Newspapers / North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, … / Dec. 6, 1860, edition 1 / Page 1
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"'V.v '' .' ' -i'MtN it 4'. J'' l-H II. !. 5- 1 FlU , IH 4-.i;i . - i i . i . i i i i i i an ic v:' ikb in . bbbj . i mm i mm i g i - i im i aaa at-v i i r i ii i in i mm i mm mm i mm mi K'A H r M ,?. i.4 I II i AWIM m III II . I I III Jl Jl II I1 ' ' " -' 1- r ir ; R ti I II I . 1 ii If' f,? K:.' U ill's v. J WADESBOfiOUGH, N. C, TflORSDAY, DECEMBER C, 186a. WHOLE 117. VffBUd Aw urrDQPDIPTfnv MbtHrtioa iWMa for toa'tha x uot&i. Dni inrtioB .........,, 7TM . ThrM (mouui, or Uurti MMrtiaiM,, 4- ov . Hi ""Pi ii iii i ii i 6 (HI Ont mf ......... I DO Adrcrtiwri muni itaU th Bombtt of llmcf wbih Uiir MnrttNiiHlt InMrtra ( WMrM tby frill tw cooUbmI Ull fotbldJca, M4 mmtfi Mat4 Id to th bTt. , , . . - r . ApMBNti will l aud with ytrl dra'tlim librl tad adroUoai torat. Obltakr aotloa frt wbea bet xeietHng twenty Itntt; U abort twenty lines at adTrtltmDt rKi. A. BEXSETT, ORTH. CAROLINA ARGUS. speech ofmy.:a;il Stephens, 2hlitertJ in Ik Hall cf tU Jhum of Riprat- ,Mive$ of Georgia: VFednetdag, sNovmber 14. 1860 . . -l" " ' l- i. Mr, STirirtiti enterBd th' HH at tb boar Ht T 'd'clovk and greeted with long andnp l.taroDi applause,- He rose tod laid t - " . u Jfttlluv-oitiieiM, I ippear. before joa to-oigtt, at Ilia request at neatbera of toe Legislature anJ-others, to speak of matters of the decpeit mieresi mas oan ppssiDjj eonoern us an, or in earthlj eharaeter. There is 6othihfr,rno qoes tion or snbjet,'conDected with this lite that eon eerol a free people, to intioatel ss" that of the Ooreraisent under whioh thee K re. We are ot indeed aarroaaded by orile. Never since I entered apoa the public Mf bis the country bbb to oovirooea with dimeuluee sad daagera ttit tfirMrmmi the pobliu pne tad the) Terrex- ! ii . I i' I I r r of the Constitution of the United States waring ! WtJ of hig works. ' You mar select the . wisost brer our heads. '' Applause - Let the fanatios of the North break the Constitution if such Isthoir full purpose. Lot the responsibility be' upon them. ' I shall speak more presently of their lofj. But let not the South, let oi not be the enes to eommit the aggrneion. ' We went into the elec tion with this people. The result wis different from what we wished; but the election has been constitutionally held. Were we to make a point of retistaooo to the Government, and go out of toe Umoa on that recount, the reoord would be osde dp hereilter aeilnst ni. ' ' . But it is said that Mr. Ltoooln poller and 1 UiCUlUUUU. - Ja.M.rcCoi., ., AltMawris. If. & I -. 104-tf . . v- E. T. feaaaaw ',ir.c, " , , ' D.-G. IrlcRAE, ittornrj it liw lid Solicitor in fqnitj, U DOBADA, ARK. so ly JOIIt Jl. CLARK, Commission and Fofwardlag Horchant, i WILMIKGTOX V. C. PROMPT ATlRtTON GIVES TO TUB 8AtB QV COCSTBr PEOUUCB, If AVAL UTUaS, iXU C0TTO5.' v . SaLXK tX LtMS, rLASTER, CEJIE.XT, 07 HAIR, iC. ly COLHT.lEr.TEJ.IElT lc CO, ' piaact lwroaraaa or . Hardware, Cutlery, Guna, c, ' No. ti Hirst Stbkbt, " -gg-ly V CHARLESTON, B. C. CIIAnBEREAI.t, niLER CO., . i IMPORT! R3 AND JOBBERS OF DRY 0003, So. 147 Uestiso Sraair, . M-ly CHAELEflTOH. 8.!. w. amunuid w. r. o'iaba. t. jmttbissssi, t CLOTIU.rO HOVSE. JfATTIIIESSEar, O'lIARA m. CO., 'o. 118 East-Bat Btbist, - j . Corwr T 4ms, ' CHAELE8T0ST, 8. C. FURH&BIXG GOODS OF ALL KIXDS E. It. STODDARD aV CO., ' vaoitsAia otUBs ta T Hoots, taoES t.rn Tnvjrus, AT MABOrACTUREBS' -BICES, Hot. 1S5 abd 167 Mbbtibo SratiT, tmf twlttHif Uotri. cikuu a. itoodp. ) CUAELESTOX, 8.C. calbb rBxaaMiaa. ' .' ' ELUI sV MITCHELL, WBOttSitB ABB BETAIl DEALERS W CORN, PEAS, OAT8, BTE, WHEAT, BRAN, EASTERN AND NORTH RIVER UAYi. FRBSU CUOCXD MBAL, ffOMLW, ft-Afc. HO. WOHTS1 ATE.aTKtCT, V , WILMIN6T0N, N. C. m. a. atus, ' -lj a. r. MrTcnttt,. CBAB. D. HTBBt, JtlTERS raiD. . boobs. " HATS, CAPS, TRUNKS, STRAW GOODS. RO.V. WETS," FURS, MILITARY 0K)DS, CANES , AND UHHRELLAS j 34 Market Street, WIMIA GTOX, X C. Wt tak the attentioa af wbolttalt bajtn to tht tuort crj. Wt art prrptred to fmlp h Ooodt ia our lint ti low at ANY HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY. Orders for Hits by tba ott or doien will receivt pronpt atttaUoa by adartttiDg as boot. -iy T. C. B. O. WORTH, Gtnerat Commltmion Merchant; ' - - - -ABD PBAltBS IB". LIME, HAIR, CALCINED PLASTER, AND CE- UCNT, OA.HU fLASTEK, fUKfi rfcttU OUANO, . And Agents for the sale of ' R0BIX8ON S MANIPULATED GUANO, TA8K8R A CLARK'S FERTILIZERS,' BUPiR-PUOSPHATB OF LIMB, . 