Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-01-11
The Register and Mr.. Gilmer.

for the failure to organize the House That paper
contends that the Democratic members ought to
vote for Mr. Glmer for Speaker; and thus following
the lead of Thad Stevens and fourteen other black
Republicans, give the latter their choice among |
Southern men for that high Office! That is sub
stantally the position of the Register The New
York Tribune takes similar view That paper Of
the 18th December says:
Mr. Gilmer of N. c. is moderate, reasonable !
pro-slavery man, said to be the owner of hundred
negroes which ought to answer certificate OF i
his Democracy. And as extensive shareholders are
almost always more liberal (witness Gen. Taylor
and the Hon. Wnl. Aiken of 5. c. than any othes
class of Southern politicians, we trust the proslave
ry vote will be concentrated OH him forthwith
Then pass the plurality rule drive in the straggcrS
and let the third ballot elect Sherman or Gilmer, as
the highest vote shall determine"
The Tribune is not particular as to who shall be
Speaker Gilmer or Sherman. The Register says
Gilmer by all means; the Tribune says Gilmer or
Sherman
But the New York Times more decent and mod
crate black Republican journal than the Tribune,
differs with that paper to the party on which to fix
the responsibility for the delay. The Times of the
23d December says:
"The> absolute responsibility of the actual mis-
feasances at the capitol rests now, beyond doubt,
the leaders and managers of the republican par
ty in the House of Representatives
The Times then goes on to show that the respon-
sbility rests the Republicans, because they have
put forward for Speaker and continue to support
John Sherman, who endorsed Helpers book. The
Editor calls upon his friends to withdraw Sher
man, and nominate some Republican who has not
endorsed Helper; and that paper declares that as
long as the Republicans adhere to Sherman, just so
long will the blame rest on them.
The Register thinks the Democrats are to blame.
The Register is more severe upcn Southern
than the New York Times is.
We now tell the Register that if we had the hon.
or of being member of the House of Representa-
tives we would never vote for John \. Gilmcr for
Speaker. We would not vote FOR him
First, because he endeavorcd, during the last Con-
gresS to retain Lewis d. Campbell, black Repub
lcan in his seat in Congress- and to keep ont of the
seat that sound national Democrat and friend of the
Constitutional rights of the South, Mr.. Nalland-
CHAM; the said Campbell having been rautlulcnly
elected by free negro votes which the House declar-
cd at the close of the discussion by otlstng Camp
bell and admitting Nallandisham to the seat. Mr.
Gilrners organ, the trcensborough Patriot, after
wards sought to produce the impression tha' Mr.
Eaandi CHAM was an aboli,onist The object of that
paper and of Mr.. Gilmcr in adopting this course
was, to screen Mr. Gilmcr from the consequences of
having taken sides with the abolitionists against
national Democrat.
Mr. J,1;y n ~,
the last Congress on the subject of slavery for the
sentiments of which he was congratulated and az
pauded by abolition members of the House. many
of these abolition members subscribing and paying
for copies of the speech to be circulated among their
constituents.
Third, because Mr. Gilmer is obviously the choice
for Speaker among all Southern members of the
black Republican members, as shown by their votes
for him, and by the above extract from the New
York Trib"ne
Fourth, because Mr.. GilmerS election as Speaker
would divide here at home. ard, viewed in this
aspect, it would really injure North Carolina more
than would the election of Sherman.
Now. Mr. Syme. meet these reasons If you can.
The Registers Washington correSpondcnt-aho
ishe?-complimcnts as conservatives" those thir-
teen or fifteen black Republicans who voted for Mr.
Gilmer. Among these conservatives" are Thad
Stevens, Gov. Pennington, and f. Joy Norris The
first, it is known is an unprincipel abolltionst !;
the second is black Republican; and the third is
wolf in sleeps clo.hing-that is he pretends to
be conservative, while he votes for Sherman for
Speaker ard has apologzed the floor of the
House for Helpers book. Wehave the proof of this
in his speech published in the Congressional Globe
of the 18th December. These, then, are the " con-
servative" black Republicans who led off for Mr.
Gilmer for Speaker, and whose lead the Democrats
are called to follow. These are the men who are
apologized for and defended in the columns of the
! Raleigh Register!
But told that Mr.. Gilmer is large slave.
holder, and is therefore sound the soundest on
the question of slavery. This is no test of fidelity
| 1t does not follow, because Southern man OWNS
but few or no slaves that he is not true to his
tion The Baron Dekalb, who fell on the plains Of
Camden, pierced with eleven wounds; Newton, the
of the mother and five children from the hands
of the tories and who performed other prodiges of
valor in the of independence; Jasper, who
saved the flag amid the blood and fame of Fort
Moultrie, and who pershed near Savannah fighting
for that flag; Capt Jack, who carried the tidngs Of
the Meckenburg Declaration to the Continental Con-
gress-how many negroes, how much land, how
many blocks of buildings could they call their own!
Away, then, with this unjust imputation small
Shareholders and non-slaveholders! We know many
of the latter class whom would trust long before
we would trust John A. Gilmer, with his hundred
negroes and whose voices will be heard when the
hour of peril and Of action is upon us, sounding
over the roar Of battle, calling such as Gimer to
the imminent deadly breach" where the South is
to be saved by the strong arm of all her sons, OF
beaten down by an aggressive abolition govern
ment.
WAKE FOREST CoLLEeE.-We cordially endorse