The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-10-02
SPEECH OF HON. VIM. L. YANcEY.

Hon. VIM L. Yancey on his way to New York,
was serepaded in Washington City, Friday night,
and in replying to the compliment, made speech
The following is an extract in which he defines
the position of the South in the contest
All that the South asks in this contest is, that
YOU shall observe the constitutional checks and
balances with reference to her. She is not willing
that her rights shall be submitted to the will of
mere numerical majorities. For, remembering her
fathers our ancestors, her great patriots we cannot
agree that it should be otherwise 1t was the
written compact of our fathers that the minority
should receive protection from the Constitution,
and not be entirely dependent on the mere selfish
and eyapescent will of preponderant majority.
Parties divided themselves originally in this coun-
try upon that great principle. One party desired
that the majority should rule in all things. The
States Rights party of the country, who desired
that it should be different, carried the day in the
formation of the Constitution, and placed checks
upon the advancemeuts of the majority. And this
written Constitution the compact by which
maiorities should restrain themselves with refer
ence to the rights of minorities. Majorties need
no protection save their own power Hence it is
easy for the North to cry out for the Union at all
hazards and under all circumstances. 1t is easy
for the North with its majorities of millions, to say
this Union, anyhow, matter who may be elected,
no matter what may be done, shall be preserved
t is we'll for the people of the North still to stand
to the Union as the great of their prosperity
Why? Because even with no Constitution at all
Northern people can protect themselves by their
predominant vote in the country But how is it
in the South? How is it with the minority of the
country-the minority States Of this Government
If they leave it to the mere will Of the majority
that majority will as in all other eases, seek its
own selfish aggrandzement and will distribute the
mon M he f1oC prnu MT
much as they please, and do all for their own
advancement at the expense of the minority
Minorities, gentlemen, the true friends of your
Constitutions; because that Constitution is their
shield and their protection against the unchecked
and unlicensed will of majority. Hence it is
that my section Of the country stands by that Con
stituton. You do not hear much said on such
ppant tongues there about 1T as at the North; but
you hear much said there about the Constitution
about its strict construction about the rigid en-
forcement of its checks and its balances in favor
of these ninorities, because to them it is thing
of life and death. Within this Government that
Constitution must prevail, the minority will be
placed lamb that is led to the slaughter to be
shorn. But let that Constitution be observed, and
the rights of all sections under that Constitution
be observed and the South is cont-nt to abide its
fate under the workings of that Constitution
Now, desire simply to say to you might, that
the South, standing on nothing but the COnstltu-
ton, fears aggression, fears section; and that
Constitution the South intends to stand by. Ii,
in the progress of party divisions, party discussions
and party elections, that Constitution shall be
trampled under foot; the Government at Wash
ington is usurped if this temple of liberty, based
u on that Constitution, shall be subverted, and
instead Of a constitutional government a igher
law government shall be substituted, you will
find, gentlemen, that the Constitution will have
friends even in that hour And if driven from
all other sections Of the country, aud there is
no other spot where the ark of the covenant of
our safety rest and be protected,it will be on
Southern soil, where the friends Of the Constitu-
{. on live.