Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-25
Mr.. Clingman's Speech.


We have read with deep interest the speech of
Hon. Thos. L cdng,aaR delivered in the Senate on
the 10th instant on the subject of Slavery and the
existing and prospective relations between the North
and South. 1t is calm, considerate, philosophical,
instructive statesmanke speech 1t is the ablest
effort in our opinion of Mr.. Clingman's long and
useful public life. We will publish portion oft in
next and the remainder in our issue Immediately
succeeding so as to present the entire speech in our
next Weekly.
Mr. Clingman takes the position and maintains it
with irresistible force, that the people of the South
ought not to submit to black Republican rule He
discusses the whole question from first to last in
Guiding the so-called overt act" and shows that
submission means degradation spoliation, emancipa-
tion ruin and that the attitude of resistance in adj
vance, whether the dictate of right or of poll
cy, may so operate as to induce a majority of the
people Of the non-slaveholding States to pause in
their course and thus perpetuate the Union. He
declares himself the steadfast friend of the Union
according to the Constitution, but he will submit to
no higher law than the Constitution as expound-
ed by Seward and his followers.
One of the Washington correspondents of the
New York Times says: "Mr. Clingman's speech
was listened to to-day with more than usual atten-
tion and silence was not broken for minute or
more after ne had closed"
We trust that the people of the State of all par
ties will read this speech carefully without prejudice
or Partially, and form their own conclusions from
the facts and arguments it contains Let them read
it. not partizans but as citizens The importance
of the question involved, and of the action which
may be forced upon us in certain event. cannot be
overeStuiated or overstated
Territorial Sovereignty Vetoed by Gov. Black.
The Territorial Legislature of Nebraska having
passed act to prohibit slavery in that Territory
Gov Black has returned the act unsigned with his
objections. The veto message of the Governor is
brief but it furnishes the strongest arguments
against this assumption of power by Territorial
government. Indeed no one, it seems to US, has
argued this question with more force, compression
or ability than Gov Black. He has seized all the
strong points in the argument, and so presented
them as to challenge reasonable objection or answer.
There are few slaves in Nebraska. They have
been taken there not for profit because the climate
and soil are not suited to slave labor but their own
ers emgrating to that Territory were unwilling to
leave their family servants behind them. But even
this poor privilege is refused by the abolitionists
and hence the bill which the Governor has vetoed
The Legislature may pass the bill over the Gov
ernors veto, and in that event the question will be
referred to the Supreme Court There can be no
doubt as to what will be the decision of that tribu-
nal 1t will, of course, sustain the Veto But Mr..
Seward proposes to reform the Supreme Court and
''put it permanently on the side of freedom" With
the President, both branches of Congress, and the
Supreme Court against our Constitutional rights,
what could we hope for as people either in the
Territories or in the States?
Gov Black is Pennsylvania Democrat He I'M
derstands and knows how to apply the principle OF
popular sovereignty. Governor holding the doc
trne of Sguatter Territorial sovereignty as ex-
pounded by Senator Douglas, would of course have
approved the bill.