Year: 1859




elimination in the reporters, but do not know who
prepared them, and am, of course not responsible
for them. The STANDARD might have been sure
had not the report it attributes to Mr.. Can't
WELL if it had reflected that had spoken three times
during the week in Granville,-the day before 20
miles from Raleig gh-that had travelled half of that
distance in my buggy, over bad roads, on Friday
had been engaged in discussion with three persons
in warm court room, until IL o'clock Friday night
and that the paper containing the report of the de-
bate had been circulated in town early Saturday.


think have right to complain when both Ed
itors of the Standard, and their excellent and expe
rienced Reporter were present, and heard all said
on that subject or the Senior Editor did not leave
the room until I had left the subject) that they
should have gone outside of their own report to find
something of which to complain Of course the
Standard will not hold me responsible for anony-
nous reports of my speeches. without taking steps
to ascertain from me whether have been correctly
reported That is an injustice am it would not
do any body, much less the candidate of its party
whom it is supporting.


will state before closing, that probably will not
allude to this subject again in my public speeches.
certainly not unless compelled to do so by unbound
ed reports as to my course and action. Determined
not to be deprived Of the Of the printing press,
have prepared, and caused to be printed. pamph-
let containing party precedentS and arguments in
defence of the Cuba BILL I will circulate it. and am
responsible for every article it contains. There is
not word in it which tend to create or foster
dissensions in the Democratic party, but much of
odashioned Democratic doctrine, which is the best
ant,lote to quarrciS wrangles and discomfort My
opponents would deprive me of the use of the print
ing press altogether because they know that truth
cannot be crushed whilst the press is free grave
charge was made against me in debate the other
day by lawyer, of abusing my franking privilege
in sending to my late constituents ten copies of
newspaper containing defence of my action on the
Cuba bill, as though the franking privilege had not
been given to members of Congress for the express
purpose of enabling them to send to their consitu-
ents information on public affairs. When aban-
doned that method of laying my defence before the
people, because it was construed as taking part in
the quarrel to which have alluded and got up
pamphlet, the Register, before l had circulated
hundred copies of it, assailed me nriousy because
it was not printed at the Standard Office though
the Editor knows perfectly well that five thousand
copies of pamphlet can he printed at half the price
and in half the time in Washington that it would
require in Raleigh. When did the Register become
so regardful of the interest of the Standards? The
truth is some people will not be satisfied unless
will be still and he butchcred like lamb. No mat
ter what sort of effort make to defend myself they
raise clamor and refuse to be comfortcd with any
thing short of my consentng to be placed "in the
category Of defunct politicians" At present can
uol COSelI " ~ t!ieIc, ucCdliSe tue
OF the Democratic party and my defeat would be
the defeat of the party In despite of the clamor o.
the opposition, it is my duty to defend myself and
mean to do it.


am prepared to show and will take pleasure in
showing to any Democrat who will call on me, as
canvass the District, that had nothing to do with
starting the dissensions in Raleigh and that before
uttering the warning to the Democrats of the Dis
trict, which uttered on Friday night in pursuance
of the 11Vrp Of of thn Ol1nSt epdn
members of the party, Ihad used the most strenu-
Gus efforts to arrest tie reud. My efforts con-
fined to that side whose zeal manifested in my be-
half felt sure would cause suggestions to be heed
ed which looked to the promotion Of my interest.


The instinct of self defence is Of the strongest
in the human heart ! have endeavored to defend
my good name a statesman and as the represen-
tative of the District. Conscious of the rectitude of
my own intentions have resored to means of de-
fence which were unqucstionably honorable and
which appeared to me uneXceptionable. When I
have found that they disturbed the harmony of the
party and engendered animosty have unhesita-
tingly abandoned them. My mission is to preserve
the harmony OF the Democratic party and defend its
principles Individually am not to be considered
except in so far as is necessary in order to prevent
the Democratic party from being injured through
my acts. All ask is that support which the cir
cumstances under which came into public life give
| me a right to expect


The Democracy of the District will perceive the
delicacy of my position. | invite from them the


most unresraned intercourse verbally and by letter.
! l will do my duty shall adhere strictly to Demo-
cratic principles and Democratic organization,
success of sound principles being, with me, para
| mount to all personal considerations


have never wished to make test of the Cuba
| BILL Every member of the Franklinton Convention
was nv friend and have never heard that such a
| test was proposed suggested by any individual
! there. Such proposition would not have met my
approval. The Cuba bill was only means to an
| end. | have said in all my speeches that adopted
this means, because it that by which the Demo-
cratic party had made all former acquisitions, and
seemed adapted to circumstances then existing, and
was ready to abandon it in favor of better or one
more likely to be successful my object being to get
Cuba honorably, in favor of which my constituents
seemed to be unanimous.


| By next winter the circumstances of Europe may
have so far changed to make it obvious that this
| plan cannot succeed and that some other plan may
1t may become apparent that no plan can succeed
If the Franklinton Convention had passed resolu
ton committing the party and pledging me to the
Cuba Bill, | could not have gone before the people
without explaining to them that change of circum
stances-the cessation of the war in Europe or the
accession Of the black Republicans to power in thu
United States, might render it highly improper fol
me to vote for Or advocate the bill. l stand upor
the resolution of the Franklnton Convention and ir
defending my past action make no test for the pres
ent, nor any pledge for the future.


L. OBJ. BRANCH.


Raleigh, June 29, 1859.