Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-12-15
thsF stasaata.
REMARKS OF MIR. CIaNeMAN,

motion for printing the message and will take this
OCCASION to oHef AS0ggestion or two upon some OF
the points cfibfaced in it
As 10 the general tone of the message Mr.. Pres-
dsnt. everybody will say that it is eminently pa
friotic, and agree with great deal that is in it
but think it falls short of stating the case that is
now before the country. II is not for example,
merely that dangerous man has been elected to
the Presidency Of the United States. We know
that under our complicated system that might very
well occur 10y accident and he be powerless; but
assert that the President elect has been elected
5ecatse he todS knspR to be q dangerous man. He
avows the principle that known as the "irrepress
BILE conflict" He declares that it is the purpose of
the North to make war upon my section until its
social system has been destroyed, and for that he
was taken up and elected. That declaration of war
is dangerous because it has been endorsed by a
majority of the votes of the free States in the late
election. 1t is this great remarkable and dangerous
fact that has filled my section with alarm and dread
for the future.
The President says that he may be powerlcSs by
reason Of the opposition in Congress now but that
is only temporary relief Everybody knows that
the majority which has borne him into the Chair
control all the departments of this Government.
Why, sir five or six of our conservative Senators
have already to give place to others on the 4th OF
March and if the others do not it is simply because
their terms have not expired Both the Senators
from Indiana and the Senator from Illinois, MIR.
Douglas, and other gentlemen would be beaten by
THAT same majority if it were not that their terms
have time to run. They must however, be cut
dokp at no distant day. Not only that but if the
House of Representatives is divided to some little
extent how long can it be SO ? We all know that
New England has presented an unbroken front for
some time past; and does any man doubt that the
same organization that elected Abraham Lincoln
cap make clear majority OF both branches of Con-
gfeSs? The efforts of the Abolitonists will be d.
rected to the few doubtful districts, and they will
soon be subjected to their control. So powerful and
steady is the current of their progress that it will
soon oyerwhem the entire North. In this way
they must soon control the President, both Houses
of Congress- the Supreme Court and all the officers
of the Government.
The result is that a sectional party will WELD the
entire power all the departments Of the Govern
ment. Gentlemen say they are shown by the vote
10 be in minority That is an aggravation In
der FOUR present Federal system, it turns out that
little more than third of the voters may control
all the departments of the Government, and Cypress
tyrannically not only the South but the minority at
home take it for granted that nobody foresaw
this state Of things when the Constitution made
If the Federal Constitution were out of tho way, this
minority could be resisted; but under the present
system-and that that alarms the South only the
more-everybody sees that there may be a sectional
majority which represents minority Of the people,
that may absolutely control the whole Government
l would not consent for my constituents to be gov
tftll ny
less by minority. The South would be then in
the condition of Ireland, represented nominaly, but
really powereSs if the semblance of repreSen-
tation was not given to it at all.
But this is not the worst view of the case We
are not only to be governed by sectional domina-
ton which does not respect rights, but by one,
the guiding principle Of which is hostility to the
Southern states 1t is that, Mr. President that has
alarmed the country and it is idle for gentlemen to
talk to about this thing being done according to
the forms of the Constitution. A majority even
might begin revolution in that way; You might
totally change the whole character of the Govern
ment in fact, without abolishing its FORMS The
Roman Republic in fact converted into grind
ing despotism by just such process. The most
outrageous tyranny be perpetrated under all the
forms of law.
1t is said, however, that some of the States are
inclined to be precptate in their preparations for
resistance do not think so. / admit that what
called the cotton States may be 2recipitate as
compared with my and some other States but
if you compare their action with that of foreign
States nations that have existed heretofore you
cannot so regard them. Why, sir, Isay boldly that
if the occurrences which have happened in this
country for the last fifteen years were done by
foreign nation should have been involved in war
If the property of an American citizen is taken by
any foreign nation and upon demand for redress
it is not given up paid for follows; and if in
stead the foreign Government egislates to protect
the wrong doer, war is inevitable Everybody knows
that if the property of Frenchman, for example
was taken in England, and the British Government,
instead OF making satisfaction, to pass acts of
Parliament to protect the rong-doers, war would
be inevitable
1t would be the case if the same thing occurred
between any other foreign States. But we are in
vastly worse condition than would be the people
Of any foreign State, because those States of the
Union that egSate to prevent the recapture of our
property doing IT Derfnct SAFETY Tho
ceedings OF the old Barbary Powers when they
used to send out cruisers and capture property on
the high seas, were manly and honorable enterprises
compared with these proceedings, because they ran
the risk of having their towns bombarded; and in
fact, 1t was done by the American and British and
other Governments but here in perfect safety this
system of legislation goes on and there is no redress
under our system; anc yet, if the State of South
Carolina. or any other proposes to act she is re-
Elected upon. | alludeto her particularly because
she has no representatives this floor She does
not need defense from me anybody else; and if
her representatives were here / should not have
even said this much. Instead of being precipitate
she and the whole South have been wonderfully
patient No free people were, think, ever so much
so.
Gentlemen say that the border States are the
States that have most reason to complain and they
appeal to those South to wait lon ger But Mr..
President what has been the past history of the
country in relation to this slavery question? We
all know that in 1850, when there was struggle
going on to get a fair settlements settlement
which would have placed the South in proper posi-
ton with reference to the Territories, the border
States much to my regret the first to leave us
in the struggle They abandoned the general cause
Of the South for the RICH: to recover their fugitive
slaves do not mean to say that all their Repre-
sentatives were willing to take this course know
that the two Senators from Virginia, and many
Others resisted that inadequate settlement but the
border States were responsible mainly for it. This
fact produced dstrust in the States further SOUTH
because everything seemed to have been given up
for that fugitive slave law, which is now worth
nothing to anybody.
Again, Mr. President, when, last winter, The State
Of South Carolina sent her commissioner to Virginia
seeking conference, we had not only from the
Black Rennhlican nress of the North but from the