Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-02-29
For the Standard.
RALEIGH, FEB'Y. 25th, 1860.

they were made could be understood by your read
ers. You say that "said further, in speaking of
the national Democratic and black Republican or
CARNATIONS that he Cd would feel as safe under the
rule OF the former under that of the latter" In
the first place, this is not the exact language which
used. But from what l did say, your readers
would be apt to receive very erroneous impressions,
unless they could understand the connection in
which it was spoken, and the ideas intended to be
expressed. j was urging the policy of bold, man.
ly, and undlsguised system of party warfare-that
II we believed the Democracy to be as corrupt as
we were in the habit of charging them, ought to
fight them without compromise conciliation and
under no circumstances to unite or affiliate with
them. But that if we ready to admit that du-
ty required us to give them the reinS, to merge
our distinctive organization in theirs in order to de-
feat the Republicans, then, | could see no need of
holding this Convention, but that we might as well
disband and yield gracefully, and go over to the
Democracy at once. That We should have to meet
that very issue every stump in the State in the
Presidential contest-that we should be called upon
again by the Democracy to unite with them their
candidate for President as the only sure means of
defeating the Republican canddate-and that if we
yielded that principle now, in appauding the South
ern members for voting for Democrats for Speaker
IN order to beat Sherman, the Democrats would
hold US to the precedent and that the moral effect
OF it would cripple and weaken US in the Presden-
tlal election. went on to say that it seemed TO me
to involve inconsistency and absurdty to say was
right to vote for Democrat in order to prevent the
election of Republican Speaker, and still to be
preparing to bring out candidate of our own for
President; for the President beng entrusted with
the execution of the laws duty and patriotism would
OF course, much more require a union with De-
mocracy to prevent the election of Republican
President, than to prevent the election of a Repub-
lican Speaker. referred to the Presidential cleo
ton of 1856. | reminded them that we then had
to combat the very issue now presented-that the
Democracy then insisted ought to vote with
them to beat Fremont-that we denied it that our
ground then was, would sustain our own man
and do our duty, and leave the consequences to
Providence. But that now were about to unSay
all we said then-that we approved of the Southern
opposition men in voting for Democrats, would be
to us stumbling block which we could not get out
OF our way, and the Democrats would hold us 10 the
precedent We were about to set said further that
for myself if really believed it my duty to unite
with the Democracy in order to defeat the Republi
can party and If had confidence in the Democratic
party to believe that their triumph was in any wise
necessary to the protection of the rights and interests
of the South then, an honest and consistent man.
should feel it to be my duty go over to the Dem
ocratc party at once. And if duty required this in
the election of President l could not see why we
need keep up local party conflicts with them,
" to squabble over local offices and spoils And
here it was came to the utterance of the sentiment
inaccuratey expressed in your briefreport. But, q
sad) did not believe that the security of Southern
rights was involved in the dominance of the Demo-
cratic party. That there were but few men IN that
body more deeply interested in the preservation of
slave property than myself and | would Just as
trust the protection of my slave property to the
Republican party as to the Democratic party, as a
political organizatiOn | emphasized the words ''as
a political organizations" and repeated them over
again with emphasis. l then paused, and said, let
me not be misunderstood, or unsupported / say "as
political OrganizatiOn" said that ofcourse did
how A..
individual characters-that Southern Democrats
were as sound and reliable on that question, as
Southern Wings, and Southern Wings were as sound
and reliable as Southern Democrats. That would
net be so unjust or unchartable to charge South
ern Democrats with want of Soundness on the
slavery question-that some of them had charged
me with being unsound, but that would not reve
them in return-th that upon that ISSUE believed we
would all be found united when the day of trial
came, and that had always deprecated the discus
sion of that question among Southern men in our
local party contests.
Those who heard my remarks could better appre-
ciate the force of my language, when | used the
words as a political organizations, than your rea-
ders are likely to do Those present could under
stand that there no special imputaton intend
ed to be cast on the Democrats as party. For 1T
in the course Of my remarks on the same sub
ject that took occasion to speak of Generalization
of political sentiment, which PREVAILED admitted
political OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES the party to which
belonged had, to some extent caught the cOntagiOn
from the Democratic party-that in these days the
question with all parties was, not what is right
not what is for the good of the country; but, what
will our enemies say,-what is the best means
for defeating our opponents. | went on say, that
the man who boldly and Independently pursued the
path of duty and followed out his convictions of
right and who spoke his sentiments honestly and
fearlesSly not likely to find favor promotion
with any party, that had paid the penalty of the
free and undisguised expression of my sentiments
all questions of public policy. And to proper I'M
Outstanding of the scope and spirit of my remarks,
about trusting the protection of my slave property
to the Democratic party las a political organiza-
tion my sentiments expressed in regard to polit-
cal organizations generally must be taken into
Sideration.
There is another passage in your brief notice of
the debate alluded to- which, without some explana-
tion is calculated to work injustice towards me-
among your readers You say, "Mr Rayner spoke
in.highy complimentary terms OF Henry Winter
Davis, of Maryland. He SAID he was an honor to
any party or any State" Now it was in reply to
the charge that my amendment, expressing conf
dence in and disposition to sustain the Southern
opposition members of Congress in the position they
now occupy as representing the conservative ele-
ments of the country, was an endorsement of Hon.
W. Davis it was in reply to language denunciatory
of Mr. Davis, that said what did in regard to him.
| distinctly stated that so far from my amendment
being designed to endorse Mr.. Daviss vote for Mr..
Pennington, that my object in offering the amend
ment as well known to every one, for had
stated it over and over again. was to avoid all ex-
preston of opinion in regard TO the votes of the
Southern men for Speaker That was opposed to
censuring them, and would resist any attempt to
censure them, if such were to be made-that did
not doubt but they had acted from patriotic and up
right intentions-but that 1 did not concur with
them in Judgment: and whilst | would not censure
them, 1 could not agree to applaud their course
That doubted not but Mr.. Davis had acted with
equally honest and patriotic purposes in voting for
Pennington as other Southern men had in voting for
various Denocrats-but that was opposed to eth
er censuring or approving either or any of them,
about their votes for Speaker and was for ignoring
that matter altogether. Your notice of the debate
would seem to imnlY that | had gone out of my