The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1859-09-28
From Ae Cagroltoa Democrat
Speech of Hon. VIM. Barksdale

speech OF Hon. VIM. Barksdale
Pursuant TO previous notice, this distin
guished and talented gentleman addressed hi
fellow citizens Of Carroll, on last Friday
Though there was large audience assembled
to hear him that listened with profound at
ton and respect to the words Of truth and rea
son that fell from the lips of our able Repre-
sentative, yet we could not help wishing thai
every citizen In the county had heard the
speech So clear, so forcible and SO reasonable
were his arguments and positions that it seems
an enigma that any Southern patriot should
raise dissenting voice to the views of Mr..
Barksdale, as expressed on that OCCASION and
not only the views of our Honorable Repre-
sentative, but of large body of Southern peo-
pie.
In a bold and manly way-speaking as one
who stood behind the shield of truth-Mr.
Barksdale defended the Administration against
the charge of extravagance-showe that it
was common thing to wage the warfare-in-
yariably and without NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a
Democratic Administration was in power.
On the subject of specific duty, and Paci-
fic Railroad, the speaker occupied the true
Democratic grounds: holding that specific uty
was unjust oppressive to portions of the com
munity; and advocating the present system of
ddUaloren taxation The building of Rail
road to the Pacific, he held to be unconstitu-
tional, as a Government scheme.
On the acquisition Of Cuba Mr.. Barksdale
occupied the position OF the Democratic party
of Mississippi, Of the almost entire South and
of national men, everywhere For many
weighty reasons, Cuba was indispensibly nee
essary to this Government Cuba-which
should afford market for large quantities of
our exports-a market for our industrial pro-
ducts-is now blocked up from commerce be-
cause of the enormous importation duties i'm
posed by the edict Of her tyranical rulers on
American products-for instance, that of -four
being taxed the enormous sum of SO 81 pr.
Dbl. Again, while we receive few millions
of dollars Of imports from the island, we pay
the extrayagant duty of $4,000 dollars, on
the articles of sugar and molasses alone; their
laws requiring both import and export duties
By figures such as these, and By arguments
plain and pointed, he showed the necessity of
possessing the Islani, as . fightfal heritage to
to the U. S. Did not want Cuba otherwise
than honorabky; got all our territory honora-
bly,; paid for Louisiana, California, New Next
co. &c Thought Cuba could not be obtained
by diplomacy; was willing for the experiment
to be tried, but Spain would not sell. A
Revolution would not succeed because thou
sands of Spanish minions infested the island as
spies and could suppress all patriotic swellings
of the oppressed Creole's heart. But we could
get Cuba. and get It honorably. Self preser-
vation was the first law Of nature. England
and France waited not for pretext when
thew desired Territory. II Cuba belonged to
hostile foreign power, it would give them
command of powerful advantage over US.
Our native instiet Of self preservation required
It's possession But on every principle of |
equity we had right to demand a settlement |
from Spain for every dollar of money which |
she has robbed our citizens. for every drop of |
blood which has flown from the veins of muir
dered Americans, and to require the release of |
our citizens incanserated IN her Dungeons |
Let us calmly and dspassionately demand a |
scrupulous settlement Of this account. Let us
require every dollar, every dime, every cent.
If the claim is not allowed, let US enforce
our rights, in accordance with the laws of
Justice and equity. Let US remember the
causes of war already chronicled against her
Jet us remember the blood Of Crittenden,
who, in the spirit Of = true American. stood
erect and with his face to the coward minion
that murdered him IN sight of the stars and
stripes of the American Flag, which now cries
from the ground for justice; and let us no lon
ger be thwarted in our demands or robbed of
equity on account oftheimbicilty of a naughty
power which protects its arrogant insolence
behind his royal rags
After most able discussion of the Cuban
question; and after taking position from
which we can not conceive how any unpreju-
dice mind can dissent Mr.. Barksdale entered
upon the argument Of the Territorial and
slavery questions which have for some time
stood first in the minds of the public And
here we must say that the speaker showed
himself most conclusiyely an able and patri-
otic Statesman. true Democrat, loIal citi-
zen and true loverf his own native Sunny
south, and her GLORIOUS Institutions. +
In the discussion Of the territorial question
and the squatter sovereignty heresies Of Judge
Douglas, Mr.. Barksdale, by plain argument
and sober reason exposed the heresy, showed it
to be unconstitutional and most dangerous to
to the South-p practically IS bad as the edious
'Wimot proviso'' which smells to heaven.
and s'stinks IN the nostrels'' ofevery southern,
Or every national man. The Wilmot-pro
excludes slavery from the territories. and what
less does squatter sovereignty do. Virtually,
The result is the same In the race of emigration
he murcuraial Yankee who is working for an
abolition hord Of fanatics, and pushed forward
Dyfan emigrant aid society can beat the South
srn man who seeks no advantage, asks no
advantage, but IS wiling to divide the inheri-
anee on equitable Terms To the North the
Southern man comedies all her rights. He
lsks nothing but what IS right, and would not
ave more. And more than this, the South
I'm man is willing to fight for the rights of his
Northern brother. Let the rights of the North
,e invaded and the strong arm IS nerved and
he ehivalric heart beats with feeling of de-
ense. VIII we, can we, as true and brave
cry of our rights, while we are willing TO
lght for those who would despoil US of that
shich we have inherited from those who
roved themselves patTiots2 Can We allow those
Who once walked under tie guise of friendship
o slip from our grasp BY artful wiles under
he name of popular sovereignty, that which
re would not yield when the WiImst-pfoTi-
o sought to rob US? Surely we eannot-
~ s.sa'uQ Essdo them Lett meet ia
NATIONAL Convention once more Once more
round the counsel-fires of the nation let as
commune together how we may avert the evil.
Let us plainly and without eqaiyocatlon ask
our bretheren Of the North for the incoIpora-
ion of the doctrine which IS necessary to our
and which the constitution gives
is. Let US have no equivocation, no lodging
he question Honesty IS the best policy. If
We iail then, let Us seek by more efficient
means to enforce ourrights- Let US do to-day,
what sisal1 have been done forty years ago,
md which each successive delay makes worse.
When first the slavery agitation found its way
rom foreign shore-hom Exeter Hall IN En-
we should have staked the Union
on the issue and demanded our rights. If we
had done it we would have won the victory
nd had peace and quiet to-day. But every
,roufise of peace on the part OF Abolitionists
,as hen broken and violated. We are now
Iriyen to the wall We eau retreat no farther
unless we compromise the spirit Of lIberaiity
md Independence which inspired our fathers.
Let us, then come up boldly to the issue,
Let euery man N the South, of whatever
name be may be called, stand shoulder to
shoulder in the contest which Is impending IN
1850 By our homes, our fresides, our IN
dependence and our selffespect, let us present
to aggression and intolerance solid front, an
phaianx, and flter not in our pur-
poses.
Thus in most able manner was the sub
iect discussed. We do not like to attempt
report Of the speech. We must necessarily
be 50 meagreth atye do the speaker injustice;
vet his effort was so powerful. his truths SO
pungent and important that we could not re-
frain from giving short out line.
And now fellow citizens, bear IN mind that
in October next yon have to elect Congress
man to meet with the assembled counsel OF /
the nation topraetcpate in making your laws,
and to defend your rights. William Barksdale |