Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-06-29

III.
He maintained that to borrow money from the gen
eral government was an abandonment of democratic |
principles, and was Federal. Mr.. Sanders spoke |
about one hour
Mr.. BRANCH announced himself as the candidate
of the democratic party for Congress- for the third
time He alluded to the circumstances of the begin
ming of his political life-not he said to re-kindle
the disastrous fires of six years ago. He had been
placed in nomination. the first occasion, because
of the dissensions in the democratic party and be-
cause he was disconnected with the factions and
cliques which led to those distractions. He was
told this he said at the time. And in consentingto
become candidate them he gave the distinct under
standing that he would not ally himself with any of
the factions and cliques; and he had steadily and
faithfully adhered to that pledge he said-up to the
present time he had stood aloof from all cliques.
He made this statement because of ausion of Mr..
Sanders, and because Of what he had heard else
where-that he was the head and front and leader of
faction in this city, and had led to the establish
ment of newspaper in its BEHALF This he denied.
He had not given one dollar to any such purpose
SINCE as minor, he gave all his guardian had placed
at his disposal for the establishment of newspaper
to secure the election of Mr. Van Buren, Still he
considered it crime to assist in the establishment
of democratic papers. He would do so when neces-
sary and would be the judge himself of the proper
time and circumstances. He deprecated n wspaper
quarrels. He wanted no organize could speak for
himself and when he could not he would retire from
public life. He never had an organ-had none now
and never wanted one. He would give aid to dem
ocrats when necessary, but would not assist in the
support of any paper Though it may profess to be
democratic and to be my organ" Still he did not
think it strange criminal to furnish materials for
any paper to assist in the advocacy of my Cuba
bill for | am not ashamed to call it so. l am
thankful for any support at this time"
Mr.. BRANCH now proceeded to the subjects under
discussion. He twitted Mr. Sanders on his zeal as
democrat, after being called in to oppose him (Mr.
b. by the Register. He was afraid Mr. Syme did
not know how good democrat he had brought into
the field, and would be disposed to reconsider the
call after the speech he had heard tonight. When
Mr.. Sanders complains of President Buchanans de-
parture from democratic principles he should ask the
gentlemen of the opposition if they complain of that
Mr.. Buchanan had been charged with such de-
parture in the case of the Pacific Railroad. IF"
said Mr. Branch, ''the President has done so. then
l agree with Mr. Sanders" Mr. Branch proceeded
to read from Mr.. 3uchanans first message, to show
his opinions on the Pacific Road.
Mr. McRAE Read Mr.. Buchanans California let
ter. | am Buchanan man, and desire to see him
fairly represented. daughter and chcers.)
| Mr.. BRANCH. Then come up here and defend
| him. You can do so better than |. G.aughter)
Mr.. MCRAE l shall not misrepresent him as
you do. Continued laughter)
Mr. BRANCH continued Mr.. Buchanan distinctly
says he will leave the road to private enterprise.
Cries of read the California letter" and laughter
and confusion. One at a time gentlemen Laugh
! ter Mr.. Branch, in answer to question, said he
would oppose grant to any company to build a
road-unless in consideration of carrying the mails
and munitions of war; interruption again-"th
| California letter"-"read it." &c.
Mr.. BRANCH next alluded to the charge relative to
specific duties. He read from Mr.. Buchanan's mes
sage again on this question, and secuted the idea Of
the President having abandoned democratic doc
trine and going for a protective tariff.
Mr.. MCRAE. Is the ad ralorem system of taxa
| ton not democratic doctrine?
Mr.. BRANCH. Let me go on in order, or in con
nected form.
Mr. McRAE explained He was an outside dem
ocrat, and he DESTROYS that of his demo
cratic friends should be deceived-hence this col
loquy. But he could not forget last summer wher
Mr.. Branch assailed him at distance of 800 miles
though attack him when he is present. As to thu
invitation, he would be glad to meet him Branch
any where-"and | will turn your thirty million
bill and your report into poetry for you"-Qout
laughter and much confusion)
Mr.. BRANCH said he was engaged in campag q
with Mr.. Sanders but he would undertake to keel
his engagements with his competitor and meet Mr.
McRae too CHEERS and laughter.) Mr.. B. con
tinued on the question of dd ralOrem and state
that it never democratic doctrine to be Oppos
ed to all specific duties.
Mr.. BRANCH to Mr.. Sanders. Doyou prefer hgl
duties under the nd ralorem system to low dute
under the specific?
Mr. SANDERS 1 prefer low duties under the a.
ralorem. Uaughter.)
Mr.. BHANCH repeated the question.
Mr.. SANDERS. l will prefer neither. (Cheers.)
Mr.. BRANCH. l will take the low duties unde
: the specific system.
Mr.. BRANCH proceeded with his reply, and mex
noticed the charge of sending troops into Mexico
This proposed with view to protect our cit
zens on the borders, and he (Mr. B.. was in favor
it with the consent of Mexico
The vote on deposit next noticed. He re
GREETED the necessity for that vote, but it was
choice of evils.
Cuba was the next point Mr.. Sanders had stat
ed at Brassfeds he opposed to the acqusitio
of that island. How did that suit those gentleme
who held meeting to nominate Mr.. Edwards
They are for the island, but differ as to the mean
of acquiring it. As to the fear that Spain will
sell, he, Mr.. B., thought the President was in pc
sition to obtain information which was not access
bic to others, and that we were bound to assum
that he knew what he was about Spain had sol
; us territory-Florida in 1919
Here conversation between Messrs. Branch an
McRae took place relative to the efforts of Geners
Saunders to effect the purchase of Cuba. 1t wa
stated by Mr.. McRae that $50 millions had been o
t fered, unofficially and rejected. This Mr.. Branc
denied, saving Gen. Saunders had been instructe
merely to throw out feecrs as to the inclination
Spain to SELL Not cent he said, had ever bee
offered by the U. S. to Spain for Cuba.)
} Referring to the recent recommendation of tn
? President on this subject, Mr.. Branch said that
t his Branch's) agency in the matter he had take
nocourse not sanctioned by precedent He cite
the cases of the purchase of Louisiana and Florid
The bills providing for those purchases total
f unguarded no restriction upon Mr.. Jeffe
son. These bills too, were passed in secret session
t the people being in total ignorance of them. Y
these bills worked well, and no charge of CORFU
ton, as now, was ever heard against the democrat
party California was another case in point Tn.
bill, however, was more guarded than those just a
luded to- No one, in any of these cases, complain
ed that the liberties of the country were in DANCE
or suspected that one dollar of the money would
appropriated to any bad purpose. Three precedent