Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-05
For the Standard.
For the Standard.
REMARKS OF DIR. G. J. FOX,
On taking the Chair as President Of the (Douglas)
DOnrention


On taking the Chair as President Of the (Dougla)
Convention
FELLow-CTTIzENs cannot express the gratitude
feel at the manifestation of confidence which you
have exhibited to-day in calling me to preside
the deliberations of the national Democratic Conven
ton of North Carolina Nor can express the want
of ability feel in the attempt to discharge the high
functions which you have imposed upon me.
Hoping, however, that wisdom, patriotism, and
harmony will prevail in this Convention, flatter
myself that your good conduct will relieve me from
that embarrassment in which, under other circum-
stances, would necessarily be involved
We meet to-day, fellow-citizens, under circum-
stances of peculiar interest, and may He who pre-
sides over the destiny of nations preside this
Convention and lead us in the way in which we
should go.
We witness to-day an anomaly in the history of
the Democratic party of North Carolina, viz d.
vision of its ranks--each party, no doubt, equally
sincere in the course which it is pursuing This is,
much to be regretted for we are brethren and have
one common heritage. We have, however, the con-
ISOLATION to believe that however much may differ
in opinion as to measures of safety we have but
common object-the common good
We believe conscientiously, that the course we
are pursuing is the only safe one and that to adopt
any other would be compromising the great object
which we, as patriots o nearest our hearts.
Compromise fellow citizens, under certain cir
cumstances is patriotism but there are others un-
der which it is treason. He who compromises his
worldly interest for the sake of his country is pa
triot; but he who compromises the safety of his
country to preserve party organization, yea to pre-
his life is traitor and should share traitors
fate
We believe, fellow citizens, that the great issue
before the people of the United States to-day is,
whether this Union is to be preserved or whether it
is to be dissolved; and believing that the principles
advocated by the great apostle of the Democratic
party-the nominee of the national Democratic Con.
vention at to the perpetuity of
this Union we feel that we have alternative left
us but that of giving them our confidence and hear
ty support And in doing SO we feel that we are
not dsturbers Of the peace, that we are not dsor-
ganizers, but good citizens No, citizens we
believe that are the true Democracy, the old line
Democracy; that We have the true succession, and
that our apostle has the only true appointment
Fellow citizens, are not seceders, -majorities
never secede; and as the majority who maintain
their position and place only be regarded the
original body, we claim that alone right and
our nominee the only true one. ss.s,tE
The matter of difference fellow-ctizens, is that
which has reference to the institution of African
slavery and its protection. The Douglas wing of
the Democracy hold that the principles embodied in
the compromise of 1850, those which were first set
forth by Gen. Cass, and which secured to him the
nomination>of the Democratic party in 1848; those
upon which Gen. Pierce received the nomination in
1859, and Mr. Buchanan in 1866, and embraced in
the Kansas-Nebraska act of 1854 to be the true doc
trne of the South; and we believe that to discard
that compromise drawn up, presented and sup
ported by the South, would be in bad faith impoi-
tic and unwise. And we believe that, having dis
carded it. and applying to the national Congress for
protection would be to kinde aresh that fire Of dis
cord which has SO far separated the North and South