Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-01-19
Remarks of MIR. Marsh, of Beaufort,

In the House Of Commons, January Il, ReSo-
buttons relating to Coercion.
Mr. Marsh said the gentleman from New Hanover,
(Mr. Person. had seen fit to autle TO remarks made
by him early in the evening, in which he spoke of
the resolutions being from the other side of the
House, and had proceeded to show that they came
from the committee on Federal Relations the
mark arose from the fact that much unanimity
seemed to exist among the gentlemen upon that
side Of the House upon them But the course Of
the gentleman from New Hanover, justified him in
the of that expression for that gentleman
seemed to act the part Of leader upon that side Of
the Hall whether that position obtained by
caucus action or assumption, he would not pretend
to say. 1t was very certain that when he led, the
rank and file followed The gentleman was the
distinguished chairman Of several of the most i'm
portant committees of this Housewives in the habit
Of reporting bills, resolutions &c, from this
mttce on federal relations, and was then the first
man to attack them upon the floor. He had done so
in this instance.
An amicable adjustment of conflicting views upon
this subject that the voice OF North Carolina ight
be unit, would have been made this morning, and
again tonight, but for the interposItion of the gen
tlenan from New Hanover, with his amendments and
discordant speeches. When the gentleman from
Rockingham, Mr. Sade,) this morning offered his
resolutions rs a substitute to effect compromise,
and disposition was manifested by many high
toned, conservative, patriotic gentlemen the other
side to meet us with these resolutions as peace Of
fering for the good of common country-that
the voice Of North. Carolina should 20 forth upon
this important subject with unanimity that would
give to it respect and efficacy. The gentleman from
New Hanover, if be might DC permitted to quote
expression used by him few days since, failed ito
rise to the dignity Of the OCCASION" to throw off
party ShacklCS, and meet us upon that common
ground where all could stand, presenting one I'M
broken front in defence of our common country,
h:It rather IN SuhSpryn throw
among us the "apple of discord, to separate, dis
tract, and divide us.
Again, tonight, when the same settlement was
about to be made-juSt at the turning point when
it was about TO be consummated-when we were
about to forget party and link hands together
brothers, citizens of North Carolina, actuated by
common fears, common dangers, common cause
and common destiny the gentleman from New
Hanover second time saw fit to roll in his "appc
of diScord" in the form of amendment to his
resolutions, and by speech had attempted to fruS
trate those noble honest and conservative gentle
men who, forgetting party, in patriotic zeal loved
their country better, and were willing to join the
gentleman from Rockingham in resolution Oppo-
sing coercion, but avoiding the constitutional ques-
ton of secession.
He could answer for himself and for those who
acted with hun, that they were ready and willing to
pass resolutions against coercion provided they nei
ther expressed or implied the right of State to
cede He was willing to accept the resolutions Of
the gentleman from Rockingham as being such, and
to pass them with that unanmlty which would
give them force and make them respectable What
was the of passing resolutions that intend
ed to influence the administration government at
Washington City, by bare majority? Would it
not be SAID at the North that we were divided here
among ourselves? Would they not falsely construe
our votes against the resolutions into votes in favor
of coercion? Will gentlemen sacrifice so much to
get an expression Of this Legislature upon the ques
ton of the right of State to secede? If that is
their desire, let them have the manliness to meet
that question boldly in separate resolution, and
not slip it IN as a correlative, encumbering this
with it.
His objection to the resolutions advocated by the
gentleman from New Hanover was, that they ex-
pressed by inference as correative the right Of
secession. This, as Constitutional question, he
opposed from principle but agreed that a matter
of policy coercion should not be exercised Why
cannot the gentleman from New Hanover as the
leader of great party, if he might again quote the
remark of that gentleman rise to the dignity of the
OCCASION" and join with him and his friends in pass
ing the resolutions of the gentleman from Rocking
ham? A great responsibility rests upon the gentle
man. If the voice of North Carolina goes forth up
on this occasion dscordant and without force it
will be because the gentleman cannot rise to the
dignity of the OCCASION and forget that upon &C.
cason of this kind there should be no party differ
ences among us.
He appealed to those gentleman on the opposite
side of the Hall who loved their country more than
party, to join with him and others of both parties
who were striving to effect compromise upon thus
great and important question. He was ready to
vote for strong anti-coercion resolutions but would
cast his vote for any that claimed for State
of this Confederacy the Constitutional right of Sc
cession.