70 1 y -WILMIXGTOX, X. C. GEO. II. KELLY, BOOKSELLER, Mo. 87 Maeket araarrr WILMIXGTOX, X. C. '' Keeps e--Untly on hand awry rsriety of Scbool --Pooks, MIctllBtoos Books, Blank Books, Drawing ' poukt, Wuiio Books, Foolscap and Letter Ptpers, L ,dlti' Note and Billtt Ptptr, Artitt Mtttrialt of all Itlndi, LtlUr P,rettet, Letter Copying Books, Inkt, Ttncils, Enrtlopes, Law Books, Doctor Books, Draw. 4ng Paptra, LHbot raphtfor Qreciaa and Oil Puintinfi, ' Wa. Kntbt A Ct t etlehrattd Piano Fortt7Tjroer A Baker Stwlng Mtchlnet and Conner Btwlng Macblnet. All trdtra (or any of tht abort artielat promptly , Ailed and forwarded by snail, rwlroid, or othcrwttt. ' ' 79-ly . . ; " ' IIOPKIlfS, IirLL m, ATKIXSQar, IMPOETEBa AND WHOL18ALI J ; 0E1LEU II FOIEIGS k BOIEITIC DRTCOODS, .'So. 468 Baltiwobb Stasir, " (ofroam aAaoraa aqnuB-J BASU . 0K1S, 1 . , . JtAildJfOXJ..-- ' " " " S7-tf jtnl wrajoa; b,nt laOi'-u.. Umt it is. th duty oi every gooq ciuxea u gir nt cowbmi ana riew whentHrer tba country ia io danger, a to the best policy to be pursued, I am here. For these reasouaand tBeaeooIr dolbe poak a calm, patient, ana etioouve Dealing. Hf object ia Dot to stir up strife, but to allay it) not to appeal to your pinions, but to your reason'. . Good governments csu never be built up or sustained by the impulse of paasioo. I wish to address myself to your, good aeose, to your Rood judgment, and if after hearing you disagree, let us agree to dixagree, aud pert as we met friends. We all bare the same object, the same interest. Thst people should disagree in Republicsn Gorernioents upon questions of pub lic policy ia natural. Thst men should disagree upon all matters connected with boinan mveiti cation, whether relating to science or human con duct, is natural. Hence io free governments parties will arise. Hut a free people should ex press' their different opiuions with liberality and charity, with no acrimony towards those of their follows when honestly and . sincerely1' given. These tro my feelings to night. ' Let us, there fore, reason together. It ia not my purpose to say aught to wound the feelings of any individ ual uo may be present ;nd if, in tlio ardency with which I shall express my opiniona, I shall say anything which may be deemed too strong, let it be set down to the teal with which I advo cate my own convictions. There is with mo no intention to irritate or offend. Fellow-citizens, we are all launched in the same barque ; we are all in the same craft in the wide political ocean; the same destiny await os all, lor weal or for we. We. have been launched in the good old ship that has bveu upon the waves foT three quarters of a century, which has been io many tempests and storms, has many times been in peril, and patriots have often feared that they should hare to give it up yea, had at times almost given it up but still the gallant ship is afloat. Though new storms now bowl around us, and the tempest beats heavily against as, I ay to you do not give. up the ship; do notaban don her yet. If she can possibly be preserved, and our rights, interests, and security be main. tained, the object is worth the effort. Let us not, on account of disappointment and chagrin st the reverse of an election, give up all as Hist, but let us see what can be done to prevent a wreck. Someone here laid " the ship has boles in her." And there may be leaki in her, but let utstop them if we, can; many a atout old ship haa been ravedTwitq the richest cargo after many leaks, and it may be so now. fCheera. I do not, on this occasion, intend to enter into the history of the reasons or causes of the era- barrnsmcota which press so heavily upon us all at thia timer. In justice To -myself, ' however,' I must barely slate upon this point that 1 do think much of it depended upon ounelves. The con