Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-02-01

the State Of Virginia, by some of their employees as
an argument against the state of society prevailing
in the South.
1t is undoubtedly true, however, that in conse-
quence of the repeal of the Missouri restriction true
and patriotic men were defeated in the North by
Free Sellers and Abolitonists. When the Demo-
cratic party had the manness and the statesman
ship to reform the currency system in par. by the
adoption of the subtreasry plan, it sustained Sc
we're losses for time. In the more arduous under
taking of placing the slavery question on perma.
nent and solid basis with reference to the action OF
the Federal Government, it has had to encounter
perhaps, greater difficulties. | am not sure, how
ever, that it would have been as much weakened,
but for accidental circumstances which it could not
-foresee During the excitement arising out OF the
repeal of the Missouri restriction, there occurred
that singular organization called the American par
ty. which carried majority of almost every one OF
the northern States 1t severed, during this period
of excitement, and permanently separated from the
Democratic party, many who would otherwise have
returned to it. On its sudden collapse, most of its
members in the free States united with few out
side Abolitionsts and formed the present Black Re-
publican party But for these occurrences have
no doubt that the Democratic party would have.
ere this recovered its ascendency in several OF the
northern States.
But, again, Mr. President, when, in the year 1857,
Robert j. Walker was made Governor of Kansas, he
publicly declared that the climate of that Territory
fitted it only to be free State and also assured the
people that the whole constitution should be sub
mitted to them This position was condemned gen.
orally in the South amounting to Executive inter-
ference or intervention with the ght ofthe citizens
of the Territory to decide these questions for them
selves By way of defense for Governor Walker, it
was said that number of Southern men had ex-
pressed the opinion that it would be free State
Every one saw, however, that if Governor Walker
had taken the other side, he might, with even more
FEASIBILITY have declared that Kansas ought to be a
slaveholdng State. because it was on the same par
alel of latitude with Missouri Kentucky, Virginia,
Maryland, and Delaware, all of which were slave
holding States; and this position of his might have
been fortified by any number of declarations of prom
nent FreeSoilers and Abolitionists to the effect that
under the Kansas act that Territory would inevta-
bly, be Slavehoiding State. The entire South, al
most, condemned his position therefore, as unfair,
and an unjust exercise of Executive influence in the
Territory. 1t so happened however that for months,
the paper at the seat of Government and others sup
posed to represent the views of the President, sus
tanned. in the strongest and most emphatic terms,
the position OF Governor Walker Almost the en-
tire Democracy of the free States therefore, took
this ground in support of what they understood to
he the views of the Administration, and assured
their ellow-ctizens that the people of Kansas
to have the privilege of voting on the whole const
tuition of the State.
But towards the close Of that year. the convention
of the Territory decided to submit only the slavery
clause to the voters generally The President there
FORE recommended the admission of the State under
the constitution adopted. That this recommen-
dation Of his was right, never doubted; because
think it has been fully settled by the usages of the
States, that their conventions may submit not
they choose either the whole part of their con.
sti'utions to vote Of the people Nevertheless, this
position being inconsistent with that which had
been SO generally taken IN the North many men
who zeal0usly sustained it were afterwards defeated
at home because of their party having been previous
ly committed to different line Of policy. know
that many southern men who had no doubt that the
action of the Kansas convention was theoretically
and as matter Of constitutional law, right never
thelcss regretted that action because it had the ap-
pearance OF seeking to avoid an opportunity for fir
expression of the popular will. While we held that
Congress had no right to interfere with the action of
the Territory in this respect, yet We felt that the
issue was one which was inuring friends in the
North, and could not possibly benefit U.S. If there
ever had been any chance Of its becoming slave
State in fact the of Governor Walker had al
ready cut that of by carrying all the officials
and their influence in the Territory to the side of the
Free-State party. With no purpose to cast ccnsure
on any one, nevertheless frankly refer to this as
circumstance for which the Democratic party, as a
whole, are not justly responsible, but which aided
the anti slavery party, as at present organized On
survey of the entire ground maintain that it will
appear that the action of the Democratic party for
the last fifteen years on the slavery question, has
been wise, patriotic, and StateSmanlike.
proceed, however to the consideration of the
great question before the country. Immediately af-
ter the presidential election in 1856 met the veto
ran Secretary of State, then Senator from Michi-
gan, on the floor of the Senate. and in reply to an
DC IN hNv br,r l. III
health. but depressed in spirits. Sir" said he, II
formerly thought that the Uni would never be dis
solved; but am now not without painful apprehcn-
sons ola different result They say that the ex.
ctement in the North has grown out of the Kansas
bill. A hundred Kansas bulls would not have pro-
duccd this result. These people mean to abolish
slavery in your section. You may think that they
are not fanatics; but the misfortune is that they
You will gain nothing by making to them conccs.
sions; you cannot thereby help us; but you will
ruin yourselves. BY standing firm, you can at least
protect your selves"
His words made the deeper impression upon me
because they were in accordance with my own set
| tied convictions. But now the evil has attained
such alarming dimensions that it demands cODsidcra
! ton. When dark and rapidly advancing cloud
has already covered half the heavens and the NUT
terings of the istant thunder and the wallings Of
the coming storm are loudly heard, none out false
sentinel will proclaim calm. Emincntly futile, too,
and mischieyous, are declarations of Southern men
against agitation and in favor of union and harmo-
ny. When a is threatened with violence, will
he stay the hand of the assaant by proclaimng his
love Of peace? When a country is invaded by a
public enemy, the Inhabitants protect them
selves by passing resolutions in favor of peace and
harmony? All the world regards such things as
evidence of weakness cowardice, and only calcu.
lated to stimulate the invaders. When Philip OF
Macedon was threatening Greece, his hired parti.
sans recommended repose ard quiet and denounced
:, Demosthencs As political agtator 1t was in the
midst of men who were crying out 'pcace! peace!
that Patrick Henry Numbered that there was nc
peace!" If the Abolitionists in the North could be
induced to abandon agitation the subject of slave
ry, it would be we'll but they reject with dersiou
the suggestion, and become only more insolent as
Southern men cry out the louder for quiet and
union.
When, some twenty-five years ago, the abolition
society at Boston, under the lead and guidance of 9