever more faithful, during his term
Of serrice, to the rights of the South than Mr.
Van Buren, He set his face like flint against the
schemes of the abotionists. 1t is true MIR. Van
Buren, subsequently departed from the faith and fell
but as soon he did so, every true Democrat from
Maine to Louisiana abandoned him.
In 1885, as in 1856, the Democrats as national
| party presented solid front to common but di
vided enemy. The first resolution deprecating and
dcnouncing abolitonism which was ever passed by
national Convention, was drawn up by Silas
Wright and adopted by the Convention that nomi-
mated Mr.. Van Buren, in 1885, That resolution is
still part of the national Democratic platform.
The Wings were so divided in 1886 on this very
slavery question, that they were compelled to run
two candidates for the Presdency-Gen. Harrison
in the North, and Judge White in the South; and
in 1910, when they took up Gen. Harrison as their
national candidate. so Objectionable was his record
on this question to the Southern people, that nearly
all the time and the efforts Of his partizans were de-
Voted to defending and explaining for him on this
Score. Gen. Harrison, if we are not greatly mis-
taken admitted, as Mr.. Van Buren did, the Const
tutional power of Congress over slavery in the Dis
trict and it is known that he called into his Cab
net such abolitionists as Ewing and Granger. Mr.
Cay the founder and head of the Wing party, ad
mltted the power and in 1850 he introduced bill
which passed both houses of Congress, abolishine
The slavetrade in the District of Columbia. Johr
Quincy Adams was Wing. The ferceness with
which he assailed slavery both in the District ane
IN th' States, and shareholders themselves, is wei
hhown to all. He was an abolitionist while Mr.
Cay was an emancipationist in Kentucky. Mr.
van Buren, when the national Democracy nominal
" a'm tor President in 1886 and voted for him. ant