sternation that has come upon the people is the result ot a sectional election of a V resident of the United States, one whose opinions and avowed principles are in antagonism to our interests and tights, and we believe, if carried out, would sub vert the Constitution nodcr which we now lire. But are" we entirely blameless in this matter, my countrymen f I give it to you as my opinion that but for the policy the Southern people' pur sued thia fearful result-would not have occurred. Mr. Lincoln bag been elected. I doubt not, by a minority of" the people of the United States. What will be the extent of that minority we do not yet know, but the disclosure when made will show, I think, that a majority of the' constitution al, conservative voters of the country were against him ; and had the South stood firmly in the Con tention at Charleston, on her old platform of principles of non-intervention, there is in my mind but little doubt that whoever might hare been the candidate -of the National Democratic party would hare been elected by as large a ma jority aa that which elected t. Buchanan or Sir. fierce. Therefore let us not be hasty and rash in our action, especially if the result be at tributable sf 111 to ourselves. ' Before looking to extreme measures, let us Erst see, as Georgians, that every thing which can be done to preserve our rights, our interests, and our honor, aa well as tLe peace of the tountry in the Union, be first done. rApplause.l ', . The first question that presents itself is, shall the people of the 3outh secede from the Union i io consequence of the election of Mr. Lincoln to j t. 1I.'J ..1. -T.!. JCI. . . ioe presidency oi me unuea oisies v dij coun carries them out it will te destructive of our rights. Let us not anticipate a threatening evil. If be violate! the Constitution, then will come our time to act Do not let us break it becauaa, forsooth, be may. If bo does, that ia the time for us to strike. TApplause I think it would be injudicious ana nowise to do this sooner. ' I do not anticipate that Mr. Lincoln will do anaju thing to jeopard our-safoty 'or security, whateve? may be his rrpirit to do it; for be ia bound by r, t'- ' n ; urnal checks which are thrown around l ' ' . attMk timw tsmkre hint powerless i biiould not to dJ "y great muwnief. ibis shows the wis. and best men for your judges, aud yet how many defects are there in the administration of just ice r lou may select the wuoit and best men for your legislators, snd ret how msny defect wre appareut in your law t And it is so in our Uoveroment. But thtt this Government of our fathers, with all its defeots. comes nearer the ob jeots of all good Governments thsn any other On the fuce of tlio earth is' my settled conviction. Contrast it now With any on the face of the earth, hngland, said Mr. Toombs. England, my friend says. Well, that is the next best I grsntj but J. think we hire improed upon Lng principles ire against this Constitution, liid if he-fund. Statesmen tried their apprentice hand on dom of urrSTs.em. The President of the United State Is no Emperor, no Dictator; he ia eJotbasl with no absolute power, lie can do nothing unless be is becked by powtr in Con gress. The House of Representative is largely in the asjority against him. In the very face and teeth of the heavy majority which he has obtained in the Northern States, there have been 1 rge gains in the House of Representatives to the Conservative Constitutional party of the country, which here I will call the National Democratic party, because that is the cognomen it has at the North. There re twelve of this party elected from New York to tffe next Con greoa, I believe. Io the present Houe there are but four, I think In Pennsylvania, New Jer sey, Ohio and Indiana, there have been gains. In the present Congress there were 113 Repub licans, when it takes 117 to make majority. The gains of the Democratic party in Pennsyl- th gorornment of England, and then ours was made. Ours sprung from tbnt.