The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-01-10
THE RESPONSIBILITY.

Gilmer of North Carolina, received 90 votes anu
that if the Democrats wished they could elect him.
Now this is an absurdty. No sooner had Mr. Gil
more received the SO votes than he withdrew from
the nositiop and would not suffer his name to be
used again, consequently the Democrats did not
have chance to cast their votes for him with any
hope of an organization. 1t also patent that from
the position assumed by MIR Gilmer in Congress he
is not considered southern ights man. Wewould
be far from looking upon Mr. Gilmer such when
he was put in nomination by nine Black Republi-
cans and they made the assertion that II nine Black
Republicans by coming over could not elect Mr.
Gilmer he would undoubtedly get more added
or any number necessary to elect him. Put pin
there.
Mr. Anderson of Ky, opposition, made PROPOSE
ton to unite upon Mr.. Glimer as speaker, saying
thew could get sufficient number of the Blacks to
vote for him He also added that in Mr. Gimer
they had man who owned sc slaves To this Mr.
Burnett, of KY, replied:
ale also asks me why did not vote for the gen.
temen from n c., Mr. Gilmer, and tells me
that we can elect him. The gentleman will par
don NE if do not go into the reasons which will
prevent my voting for him, and he will at once I'M
derstand the reasons why did not 60 into it, be-
cause my reasons are wholly personal to that gen
theman himself But will say this in regard to
that matter He says that Mr. Gilmer is the owner
of eight-six slaves. Cassius NJ. Clay is the owner
of slaves; Blair is the owner of slaves; and you
can find any number of such men who arc making
war upon the institution of slavery and upon the
rights Of that portion of my constituents who are
the owners af slaves. 1t does not follow mat
ter of course that because man is the owner of
slaves that he reflects my views"
Mr. Burnett still farther added that ifAIr Boteler
of Va, an Opposition southern State rights man,
could unite his party he would get the whole dem
III hnf rp,th
out the anti-Lecompton vote it would be inefec-
tual.
Mr. Burnett replied that it would only show that
the south was united and in that alone, it would
have great moral influence, and besides, it would
throw upon the anti-Lecompton Democrats the re-
sponsibility of defeating the organization.
Here Mr. Harris, of Maryland put. ohm \. Gil
mer in nomination, and Immediately nine Black
Republicans said they would vote for HIM Here
MIR Garnett of Va, said:
IL am one of the Democrats who voted and voted
with pleasure, for gentleman whom 1 believed to
be conservative as to the Union, and true to the
SOUTH mean my colleague the honorable gentle
from the Harper's Ferry district of Virginia,
MIR Boteer.] | will do so again. But when [ am
called upon to select from among my political oppo
nents man for whom l will vote as true to the
South. l shall not be guided by the nomination of
the Black Republican party, headed by Thadeus
Stevens Applause from the Democratic ben
ches"
Mr. Harris, of Maryland, here made some remarks
and Mr. Rusk, Of Arkansas, replied to him as fol-
lows:
81 believe I perfectly willing that the gentle
mans party shall select any this side of the
House for whom they will bring votes enough to
elect, or that they shall permit US to select man
from their party. Ihave not consulted sing man
of the Democratic party, and am not authorized to
speak for any man but myself. l willing to
vote for any man of the Democratic party proper
that you will select. If the Democrats nominate
member of your party, will you vote for him?
Or will you select candidate from our party?
Here Mr. Harris, of Maryland, said they would
put Mr. Gilmer before them as the candidat from
their side Of the House
Mr. Rusk replied:
81 make this objection to the gentemens propo-
sition. l will vote for the gentleman from Vir-
gnia, Mr. Boteler;] but l cannot vote for the gen.
tleman from North Carolina, Mr. Gilmer, because
he was nomited by the Republican party, with
which party cannot unite"
The above will show in what estimation Mr. Gill
mer is held by men who upon the ground and
have opportunity ofjudging ofhis acts. South
ern Democrats are willing to vote for Mr. Boteler,
strong Wing and American, but they not so
far forget their duty to the South to elect John
A. Glmer-Norh Cdrolinian.