Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-12-05


. Still float though it be "down the bay,
To mark beneath the smiling sky,
The fort where Aourie won the G cay
Washington, Nov. %, 1860.
Brief Outline of the
REMARKS OF HON. BEDFORD BROWN
OF CAswELL COUNTY,
I.;,erel on the e3d instant in the Senate Of North
Carolina, on the Memorial Of portion Of the
citizen, of Wilmington, asking tho Legislature to
call Gonpention of the Citizens Of the State,
with a risp to Secession from the Competency,
and alse to orqaniz and arm the Militia Of the
State.
Mr.. Brown rose to express his opinions on the
very important question presented by the Memorial
and resolutions which had just been read. He
would add his own testimony to that OF the Senator
(Mr HAIL. who had presented them, and iuily con-
CURED in his high estimate Of the worth and re-
spectability of those who participated in the meet
ine. Never. since the Revolution, had the Legisla-
ture of the State been called on to consider more
grave and momentous question, than that which the
resolutions involved, affecting most deeply as 1t dld,
not merely the destinies of the present generation
but those of our posterty for ali time to come de
(Mr. b. thought it was time to conceal opinions
or shrink from responsibility, when few more
steps might conduct us to dsunion, and its inevta
BE consequence, civil war. He had, without change
or variation from his early youth, fought under that
banner which had strict construction OF the Con-
stitution and the reserved rights Of the States in
seribed on it. He had, years gone by, raised his
voice in their support in the Legislature OF North
Carolina, when those doctrines had suffered tempo
rary eclipse and were then but little in favor. tie
had aided by his voice and vote elsewhere the same
great principles which he had always considered
Vital to the Constitution and the Federal Union
If he could claim any merit for his humble services
Is public man. it would be that of consistency, in
support of the rights of the States, and resistance
to encroachments by the Federal Government on
their rights.
Returning, said Mr. Brown to the great ques-
ton raised by the Memorial and resolutions, he
would say frankly and explicitly, that he did not
see in any existing cause or causes, any Justcatlon
for resorting to secession remedy for the ills of
which have such great cause to complain against
Northern States. He had most distinctly declared
the same opinion, in addresses to his constituents
during the summer. and had often repeated them in
speeches made in different parts Of the State while
supporting the claims of Mr.. Breckenridge for the
Presidency. Great as the injustice was which had
been done US, he relied on that principle so
cherished by Democrats-that principle which un-
derlies the structure of popular government--that
principle Of recuperative energy, the vitality of its
existence-"th the sober-second thought" of the peo-
pie of our sister States corrective oftbe wrongs
, which had been perpetrated against US. The dis
tingushing beauty OF the Democratic principle-the
touch stone of that faith is the capacity of the
people to govern themselves, founded on the belief
Of their honesty, and when convinced Of error they
will hasten to correct it. Any other principle dis
cards that cardinal principle of Democracy and dis
cards with it all hope Of the continuance Of free
government, and prepares us to take step IN the
direction of systems of arbitrary government alb
horrent to that inborn love of freedom so dear to
the people of our State. He fer one was not pre-
pared for any cause now existing to enter an
experiment so fraught with danger to the peace and
safety of the country, and which lie sincerely be-
lieved, if taken, would carry down with it the only
with it all the most cherished hopes of the patriots
Of the Revolution.
lie (Mr. Brown) was thoroughly acquainted
with the origin and history of the agitation of
the slave question He was an humble actor in
the National Councils, when it first began to as
sumo more activity in the latter part of General
Jacksons Administrator. 1t was most manifestly
used then to break down General Jackson's Admin
istraion, and with it the Democratic party. 1t had
progressed under various auspices since, till it had
eliminated in dangerous sectionalism, and had
united majority Of the Northern people in its sup
port The success of the sectional faction which
had brought Abraham Lincoln into power was
anomolous-the great Democratic party had become
'para1yzed by Its disruption at Baltimore, which
was mainly the work Of an ambitious aspirant who
sought ito rule ruin" and the black Republican
party afterwards found an easy victory from the
.dsorgaEization Of the National Democracy. Let it
be borne in mind said Mr.. B. that this calamity
the election of sectional President-ha6 never
happened before since the federal government went
into operation Let it be borne in mind, that Lin
nj n nrroo o1a 10,
stances. Let it be remembered that he has been
elected by little more than one.third of the Ameri
can voters-that he is emphaticaly minority
Pyesident, with the Senate, the House of Represen
tatiyes, and the Supreme Court against him. He
would ask then, in all candor-in the spirit of
patriotism Of the Revolution if that noble structure
Of government unequalled for its WISDOM unexam.
pied fer its high and brilliant achievements because
President had been elected with sectional opinions
whose official term was limited by the Constitution
70 four years. should for these causes be dissolved
Like the famed Parthenon of ancient Greece. still
grand and beautiful in its ruins no hand with skill
in architecture had yet been found to eaual this
structure If the Federal Constitution and
Union with it. tumbles into ruins, where is the
patriotism and the skill to reconstruct it?
N'yas not usual in the common concerns of life to
throw away machine an implement or ANYTHING of
value because it had failed once much less should we
abandon government for the first failure to elect
President Of national sentiments He would pick
the hint and try again. lie would make manly
appeal 70 the people Of our sister States, in the
hope that returning sense Of justice would redress
the Just causes Of our complaint
The Constitution, said Mr.. Brown, had many
and true friends at the North. Lincoln had
carried carrie; the Northern States by an aggregate ma
Jorlty OF only about two hundred thousand votes
out Of many millions. The single State Of New
York had cast . vote Of upwards Of three hundred
thousand against Lincoln. Mr.. Brown had AZ
extensive acquaintance among the public men Of tn,
aostn; pc believed there were many true and esl
ant spirits who would If aggressions were com on,
On 'Gcr constitutional rights, by the admins
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