-arordinir manr of its defects, taking most of tlio good and luar ing out many of its errors, and, from th whulo, constructing and building up this model Re- puwio, the best which tho history of the world gires any account of. Compare, my fncndi, thii Govern meat with thst of pain, Mexico, the South American Republics, Germany, Ireland, (ire thort any sops of that down-trodusn nation here .to-night J) Prussia, or, if yon travel fur ther1 east, to Turkey or China. Where will you go, following the tun in its circuit round our globe, to find a government that bettor protects the liberties of it people, and secures to them the blessings we enjoy. Applause I think that one of the evils that btset us is a surfeit of liberty, an exuberance of the pricelejs blersings for which we afo ungrateful. . We listened to ruy honorable friend who ad dressed you lust night Mr. Toombs as ho re counted the evils ot this Government. The first evil! of which ho comnluiocd was the fish in 2 bounties, paid mostly to the sailors of New Eng land. Our friend slated that forty-eight years of our Government was under tho Admir.istration of Southern Presidents. Well, these -Cshing bounties bcj.'an under the ' rule of a Southern President, I believe. No one of thorn, during the whole forty-eight yeara, ever set his Admin istration against tho pnnciplo or polity of them 4... ...... !..!. I ii io uuv iui uiv wsaj wiieiucr ii was a wise pol icy in the beginning; it probably was not, audi th Administration of the Federal Government.'; It may be that we would, but have you any aa. As to the acts of serersl of tho States, shall surance of that fact? Would wo bare madiUho speak'prcaontly; but Aheo""thrce were tho toairiaiirodvaneeiiicntr"imprQvcmcnt, and prrgres -ones used against the common bead. Now, sup- j in all that constitutes uiuteriul wealth and pros pose it bo admitted that all of tbeao are evils ia ! purity ? I notico in the Comptroller General' tbe system, do they orerbalance and outweigh 1 report that tho taxable property of Georgia ia the advantages (nd great good which this same Wv.uuu.uuu and upward, aa amount not tar Government affords in thousand intumcrablo wsys that cannot be estimated Have we not at the South as well as tbe Nortb grown great, pros perous, and hsppy under its operation ? lias any part of tho world ever shown such rapid from doublu what it was in I860. I thiuk I may venture to soy that fur tho lust ten years tbo ma tariul woalit of tho people of Georgia, has Leon nearly if not quite duubled. The soxo may be said" of ouraJvanoo in ethical inn and every thing progress ii the development of wealth and 1 iJVoj that markl our civilization. - ll.iva we any vania, Ohio, New Jersey, New Tor', Indiana, ! have nothing to say iu its defence. But thorea- and other States, notwithstanding its distractions, son given for it was to encourage. our young men . BOSSST inw ffBoa. W. ATKIBStW have been enough to mako a majority of nearly thirty in tbe next House against Mr. Lincoln. Even in Boston Mr. Burlingamc, one of the noted leader of the fanatics of that section has been defested, and a conservative man returned inhtstfld. Is this the' time, then, to appre hend that Mr. Lincoln, with this large majority 40 tbe House of Representatives against hnu can carry out any of his coaxtitutionul principles in that bodyr In the Senate he will also be powerless. There will be a majority of four against bim. I his after tbe loss of .Bieler, Fitch, and others, by the unfortunate dissensions of the Natirnal Democratic party in their States ilr. .Lincoln cannot appoint an officer without the consent of tbe Senate lie cannot form a Cabi- net without the aame consent, lie will be in tbe eondition of George tbe Third, (the embodi mcntof Toryism,) who had to ask tbe Whigs, to appoint his Ministers, and was compelled to re ceive Cabinet ntterly opposed to bis views. And soWr. liineoin willbeeompelledtoaskof thesen ate to choose fjr bim a Cabinet, if the Democra cy of that body choose to put bim on such terms, He will be compelled to do this or let tho Gov ernment stop, it tbe National Democratic men (for that is their name at the North,) the Con aervativemen in the Senate, ahou Id so determine Then how can Mr. Lincoln obtain a Cabinet which would aid him, or allow him to violate the Constitution r. w hy, then, 1 say, should we disrupt tbe tie of