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

4sl-e.---esssz -
err the friends of the Constitution in the North must
make up their minds to undergo the labor OF tho
rough canvass of their region against the antlsiave
ry men, and by proper publications refute tnelr ms
representations. ~
SLAVE poaoer. Why, sir it is sixteen years since
there was any attempt by the Democratic party to
nomnatea citizen of the slavehoding States for the
Office Of President and for the last ten years. IN the
conyentons6 all parties the contest has been Sole
ly among the northern men. In fact. during tnat
period no electoral vote has been given in slayenol
ding State for the Office of President to any soutn
ern man. Our only object has been to select among
northern gentlemen one who was not our enemy
The men chosen have been assailed by our oppo-
nents not because they were neglectu OF any north
ern interests, but simply because they were wiling
to do us equal justice with the other section and re-
fused to exercise the powers Of the common Gov
eminent against u.s. :,
It has been urged that the southern States should
by retaliatory legislation, prohibit the sale within
their limits Of the productions of those OF the north
ern States that have failed to do us justice. AS the
Constitution of the United States has been interpre
ted both by the Federal and State courts, there is
ample power to effect this by imposing tax on ar
ticles after they have been imported and the pack
ages broken; in other words, on retailers. Two
objects are expected to be efected-by this system
In the first place, to make it the interest OF the
northern States to counteract the efforts Of the Abo
litionists; and secondly, to prepare the southern
States for separation if they should find it neces-
sary to take such step.
| have often thought Mr.. President, that it was
unfortunate that the trainers of the Constitution
made no provision for the expulsion of State. If
the Union be place of misery, then, to punish re-
fractory MEMBERS they should undoubtedly be kept
in it, as criminals detained in penitentiaries-
- H. md
rablc thing to remain in the Union, then bad men,
bers ought to be excluded from it. No State in my
judgment has right to enjoy the advantages Of
the Union, and yet.refuse to submit to the obiga-
tons it imposes. Such laws of Congress as are held
by the courts to be constitutional ought to be obey
ed by all the States that share the advantages of the
Union. If for example, when a dozen years ago
the State of Massachusetts, passed laws to nullify
the act for the recovery of fgtives if she had been
expelled from the Union, two striking effects would
have been produced In the first place, the con-
science of the inhabitants of that State would have
been freed from all responsibility for the sin and
turpitude of slavery and, secondly, their goods,
when brought into the United States, would have
been taxed as those Of other foreigners are. The
impression which such an occurrence would have
made on their minds and those of the country gen.
orally, might possibly then have arrested the anti
slavery movement when it was comparatively fee
bic. In the present condition of things, such a
course would not be practicable, perhaps.
If, however, Mr. President this hostile movement
of the antislavery party cannot be arrested under
the Constitution let US consider the second remedy,
namely temporary or permanent separation OF the
southern from the northern States.
Senators on the other side of the Chamber do not
think this will occur. When Giddings and others
proclaim that the South cannot be kicked out of
the Union" such declaration is received by the
antslavery party of the country with evident salts
faction, and generally with applause You Sena-
tors, and your supporters do not believe there is
danger in any event. because prominent shareholders
and men of wealth occasionally tell you they are
conservative and that the southern people will SUBJ
init to any treatment you may think fit to impose
But you shouldremcmber that these persons are not
always the rcadiest to volunteer to defend the coun-
try in time of war, and that many of them dread
civil connections During our Revolution there
were wealthy tories in every of the colonies !;
and at the time General Washington evacuated the
city of New York, he was urged by one of his SUBJ
ordinate officers northern man. to burn the city,
for the reason that two thirds of the property to be
destroyed belonged to tories.
You do not believe, also. because you say that if
the South were in earnest it would be more united,
and would not send up, as she does from certain dis
tricts members Of Congress who assist you in par
ty movements, and in answer to your threats pro-
claim their love of the Union.
You should understand, however, that the consti-
tuencies of such members are merely mised as to
the purposes, principles, and power of your party
by those newspapers on which they rely for infor-
nation Let them have proper knowledge as to the
condition of the country where your influence pre-
walls, and they will manifest the same feeling that
the rest of the South does Gradually knowl-
edge of your movements and objects is spreading
over the southern States. Two occurrences have
materially contributed to unmask your objects ard
disclose the dangers which threaten. The first was
the vote which Mr.. Fillmore received in 1856 When
it was seen that man like him, of avowed antisla
very opinions merely because he showed his willing
to enforce the fugitive slave law, and declared
his purpose to give to the South the benefits of the
Constitution, was beaten largely in every free State
by mere adventurer like Fremont great impress
sion was made on the conservative men of the South
They began to realize the state of feeling in the
| North, and more disunionists were made by that
occurrence than perhaps any one which preceded it
The second incident which caused even much
stronger impression on the minds of the southern
people, was the manner in which the acts of Johr
Brown were received in the North. Instead of the
indignation and adherence which the atrocousness
of his crimes ought naturally to have excited, there
were manifestations of admiration and sympathy
Large meetings were held to express these feelings
sermons and prayers were made in his behalf church
bells tOlled and cannon fired, and more significant
than all these, were the declarations of almost thu
entire Republican press, that his punishment woult
strengthen the antislavery cause Yet Senators tel
that these things were done because of the cour
age Brown exhibited. But our people think you ar,
mistaken Though the mere thief may be and usu
ally is coward yet it is we'll known that men VIII,
engage in robbery or piracy profession general
ly possess courage. Criminals have been executed
frequently in New England who, both in the com
mission Of their crimes, and in their death, mani
tested as much courage as John Brown and We
of them called forth such feelings Of sympathy
At a meeting in Boston, where thousands were as
sembled, when Emerson, literary man of eminence
proclaimed that Brown had made the galows a
glorious as the cross" he was rapturously applaud
ed. At the large meeting at Natick, where the Sena
tor from Massachusetts, Mr.. Wilson, was specta
tor, the principal orator, Wright declared that tn
people Of the North look upon Jesus Christ as
dead failure" and hereafter we are to rely on "Joh