Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-04-06

-. 1,vi-
adopt this line OF NV sion and apply 1t to the terri'
ory which we had since acquired in our war with
Mexico-that ag' In We should renew the compact
that IN the Ter itory north of Sc deg ~ min tnere
should De no slavery and that in the territory sout
Of It slave ~ should be recognized 1t seemed 70
me that this was lust equitable and right But it
did 1T appear SO to the Congress ef the uni'eu
Str .res =a-f=.--
believe if these measures thus offered, had been
at suitable time promptly adopted by the congress
of the United States it would have checked the pro
gress of the rebellion and revolution, and saved the
Union But | say it did not seem so to the Con
gress of the United States, and they declined 10
adopt these resolutions, with the exception OF one
That was an amendment to the Constitution, whlch
it adopted so far as it could to be referred to the
several States for their adoption-an amendment
declaring that the General Government should nave
no power whatever over slavery in the States, anu
that no amendment should be made to the consul
tuition of the United States which should give Con-
gress any such power. 1t said nothing In respect
to the territories either it regarded the territories
themselves or as it regarded slavery in the terrific
ries. They declined to permit slaves TO be carried
into the territory south of SO deg 30 min In the
meantime the revolution proceeded ms reVolu-
ton has undertaken to form itself into govern
ment distinct and independent The revolving
States have broken the Union which united us here
tofore, and they are putting this Government into
operation; and we stand here to-day aStonished at
the great events that occurring around us-as-
tonished at the revolution that is garng us in the
face-and enquiring what is to be done.
There was solitary circumstance attending
these resolutions, however, that is well worthy OF
notice Although the discussion of them did not SUI
ficiently recommend them to the Congress of the
United States it struck upon the hearts of the peo-
pie throughout the United States and afforded them
an opportunity for displaying their raternal feelings
towards us and all the South, and the generous tenn
per and disposition which prompted them to seek
reconciliation and aduStment-and amlcable settle
ment of all differences upon any terms that we
might believe to be fair and equitableust upon the
terms offered by the resolutions which | submitted
or upon any other terms equivalent to them. That
would have been reconciliation enough TO have saved
the Union whatever else might have been lost. As
a testimony of the manner in which this adjustment
was hoped for hundreds and thousands of persons in
the Northern States signed petitions praying for the
passage of the Forty thousand voters from
the single State of Massachusetts,, thousands from
Pennsylvania, thousands from all the Northwestern
States, breathing spirit of love and kindness to
their fellow citizens and devotion to the Union,
which was willing to sacrifice anything and every
thing for its preservation. This to me and it
will be to you aud to every Union-loving man the
most impressive and acceptable evidence Of the tenn
per and disposition of our ellow-ctizens elsewhere
1t showed me that the argument which has been so
often used to disunite the North hates the
South and that the South hates the North Is not
true. The Almighty has not made us with hearts
Of such magnity to hate whole classes of our
countrymen for the SINS Of few men. The North
does not hate the South. The South does not hate
the North. In this matter, gentlemen, speak so
far my own observation and my own experience
enable me to testify. We have moments of irri-
tation. At times we have great provocations, and
often these provocations have excited unkind feel
ings-reproaches without number on the one side
and on the other. elimination and recrminatIon
has existed between US. But this only serves to
form part of that great volume of abuse which po-
lca strife and the struggle for party predominant
cy must necessarily produce. They pass by, how
ever. The stream is no longer made turbid by this
cause, and in purity 1t runs throughout the land
encircling us in the arms o! a common fellowship
a common country. So may God forever preserve u.s.
We have not been made to hate ono another We
do not hate one another. The politicians who tell
that we hate each other are either honestly mis-
taken they are seeking ephemeral popularity by
protesting to be our friends, and showing us by the
hatred which they profess for other sections that
their protecting love for us is all But the peo
pie will not always be led by politicians They have
risen upon this occasion, and believe in my heart
that there is at this moment majority of Northern
men that would cheerfuy vote for any of the reso-
buttons Of compromise that were proposed by men of
the South in the last Congress have assurance of
the most respectable men, some of the most infu-
entail men of Pennsylvania. have assurances Civ
en- to me by hundreds of letters from the most in
tellgent Of that State to get nv resolutions SUBJ
mitted to the people. They came to me from every
Northern State, believe, without solitary exccp-
tion to get my resolutions submitted to the people
1--WE want" said they, "to preserve the Union
We differ from our representatives in Congress in
this matter. They were elected partSanS on par
ty platforms, and subject to the control of their
party. They do not feel as we do. They feel and
act partisanS, and want to maintain every sylla-
BILE and every letter Of their platform We wish to
preserve our sacred Union. We love our brethren
Put your resolutions before us. They will pass by
hundreds and thousands of maortieS" Gentlemen,
| believe that, in Pennsylvania, they would have
passed by ore hundred thousand majority IL these
resolutions have done nothing else they have at least
elected evidences of affection for us from our North
ern brethren. They ought to be considered as hav-
ing attained something IN this light something i'm
portant too, considering the value of the Union
The people were ready to sanction the compromise
The generosity and patriotism of their hearts had
not stopped to calculate the consequences party
of the downfall of their platform. They have in
dulged these feelings fellow-citzens and fellow
countrymen, and they willing to give you all
you ask and all you want. They would rather give
you more than you entitled to than part with you.
We are not to be outdOne in generosity, trust,
by the people of the North If they are thus anxi-
Gus to preserve the Union, shall We be more luke
warm in that sacred cause? What we should do is
this: insist upon our rights, but insist upon them
in the Union, and depend upon it that the people
will grant them to you. This that Senate or this
or that body or convention, may refuse-but mark
me- your country has great warm heart The
citizens of this republic will work out the redemp-
ton of their country, if we will but combine and
cooperate with them to preserve this Union. Let
us struggle in the Union-contend in the Union
make the Union the instrument with which we con-
tend, and we shall get all that we ask-a that we
can desire-all that reason can warrant us in ex-
pectiEg.
This my fellow-citizens, is the great fact of the
sentiment and opinion of our brethren everywhere
Now, the great question which we are called upon
to decide is, what in this unparalleled stupendous
crisis-what will We do? Seven States of our COM
mon country-lately moving in harmony claiming
other rights than the fellowcitizens of COM
mon Observation-Disclosures from this government