this Union when his hands ar$ tied, when he can do nothing against us; I have heard if mooted that no man in the State of Georgia, who is true to her interests, could hold office nnder Mr. Lincoln. But I ask who appoint to office? Not the President alone; the senate has to concur. No man can be ap pointed without the "consent of the Senate. Should any man, then, refuse to hold office that was given btra by a Democratic Senate r " fMr, Toombs interrupted, and said if the Senate was Democratic it was forMr. JJreckinndgc J . Hell, then, continued Mr. 8 , 1 apprehend no man could be justly considered uutruotothe interest of Georgia, or incur any disgrace, if the interests of Ueorgia required it, to hold an office which a Breckinridge Senate had given him, even thought Mr. Lincoln should be President, f Prolonged . v applause, mingled with interruptions J 1 trust my countrymen, you will be still and silent. I am addressing your good sense. I am giving you my views in a calm and dispassionate manner, and if any of you differ with me you can, on any other occasion, give .your views as I am doing now, and let reason and true patriot mm decidei between us. In my judgment, I say, under such circumstances there would bo no pos sible disgrace for a Southern man to hold office. No man will be suffered to be appointed, I have no doubt, who is not true to the Constitution, if southern Senators are true to their trusts, as I cannot permit myself o doubt that they will bo. My honorable friend who addressed you last night, Mr. Tooaibs, and to whom I listened with tbe profouodest attention, asks if we would submit to Black Republican rule? -1 say to you and to bim, as a Georgian, I never would sub-" niit to" any Black Republican agyretaion upon" our constitutional rights. I will never consent myself, as much as I admire this Union, for the glories of the past or the blessings of the pres ent; as much aa it has done for the people of all these States; as much as it has done lor civili zation; as much as the hopes of the world hang upon it, I would never submit to aggression upon trymcn, I tell you frankly, candidly, and earnest- my rights to maintain it longer : and if they can i. .... t j . .L' l .i ' t. ' . V :-: A .u. tt: v-l , .i.. ASHE , HARGRAYE, i , aTTOMUTMira 4T.MMn Pnetlot ia tartntrtkip In bt eownty of Ansot), tf ?tpt on tot Criminal Doektt in tbt County Court, (J. t. Hargrav btlog County Solicitor.) Tbty wiH attend te tht ollootioaj of all tUinu ta Irasttd te Uttaia Antoaaad thatanovndingtoantiee. T- 8. Atnt attends tht Cxorta of Riohmond, lion, gonery, Stanly, Cabana, Unloa tad Anion. J. R. Hargrav those f Montgomery, Steal? and 'Anton."'''' '-.!'.- i -... j - '" BfyOfrla at Widotbtrt'. . THOMAS S. ASHE. J R. HARGRAV!. - io-tf ." . r. i. sira nous. Wmich mnd Ctoc Hrpmlrtr, ABSOBTtUI, . 0. rji Jtwtlry, Ao., atatly and awbttaatUTty XJ roptirtd tad all wtrk wnrmatod ; ly that I do not think that they ought. In ray judgment tbe election of no man, constitutionally chosen to that high office, ia sufficient ciuse for any State to separate from the Union. It ouvht to stand by and aid still in maintaining the Con atitution of the country. To make a point of re not be maintained in the Union, standinc oi the Georgia platform, where I have atood from the time of it adoption, I would be in favor of dis rupting every tie which binds the States to gether. I will have equality for Georgia and for tbe cituens of Georgia in this Ufiion, or I sisUnco to the Government, to withdraw from it j will look for new safeguards elsewhere. . This is n constitutionally elected, j my position. J We ire pledged to niq- j they be secured j to go to sea and learn to manago ships. We had at the time but a small nary.. It was thought best to encourage a class of oi;people to become acquaintou with sea lairing life; to become sail ors; to man our naval ships. It lequires prac- t.ce to wain theTdeck ot a ship, to pull the ropes, to furl thd sails, to go aloft,. Io climb the mast, and it was thought by offering this bounty a nurse ry might be fortnod in which young men would -become perfected in these arts, and it applied to one section of tbo country as well as any