Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-06
REMARKS OF Mr.. THOMAS,
OF DAVIDSON,

Delivered in the Senate, on the 9th Nor, 1860.
Mr.. Thomas, of Davidson, offered the following
resolution:
Resolued That the committee On finance be- and
they hereby instructed to inquire into the expe
diency of levying a high tar upon all goods scdres
and merchandise brought into this State from any
Of the Northern States which have passed personal
liberty laws, and thereby multiplying the fugitive
slave law, and that they report by bill otherwise.
Mr.. Thomas said:
Mr.. Speaker, desire to make few remarks upon
the resolution in discussion, and now upon your Ia
BILE; and in so doing, must ask the indulgence of
the Senate, as part of what l shall say relates,
somewhat, to my position on this floor.
am here sir, the representative of the Democrat
c as well as the Wing party. | am Wing, and
have ever been Of that political creed As such, |
have served the people of Davidson county num-
Der of years. both in this branch Of the Legislature
and in the House of Commons While candidate,
however, last summer for the position now occupy,
met a strong opposition, which l am sure was
moved and instigated at the instance of certain
great man, who has sprung up like Jonas's gourd,
and who thought he could and moud clay me on
the shelf" The ire of this individual had been
aroused and was TO be executed politically for the
crime Of not having made speeches for him when
candidate before the people for promotion. He
thought that he was monarch of all he surveyed"
He thought that all he had to do to give the
der and the work would be done. l. however, sir,
unmoved by his commands, dared to take my posi-
ton. did so, and appealed to the people, and both
Wings and Democrats came to my support and here
I am | received more Democratic votes than any
other Wing Senator on this floor. and it is but due
to candor to say that am proud of the liberal sup
port / received from both political parties | an,
therefore, upon this floor the representative of both
parties.
And now Mr. Speaker, what wish to say upon
the resolution which had the honor to Introduce,
and that is IN discussion, is this: that if the
Legislature will but impose high rate of taxes up
on the goods wares and merchandise, &C., brought
into this State from those Northern States that have
passed personal liberty bills, thereby multiplying and
setting at naught the fugitive slave law; that in
my humble Judgment, will have more effect to bring
these Northern fanatics to their senses than any
cesson move or disunion threat possibly can, flor
take it that people not going yet to break up
the best government in the worldly Sir, you touch
the pockets Of the abotionists and you touch the
cord that vibrates deepest in their souls. You tax
those manufactured goods, wares and merchandise
high, so high that they cannot be brought into our
markets and Sold and my word for it you will find
that will not be long till they repeal those abom
Unable laws of aggression
And now Mr.. Speaker before taking my seat,
whatever course others may see proper to pursue,
shall stand upon the Constitution the Union and
the equality of the States Sir, | am the more en-
couraged in this by the fact that during the
week before lett nome, (DaViuSon Court oeIng IN
SESSION. met with great many friends Wings
and Democrats, and every one of them of all par
ties advised me to wait and see what Lincoln and
his party will attempt. If he commits an overt
act-if he violates the Constitution, there will be
time enough then to arrest him. Let u.s. for the
present, watch and wait" Then sir, whatever may
be the action of the people of other counties feel
that the people of my county will stand united
under the banner of the "stars and stripes" They
are not ready yet to permit the flag of the Union to
be torn from its mast head to suffer either the
Abotionists of the North or the Fre-eaters of the
South to precpitate the country into whirlpool of
destruction, anarchy and blood. These, sir,
plainly but briefly, my views, and it does seem to
me that this General Assembly should hesitate no
longer to take decisive stand, and when the con-
sentative State of North Carolina through her rep
resentatives does take her position, that position
should be on the side of home interest selfprotec
ton, wisdom, prudence and moderation.
In conclusion, Mr. Speaker. however, much our
political sky may be overcast with gloom, shall
still indulge the hope that kind Providence will
overrule and bring light out of darkness and save
the country without the loss of single star stripe