Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-02-14
STATE OF THE UNION.
SPEECH OF HON. JoNNA. GILMER,
Or NoRTH-C ARoIINA. -

~ Or NoRTH-C CAROLINA,
In the House of Representatives. Jan. %, 1861,
The House having under consideration the report from
the select committee of thirty three Ia
Mr.. Gilmer said: ~ a-fE a.. i
Mr.. SPEAKER The storm that now RACES in the
South threatened before left my home 1t has in
creased and still is increasing. 1t is near at hand
and is all around 1t has been my hope that
some action of the two houses OF Congress would,
ere this, have alayed this threatening tempest.
regret that it has not been done. do not think,
trust that it is too late for something to be done by
this Congress by which this Government may yet
be preserved and peace and harmony restored to the
greatest nation and the greatest people upon the
earth. must confess feel discouraged by the fact
that our northern friends have, up to this hour,
made no demonstration. Whether they intend to
do so or not am not assured; but appearances in
dictate acod, icy, stoical indifference to this raging
storm in the southern States. final effort, des-
perate struggle, is being made in all the south
ern States to consummate that which South Carolina
avows she has had at heart for the last thirty
or forty years. When was boy, in that gallant
State the doctrine of notification was preached. 1t
was said to be peaceful remedy. 1t was said to
be the only constitutional remedy by which differ
ences between State and the General Government,
In relation to power, could be safely settled. But
when that heresy was crushed out during the ad,
minstration of General Jackson, the next resort
was to secession. In order to give that some plau-
sibility, it said to be most peaceful in its char
acter. Notification never could have had many
friends--secession never could have had many
friends were it not that their advocates gave the
most solemn assurances that they were constitu-
tional Union men, and excelled all others in attach
ment to the Constitution and the Union and that
the direction which they led the better for the
preservation of both. These pills were made accept
able with the most seductive assurances of good de-
signs and peaceful purposes
I pass, sir many points of history in relation
to this matter, which 60 to show that this conspir
ing for dsunion has been at work for many years,
to come down to day within the last twelve months
When the Democratic party permitted itself to be
disrupted by the nulitiers and the seceders at
Charleston and Baltimore, and our multiplying and
seeding friends rallied under nomination of Union
men, they held up that nomination of Union candi-
dates to the southern people as a reason why they
were not for disrupting this Government, in case
Lincoln was elected. They insisted vociferously
that they had made Union nominations; that they
had put at the head of their ticket men who were
Union men, showing they had no design of dis
rupting the Government in case they were defeated
and Lincoln elected. When they were accused
Of looking to dsunion in case of defeat, they uni
fornly, in the South-almost without exception in
the border southern StateS-dened it most man.
fully. What is the result? The men who regula-
ted and controlled that disruption of the Democratic
party; the men who enlisted under the Breckin-
ridge ticket; the men who have maintained nullif-
cation being peaceful in its character-who have
advocated secession a peaceful remedy: where
are they? Doing all they can everywhere, to de-
stroy this Uuion
Mr.. Burnett Will the gentleman permit me to
interrupt him?
Mr.. Gilmer I decline to yield What is said
now? What is the course pursued by them now?
To give the country time for reflection? To give
the country time to consider? Are the people al
lowed to consider what they shall do? When Geor-
gia was calling her convention when Alabama was
calling her convention, when Mississippi was calling
her convention, what did we see? We found tele-
gram after telegram going from this place; not for
peace not for reason not for reflection but still fur
ther to inhame the southern mind still further to
fire the southern heart; still further to run into
madness into inconsiderate action, the whole south
ern people North Carolina and Virginia now
calling conventions; and what is the course pursued
by men protesting to want to preserve this Union
| will only call attention to what was published in
yesterdays Globe Here it is
A dispatch from Richmond Ten Virginia Con-
have sent out address the people Of Virginia.
giving review Of the congressional proceedings in refer
ence to the great question OF the daV and the probable ac
ton Of Congress- saving that it is vain hope for any
Of Cancellation adjustment from Congress
which the people Of the South clud accept They also
that they satisfied that the Republican party designs by
civil alone 10 the southern States under the
text of enforcing the laws unless it shall become speedily
apparent that the seeding States numerous deter
mined and united make such attempt hopeless
The address concludes by expressing the solemn conviction
that PROMPT and decided action bv the people of Virginia
in convention will afford the means under the prov
dence of God in averng the impending civil war, and
preserving hope of reconstructng Union already dis
solved"
Here are two ideas, particularly dangerous in
their character, prominent in this address. The
first is, that Vrgnas only safety is in leaving this
Union. And the second is equally fallacious equal
~ dangerous; and it is that that is the only way to
reconstruct this Government notice also the fol-
lowing in the North-Carolina Standard Demo-
cratic paper but with Union standard, referring
to letter from here by Senator from North Caro-
lima in the other House:
among other things. Mr. CIingman charges that The
hesitation division in the S"uh and the delay in the
State encouraging the Black Republicans that the
Black Republicans only want opportunity TO compel
the South submit to their domination. to the extent
Of dbotShing sdUery should civil war afford them toer-
able pretext.'"
Why Mr. Speaker this idea of reconstruction of
the Union is only part and parcel of the fruitful
expedients by which the popular mind is to be lull-
ed, until the people, deceived by it. drifted into
the terrible consequences Of the disruption of this
Government What, sir; get the fifteen slave States
Of this Union separated from the eighteen free States
as the proper mode to be- persned to procure
construction of this Government? There is pur-
pose and design in all this You meet the plain
and honest hearted Democrat or an old Wing either
Of North Carolina, or Virginia, Kentucky, Mis-
souri, and tell him that the ultimate design and pur-
pose Of the movement is to sever finally and forever
these slave States from the free, and break up this
Union, and he would shudder at the idea, as the
men who voted for Breckenridge would have shud-
dered had they known the truth-had they been
told that the failure of that ticket its friends in
tended to dissolve the Union The true intention or
purpose is not made known to them. Should the
honest farmers, mechanics and merchants of the
South be told the truth, that the object is the final
disruption of the Government, they would shudder
at the idea. When you throw out decoy duck,
and tell them this deception, this Syren song, that
this is only a movement Of the southern States to
procure q reconstruction of this Government sub
nit, with great Difference, that you deceive them
Reconstruction! You might well tell me, after
you had taken delicate watch, and put it under
the ponderous blows of forge hammer that you
only did it that you might reconstruct, with per.