Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1860-03-29
SPEECH
GOV. ELLIS.
Delivered before tile Democratic State Convention an
Raleigh, March 9, 1860:
II

MIR. PRESIDENT, AND
GENTLEMEN OF THE CONVENTION
Your committee has communicated to me the action
OF the Convention, and am here express to you my
profound obligations for the high confidence You
pleased to repOse in nomination for the office of
Governor of the State by this intelligent body of gen
tlemen, is compliment of which any might justly
feel proud but when it is recoected that you the
representatives of great political party-exprcssng
their sentiments and speaking their wshesyour action
eXctes in me emotions of gratitude and pleasure to
which [ can give no adequate expression,
The cordial approval of my administration of the at
fairs of the State, expressed by this Convention and
by my felowcitizens in their primary meetings, is
teemed by the most valuable reward of Office, and
as such, shall be gratefully cherished and remembered
And, Mr.. President, will take this occasion to
quit myself of debt of gratitude towards my fellow
citizens of all political parties in every part of the State
by thanking them most sincerely for the generous ndu
gence received at their hands while in the discharge Of
my official duties 1t is true, my action has at times
been misunderstood and occasionally msrepreSented but
OF these things l make complaint well knowing that
they almost nseparabe from that rigid scrutiny to
which the conduct of all public servants is rghtfuy
subjected at the bar Of public opinion.
l accept, gentlemen your nomination, and with 1t the
responsibilities and burhens it imposes and Shall IN
dertake the duties of this position with deep and SOL
emn conviction that they were never more vitality re-
spOnSibe than IN the present uncture OF public affairs
Sixteen years ago, in this Hail. participated in the
first political meeting of my life and, like this, 1t was
widely different the circumstances that surrounds
US Ihen we had two great national parties each with
an organization extending to every state IN the Union;
now, we have but national pary,the other great
political organization OF the country being exclusive
y sectional not to be able procure single vote in
entire section Of the country embracing of
$4,000 square miles Then the subjects of COntrOvCr
sy between the two parties were merely questions OF
domestic policy important it is true, but not vital now
questions affecting our liberties people, and, it may
be- our existence as a nation are under discussion.
Upon these questions the parties arrayed and the
contest approaches. UpC2 the side the Democratic
party buOyant with the recollection OF many victories
gained in the cause OF the country; the other Free
soilers, Black Republicans and AboOnsts, cOnsoida
ted and combined These sir are the two great cOnte
ding political forces that divide the country. others
are mere political atoms that cannot and will not be
felt except so far as they may affect the contest between
the two main organizations.
Such, gentlemen, are the parties to the contest The
issue between them should be clearly understood espc
Ciay here at the South assert and shall maintain it
with the proofs, that this issue is whether African
slavery shall be abolished here in the States where it
now exists? Let us not be deceived upon this point
Men may talk about rights in the territories, but
depend upon they arc not the questions now IL issue
The abolition Of slavery here at home is the design of
our opponents. This is the bond that cements all the
anti-SlaVery elements in solid column against us.
What says VIM. Ii. Seward above all others, the true
exponent OF the sentiments of the abolition party -
iSled, and you and can aud must do Il. Il
requires Oy TO tOuCc HS sample rdG Of 0C!tOn 10 ito e.
@yFheFe dI9 o" frefy OCCASION Thd IRE c0 0"d not 10
neglect refuse to DO ohdt any time, because at
mat precise time and on Ha particular occasion, zoe can
Everywhere and upon all occasions in power and out
ofpower, this man and his party seek, in his own Ian
guage, complete and eDljuerSaL Pati0n." Gan
proof be clearer evidence more convincing?
OF the same tenor is the notorious Rochester speech
OF this man, delivered ten years after the sentiment quo
tea " q an 5rreDrGsEI" co17,f h0,ro0' t2HanS,g ga"
must and HCal sooner or later, become eher elrelya
slaUeb0ding nation, entirely free labor nation.-
Here, sir is the bold that state of hos
tites exists between the Orth and the South which
shall not cease until the one party the other be
quered and trOdden under the feet of the victor 1t
declaration OF war against the South by this and
his partizans Give them power, and it will be used in
the prosecution of that our army navy and
hundreds OF millions of revenue annually and much
more as they may choose to exort from the people, will
all be directed against this devoted people.
But is it perfectly certain that Seward speaks the
sentiments OF his party? The proof upon this point
too is clear and conclusive In book of Infamous
toriety which has received the full and complete ap-
proYal of the Black Republican party, and is now cir
Cuated by them a campaign document is this sent-
ment, among others, equally reasonable Ou purpose
as as trny fred as The eternal pillars Of HeaUen. We
AGUe DETERMINED to abolish saUery, and help God
ABOLISH 1t aCe 4UlU"
A Senator Of the Empire State of the Union, under
his own hand endorses this book after careful perusa
Governor of the same State contributes 500 towards
its circulation here among the best customers of bis peo
pie. This shame, brought upon the Empire State by
unworthy and fahess public officers, is destined,
trust to be gorOusy wiped out by the Democracy in
the coming contest when the land of Silas Wright will
stand proudly forth among the States of the
Union, without spot or a stain upon her escutcheon
Is further proof wanted OF the designs OF these men
Does the tragedy of Harpers Ferry teach nothing :?
when traitors and assassns found men to lament their
failure and their discontinue when the graves
of executed eons drew forth copous tears as though
one distinguished for patriotic service to the country
had fallen
But the apologists of this man Seward and his follow
ers boast that have Constitutional guarantees that
will protect property though he or one of his
associates be elected President, and the Aboonists
placed in power. What, the Constitution stand in the
way of the AbolitiOnsts What says this same Mr.
Seward on that point? Hear his admonitons to some
of his more innocent followers who really thought, in
the simplicity of their hearts, that the Constitution of
the United States did possess some binding force -
Correct your OaCn error that SLGUery has Hny Constr
tdl0nal guaranty 1ccb may not be released and ought
not TO ne reiinqulshed" Think you that the COnstu-
ton would bind the conscience Of man entertaining
such sentiments? Does not all the world know, too
that one OF the cardinal articles of the Abolition creed
is that there law higher than the Constitution which
claims their first allegiance? Have not more than a
dozen States, where these predominant, adopted
laws nuyng an important clause of the Constitution
Can we hope that will respect our rights of prop
erty, who nce, aid and abet the murderers of our c
zens Expect assassins to keep fah traitors OBJ
serve oaths Let us not be deceived fellow citizens
IN matter 50 nearly affecting personal security and
most sacred rights.
But how, it is asked will these men carry out their
Abolition designs If placed in power? Let their own
great leader answer By doing everywhere, and on
every occasion, what we can Fraud and force would
be their tavorite means Secret announcement and
open aid to assassins like John Brown with an assur
of protection in of lalhre-usj such proec
ton, except larger scale, the Black Republican
Governor Of Iowa gave to one OF the IIarpers Ferry