other. The result of this was (hat in tho war of 1812 our sailors, many of whom came from this nurse ry were equal to my that England brought against us. At any rate no small part of the glories of that war were gained by thev veteran tar of America, and the object of these bonnties was to foster that branch of the national defence. My opinion is, that whatever may have been the rea son at first, this bounty ought to be discontinued the reason for it at firat no longer exists. A bill fof this object did pass tho Senate the" last Congress I waa in, to which my honorable friend contributed greatly, but it was not reached io the House of Representatives. I trust that he will yet see that he may with honor oontinuo his con nexion With the Government, and that his elo quence,; unrivalled in the Senate, may hereafter, as heretofore, be displayed In having this bounty, so obnoxious to him, repealed and wiped off from the ftatute bcok. The next evil that my friend eomplaincd of was the tariff. WeliVIetus look at that for a moment. About the time I commenced noticing public matters this question was agitating Vhe' country almost as fearfully as the slave question now is. In 1832, when I was in 'ollege, South Carolina was ready to nullify or secede from the Union on this account. And what have we teen ? Tho tarifl no longer distracts the public councils.- Roason has triumphed ) - The present ta riff was voted for by Massachusetts and South Carolina. The lion and the lamb. lay doavn to gether; every man in the Senatcand House from Massachusetts and South Carolina' I think voted for it, as did my honorable friend himself. And if it be true, to me the figure of speech of mv honorable friend, that every man io the North that wprka in iron and brass and wood has his muscle strengthened by the protection of the material resources of national power and greatness as tbe Southern States hare under tho Goncrul Government, notwithstanding all its defects 1 Mr. TooMua. In spite of it. Mr. Stephens. My honorable friend says we have prospered in spito ot tho Government. Without it, I suppose, ho thinks wo misht have done as well, or perhaps hotter than we huvo donu, That may be, and may not 'be. But, as res pect the great tact that we have grown great and powerful under tbe Government as it ex ists, thero i no conjecture or speculation ; it stand out bold, high, and prominent, like your Stone Mountain, to which the Gentleman alluded io illustrating homo facts in his record. Tliw great fact of our unrivalled prosperity in the Union, as it is, is admitted. H nether all this la in spite of the Government, whether we of the South wuuld have been better off without the Government, is, to say the least, problematical. On the one si lo we can put the l'aot against only speculation and conjecture on tho other. " But, even ns a ques tion of speculation, I differ with my distinguish ed friend. What wo would have lost in border wars without tho Union, or what We have gained simply by the peace it has secured, no estimate can be made of. Our foreign trailo, which is tho foundation of all our prosperity, has the proteo tion of the navy, which drove the pirates from the waters near our coast, where 'they hsid been buccaneering for'ecnturics before, and might have been still had it not been for the American navy nnder the counnanj of such spirits as ComnuiJore Porter. .Now that the coast is clear, tlint our commerce flows freely outwardly and inwardly, we cannot well estimate how it would have Won under other circumstances. The influence of :he Government on us is like that cf the atmos phere arounj us -Its benefits are so silent and unseen that they are seldom thought of or appre ciated. We seldom think of the single clement, of oxygen id tin air we breathe, and yet let this simple and unfelt agent be withdrawn, this life giving clement botakennway from this all-per vading fluid around in, and whit instant anj ap palling changes would-take place in all organic creation 1 It may" bo that we aro all that wo are in "spite of the General Government," but it may be that without it we should have been far different from what we are now. It is true there is noequal