Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-10-03
The Sfapaata.
spEEcH OF. HON B. F. HALIETT,

: Before the National Democratic State Convention
of Massachusetts,, and the Mass Meeting Of the
Supporters of Breckinridgs and Lane, at Ire
mont Temple, Boston, Wednesday, SEPTEMBER IL,
1860.
"a Photographic Report by JAS NJ Pomeroy1
Mn PREsIpENT aNy GENTLEMEN thank you for
the reception that YOU give me- 1t strengthens me
somewhat in the opinion that have been able to
form to-day that the democratic party of Massachu-
sets is not yet quite ready to lay me aside for
"substitute." 1Great laughter and applaase
Now desire, if you will give me your patience
to occupy some moments in considering thequestions
which are really those at issue. We hayeshad the
unusual spectacles of three conventions in this
Commonwealth to-day, making three nominations
of candidates for Governor. That portion OF the
party which assembled at Springfield has nomlnat-
ed our former respected but unavailable candidate
Mr.. Beach. the very man whom they threw over
board little while ago for Gen. Butler
The Bell and Everett party, in their convention,
hate simply gone backward into know-nothingism.
They have nominated Mr.. Lawrence, republican
and know-nothing, and therefore have literally
done nothing. We have come here to-day, making
no boasts and no threats, in numbers much larger
than we expected and have done just what we did
q year ago-nominated our gallant and chivalrous
champion, General Butler. Cheers. Now, why
are there two conventions to-day in MASSACHUSETTS,
each protesting to be the convention OF the demo-
cratic party? 1t is because portion of the demo-
cyading the true national issue. The democratic
party must be straightforward if they intend to be
national party. They have one paramount ques-
ton before them-the prominent one of the day
How will they deal with this question of slavery,
this seouality of the States in the Territories?-
and in dealing with it they must be honest with the
South, or they must lose the South, in its assoca
tons with the democratic party. And, gentlemen,
let me tell you what history tells us over and
again. that whenever the democratic party ceases to
he made up of that national union between the
Southern and Northern democrats which with few
intervals has carried this country safely, gloriousy
onward in progress and governed it wisely for six
ty years-which in fifteen Presidential elections has
triumphed in all but three-let me tell you that
whenever that union ceases to be kept up and sns-
tanned, then there is an end to the national demo-
cratic party, and fear, end to the Union also.
That union of North and South has been the grand
support of democracy, and upon that has been bas-
ed the whole success of this country
& Now when democrats undertake to act upon the
idea-which is the real idea of Mr.. Douglas and of
the leaders of that portion of our party that has
separated from us and support divided nomina-
tion-when they undertake to act upon the mistaken
idea that they can make crest Northern party
that shall be partly anti-slavery, and denounce
Southern democrats as disunionists-a party that
shall stand between the abolition republican party
of the North and the equal Stateghts party of the
South, and can throw the South overboard-rely
upon II I0ey attempt al 1mpOSSlOlllIy. TOT oil
history shews that this North-ay, this North and
this Northwest-neyer was democratic, and it never
will be democratic, to govern the Union without
union with the South [Applause 1t began with
old federalism and that has been succeeded by ma
tional republicanisIn; by anti-savery wings swal-
lowing up the Union wings; by political abolition
ism, by free-Soilism, by know-nothngism, and now
by back-republicansm, intensely sectional, and
only sectional Renewed applause. And out of
these elements in the North you can never make
national democratic party to control the destnies of
This country without the aid of the democratic
South. That democratic party to give victory in
the Union We have got to find in union with the
South. And the South without that aid from the
North is equally helpless They can do nothing
without the aid of national democratic party in
the North. And therefore if any mans conscience,
or ambition, or fanaticism, sentimentality, has
brought him to that point that he is really unable
to associate with the South because they happen to
own negroes as sayes-if he has arrived at that
point the he leaves the democratic party and
goes into ranks of the republican party the better
Applause.
l have seen, in the course of my life, the whole
process of this transition the whole course of the
coalescng and falling off from of the tender footed
or ambitious democrats; men that were terrif-
ed at the idea of losing popularity if they trod upon
the toes of negro. Laughter Why, sir, when
the country was about to do that grand act-annex
Texas-democrats in the legislature of Massachu-
ScIL-eNeTY man Oh IneIn OeneVe-VOIeQ against
it They went farther than the free-Soil wings
and nearly every man of them voted to amend the
Constitution of the United States so as to strike out
the clause giving slave representation in Congress
to the South. And when went up to the Spring
field convention, happened to be on the committee
OF resolutions; and to put stop to this tendency
to abolitionism, introduced resolution there de-
claring our dissent, as the democratic party from
this vote OF the legislature opposing the annexation
OF Texas, and from their adoption of the Hartford
convention doctrine that the South ought to be de-
priyed OF slave enumeration in their representation
in Congress of the very conditions upon which
the Union was formed. When reported that who
rose up against me? Such men as Mr. Boutwell,
Mr.. Banks-the whole of that class of men now the
leaders and the ablest supporters of the Lincoln
abolition party. They talked me down and the con-
vention voted my resolution down, because it want
ed to exc out the democracy by getting abolition
votes Why, the annexation of Texas was such an
enormlty, in the estimation of the people of Massa
chusetts at thattime, that remember a few of u.s.
one Fourth of July, ran away and skulked over to
Bunker Hill and got into little shed that they had
erected for the work OF the monument, in order to
get away from the mob and we passed resolutions
in favor of the annexation of Texas. TGreat merri.
ment Every man in Boston that went down into
State street and said Texas ought to be annexed to
this country was pointed at rascal who ought to
run away or be driven away, and Ego to Texas
Now, the sober second thought has come and where
can you lind man-not in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts, only, but in the United States-who
will undertake to say that was not great measure
for the good of the country. And where is there
man living, engaged in the commercial or manufac
turing pursuits of Massachusetts,, that has not in
his pocket some money derived from the annexation
of Texasf
So with California When, in the presidency of
Mr.. Polk. the country was in the Mexican war; and
the democratic party insisted upon indemnity for the
past and security for the future, and demanded an
accession of territory, what clamor was made by
these tenderfooted democrats that were afraid that
we should stumble over negro somewherel Laugh
ter and applause Every effor. was made to prevent
that great movement; and yet the democratic party
went on straightforward and California was honor
ably purchased and annexed 1t is true our op-
Ponents afterwards elected Gen. Taylor; but Gen.