The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-16
SENATORS BRAGG AND cLINGMAN

the State Journal, as follows
Gov. Bragg was called out and proceeded to
address the meeting at length. He spoke without
preparation, having had very brief notice that he
Was expected to address the meeting this evening.
In parts Of the State his opinion was not
known, and some regarded his position as doubt
full. He did hope that the Peace Conference
would effect something; he had trusted that the
difficulties of the country would be amcably set
tied. That hope had fed. The time had come
for US to strike for our rights. TApplause. He
spoke Of the slavery agitation. In 1854 the first
sectional party was formed. 1t defeated in
1886 after an exciting contest. In 1859 the con-
test was renewed. He then predicted that ii
would end in disrupting the republic. He alluded
to the case of Col. Wheeler who had been robbed
of his slaves in Philadelphia and failed to obtain
redress. He contended that there was no other
nation in the world where such thing could have
occurred. An officer of the government travel
ing through the country was forcibly deprived of
his property, and yet that government could not
give him the means of redress. He also referred
to the Harper's Ferry raid and said that it was
denied by Northern men that the Federal Govern
ment could interfere to prevent such invasions
and punish the participants. The Governors of
Ohio and Iowa had refused to surrender criminals
to saveholdlng State Equal rights in the ter
ritories were denied the South by large majority
of the Northern people. He, with other Southern
Senators, had vany endeavored to obtain the
passage OF four propositions, which would have
been ample guarantees for rights. These
propositions were, equal rights in the territories,
the right of transit for slave property through the
non-slaveholding States, the rendition of fugitive
criminals by the Governors of the free States and
a recognition on the part Of the national govern
ment Of slaves property. Had these PROPOSE
ti"ns been accepted by the North there would have
been no dissolution of the Union Davis and
Tooubs would not have been in favor of Secession.
They have been refused by the North in every
shape they could be offered. They are right and
just, said the speaker, and he would never be salts
fed with less.
Gov. B. alluded to the charge that some of the
Southern States were oligarches because the
secession ordinances were not submitted to the
people. The Constitution Of the United States
had never been submitted to the people of any
State. 1t was probable that there some
division of sentiment in some of the seeded
States some of the people had opposed secession,
but there was great unanimity in most of the
Sites.
The distinguished Speaker discussed the Nor
rill tariff at considerable length, and showed how
oppressive it would be to the South how in a
pecuuiary point Of view North Carolina and other
slaveholdng States would be benefited by joining
the Southern Copfederacy; but we have not space
to give even synopsis OF his remarks
Mr. Clingman being called upon arose and ad-
dressed the meeting in very happy and patriotic
manner. Mr. Clngman spoke Of the Northern
Government as the free negro government. Seven
of the Southern States had gone out, they would
soon be joined by Misunderstanding majority
of all the Southern States. Would North Carolina
remain in the free negro Conederacy? (cries of
No, No) Lincoln's administration a free
II Gov tlo
form is for negro equality, and the man who sup
ports them is no better than free negro. CHEERS
The Northern Confederacy is emphatically the free
negro Confederacy. cloud Cheers.) The qucs,
ton is shall We permanently attach ourselves to
this Northern free negro Coufederacy or 60 with
the South.
Before the election Of Lincoln all demanded
guarantees. We have failed to get those guarantees,
the Union is dissolved, and still we find men not
ready to go with the South. Only eight Southern
States remain including little Delaware. The |
Abolitionsts have nineteen States, and at present
more than double US III the Senate Washington,
Nebraska, Colorado and Nevada will soon apply |
for admission which will greatly strengthen them.
Then they propose to buy out the slaves in Dela- |
ware, Maryland and Missouri, and to do this the
Southern States remaining with the north will
have to contribute their money. IF we stay these
Northern Abolitionists will use our for !
our own destruction. Must We watch and wait. !
[ Laughter, cheers, applause, and two Kisses from
the North corner.l 1suppose you connect my words
with certain editor Laughter. This editor
does not to like my friend Branch. [Laugh- |
teri Two years ago he not very affectonate
towards my friend on the left, (Gov. Bragg but
that gentleman placed out Of his way by the |
Legislature of North Carolina. Last winter the |
same editor said some very complimentary things |
about l was Office seeker. Laughter.
Well, have found every Office | ever sought.
How it is with others, you may say. Roars of
laughter. Since then have been put ont cf his |
way by being elected to the Z. s. Senate, and
now he turns upon my friend Branch. Well, the |
only course for Mr. Branch is to get elected. TAp-
pause.l But must "watch and wait" For I
what We have been spit upon and now I
to wait to be kicked. Mr. Clin2man very humor-
ou<ly described the Northern Senators and poll |
ticans At first when secession arose some of
them made Union speeches Like Pharoah when |
the first plague of frogs visited him, their hearts
softened. [Great Laughter.] Andrew johnson
makes Union, submission speech. then their I
hearts harden against the South ike Pharoahs did |
against the Israelites. Loud laughter.] South I
Carolina, Georgia and other States secede, then \
heir hearts soften as did Pharoahs when visited /
With the plague. (Continued laughter The I
elections in Virginia and Tennessee 20 against
secession, then their hearts harden, and they vote
bwn the CritteDden proposition, the Peace Con-
ference affair which the South could not have /
accepted, and determine to give nothing but |
he Chicago platform. Mr. Clingman shoIed that