Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-02-24
REMARKS OF MIR. WADDELL,
Or CHATHAM COUNTY,

REMARKS OF NIX. HADDELL,
Or CHATHAM COUNTY,
Dllrersd in the House of Commons Of the General
assembly Of North Carolina.
Pending the bill before the House of Commons
to increase the salaryof the Governor Of the State
and the Executive officers, Mr.. Williams of Nash,
offered an amendment that the pay of North Caro-
na soldiers in the Confederate or State service be
three dollars per month in addition to the amount
paid them by the Confederate government Mr..
Iarriss of Chatham, moved to amend by suoStltu-
ting five dollars per month, and Mr. Williams &C
cepJe,l the amendment; this being the question be-
fore the House, Mr.. Waddell of Chatham, took the
flor and spoke as follows:
MIR. SPEAKER:-I am gratified at the opportunity
this amendment affords me of saying something in
behalf of those gallant men who are fighting the
battles of the country; and it is fit opportunity
also to defend North Carolina from the foul aSper
sionS of those who have engaged in defaming her
cool name l hope, therefore, the House will in
dulge me for longer period than by the rules re-
stricting debate, entities me to. Cries Of leave,
leave"
Whilst we are passing through the dreadful or
deal which this war has inaugurated-whilst indi-
vdual heroism and national patriotism, have exhibit
ted themselves in majesty at once full OF beauty,
proriety and eloquence upon the battle fields of the
country, ought not to forge: that the interest
ing detail of events and the faithful dcneation of
characters who have figured in this war, form the
grandeur Of the picture
The amendment to the bill by my friend from
Nash, (Mr. WillIamS) and amended by my friend
from Chatham, (Mr. Harriss,) not only meets my
hearty concurrence and support but in their advO-
cacy feel that am Gischarging holy, religious,
patriotic duty which if left undone will be lasting
shame upon US, who are members of the first Leg
Stature elected by the people since the blood of our
soldiers has flowed so freely IN the cause Of indie
rendence.
North Carolina, sir, has been abused, vilified,
n fradroad nv the DeOrln IF other States her
supposed indifference to the of the Confedera
cy Tut when We remember that North Carolina
the last State but one which into the old Uni
ted States government, upon proposition to adopt
the Federal Constitution, and the last State but one
if not the very last to come into the Confede-
racy; when we remember that the bloody scenes
of the revolution had not faded from the memories
of our people, and that there now living wit
neSses Of the anarchy, bloodShed and ruin which
followed in the track Of that seven years war; when
We remember that there aged men now in North
carolina who have lived under three governments,
all occurring in the life time Of one man. first under
George the ILL., of England then under the United
States government and lastly, under the Confede-
rate States, how was it to he expected that our
people would in a moment cut loose all their moor
ingS and throw themselves upon the wide ocean of
uncertainty with all its painful misgivings of the
future, and without weighing well every step they
took.
Sir, the long sought desire of some of the leading
politicians Of the South never met with response
from our people in the days of notification. They
had been taught by the lessons Of wisdom and ex-
perence, which marked the administration of that
most remarkable man, General jackson, that the
Uh ion must be Preserved 1t was cardinal prin-
cple with them which change of political econo-
my could alter. They had witnessed tie fearful
conflict of the period have adverted to, in which
the dominant party, under the lead of Jack
son, was on one side, and the nulliiers under the
load of Mr. 70 fhn IL
Jackson triumphant; they had seen him, surrounded
by troop of admirers walk into the capitol of the
country on the last nigh Of a memorable session of
Congress, and, as the clock struck twelve declare
that the damned rascals defunct they had seen
hiiu when Clay walked by the side of Calhoun
through Pennsylvania avenue to his seat in the Sem
ate to protect him from the violence of the jackson
20 dynasty, surrounded by Union men, who when the
President that the first drop OF blood shed in
South Carolina, should result in the hanging of
John C. Calhoun higher than Haman echoed and
re echoed the sentiment till it reached every loo
cabin in the South; they had seen him IN ali the
PHnp and power of his distinguished position cut
up by the roots, any and all disaffecton to the gov
ernment come from what quarter it might. thew
had seen him disperse crowds of opponents by n
single edict and put under the ban all who dispu-
ted his authority they had seen him when Mr.
Van Buren, was forced upon the country as Presi-
dent ride by the side Of that gentleman to the capi
tol in currcle built out of the tmbers of the old
ship Constitution, whilst the band played I" Hail to
the Chief who in triumph advances" Thus ended
the career of Andrew Jackson an eight years Presi
dent the personi6caton of democracy the man who
Lad slain every opponent, put down the Bank of
the United States hoisted Nick Bddle from his elc
waited position and drove back the hordes of sece
Gers and nulli6ers from the South into the cotton
States, from whence they did not emerge until the
name and influence Of jackson had died All these
things our people had witnessed and heard only the
last dying declaration Of the old hero as he sank TO
rest at the hermitage, "that the Union must be
preserved"
With all these evidences before them Of the To-
nacity with which the leader of the dominant party
IN the country, held on to the government how was
Ito be expected that our people would in mo-
mem, abandon all their former opinions ?? The pri-
Vae lVes oil our citizens had been frugal temDernte
ana laoorIous, and it had its influence upon their
Puobe characters They saw at a glance that a
caange CT governments involved their very indenen
asRee In SO embarrassing state of things Il ia
not surprising that our people entertained wrong
measures and miscalculated the effects of the plans
proposed to them TO secede from the government
Sut, SIR, when the truth of history shall have been
UndIcated, and show to the world that embarrassed
rs VIC were IN the commencement Of this strupola
Dy an opposition fairly forewarniDg all the co3Se
qoenees oi the meditated proceedings the world.so
Mr rom eondemnng will applaud the people of
Nortn-Carollna for the evidences they have given
OF DEVOTION to civil liberty
But sir, after demand was made and nrovolod
ne question of right and that question had divided
he people Of the North and South into two strong
parties things fell into that state in which IL be.
came Impossibis to restore affairs to their original