The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-05-23
SPEECH OF MR.. AVERY.
OF NORTH CAROLINA,

Mr.. Avery said that it was source of re
gret that the report he had presented had fail
ed to receive the assent of the entire commit.
tee; but ne had no apology to make for the
report represented the seventeen banner Dem
ocratic States Of the Union. He stood there
representing what IS regarded by those States
as great vital and fundamental principle
the principle OF perfect, unqualified equality
OF every State, and Of the citizens of every
State in the Territories acquired by the blood
and treasure Of the whole people Of the Uni.
ted States.
He had stated that the difference in the
COMMITTEES had been source of regret, bat
that ne had no apology TO make, because the
majority report represents Q majority of the
States OF the Union, which States represent
one hundred and twenty-seven electoral votes,
every one Of which viii be cast for the NOM
inee Of the Democratic Convention, represent
ing the principle which that report represents
to the Convention. They had, therefore, no
apology to make. They planted themselves
upon this imperishable principle, and appealed
to the well known devotion Of the Democrat
&c party to fairness honor and justice to stand
BY their side. Seventeen States of the Union
had renowned the adoption Of the report. It
bad been remarked that in the division on the
report there were fifteen slave States and two
Northern States. He knew the gentleman
from Ohio meant no sectional allusionin sneak.
ing Is he did, for, as be knew, there exists no
sectional feeling IN the bosom of any gentle
man who signed the majority report. But
they came there representing great principle
backed BY the Democracy Of Virginia, which
had never ALTERED in the hour of the darkest
peril. They came here as representatives Of
the Southwestern States, that had never cast
where vital principles were involved, any bui
Democratic vote. They came here as rep.
resentatives Of the central Southern States
from whose minds the political delusions O
past years have been removed, and who have
come into the Democratic fold, there to re.
main forever.
He had remarked that the report of the
majority bad been sustained BY the South.
western States, that had always stood firm
and mistaken, and cast none other than De.
mocratic votes He was proceeding to saw
that the several States now newly taking then
position beneath the Democratic banner. In.
dorsed its principles The far distant State Of
California, baptized in Democracy. stood by
the principles Of the report. The far-of Or
egon-still younger, but not less pure-stood
by them. These States could give, combined,
one hundred and twenty seven electoral votes
for the Democratic candidate Cor the Presi-
dency, and he asked If the settled principles
Of these States does not demand consideration
: at the hands of the Convention.
He asked those whose names were affixed
to the minority report-and be said It in no
sectional or individual sense-to bear in mind
that the States they represent cannot be de-
pended on 70 cast single Democratic cleo
toFal vote. They stood there, then, with 1877
Democratic electoral votes, representing A
great principle, while the gentlemen on the
other side representing not one single electoral
vote, stand in antagonism to this principle
He appealed to them if . respectful consider
alton should not be paid to those who repre-
sent the voting Democracy of the United
States He had said that this report repre-
sents great principle-the principle Of the
equality Of the great States Of this Union in
the territory Of the United States. The COM
mittee, regzrdipg this pripcinIe n ona &c z;tal
imporance TO the interests they represent as
principle not affecting the rights or interests
Of the free States, have thought that when
they alone were interested In its enforcement,
this should not be sacrificed, but that if the
Convention was TO settle question upon
which difference exists, it ought at least to
be settled in kFor of the parties whose rights
and interests alone are involved.
Mr.. Avery was speaking not for himself
but in behalf Of those whose right it was to
be heard, without interruption. They spoke
the common sentiments Of their constituents
at home, and he intended no reflection upon
those who entertained . different opinion.
when they said that the effect to the Southern
States Of the confirmation Of the doctrine of
That doctrine IS e. dangerous and as subyer-
siye OF Southern rights IS was the doctrine of
Congressional Intervention for prohibition of
slavery IN the Territories. And why p
They say that In the contest for the occupan-
cy Of the Territories Of the United States, the
Southern States cannot compete with the EN-.
igation OF the Northern States, aided by the
societies that exist there. Those societies can
send yote into the Territory for two hum
dred dollars, while it costs the South one
Thousand five hundred dollars. They say
that Wherever this competition between the
slave States and the North occurs, the latter
viii always obtain advantage over the slave
States. When it is said that the Territorial
Legislature established BY Congress in Ter
risory, has the right directly, or indirectly. to
regulate the institution of slavery, blow is
given 10 exclude every slayeholding State
from the Territory, As efectually as could be
inflicted by the adoption Of the Wilmot pro-
,viso, ont and out.
There IS no proposition contained in the
majority report that inyades the constitutional
rights Of the North; no proposition that
the North or the property of the Noah shall
be excluded from the Territory Of the United
States They were invited to come and set
tie in, and improve that vast territory which
now remains unoecupied; but the South
asks that they may be permitted to go there
too, with their negro property /; that when
they do 50 they may find protection; and
when they SIC down there beneath their own
vine and az tree, they may be covered by the
egis Of the Constitution.
Nor should It be forgotten that the emf
grants sent into the Territories by the So
cieties Of the North were not sent BY the De-
mocracy, hut by the Opposition by those
who are banded together to destroy the insti-
tutions Of the South. IF the South could sic
down IN The Territories with the conscious
ness that they should not be interferred with
till the State Constitution was adopted-if
thsy could feel that they were on terms of
equality, with respect to their property, with
the citizens Of free States, and that il any at
tempt was made to interfere with their rights
the Government was ready to interpose its
strong arm TO protect and defend them, they
would feel that they were ready and willing to
risk emigration into the Territories ofthe Uni
ted States They would then leave il for the
people Of the Territories, in convention assem-
bed, TO say whether they would come into
the Union with slave or free Constitutions.
It was IN this light they regarded the cues
ton. He asked any Northern man Il he be-
IieYed thai, under existing circumstances. any
Southern man who owned one slave, or i've.
er ten slaves, would venture with them to
settle in any Territory Of the United States i?
lift was said that this was IN abstraction. for
that we have no Territory to settle now. be
would snswer that Il might be an abstraction for
that Democratic principles ere al distractions
they are nothing else, at least until thew
sre made practical By legislation. But these
distractions laid down principles which shall
guide legislation IS the present or future ext
gencies Of the country may require.
The committee on both sides had reported
: resolution hyoring the speedy acquisition Of
the Island Of Cuba. They all said privately
and publicly, that II the bonds of the Union
b preserved, the fsg Of this great country
must float over all the Statesof Central Amer
ea-oFer the whole Of Mexico, unless that |
country remodels its form Of gov |
srnment. There Is, then, new country opening |
before us which invites Southern labor. and |
yet the principle contained in that minority |
report-the principle Of popular soyereignty-
would virtually exclnde the South with her
slaves from the Territory Of Central America /
And what Is to be the destiny Of TIE peo- |
PIE Of he South With them this Is csse |
81 Life and death. He regarded this principle /
Is the most Important that ever aeitatsd he /
minds Of the people q the South for. Il Won |
establish the doctrine Of popular sovereienty. /
{ viii destroy the rights and safety 81 tie /
5oufh = surely = would congressional intsr-
rsnfion and probation. 1--we are 10 have 4 /
'osdon offfse States binding us N from the