part of the earth with natural resources superior perhaps to ours. That portion of this country knownft? the Southern States, stretching from the Chesapeake to the Rio Grande, is fully equal to the pictu'e drawn Ly the lionorablo ami eloquent Senator last night in all natural capaci ties. But bow niany ages and centuries passed before these capacities were developed to reach this advanced stage of civilization I These same hills, rich in ore, these same rivers, same rallcys, and plains, ate as they have been mhoo they came from the baud. of the Creator ; uneducated and uncivilized man roamed over them for how long no history informs us. It was puly under our in stitutions that they could be developed. Their development is the result of the cntcipriso of our people, unck-r the operation- of the Government and institutions under which we have lived. Even our people without these never would have done it. The organization of society ha much to da with the devcloptuW of the natural resources of any country or any land. The institutions of a pesple, political and moral, pre the matrix in which ti.e garm oi their organic structure quica- ens into life, takes root, and develops in' furm, nature, and character. Our institutions consti tute the basis, the matrix from which spring all our characteristics of development and greatricss. Look at Greece; there is the same fertile soil. the same bluo sky, tho same inlets and harbors. the same Eean, the same Olympus ; there is the suranee that had we regarded the earnest but misguided patriotic advice, as I think, of roma ' of that day. and disrupted the ties whiih bind us to the Union, wo would have advanced as wa have? I think not. Well, then, let us be care ful now before wo attempt any rash experiment . of this serf. I know that there are friend, whosj patriotism I do not intend to question, who think this Union a curse, and that we would be better off without it. 1 do not so think ; if we ' cau bring about a correction of tliose evils which -threufeii us and I am not without hope that this may yet bo done thia appeal to go out, with all the provision for good I hat accompany it, I look hjjuh as a great and I fear a fatal tempta tion. - . ,- Yhen I look around and seo oijio.-perity in "every thing agriculture, commerce? art, science and tn-ery department of education, physical and mental, as well as in inoinl ' tdyihiccmont, and our colleges I think, in the luce of mclniii exbibi- tion, if we can, without the loss of power, or any essential riht or iiitoioff, remain iu llie Union, it ia our duty to ourselves" and to posterity to do so. Let us not too readily jielJ to this tempta tion. Our first pareuts, the great progenitors of the human race, were not without a like tempta tion when in tho garJen of Edon. They wenr" led to believe that their condition would be bet tered; that their eyes would be opened; and tliat they wiuiu become as po.U. Jhcy man evil hour yielded; in-itcad of becoming gods, they only raw their own iiafccdnrt. 1'lonk upon this rountry, with our institutions, as tho) Eden of the world, the paradise of tho uuivcrso. It. may bo .that out of it wo may be come -greater and more prosperous; but I am caudid anj sincere in telling you that I fear, if we rashly tinco poshioii, and without sufficient cau:e shall take that step, that instead of be coming greater or more peaceful, prosperous, and happy, instead of becoming gods, wo will be douie demons, and at no distant day will" com mence' cutting oncanothcr's throat. This is my apprehension. Let us, therefore, whatever we do, meet these difficulties, great as theyare, ljke wise and sensible men, and consider thorn in the light of all the consequences which may attend our action. Let us see first clearly where the path of duty leads, and then we may not fear to tread therein. 