Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-20
REMARKS OF HON. BEDFORD BROWN

Delicered in the Senate of North Carolina, Deem
Der Is, 1850, on presenting the CasUeu resOlu-
tions
Mr.. Brown rose to present the resolutions of
meeting of the citizens of Caswel county, which he
had the honor to represent this floor, held with
out distinction of party. The meeting he was in
formed by his colleague who had been within few
days past elected composed of two or three hun
dred citizens and he himself would add, was COM
posed Of citizens of great responsibility.
With the recommendations of the resolutions, his
own views, heretofore expressed in remarks made
here, and such action as he had taken with refer
ence to any OF the subjects since the commencement
of the session. coincided He agreed with the reso-
buttons that large number of the Northern States
had grossly violated the Constitutional rights of the
South by multiplying the fugitive slave law and other
acts of outrage which he had more than once ex-
pressed on this floor. He agreed with them in re-
commencing our brethren of the South Ito act with
prudence and great cauton-above ALL to strive for
unity of action" ard also to recommend "a confer
ence of our sister States of the South, that con
cert may be attained"
He, Mr.. Brown, had embodied the same senti-
ment in the resolutions submitted by him some
days since, proposing to send Commissioners to
South Carolina, and respectfully asking her to
await common consultation through Convention
with all of the slaveholding States" These were
the words of his resolution. This was the most ef-
fectual plan to operate with success the senti-
ments Of the INTELLECTUALLY, cooperation Of the
entire fifteen Southern States would more likely
meet with favorable response to our Just demands
from the North than action by separate States He
had also proposed in his speeches for the South to
demand by such conventions, guarantees and further
amendments to the Constitution to protect
| rights in the Union. -
| Mr.. Brown said he had proposed in his remarks
made some two weeks since, to require an amend
| ment to the Constitution providing against any
! future amendment IN the Constitution nv which
Congress could by any legislation affect slavery in
| the States hereafter This amendment was one ofthe
strongest measures which had been proposed from
any quarter. That with more efficient security for
carrying into effect the fugitive slave law and
guarantee for equal rights in the Territories, would
be worth every thing else. The rapid increase of
the number of free States made the amendment
which he had some weeks since suggested necessary
to protect slavery in the| States from any future
amendment, by which Almost dangerous power might
| be conferred on Congress.
He, Mr.. Browp. had also voted several weeks
since in the committee federal relations in favor
| of Convention to be elected by the people of the
| State not however without having been in some
degree instrumental in securing an amendment to
the bill, providing that any acts of said convention
proposing to withdraw the State from the Union,
should be first submitted to the qualified voters of
the State for ratification rejection. Without such
| provision, he never would have voted for the BILL
for otherwise it would have treated with contempt
the rights Of the people, and might result III taking
! a step involving the existence of the government,
! without condescending to ask the people whose
interests and rights at stake and to whom the
government belonged He had Also some days
before reported the bill for a Convention to the
Senate from the committee on federal relations.
Mr.. B. was gratified to be sustained in his opin-
ions respecting the defence Of the State he had Of
fered the following resolution, among others in
January last, in large meeting in Caswe.l, which
was unanimously adopted, and published in THE
Standard OIL the 14th of January, 1860. He be-
lieved he the first citizen of the State who had
offered such resolution:
" ResoLced That it is the duty of the Legislature
to place the State in attitude of defence by
ganizing and arming the militia, as the surest means
Of maintaining our rights under the Constitution.
Mr. B. would say that the doctrine that State of
this Confederacy had right to resume her sover-
eighty through the action of a convention, and Sc
cede IL she chose to do So had been entertained by
him for thirty years. 1t followed as consequence
that the federal government had right to mil
itary force to State. This doctrine was no
new doctrine with him. He had maintained it for
thirty years, uniformly and consistently a right,
however to be appealed to- unless in the last
resort, when all other means had failed. He con-
graduated certain politicians on having received
7eso lights. He congratulated such gentlemen in
having abandoned their known federal heresies and
adopted doctrine which he had maintained for
thirty years past He congratulated those politl-
l
nouncng Thomas Jefferson as a demagogue-the
author of the Declaration OF Independence-the
founder OF Democratic States Rights principles-the
author of the doctrine that State had the right OF
interposton and to judge Of "the mode and measure
of redress"-he congratulated these politicians
that they had suddenly turned sharp corner,
and had rallied under the banner Of State nterpo-
sition, and the right Of State to secede-the doc
trne which jefferson first taught, and who had so
/ often come under the denunciation of these poll
tticians as a demagogue. The only difference OF the
old fathers of the church and the new converts is
that the pupils have become wiser than the old
fathers, and seem more advanced in the faith than
their teachers. Better late than never. 1t is never
too late to do good thing He hoped they would
take the advice of the old fathers of the State
Rights faith, and wait to exhaust all constitutional
means for redress, before dissoving the Union.
He Mr.. b. said, thatAe had heard it remarked OH
this floor that all hope was gone. He did not be-
long to the hopeless school fstateSmen. Never deS
pair of the Republic was the doctrine of Washington
and the glorious commanders OF the revolution
The Doctor who was called to a sick patient, and
who visiting his patient pronounced that he had
no hope, would not only be regarded as avery un-
skiliul Doctor, but as having design Nth malice
atorsthought, to kill the patient
Mr. B. would now say few words with respect
to the county of Caswell. He had known well the
history and character of her people. Her character
and history needed no eulogy from him. In peace
and war her gallant sons stood without blemish or
reproach She had been ever consistent in support OF
State rights and Democratic principles She voted for
jefferson with singular unanimity ia the greatrevo-
luton which expelled the Federalists from power
She voted with the unanimity for Madison, and
the war with England in 1872 and unsupported Jack
son and his Democratic successors He had witness
ed when a youth, a scene Of moral grandeur on the
field Of her Regimental Muster which he had never
seen surpassed. After intelligence of the dastardly
and dsgraceful surrender of General Hull to the
British and Indians without firing gun the Caswe
Regiment was soon afterwards called together for
the purpose of raising volunteers When the vol-
unteer officer marched in front Of the Regiment the
whole line, animated by lofty feeling of patriotism
followed him. The county had never suffered a
draft during that or the Mexican War.
He pronounced Caswell Constitutional Union
county, ready and determined to demand our rights
in the Union and after exhausting all efforts for
dress if they fail, she will then be ready to aid in