Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-11-08
From the Daily Journal, I'd inst.
Democratic Meeting.

and might be prejudicialy affected by the noise.
Robert Strange Esq., being loudly called upon, ad-
dressed the meeting very able speech of about an
hour in length. He commenced by referring to the
alarming position of aftars-turned to survey of the
parties appealing to the Southern people for their
support. He showed how, under whatever name, the
Southern Opposition now known as the Union par
ty was after all, only another for the old Wing
party.
He reviewed the history Of that party from the days
of 1886 downwards showing how the abolition element
had controlled its action. How the great body of North
ern Wings then had voted against the Pnckney resolu-
tons denying the power of Congress to abolish slavery
in the District of Columbia while nearly all the North
ern Democrats had voted for these resolutions. The
same with the Anterior resolutions in 1897 or '38-
These resolutions forbade the reception consideration
of the Abolition petitions with which Congress was
flooded the ground taken being that Congress had no
Constitutional power over the subject mater-coud not
grant the prayer of the petitioners without violating the
Constitution and that the right of petition did not
tend to the right to ask for violation of the Constitu
ton.
In 1914, Henry Clay, with all his power, had to sue
cumb to this abolition influence To get the support of
the Northern Wing party, he had to oppose the annex
alton to the Union of the slave State Of Texas, with
her vast domain. When vast territories had been
quired under the Mexican treaty, the demand made
that into none of it slavery should be admitted
This was the object of the Wilmot proviso. Gen. Tay
Ior secured the support of the Wing party by pedgng
himself against the exercising the veto power that the
opponents of the South were prepared to take him,
thinking that they themselves could pass the proviso
through Congress- and the President would not inter-
pose his veto.
In 1850 the so-caled Compromise was passed. includ-
ing among its measures the Fugitive Slave Law. Mr..
Fillmore after much hesitation and consultation with
his Attorney General signed that BILL and for that he
was thrown overheard in 1852, and Gen. Scott put for
ward, evidently by the influence of Seward and Com
pany. The Southern Wings squrmed but submitted.
Scott was beaten The Wing party died out, or rather
separated. The Northern portion became the Free
Soil party with Seward Weed, Greedy and all the old
Wing leaders, as its leaders With these facts sefevi
dent-too evident to be gansaid or dsproved-the Dem
ocratc party charged with having brought this Free
Soil Republican party into existence, by the repeal Of
the Missouri Compromise in 1854. How could what
was done in 1854 be chargeabe with what existed long
before Nay, further, how could 1854 be charged with
the acts of 1850. The Territories of Utah and New
Mexico one partly and the other wholly above the Mis-
souri, Compromise ne were supplied with governments
expressly providing for them the right to into the
Union with or without slavery as they might select
The acts of 1854 merely carried out the spirit of the
acts of 1850. If any were chargeabe, Clay and Web
gter and Calhoun and Cass, and all the men of 1850
were chargeable
Mr.. Strange examined the doctrine of Squatter Sow
eregnty and exposed its fasy. He proceeded to vim
dicate in an uHanswerable argument the great Demo
cratic doctrine of the rights of the States. He showed
that they who opposed this doctrine and went for con-
soidation were the real dsunionists for the only bar
rier to aggressions which must end in dissolution, was
presented by the firm attitude of the Democracy in de-
fence of the reserved rights of the sovereign States
MIR. Strange paid eloquent and deserved tribute to
our gallant young standard-bearer, John G. Breckn-
ridge and the no less gallant old soldier from the Pacific
General Lane. There was a hope-a bright hope
of securing the election of these the 9th day OF
this MONTH Let US do our part and not throw away
our votes upon those who practically out of the
contest.
Mr.. Strange was repeatedly and warmly applauded.
Hon. S. J. Person was next called for and took the
stand amid much applause
He opened by remarking that this was the first occa-
sion he had enjoyed of returning his Acknowledgements
to his fellow citizens for the very atterng suffrage with
which they had been pleased to honor him during the
last summer, and also of congratuating his brother
Democrats upon the glorious victory which had then
perched upon their banners in the contest which they
had been called upon to carry on in this State. He
had always been Democrat when it was looked upon
as the next thing to social disgrace for any man to
range himself with the party of the people When the
opposition claimed to have all the education all the
knowledge and all other things desirable He had never
thought it disgrace but honor to belong to party
of principle, like the democratic party He had felt it
to be an honor to any head to have the cearness
to perceive right principles and honor to his heart to
have the manness to avow and maintain them.
The Democratic party had advanced the country to
its present prosperity had maintained control of the
government during nearly all the years since its forna-
ton How and why was this Was it through per-
sona favor personal popularity was it through the
legitimate. influence of principles approved of by the
people? To this there could be but one answer. 1t
was due to their principles and underlying all these
were the principles of State sovereignty and State equal
ity He showed up the absurd and dangerous conclu-
sons to which the doctrines of the Opposition parties
would lead u.s. Spoke of the right of a State in the
last resort to judge of any infringement of her constitu
tional rights, and also of the mode and of
dress. Secession was grave and solemn matter
One only to be contemplated before remarked in the
last resort He said that in his opinion State had the
right OF peaeeabe secession The tie to bind the Union
together must be the love and affection of its members
not force and coercion. He loved the Union as much
as any man could He would not advise secession sim
ply in the event of Lincons election but he would do
all he could to have the State put in thorough state
preparation to repel any aggression for although Lin
coins election might not be actual aggression it was
threat menace, and there danger to be appre-