Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-08
The STANDARD.
REMARKS of HON, BEDFORD BROWN,


Mr. Brown said tine time had arrived when 1t was
set less demanded by u sense of duty than oil IN
terest safety and honor, that the Soutnerh states
should make united demand Tor nnai Selteinei'
and de6nitye adjustment of the questions OF dliter
ence which are now unhappily the sources OF us
cord between the North and South and to forever
exclude them from the halls of Congress 10 Ell
feet an object which should bcso dear to the bosom OF
every lover Of his country and her institutions no
terms could or would be received as admlSSloie that
did not fully go to the root OF the eDtS OF winch we
had such undeniable cause OF complaint Tic "oulu
ask, could this most devoutly wished for consumma-
ton ever be effected, while the extremists OF tue
North and the extremists of the South are tanning
the flames o. sectional animoSteS by one-SldeG ap-
peaS Sketching the dark side oil the picture WIFI
out giving the bright as well as the dark shadeS,
which stern Justice, well as rigid historic truth
require? Mr. B. was certain that an mmense-an
overwhelming majority of the people of the slave,
holding States, desired most anXiOusly safe and
honorable settlement Of these differences in the
Union if possible. He was almost as positively
certain that decided majority of the people OF the
Northern and Northwestern States now see the ne
cessity, and are ready, by State legislation by re-
pealing their personal liberty bills and other hostile
enactments together with adding amendments 70
the federal constitution to yield such terms as would
meet the r uuireIlents of both our honor and Sc
curity. How was it possible for the maJorltleS OF
national men in both sections who wish to remedy
these evils to act with effect when the extremes OF
the two sections were daily, in Congress and else
where plying and lashing popular sentiment with
one.sided statements and irritating denuncatlons?
Was this the manner of proceeding among the
great and reyered statesmen of our revolution?
When sectional jealousies sprung up during the
revolution and when the present federal constItu-
ton was about to be framed, mark the difference
and behold with sorrow the lamentable descent in
craftsmanship! Men of hig her resolve and noblsr
purpose never lived than the statesmen OF that day
With what wonderful dignity, argument, and ele-
walton of character did the speeches and addresses
of these almost inspired men go forth 70 the world
Most of the present generation of popular speakers
and debaters in legislative halls, might he thought
find at least benefit in recurring TO these purcSt and
best of models They were the great men OF
great age.
Mr. 8. said he had bcheld with astonishment-
with inexpreSSible amazement, the scenes which
here in the legislative halls for the last four weeks
had been enacted 1t appeared to him more like the
vision of disturbed imag ination, than a sad re-
atty How suddenly--nay with what rapidity had
the scenes been shifted from those of cheerful ma
tionaty to those of dark sombre disunion with the
motto of no hope impressed its banner, and its fol-
lowers invited to haul down the stars and STRIPES
and plant in its stead the former Was this the en-
tertanment to which the people of North Carolina
were invited, in the elections for members of the
Legislature and President and EicePresident?-
When the honest voters of the State asked for
their confidence and asked to confde their dearest
rights in this great crisis, did the of the po
liticai drama give token of any note of preparation
to down the federal Union, unless for aggression
or refusal of justice? Did the actors in the poti-
cal drama, with rare exceptions, proclaim any such
purpose, grounded on the election of President
On the contrary, did not the actors with rare and
few exceptions repel the charge of disunion in IAN
guage indignant and in terms sometimes scarce fit
for ears polite:" Strange shifting of scenes!
Il E,,;,,
to the left about! The proclaimed promises yet
from breath not long since uttered-the recorded
declarations made in ink not long since dry, are
gainsayed in few moons, and it seemed to be the
very terror of the moon" The parties in this
drama and actors could not claim the benefit of
eemonths statute oflmitations, TO protect them
selves against the charge Of political regeneration
and almost unexampled inconsistency.
Are we to be hurried on by the principal actors
in this great drama-he would say tragic drama
are We to be pressed headOng with time to think,
and told in effect that not free agents to act
and that circumstances and necessity. the latter the
tyrants plea, leave no other alternative than to 0t0U
bndly the lead of one or more States?
"My Author and Disposer, what thu bd'st,
Unargued, | obey"
They have spokcn-ioe have right to speak, but to
echo their will. THEY have ac;ed-oe have no right
to act only to say ge are to OJey.' Where is the
profesSed devotion to liberty when this language is
spoken Of when this course with respect to North
Carolina is urged? The true English of it is, that
the rights of States belong only to the States about
to secede which he wished them to exercise undis-
turbed, and that others to be shorn Of their
soveregnty-Shorn Of the attributes of sovereignty
the right to think md tie right to act and to wheel
into line attendants and satellites by law above
their own control. In other words, we are to have
Southern "higher lao overruling the will ofour
people, and overriding the very sovereignty of our
States, showing that Northern and Southern ex-
trcmes meet an "higher lac, setting aside State
rights and constitutional obligation.
Mr.. b. would not consent to surrender the
rights and sovereignty of North Carolina to any
people OF earth, foreign domestic. Let de-
lberate as freemen in this great emergency, wisely,
firmly, prudently, as becomes the intrepid men
of Republic as to what is best for our safety and
honor. Let us yet in the hope even after States
have seeded that by maintaining our position
firmly in the Union, the border slave States
and those adjacent may yet demand and receive
terms to enable them to reconstruct the consttu-
ton-about which have no doubt and by which we
shall be the greatest happiest and most prosperous
people earth and thatall the ssterhood of States
will again be numbered in one great confederated
family with ample guarantees to protect all. Let us
act like the prudent Mariner who when his vessel is
tempest tossed casts around, observes the weather.
looks on the broad before him. and determines
on what course is best to save the vessel from the
peril which surrounds it, before he takes de-
parture. And so with bewdered traveller when
he comes to several forks leading in different drec-
TONS a little delay in examining for the right road
will often save him from Den" involved in difficult
ties-sometimes in boys and quicksands and the
trouble of taking to the back track to escape from
the consequences of precipitation and rash decision.
Mr.. B. had heard with sorrow and profound regret,
the sad notes with which the Senator from New
Hanover, (Mr. lIallD had pronounced the funeral
lypan Of no aulc a1 To tho
tomb of all the capulets." He regretted that while
the Senator had pEd such marked respect to such
names of evil omen Sumner Seward and others,
by reading their fanatical illusions to the Senate,
that he had not paid like respect to such names as
Franklin Pierce, George NJ. Dallas Daniel s. Dickin-
son, Commodore Stockton, the eloquent Yallandg-
ham, and many other pure and intrepid patriots Of
the North whose noble sentiments in favor of the
constitutional rights of the South would be more
refreshing to He regretted that the Senator bad