The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-09-27
From the Raleigh Standard.
DEMOCRACY AND SLAVERY"


been equalled. We propose to reply to these ar
tices, and will do so briefly in this and sub
sequent numbers of the Standard We say briefly,
for do not WISH on this any other subject, to
draw too largely on the patience of our readers.
The Register invokes ''everlasting infamy" on
the heads of Southern Democrats account of
their course on the question of slavery apollo
gizes somewhat for the opposition of Northern men
to the institution, but asks, "What can be said in
palliation 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 people, the exclusive champions of the
institution of slavery"
Here is direct and unqualified impeachment of
the integrity and soundness of Southern Demo-
Gratis, question which, in North Carolina, in
wolves not only property to the amount Of from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred millions of dol
lars, but domestic repose-the peace and very
safety of our fresdes! Is the Editor in earnest
Docs he mean what he says? And what is the
foundation upon which he makes such charge?
Why, the foundation in substance is
First, The Democrats supported Mr. Van Buren,
for President in preference to Jud ge White and
Gen. Harrison; and that Mr. Van Buren, admitted
the right of Congress to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia"
Second, The Democrats failed as all merely hui
man efforts would have failed to arrest the aboli
tlOn agitation cOmMenced and carried on by John
Quincy Adams, Joshua II. Giddings, and others.
Third, The Democrats elected Mr. Polk Presi-
dent Mr. Clay; aud Mr. Polk signed the vii
mot 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 Blu
rem against Judge White and Gen. Harrison in
1886; and it is also true Mr. Van Buren, admitted,
in his Jpnus Amis letter, that Congress had the
Constitutional power to abolish slavery in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Unlike the Register we con-
ceal nothing, but admit all the facts we pro-
coed. But while he thus admitted the Constitu-
tiOnal power, he declared, and repeated the declar
alton in his Inaugural Address in 1887, that he
went ''into the Presidential chair the infexible
and uncompromising opponent of every attempt
on the part of Congress, to abolish slavery in the
District of Columbia, against the wishes Of the
slaveholding States, and he added, ''nO Till
Ricting acM these ric1rS arW cUcr rcccirc my Con-
StitutiondI SANCTION" The Register has carefully
withheld these declarations of Mr. Van Buren, from
its readers thus aforiing additional proof, if any
were required, that it is determined to discuss, for
party ends and in party way, question which is
far above party. The truth is, President
ever faithful, during has term If sercicc, to
the rights ofthe South than was Mr. Van Buren,.
1t is true Mr. Van Buren, subsequently departed
from the faith and fell, but as as he did so,
every true Democrat from Maine to Louisiana
abandoned him
tOnal party presented a solid front to a common
but divided enemy. The first resolution depreca-
ting and denouncing abolitionisn which was ever
passed by national Convention, was drawn up
by Sas Wright and adopted by the Convention
that nominated Mr. Van Buren, in 1886. That
resolution is still part of the national Democratic
platform The Wings were SO divided in 1886 on
al thof Il
run two candidates for the Presdency-Gen. Har-
rson in the North, and Judge White in the South;
and in 1910, when they took up Gen. Harrison
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 part
devoted to defending and explaining for
him this score Gen. Harrison, if we are not
greatly mistaken, admitted, as we'll as Mr. Van Bu-
ren the Constitutional power of Congress over sla-
very i'll tie District of Columbia; and it is known
that he called into his Cabinet such abolitionists
as Ewing and Granger. Mr. Clay, the founder and
head of the Wing party, admitted the power; and
in 1850 he introduced bill, which passed both
houses of Congress, abolishing the slave-tradc in
the District of Columbia John Quincy Adams
was Wing. The fcrcencss with which he assail-
ed slavery in the District and in the States, and
shareholders themselves, is we'll known to all He
was abolitionst, while Mr. Clay was an enamel
pationst in Kentucky. Mr. Van Buren,, when the
national Democracy nominated him for President
in 1886 and voted for him, and when many of
them voted for him again in Convention in 1910,
sound on the question of slavery as Judge
White, Gen. Harrison, or Mr. Clay, and sounder
than Mr. Ewing, or Mr. Granger, or John Quincy
Adams.
These are facts The Register may question,
but it cannot diSprove them. If the Democrats,
W supporting Mr. Van Buren, in 1886 and in 1910,
covered themselves with Everlasting infamy," in
what condition were the Wings at the same re-
riod, with the Editor of the Register among them
If the Democrats failed during Mr. Van Burens
administration to arrest the abolition agitation it
was fault of theirs, but the fault of such Wings
Adams of Massachusetts, Slade of Vermont, and
Giddimgs Of Ohio.
But the Democrats elected Mr. Polk over Mr.
Clay; and Mr. Polk signed the Wimot ProviSo in
the Oregon bill. This Proviso, so called, was sim
ply declaration that slavery should not be per-
mitted to exist in Oregon, which lies North Of the
Missouri line. 1t was sustained in Congress by
the great bulk if not by all of the Wings from the
non-sayehOlding States; aud the object of these
Wings was-not to exclude slavery from Oregon,
for they knew it would never 90 there-but to
embarrass the administration of Mr. Polk. TIE
people of Oregon were in u State of anarchy, suf-
terng for Territorial gov ernment Under these
circumstances Mr. Polk signed the Territorial bill,
protesting against the Proviso which was inserted
in it by the Wings of the non-slaveholding States
Tho RauiStar denOupceS Polk opA tbo nouoor,ts