Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-26
REMARKS OF MIR. BROWN,
OF CASME ELL.

On the Bill proposing to call Contention Of the
State made on the 18th Of February, in the
Senate Of North Carolina.
Mr.. Brown said, that the observations of the
Senator from Mecklenburg, (Mr. Walker,) so far as
they had any reference to himself he attributed
rather to the excitement which the Senator had ex-
hibited than to any intentional purpose to msrepre
sent him.
Mr.. b. most emphatically denied that he, in his
remarks that morning, had either in words or by
alluSOn, said anything in dcrOgation of the State
South-C Carolina. So far from having done so, he
had more than once during this session, eulogsed
the historic fame Of that State. 1t was true that
he expressed regret before and repeated his regret
now that she had not proposed consultation at this
juncture with all her sister saveholding States,
before reSorting to separate State action In his
opinion, that would have been the most Southern as
we'll as the most efficient mode Of action to obtain
rights.
Mr.. b. said in the remark which he had made
that individuals who were for disunion for disun-
ion sake whether South or North, were by directing
their action to common object, party work.
ing to a common end-a dissolution of the Union
lie had not in this connection made the remotest al
fusion to any State. lie had in his mind such men
as Sumner, Garrison, Wendell Phillips, and Others
who had declared that the Constitution and Union
"a covenant with hell, " while certain South
ern men had exclaimed "down with the accursed
Union" Whatever difference of opinion exists
between the co-laborers of disunion in regard to
slavery, common object to the extent of destroy
ing the Union, makes them common party in the
attempt to overthrow the government
The Senator's remarks with respect to delay Of
action by the Legislature in defensive and other pro-
tective measures, had application to him. He
was one of the first to propose arming to some
tent the State. lie had spoken for it and voted for
it, and had suggested important amendment to
ito establish board of instructed in militia
niEn IN nDH fha Of
had reported the bill to the Senate from the Joint
committee to call Convention of the State. He
had been among the most active in urging its
sderation, which the record will prove. He it was
true, had opposed the substitute offered in the Sem
ate proposing to deprive the people of the right of
deciding the acts of the Convention and to call
unlimited Convention. Those who advocated
this substitute INSTRUCTED the passage of the BILL
not himself lie had more than once proposed to
sit day and night to pass the bill Let those there
fore, who had offered substitute to deprive the peo-
pie of the right of voting the acts of the Conven-
ton, bear the responsibility. This would make the
people servants instead of masters of this government
they are the owners-they are the stockholders
in this government-any other doctrine is subversive
Of their rights, and is fragrant usurpation subject
ing the people to the rule of an ogarchy
lie knew of nothing in which he had not been
equally prompt with others in defending the rights
OF the State, unless he had not been in so much
haste as some others TO withdraw from the Union,
before all constitutional means were used to obtain
safe and honorable settlement. Mr. B. said he
should vote for Convention not with the wish to
destroy the Union, but with the hope of preserving
at Mr. b. would again express his dissent as to the
question OF submission and submissionists. The
Senator fixes submission in the uronq quarter he
places the saddle on the wrong horse. He had
never understood that those who calamity and
squdrety presented front to an adversary aud de-
manded their rights, would be subjected to such a
charge; on the contrary, those who sounded re-
treat who proposed to surrender the government
more won by Southern valor and established by
Southern wisdom than by any others-thsy were the
party Of submission.
AS to the question of State rights, he stood just
where he always had, and defied any to show
speech or vote in his entire political life to the
trary. If disunion was part of the State rights
Democratic creed, it had been lately added, unless
as last resort, and would place under the ban all
the old fathers of the Democratic faith. Mr. B. said
he had attended Breckenridge meeting at Char
lotte, in Mecklenburg in October last at which the
Senator from Mecklenburg had presided Mr.. B.
had there, as he had all occasions, said that he