Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-06-27

The very terms of the proposition assume that, IN
failing pass such laws the legislature fails IN Its
| duty The interposition Of Congress is only to De
asked for when the Legislature has failed to dis
its duty in that respect 1t being riShtiui
subject Of legislator full and absolute authority
over it was conferred by that act on the terri
legislatures. All preceding acts organizing terrto'a
| governments had contained clause in these woras:
! "An laws passed by the Legislative assembly
| shall he submitted to the Congress OF the United
States and if dsapproved, shall 'e nun anu 'l ''0
! effect" ~
This was omitted in the case of Kansas and Ne
braska and the omission Of it inaugurated the great
! princiDle of nonnterrcntion. This Is the ostihc
tive feature and the only distinctive feature OF tnat
renowned act for in no other respect does It dlier
from preceding acts organizing territorial govern
mentS
nut the question distinctly, Would not resump-
ton by Congress of the right to repeal, alter, or
modify the laws of Kansas Nebraska, be Hat re-
/ peal of the sixth section of that act?
OF course, will not deny the right Of Congress
to repeal the KanSasNebraSka act any other fed
eral law but is it expedient to repeal itf DO the
! southern people wish it repealed. That act has
been the battle-cry in every political fight for five
wears. Our section passed the bl and those north
ern Democrats who voted for it were signally re-
buked by their constituents. Its unpopularity at
the North made the House of Representatives of the
/ Thirty fourth Congress Republican; its popularity
! It the South made the South almost unit in favor
! # the Democratic party The last presidential cleo
| ion turned entirely on the same issue. We, the
friends Of the law, after struggle unparalleled IN
the political history Of the country, carried the cleo
i ton by bare majority. Remember how hard we
struggled for three years pass that bill and get it
! sanctioned by the people. Remember how many
northern Democrats fell in the fight DO not forget
that through its popularity we have been enabled to
break down the Opposition in every southern State
except Maryland. Then answer-Do you wish to
j repeal it?
/ If you do, go into slackcloth and ashes for the
| wrong you inflicted in passing it. Mourn over the
| gallant northern Democrats destroyed in the unjust
! fight into which you inveigled them Make atone
ment for having defeated Fremont. Return what
you have gained in false pretenses. Make restitu-
ton of the States you have won from the Opposition
Go tell the people you have deceived them, or that
you arc not willing to stand by your plghted faith.
Those who choose may do sol will not. in
tend to stand by the Kansas Nebraska bill in all its
parts in spirit and in letter. and to insist total
| absolute non.inteTvention by Congress. l will
! neither make nor join in>making any demand which
is contradictory Of those We have heretofore made,
| and which we insisted on tests Of fidelity to
southern rights will never aid TO place the South
at the mercy of abolitionisn, as, in my judgment,
this new doctrine would place it.
| 1t may DE asked if we are without any remedy
for admitted right to have protection for person
| and property in the Territories? | answer, no.
We entitled protection from the local legi>la
ture and if It fails to discharge this high duty, it
gives the clearest proof that its constituents are
unfit for selEgovernment In such case, | would
withdraw from them the privilege of clecting the
| members of the legislature, and vest the appoint
ment in the President and Senate. That is the
remedy proposed in the case of :ah. 1t is sound
in principle and sanctioned by precedent and
would apply it to every Territory which proves it.
self to DC unfit for selfgovernment.
What practical advantage is to result from this
| ISSUE in whatever manner it may be decidedly In
what Territory the question Of protection arise
Not in Kansas for the people Of that Territory
already knocking at the door of the Union, and WILL
in all probability, whether rightfully or wronsfuly
be admitted during this Congress. Whether they
are admitted or not it can have practical bear
ing there, because the legislature has attempted to
assail the STAKEHOLDER by positive legislation, and
| his remedy is complete in the courts. Not in Ne
| braska, nor in Oregon, nor in Washington; for
there never has been a slave in either Of those Ter
| ritorIeS, and no person believes there ever will be-
Not in New Mexico, for the legislature there has al
ready passed law to protect slave property, if any
should ever be taken there. Perhaps the second
practical fruit of the doctrine will be the annulment
of this law of New Mexico; the first fruit being the
destruction of the Democratic party. 1t certainly
would be, if the Senate did not stand in the way
1t is propounded as hypothetical case, and is a
pure abstraction, nice point of political speculation
from which nothing is likely to flow but agitation
| with which the country has already been too much
| haraSsed.
If FIVE obtain from Congress all the legislation de-
sired and only such as is desired and the laws
should be administered in good faith by the local
| Judges and jurors, what would we gain? Certainly
accession Of political power for the Territories
have votes in Congress in the electoral college;
and all admit that, in coming into the Union, the
majority of the inhabitants can abolish slavery il
they wish. If in coming in, the majority being
opposed to the institution, should be generous or
forbearing enough not to abolish it the sad spectacle
would be presented of slavehoding State sending
to Congress anti-slavery Senators and Representa-
tives Such state of things would certainly weaken
instead Of strengthening the South, and I would
rather the institution should not exist at all in a
State thus situated
The South had become almost unit on all the
questions connected with slavery. Her statesmen
have been striving for years to make her So 1t was
of the objects dearest to that illustrious states
man of South-Caroiina, who, having devoted the
best years of his life and the greatest powers of his
exalted Intellect to bringing about such unity, as
the only means Of preserving the Constitution and
the Union, was doomed to go down to his grave
when the darkest clouds were hanging over us, and
our counsels were most divided What he had
failed to accomplish the continued encroachments
and menacing attitude of ant-slavery fanaticsm had
nearly brought about, when up rises this spectre
an ideal caim-to divide in twain. The dele
gates OF eight States withdrew themselves from the
Convention at Charleston because this dogma was
not incorporated into the party creed. This move
mcnt may bring woe upon the land by the election
of Republican President. But I am not disheart
ened. They may retire discontinued from the CAM
and sit moody in their tents, but those arms tha
have often flashed brightly the battle field viii
hang ready on the walls, and when the hosts shall
be marshaled and the loud trumpet shall sound
those eight States must be found under the sacred
| banner of the Constitution We NAV miss them In
council, but rcannot believe we will lose them il
battle.
Much as regret their course have no words o
reproach for the seeding delegates. The motive
and aims of most of them are above suspicion, am
they embrace in their ranks much of the pures