The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-02-05
From the Raleigh Journal
SENATOR BRAGG ON THE CRISIS.

1slature to address them on Friday evening Z0tn
He complied with their request and spoke to
large assembly in the Hall of the House of Com
MONS composed chiefly of members of both branches
of the General Assembly. We regret that
not able to present the entire speech prepared by
the speaker. This he had not time to furnish, as
he was about to return to Washington. We are
enabled, however, to present to our readers an alb
stract of what he said upon some of the more im-
portant topics discussed.
After abiding to the present condition OF the
country and our existing troubles, he stated that
he should say nothing of the causes which had
produced them-that they were we'll known and
familiar to those whom he was addressing. That
five States had already withdrawn from the Union,
and that in all probability they would be speedily
followed by two Others He then adverted to the
state of things in Washington, and explained why
it was that he had no hope whatever that any
thing would be done by Congress tending to any
amicable or satisfactory arrangement That, In his
opinion, the Crittenden propositions, to which
portion of the South had looked with hope, could
not pass Congress in the shape of proposed amend
ments to the Constitution, or even with view TO
obtain upon them direct vote of the people in the
several States as provided in the bill introduced
for that purpose by Senator Bigler. That few
weeks since there imminent danger of an i'm
mediate collision and civil war; but that danger
had been fortunately averted for the present. Of
course, he said, no formal arrangement had been
entered into that effect, but that truce, at all
events, seemed to exist, and he had reason to be-
lieye would be observed upon the basis that Meth
er the Government of the United States nor the
seeding States would seek, for the present, to
change the existing status as to the forts held by
,either-the President in the mean time, having
turned the whole matter over to Congress.
He stated, further, that Congress having tailed
to do anything by Of the refusal of members
of the so-called Republican party to make any
reasonable concessions to the South, it seemed clear
to his mind that no hope could be reasonably en-
tertained Of any adjustment, unless from the ac-
ton of the several States. That Virginia had
made proposition to the several States to send
commissioners to Washington on the 4th ofFeb'y,
and had selected some Of her most eminent
citizens to represent her. and that upon visiting
the Capitol to-day, he had found the Virginia
proposition a subject of discussion in both branch
es of the Legislature While candOr compelled
him to say he entertained no strong decided
hope that such body as the one proposed would
be able to devise plan by which our existing
troubles could be settled, yet he thought and urg-
ed that all parties in the Legislature should unite
and promptly accept Of such proposition coming
as it did from Il State Identified in interest with
North Carolina; and whether it succeeded or fail
ed, it would at all events tend to a union of our
people, now somewhat divided, aud lead to some
practical result-eilher to some satisfactory adj
ustment or to making it plain that no such adj Just
ment could be obtained. That if any reasonable
plan of adi ustment could be agreed upon, and
which would be satisfactory to the States OF the
South now in the Union. lie should prefer it to
going immediately out of the Union and seeking
reconstruction afterwards; and that he believed
that in such event. most if not all our sister States
which had Withdrawn would be induced to return.
He then went on to say that ne found connected
with this proposition in the Legislature ono also to
send commissioners to Montgomery, to meet the
delegates from the seeding States, who would as
semble there on the same day, for the purpose OF
organizing a provisional government tor such
States. He saw no objection to that, but doubted
whether any practical result would follow, so far
as the action of commissioners from this State was
concerned From information obtained in W ash
ipgtOn he was confident that provisional govern
ment would be promptly formed by the seeding
States upon the basis of existing Constitution,
and that steps would also be taken to provide Tor
the common Defence and also to initiate aud secure
friendly relations with foreign governments and that
as our commissioners would not be allowed seats
in the Convention, they could have no direct voice
in the formation of any government. He hoped,
however, that both propositions would be acted
upon promptly, and that there would be no oppo-
stion to their adoption.
He next adverted to what in all probability
would be the course of the incoming administra-
ton, as to existing troubles, far he could
form an opinion of the same from indications in
Washington. Would they resort to coercive meas
ures against the seeding States? He could only
say they threatened to do so, and such seemed to
be their present determination. That bills were
being matured and soon would be reported to Con-
gress for that purpose. That one of these bills,
as he was reliably informed, provided for the rails
ing of large volunteer force; another would abol-
ish all ports of entry in the seeding States, and
provided Tor the seizure Of all vessels undertaking
to enter suoh ports without first paying duties at
some other port and the forfeiture of such vessels
and their cargoes Such law he considered a
clear violation Of the Constitution, and he explain
ed wherein. Northern men also declared that all
forts aud arsenals now in possession of any State
would be forcibly re-taken if not given up by such
State.
Such measures in his opinion, would surely
and inevitably result in bloody civil war between
the North and the South, the end of which, after
torrents of bloodshed and millions of treasure
pended, would be total aud final separation. He
said that the Union one depending upon good
feeling and mutual interest-that force could not
preserve it-Ihat subsection of one portion of the
States by another portion, if possible, which he
did not believe, would be destructive of the gov
eminent as now constituted and that in its stead
we should have a central military despotism.
To prevent such slate of things which all
would deplore, what could North Carolina do
what ought she now to do? He had no hcsita-
tion an sayiug that prompt, decided and united
e.;o,, b tbe Te1isl0fure uolc in session ,roS the