Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-10-06
The Stapaafo.
Iov. BRAGG AT. sTANToNsBURG.

Il
Remarks Of Hon. THOMAS BRAGG, at the Stantons-
burg Mass Meeting, as reported By E. p TUCKE,
Esp, for the Wilson Star Of Freedom.
After calling the people to order the President
q. P. Speght, ESQ, in few very appropriate re-
marks, proceeded to introduce the speakers. lie
considered the people there assembled as capable OF
understanding and judging Of the topics to De dis
cussed before them and the speakers as able to ex
pound and eucidate them, as was klng agrPpa OF
judging of the cause 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, who
had never heen found wanting
The Ex-Governor slightly objected to being called
"veteran," inasmnch 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
for the Presidency whom we may certainly consld-
er strictly sectonal-Abra 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 elevating 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 rights,
and he knew of no mider name than traitor for him
who would not stand up for his rights
Then next comes the so-called 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 galvanic action of broken down politicians
and bogus UnionsaverS cannot possibly reSuScltate
it. Some of those who composed 1t have gone one
way and some another. There has been the Know
Nothing party, and the American party and the
Opposition party, and now they call it the Consti-
tutional 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 are
the candidates of this party-Bcl and Everett.
As for Mr.. Bells antecedents, they are of very
doubtful character. In politics he has been every
where and on all sides. His course has been emf
nentlv chameleonic and very aptly could he excaim
in poetic language
aye cannot count me as rnn.
Iplay with stars at pitch aud toss,
/ an the uncle to the sun,
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 uneoualled in polish of style, and artistic
combination of words aud sentences; the most
graceful and elegant declaimer of land who has
occupied eminent position in the land as Il states
man and diplomatist; but he would say that Ever
EFT was 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 candi-
date.
Thatparty 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 a 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,-that the
white and the black, the yellow and the copper-col
ored are all of the civil and political equality,
and vet in their hearts they no more believed it
than we do.
He was we'll aware that the Democratic party did
mot 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 same 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 the Kansas and Nebraska affair."
In 1920, it was stipulated by the Missouri Compro-
mise that slavery should not exist north of SO deg
80 min. The South ought to have stood up to that
they did at the time Afterwards, it was suggested
to extend the line to the Pacific Afterwards
came the compromise of 1850 but this was not un-
derstood alike; some supposed that Congress was
to govern the Territories and that the terrific
ries were to make their own laws. 1t appeared to
him that the constitution was 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 legslate for the exclusion
of slavery and certain it is beyond all doubt of cavl
that Congress can never delegate to any Territory
or State powers that it does not possess itself.
Heretofore in all cases of appeal from local courts
to slaves, the Supreme Court of the United States
appeared to be final and was so acknowledged by
all. The bred Scott decision ought to have settled
the question forever. The negro was not citizen
and could not sue. Many of the most prominent
men of the North, among whom were Ex-Presdent
Pierce and Dickinson gave it as their opinion that
the bred Scott decision covered the whole ground.
and fellow-citizens, in order that you NAV know
what was this important decision will ask Won to
listen while read it
1st "The Territory thus acquired, is acquired by
the people of the United States for their common
and equal benefit through their agent and trustee,
the Federal Government Congress can exercise no
power over the rights of persons or property of a
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
by the Constitution
I'd. Congress has no right to prohibit the citi-
zens of any particular State or States from taking
up their homes there while it permits citizens of
other States to do so. Nor has it right to give
privileges to class of citizens which it refuses to
another The Territory is acquired for their eqnal
and common benefit, and if open to any, it must be
open to all upon equal and the same terms"
g. EVERY citizen has right to take with him
into the territory any article of property which the
Constitution Of the United States recognizes as