The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-03-27


would bind the conscience of entertaining
such sentiments? Does not all the world know,
too that one of the cardinal articles of the Adolf
ton creed is that there is law higher than the
Constitution which claims their first allegiance!
Have net more than dozen States, where these
now predominant, adopted laws multiplying i'm
portant clause of the Constitution! Can we hope
that men will respect our rights of property, who
incie aid and abet the murderers o. our citizens!
Expect assassns to keep faith traitors to observe
oaths? Let us not be deceived, my fellow citizens
in matter so nearly affecting personal securi-
ty and most sacred rights
But how, it is asked will these men carry out
their Abolition designs if placed in power! Let
their own great leader answer: "By doing every
where and on every occasion, what we can"
Fraud and force would be their favorite means.
Secret encouragement and open aid to assassins
like John Brown, with an assurance of protection
in case of failure-just such protection except on
a larger scale, as the black Republican Governor
Of Iowa gave to one ofthe IIarpers Ferry conspira
tors What has been done may be done again.
Money aud arms have already been beautifully
contributed as We know, to this purpose. Men in
high places aided the reasonable enterprises OF
John Brown Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts,,
admts-not, however, until the fact proved
by other testimony-that he knew that John
Brown entertained lawless and reasonable designs
ing, yet he concealed it from the country. This,
gentlemen is the case of u man who comes to you
and tells you he intends to murder your neighbOr
at the hour of midnight when asleep in his bed,
and to despoil him of his property. Could you
Justify yourselves before your own cOnsclences and
your God by simply telling the assassin it is wrong
and failing to warm your neighbor of the impend-
ing danger? How much more innocent is the con-
duct Of such a man than that of the murderer him
Ia Vat nah l. tha If
son.
Senator Seward was an accessory before the fact
to the transaction and as such, could be convicted
upon the testimony of his accomplish, before any
f;tir-mindcd and honest jury in ChristendOm. just
such testimony has sent many man to the gallOws
here in North Carolina. Forbes acquainted him
with the whole matter in all its bearing" as he
says, yet he concealed it. A Senator Of the Unit
ed States, to support the Constitution of his
country harbOrs in the secret recesses of his bo-
som, plot Of treason against that country and of
murder against its citizens! Yet, this is the man
whom the black Republicans would make Presid-
ent. With his hands reeking in the blood of
murdered citizens. and the dark stains of perjury
thick upon him, they would place him in the Chair
of Washington, and cothe him with the mantle of
the immortal Father of his Country -
/ This shame, my fcllow-ctizer,s, must never
upon the country. No, never, never. This bold,
and crushed out and the Democratic party can and
must do it. Keeping eyes steadily fixed upon
the true issue Observation-Disclosures slavery is to be
abolished here in the South and animated by
full of the danger that threatens the country
we will 90 into the battle under the flag of the
Constitution and the CniOn-a flag that has never
vet sustanted dish0nOr defeat at the hands of
any foe-and depcnd upon it victory will be
as complete and as brilliant as our cause is Just and
righteous
But in this vital struggle we. strangely enough,
meet with obstacles here at home. Our opponents
here effect to doubt the soundness OF Northern
Democrats, our allies, on the slavery question. |
should be most reluctant to believe this charge to
be true; for then, indeed, would the last hope of
this country have deserted her. No, sir, it is not
true. If there are any men who deserve praise
above others for remaining faithful to the Const-
tuition of the country they are the noble Democracy
of the Northern States. With no pecuniary in
terest involved with no rights Of property at
stake-wthout the greetings of popular APP
plause to reward thcm,-surrounded by adversa-
ries on all sides, they nanfully maintain the I'M
equal contest; against detraction and abuse
against fanaticSm in all its fierce and fearful FORMS
they bravely fight the battles of the Constitution
and the Union. We, the Democrats of North Car
DINA, greet them this day, before the world, as
worthy allies in great cause.
Allow me, Mr. PRESIDENT. to call your attention
to practical illustration of the difference between
Northern Democrat and black Republican,
Gov Packer, of Pennsylvania, surrendered of
the Harpers Ferry traitors. promptly, upon the de-
mand of the Governor of Virginia. He is Dem
ocrat. Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa, refused to sur
render, upon demand, of the same conspirators
hut gave him shelter and protection. He is
black Republican. The one oheyed his oath Of
office an honest man. the other peri ured himself
before his country and his God. This, then is the
wide difference between a Northern Democrat and
abolitonist. And he who processes not to sceit
in the face of evidence plain. should not CON-
plain if he himself incurs the suspicion of an OBJ
tusencss of vision upon this slavery question.
Another prediction Of our opponents here is
that we will differ and divide in the Charleston
convention, and thus be shorn of our power to de-
feat the aholitoniss the last thing in the world we
intend odo Differ, we often do, but divide never
The word divide is not to be found in all the great
dictionary of the Democratic language. 1t only
occurs here and there in some fugitive productions
that have no rank among the standard works of
our political literature Our opponents seem ut
teralv unable to comprehend the nature of our po-
litcal organization; a party based upon
principle. and have no power to divide.
Aud gentlemen of the opposition. let me say to
you here, now, that those you who build your
hopes of preferment upon expected divisions in
the Democratic party, have long and lonely road !
to travel before reaching your destination
Why divide? Oh. it is said we differ about GER
tain questions out in the territories True it is we
differ as to proper construction ola law of Con- |
gress And we have agreed in that law itself to