Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-11-29
The Standard.
Brief Outline of the
REMARKS OF HON. BEDFORD BROWN,

c;t;zen. of ViE,ainoioo asking the Legislature 10
call q Convention of the Citi=ens Of the S'"fe,
Nth q rie,c to Secession from the Conte"e'"cH,
and dls1, to organize and arm the NttEtd q me
State.
Mr. Brown ro,, to cypress his opinions on tho
yery important Que II presented by the Memorial
and resolutions which had just been read lie
vould add his own testimony to that of the Senator,
(Mr. Hall) who had presented them, and fully con-
CURED in his high estimate of the worth and re-
spectablity of those who participated IN the meet
ing. Never, since the Revolution, had the LcgiSla-
ture of the State been called on to consider moro
grave and momentous question: than that which the
resolutions involved affecting most deeply as it did,
not merely the destines of the present generation,
but those of posterity for all time to come lie
(Mr b. thought it no time to conceal opinions
or shrink from responsibility, when few more
steps might conduct us to diSunion and its nevla-
bic consequence, civil war. Hehad, without change
or variation from his early YOUTH fought under that
banner which had strict construction OF the Con-
sttution and the reserved ri shts Of the States IN
scribed on it He had, years gone by raised ms
voice in their support in the Legislature Of North
Carolina when those doctrines had suffered tempo
rary eclipse and were then but little in favor lie
had aided by his voice and vote elsewhere the same
great nrinciples which he had always considered
vital to the Constitution and the Federal Cmon-
If he could claim any merit for his humble services
as a public man, it would be that OF consistency, III
SUPPORT OF the TlSu(S vi liiO SH'eSN on" 'NN'N~>
to encroachments by the Federal Government on
their rights.
Returning, said Mr. Brown to the great ques-
ton raised by the Memorial and resolutions, he
would say frankly and explicitly, that he did not
see in any existing cause or causes any Justhcaton
for rcsOrtng to secession, remedy tor the Ills oil
which we have such great cause to complain against
Northern States lie had most distinctly declared
the same opinion in addresses to his constituents
during the summer and had often repeated them IN
speeches made in different parts of the State, While
supporting the claims of Mr. Breckenridge for the
Presidency. Great as the injustice was which had
been done us, he relied that principle so
cherished by Democrats-that principle which I'M
derlies the structure of popular governmcnt--that
principle of recuperative energy, the vitality OF It's
existence the sober-secOnd thought OF the pco-
pie of sister States corrective OF the wrongs
which had been perpetrated against US. The dis
tnguishing beauty of the Democratic principle-the
touch.stone of that faith is the capacity of the
people to govern themselves, founded on the belief
Of their honesty and when convinced OF error, they
will hasten to correct it. Any other pTncipie dis
cards that cardinal principle of Democracy, and dis
cards with it all hope of the continuance of free
government and prepares us to take step IN the
direction of systems of arbitrary government, alb
horrent to that Unborn love of freedom so dear to
the people of our State. He for one, was not pre-
pared for any cause now existing, to enter on an
experiment so fraught with danger to the peace and
safety of the country, and which lie sincerely be-
leved, if taken, would carry down with it the only
system Of free government earth, and eXtinguiSh
with all the most cherished hopes of the patriots
of the Revolution.
He (Mr Brown,) was thoroughly acquainted
with the origin and history of the agitation of
the slave question. He an humble actor in
the National Councils, when it first began to as
sumo more activity in the latter part of General
Jackson's Administrator. 1t was most manifeSty
used then to break down General Jackson's Admin
istration and with it the Democratic party. 1t had
progressed under various auspices since, till it had
eliminated in dangerous SectionaliSm, and mad
united majority of the Northern people in its sup
port The success of the sectional faction which
had brought Abraham Lincoln into power
anomolous-the great Democratic party had become
paralyzed by It's disruption at Baltimore, which
was mainly the work of an ambitious aspirant who
sought to "rue or ruin" and the black Republican
party afterwards found easy victory from the
disorgaEization of the National Democracy. Let it
be borne in mind said Mr.. B. that this calamity
the election of sectional President-ha6 never
happened before since the federal government went
into operation. Let it be borne in mind that Lin
coin owes his election to extraordinary cream
stances. Let it be remembered that he has been
elected by little than one-third Of the Ameri-
voters-that he is emNbatically minority
President, with the Senate the House of Represen-
tatives, and the Supreme Court against him. lie
would ask then, in all candor-in the spirit Of
patriotism of the Revolution, if that noble structure
of government unequalled for its wisdom unexam-
pied for its high and brilliant achievements, because
a President had been elected with sectional opinions
whose official term was limited by the Constitution
to four years, should forth lie dissolved
Like the famed PaTthenOn of ancient Greece, still
grand and beautiful in its ruins hand with skill
in architecture had yet been found to equal this
noble structure. If the Federal Constitution and
Union with it, tumbleS into ruins, where is the
patriotism and the skill to recCns truct it?
1t was not usual in the common concerns of life to
throw away machine, an implement, or anything of
value because had failed once much less should VIC
abandon government for the first failure to elect
President OF national sentiments. He would pick
the Hint and try again. He would make manly
appeal to the people of our sister States in the
hope that returning of Justice would redress
the just causes of our complaint
The Constitution, said Mr.. Brown had MANY
and true friends to the North. Lincoln had
carried the Northern States by an aggregate ma
jority Of only about two hundred thousand votes
out of many millions. The single State of New
York had cast a vote of upwards of three hundred
thousand against Lincoln. Mr.. Brown had an
extensive acquaintance among the public men of the
North; he believed there were many true and gal
liant spirits who would if aggressions were COM
mitted on constitutional rights by the admins
tration of Lincoln, be ready to Offer if necessary
their lives the altar of the country and Constitu
tion in resistance to such entertainments It had
been said elsewhere if we waited till Lincoln was
inaugurated and had possession of the government
that our position would be weakened He did not
believe it. step of the kind, taken now, would
be with divided opinions among the people of the
North, and would deprive US of the sympathy of
the powerful constitutional party of the North IF
our rights were violated and the Constitution over
thrown by Lincoln, there would be but one heart
and one hand throughout the entire South. Its
gallant sons clad in the of thrice Just cause
would be invncibe in so holy contest Nor
would they be alone in that contest MANY true
hearted sons of the North would strike for Liberty
and the Constitution.
The election of Lincoln, said Mr.. Brown.
although in conformity with the provisions of
the Constitution, was beyond all question viola.
tion of that fraterna feeling which is the very sonl