Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-08-17
COL. RUFFINS SPEECH IN EDGECOMBE.

COL. RUFFIN'S SPEECH IN EDGECOMBE.
Agrccably to previous notice Col. Rufin address,
cd the people of this county in this place on Satur-
day last. He opened his remarks, by returning his
thanks to the people of Edgecombe for the cordial
and unwaverng support they bed giving him. since
he had the honor of being their Representative in
Congress. He came before them again for their
suhrages in accordance with the unanimously cx-
pressed wishes of the largest Convention ever as
Scmhcl in the District, and yet there was no OPP
position and he presumed there would be none at
this late hour in the day. This manifestation of
confidence after six years service he regarded as
compliment of no ordinary kind, and for it rendered
! his nnfcirncd thanks The Resolutions adopted by
The Convention he had carefully considered and full
, " endorsed. On all questions of public policy he
had always frankly and openly expressed his senti
mens to the people of the District and should con-
, time to pursue the same course.
| The Col. reviewed the many charges of extrava-
gancc brought by the Opposition against the present
, Administration and showed them to be groundlcss,
, by quotations from the public records Mr.. Buch-
anan both in his Representative and Senatorial ca
| pacity had been an economist with the public mon
cv, and the same line of policy had characterized
| his Administration. He reviewed the charges of
! extravaganza in relation to the enlargng of the
Capitol, the Potomac Water Works, the sending of
the Army to Utah, and the Paraguay Expedition,
! and successfully overturned the arguments of the
| Opposition. The enlargement of the Capitol was
! shown to be the work OF Mr.. Fillmore and Black
| Republican majority in Congress- and the Potomac
| Water Works was truthfully charged to the same
! Administration. Much had been said against Mr..
Buchanan about fitting out expensive expedition
| to Paraguay to demand rights at the hands Of
that Government, but tho result had shown wisdom
in the movement; n smaller expedition would have
been treated with contempt by the Republic of Par
aguay and failed of its purpose whereas by sending
Sl,i tn nnfbr ria
| fcultv had been adjusted to satisfaction, with
! out firing a gun. The Mormon war had likewise
been settled without hloot!shcd by the prompt and
vigorous steps taken by the present Administration
\ tcmporizing policy with that misguided and f,na
teal sect of regionStS would have resulted in de-
feat and disgrace to OurarmS \ lesson had been
taught them. which they would not forget and
in his opinion, the most economical plan to arrange
matters with such characters had been fallen upon
The Col. took occasion to remark that he had al
ways been Democrat of the strict construction
school, and he challenged scrutiny of his votes to
show the contrary. In some parts Of the District
he had been blamed for not trying to get appropria
tons for Pamlico River Bognc Sound and Ocracoke
Inlet but he could not violate his principles to
please particular localities. Not regarding them as
national WORKS he had uniformly voted against them,
and should continue to do so. He held up the OPP
position in most lulcrous light by frequent quo
ta:ons of their votes from the Journal showing in
jorty of them voting for these very cxtravagancies
which they charge the Democratic party with. He
dismissed the Land Question NOW dead iSSue) in
one brief pointed sentence; that no tSnd bill had
erer passed Congress achen the Democratic party
hal Il minority in both branches
lie voted against the Agricultural College Bill
(Which met the prompt veto of the Presidcntl for
the roason that he would not sell the sovereignty of
his beloved Old North. Carolina for the miserable
pittancc of 900 600 acres of land worth propably
100000 to the General Government.
He favored the acquisition of the Island of Cuba,
when it can be honorably DONE Her productions.
Coffee Sugar and Tobacco, ought to be Ours, and
sooner or later would be. The Gulf of Mexico was
as important to this country the Mediterranean
was in the days of old to the Republic of Rome and
sooner than it pass into the hands of any other
country, would be justified in Selling the Island
of Cuba, which is the key to the Gulf He was
willing to leave the whole matter to the President
of the United States believing him honest able and
faithful to the whole country.
Col Ruffin in closing his remarks, alluded to the
Presidential contest of TO- fast approaching as
the most important in its consequences that has
ever occurred The Slavery question was destined
again to be an angry element in the controversy and
to play the chief part in the result for veal or for
woe to the Union and the South particular. 1t
was a contest emphatically between the Black Re-
publican and Democratic Parties The result will
he whether we are to have National conservative
man, or fanatical sectional man as our ruler
Whether Hunter Cobb or Wise-or Seward, Banks,
or Giddings is to be our President. inns Is really
fearful issue and to be met calmly and boldly by
the people of the whole country in Nov. 60, and it
is well that we should be up and doing. Col. K.
did not hesitate to speak for himself in the event of
Black Republican being elected President. he
was in favor at once of n. c. assuming her sover-
eighty and procaimng resistance to Federal author
ity under such rule. He hoped and believed how
ever there would be no occasion for such extreme
measures The Democratic party could land he be-
lieved wOutl) come again to the rescue nominate
sound conservative man, fling high to the breeze
her same old flag with true and tried Republican
Democratic principles emblazoned thereon, and save
the Republic from Disunion and Anarchy BY elect
ing a man who can safely steer the ship of State
through the dangers which now so threateningly
surround her.
At the conclusion of his remarks, Col R. was
warmly applaudcd. Marlborough Southerner.
. Az OPPOSITION CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS Discus
TED WITH HIS PARTY.-Stephen F. j. Trabue, the
know-nothing capddate for Congress in the Eighth
district Of Kentucky after having made thorough
canvass of the district and ascertanig the opinions
ami feelings of his friends has retired in disgust and
. turned democrat In letter to the voters OF the
, district he says:
"This opposition party regard as but faction,
having no measure of public polcy-no motive Of
feeling to actuatc them other than hate . democra
cy and hope for offce-and so l have charged
throughout the District faction which, if sue
ccsiu, will be powerless for good and only power
ul for evil. Regarding the democratic party as the
only true national party of the country, and the
only one capable of fighting successfully the many
factions of the day, and the black-republican party
particularly, believe it to be the duty of all true
constitutional national men, and the people of the
South especially, in the present and approaching
crisis Of 1860, to sustain that party. Hence to it
nv help and support shall accordingly be given In
my canvass throughout the district endeavored to
present my views fully, and which regard as truly
national involving the best interests Of the people
Of the whole country, well the naturalized citizen
nv the native born; and when found those so re-
Gently the oudest in their protestatons of adherence