Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-26
SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS OF MIR.
THOMAS, OF DAVIDSON,

SUBSTANCE OF THE REMARKS OF MIR.
THOMAS, OF DAVIDSON,
Delivered in the Senate, January II, 1861, on the
bill to call a Convention.
Mr.. Thomas said notwithstanding much had been
said on both sides of the question now pending by
distinguished Senators this floor, yet he asked
the indulgence of the Senate while he presented
some views which he entertained, and which he
considered pertinent to the present condition of
distracted government. And as he claimed to be
the representative Of both the old parties Wing and
Democratic, he would of course endeavor to avoid
the use of any word or sentence which would wound
the feelings of any Senator on the floor.
It had been said that both the old parties are
dead. This he did not agree to. True, the Wing
party is powerless, but still it is kicking The Dem
ocratic party is split open-divided but does it not
still struggle? And since both parties were power
less would it not be wise and proper that we should
unite and form one powerful party to beat back
common enemies, and save this, the best government
in the world? If we unite and would stand shoulder
to shoulder, we should succeed; but if we divided
and wasted our strength against each other, we
must fall into the hands of our enemies-our prop
erty would be destroyed our glorious Union dssol-
we'd, and war and bloodshed would be as common
with it was in the old world. Then what
should we do? He thought we should firmly de-
mand our rights of those States that have nufed
the laws of the general government We should
lay down our uLtinlatuH call Convention of all
the States, or of as many of the States would be
willing to meet and settle forever the question of
slavery upon such terms would be satisfactory to
the South
In my judgment, said Mr.. Thomas secession will
be remedy for the evils we complain Of, but will
increase our difficulties thousand fold. Sir, do
you recollect what Gen. jackson said in his farewell
address? He says "if all the recollectons and
proofs of common interest and blessings of this Re-
public are not enough to bind US together as one
hat tin rill hold tbo ;v;e of
empire when those bonds have been broken and the
Union dissolved? The first line of separation would
not last sing lie generation. New fragments would
be torn off; new leaders would spring up, and this
great and glorious Republic would soon be broken
up into multitudes ofpetty States without commerce.
without credit, jealous of one another, armed for
mutual aggressons, loaded with taxes to pay armies
and eaders-the people being insulted and trampled
upon by the nations of Europe-until, harrassed and
humbled in spirit-they would seek repose under a
military despotsm" My friends who are in favor
of secession, leave off where want to hear them
begin. II will be easy to carry out of the Union
but | want to know-and | suppose the people
want to know what is to become of North
Carolina after she goes out of the Union. l want
to see the programme by which We are to be gov
erned; and now call on the Senator from Bun
connie (Mr. Erwin,) to give us the programme, and
tell us if he can with his eloquence and superior tai
ents, what North Carolina will do when she goes out
of the Union despair of getting the required in
formation.
Mr.. Thomas, continuing, said he wanted to know
and he supposed thinking men generally wanted to
know. What was North Carolina to do after seced-
ing? Was she to go it blind. or was she first to
mature some plan of action for herself suited to
the emergencies that might arise? Or is she just
to cut herself adrft from her sister States and wait
for something to turn up? Or would she not with
her accustomed wisdom and moderation organize
for her own safety some well-considered system Of
| foreign and domestic policyp When North Caro-
lima dissolved her connection with the federal gov
eminent it would become her wisely and soberly to
consider whether the present mode of State govern
ment will suit her people. She would have to con-
slider the ways and means of maintaining herself as
a separate nation,-she would have to consider mat
tcrs Of revenue and expenditure on much larger
scale than at present; Also alliances offensive and
defensive as well as the coming of money, coast de-
fences, harbor improvements Notifications, armies,
navies postal arrangements,-so that, in his iudg
ment, we should not be hasty but should Watch
and Wait" He would remind his friends over the
way as well as the Senator from Buncombe who sat
behind him, that it was very important before we
break up this government to examine well into the
matters referred to; especially aggressive laws
have been passed for four five years, and nothing
new has been done by the Northern States against
the South since Mr.. Buchanan came into power,
cept the election of Lincoln. He submitted whether
dsinterested parties would not consider that our
Of our hasty action and if foreign nations
considered it. would they justify US? Still, said Mr..
Thomas, while am willing to all constitutional
means and Watch and Wait" to give the North
people time to reflect retract ard settle forever
the slavery question: yet if they will not do this for
one, than be disgraced by their aggressions
and insults, he would 60 for revolution secession,
set up for ourselves and do the best we can. What
advantage continued Mr.. T., can we have by seced-
| ing that we cannot have in the Union? If the
| Union saved slaves would soon be high as
formerly; if we dissolved they would not be worth
half what they now 1t was said Virginia had
called Convention, and would secede This he
did not believe She had too much sense, being as
she was on the dividing line. If she seeded, her
negroes would not be worth more than her horses.
The Senate is aware, said Mr.. Thomas, that have
taken ground against the Legislature calling Con-
vention, but l have all the while been willing to
submit the question to the people to vote Conven-
ton or ne Convention And since the Senator from
Gates has submitted bill which l consider COM
promise, and which is to first submit the question
to the people whether they will have Convention
not at the time they vote for delegates if
majority of the State votes Convention the delegates
will meet in Raleigh, and whatever ordinance is
passed will then be submitted to the people for rati-
ication or rejection-for such BILL provided pro-
per time for the election is given, am prepared to
/ to vote.