Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-10-10
3 Ihs Standard.
GOV. BRAGG AT sTANToNsBURa.

Remarks of Hon THOMAS BRAGG, at the Stantons-
burg Haas Meeting, as reported BY &. P. TucKE,
Esp, for the Wilson Star Of FFvsiom
After calling the people to order, the President,
q. ?. Speght ESP, IN few very appropriate re-
marks, proceeded to introduce the speakers. he
considered the people there assembled as capable OF
and judging Of the topics to be dis
cussed before them and the speakers as able to ex
pound and elucidate them, as was King Agrippa OF
Judging of the argued before him by St Paul;
and congratulated the people on having so compe-
tent person to present their case to them in its
proper light He then introduced Ex-Gov. Bragg,
now U. S. Senator, veteran and tried man, VINO
had never heen found wanting.
The Ex-Governor slightly objected to being called
veteran" inasmuch as there were many ladies
present IA voice from the crowd. "A veteran in
the cause of Democracy" Mr.. Bragg then pro-
ceeded, in substance, as follows:
Fellow citizens Although you are in possession
of various means by which you can inform your
selves on the leading questions of the day, you
have seen fit to come here this day to meet your
friends, and with them to learn what is the truth.
The people have now before them one candidate
err strictly Standardization Lincoln, the black
Republican candidate. He has boldly declared that
either freedom or slavery must prevail; that the
present state of things cannot exist much longer;
and he has declared that he would achieve this re-
suit by indirect means, by elevatng the black race
to an equality with the white; by an incorporation
Of the negro element into the Anglo-Saxon race.
The former is what the Almighty never did; and
the latter is what centuries upon centuries have
failed to do. Sumner says it must be driven into
hole like rat and there die Of ITSELF that it must
die at any rate.
Now, how are we to meet these positions? Sim
ply by standing up firmly and boldly for our rights,
and he knew Of no milder than traitor for him
who would not stand up for his rights.
Then next comes the so-caed Constitutional
Union party, party that changes its name about
as often as the moon changes: There was once
Wing party but that party has ceased to live, and
all the galvanc action of broken down politicians,
and bogus Unionsavers cannot possibly resusctate
il. Some of those who composed it have gone one
way, and some another. There has been the Know
Opposition party and now they call it the Constr
tutonal Union party.
What are their principles? The Constitution,
the Union and the enforcement of the laws. These
are all right we all advocate them. But let us ex-
anime and see if we can trust these men who
the candidates of this party-Bell and Everett.
As for Mr.. Bells antecedents, they of a very
doubtful character. In politics he has been every
where and on all Sides His course has been emf
nently chameleonic and very aptly could he exclam
in poetic language
aye cannot count as run.
play " tn star. al pitch aud toss,
am the uncle 10 the sum-
Half alligator and half hoss"
As for Mr.. Everett, Gov. B. SAID he would by no
means detract from his brilliant fame as scholar
writer unequalled in polish of style, and artistic
combination of words aud sentences the most
graceful and elegant declamer Of our land who has
occupied eminent position in the land as a states
man and diplomatist; but he would say that Ever
EFT not the man for the people at any time and
much less now and after all that may be said he
considered him little better than sectional cand
date
That party is for the Constitution and the Union
so is Lincoln; but the Constitution as they under
stand it. And how do they understand it? We
know very well, for they have boosted of it-some
of them understand it to be "a compact with hell
and bargain with the DEVIL" but from what he
had been able to learn, it does not appear on record
that either the above mentioned locality or individ
ual were present when the Constitution was adopt
ed; and how they can make it out was more than
he was able to say. They all advocate the same
notions of universal freedom and equality the
white and the black, the yellow and the copper-co
ored are all Of the same civil and political equality
and yet in their hearts they no more believed it
than we do.
He was well aware that the Democratic party did
not present an unbroken front, and regretted ex-
ceedingy the division that existed; yet he believ
ed that the Democrats of the Breckenridge and
Lane party occupy the position they ever have
occupied, and can justly and truly say they have
ever been willing to abide by the constitution and
the laws.
The matter Of slavery in the territories was an
open question until u Kansas and Nebraska affair."
In. yroc od hyf ho -:
mise that slavery should not exist north of SO deg
80 min. The South ought to have stood I'D to that
they did at the time Afterwards, it was suggested
to extend the line to the Pacific ocean, Afterwards
came the compromise of 1850, but this was not I'M.
derstood alike; some supposed that Congress was
to govern the Territories and some that the terrific
ries were to make their own laws. 1t appeared to
him that the constitution quite explicit on this
matter; nor has it ever been understood bv the
Great Champion of State Rights, or the Great Ex-
FOUNDER Of the Constitution, that the Territories
did possess the power to le.isate for the exclusion
Of slavery, and certain it is beyond all doubt of cavl
that Congress can never delegate to any Territory
OF state powers that it does not possess ITSELF
Heretofore in all cases Of appeal from local courts
as to slaves the Supreme Court of the United States
appeared to be final, and was so acknowledged Inv
all The bred Scott decision ought to have Settled
the question forever The negro was not a citizen
and could not sue. Many of the most prominent
men OF the North, among whom were Elk President
Pierce and Dickinson, gave it as their opinion that
the Dred Scott decision covered the whole ground
ana felow-clt'zens, in order that you may know
what was this important decision, will ask YOU to
listen while read it:
lst The Territory thus acquired, is acquired by
the people Of the United States for their common
and equal benefit through their agent and trustee,
tne Federal Government Congress can exercise NO
power over the rights of persons or property of 4
citizen in the Territory which is prohibited by the
Constitution. The Government and the citizen
whenever the Territory is open to settlement both
enter with their respective rights defined and limited
3D. Congress has no right to prohibit the citi
zens OF any particular State or States from takino
up their homes there, while it permits citizens .
other States to do so. Nor has it right to civ,
privileges to one class of citizens which It refuses t.
another The Territory is acquired for their coma
and common benefit, and if open to any, it must b,
open to all upon equal and the same terms"
.. Every citizen has a right to take with hin
torva or<:, IL r