1 come now to the main question put to me, and on which my counsel has been asked. That is, what the present Legislature should do, in view of the dangers that threaten us, and tho wrongs that have been done us by several of our confederate States in tiie Union, by rite nets of their Legislatures nullifying the fugitive lave law", and in direct disregard of their constitutional- obligations T What I shall say will not bo in the spirit of dictation. It v 1 1 1 be simply my own judgment, for what it is worth. It pro ceeds from a strong conviction that according to it our rights, interests, and honor, our present safety and future resort, " (he ultima ratio re gum." That should riot bo looked to until all else fails. That may come. On .this point I am hopeful", bdt not sanguine. But let us use every patriotic effort to prevent it while there is ground for hope. If any view that I may present in your judgment be inconsistent w ith the best in terest of Georgia, I ask you as patriots not io re- ": gnrd.it. -After hearing. .mo and others whom you have advised with, set in the premises ac cording to your qwn conviction, of duty as pa triots. .1 pcuk now pa'iticularly to tbe members of the Legislature. . .There are, us I have said, great dangers ahead. Great dangers ji(ay come t'rnm the election I have snoken of. If tho policy of "Mr. Lincoln and his Republican associates shall be carried out, same land where Homer sung, where -Pericles or 'attempted to be; carried out, no man in Geot spoke; it is in nature the same old Greece, but it is "living Greece ho more." Applause Des cendants of the same people inhabit the country, yet what is the reason of this mighty difference ? In the midst of present degradation we see the Government, that stimulant was civen by "bis Tglorious frrcmen ' of ancient works of art ; tern- rote "and' I believe ever"; other Southern man. pies with traaments nnd inscriptions that excite So we ought not to complain of tliat wonder and admiration the remains ot. a once Mr: Ioomhs. That tariff lessened the duties, hiirh. order of oivihtittion winch have outlived the Mr. Stkphens.' l'es; and Massachusetts with unanimity voted with the South to lessen them, and they were made just 'as low as Southern men asked them to be, and that is the rates they are now jit. If .reason and argument, with expe rience, produced such changes in the sentiments of Majxiachusetta from 13o2 to 1857 on the sub ject of the tariff, may not like changes bo effected there by the same means reason and argument. add appeals to patriotism on the present vfjed question? And who can say that by 1875 or 1890 Massachusetts may not vote with South Carolina or Geurgia upou klj those questions that now distract thecountry and threaten its. peace and Ixistence ? I believe in the power and effi ciency of truth, in tho omnipotence of truth," and its ultimate triumph when properly wielded. Applause, j . .. Another matter of grievance alluded to by my honorable friend- was the navigation laws. This policy iwas also commenced under the Adminis tration of one of these Southern. Presidents who, ruled towell. und has been, continued through all of them Binee. Tbe gentleman's views of the language they spoke.. Upon them all Ichabod is written ; their gIory"Tias ""departed. Why is this so? I answer, their institutions have been destroyed. These were , but the fruits of their forms of government, the matrix from which their grand developmjHit-spningr And when once the institutions of- our peoplcJijiVe becm destroyed, thero is no earthly power that c-Jh pTfff!rback the 1 Y. . T T.' II -l..-JEir "I. t .... ! gia will bo more willing of ready than riijsclf to dctend our rights, interest, and honor at every hazard and to the lost .extremity. Applause What is this policy? It is, in the first place-. to exclude us by an act of Congress from the Ter- , ritories with, our slave-property. He is for using" tho power of the-General Government ngainst the extension of oiir institutions. ' Our position on this point is and ought to be, at all hazards. . for perfect equality between all the States, and t'le chizens of all the States, in the Territories, under the Constitution of the United States. If " Congress should, exercise its power against this. then I atu for stan Jidlt whew- Georgia planted herself in 18rd;JWnSe were plain propositions, which wcre"tl.eii laid clown iu her celebrated plat, form-as sufficient for th! disruption of the Union,' Promethecn spark toTTund1elhe1ff-hereaain,aiiy ! if the occasion tlnmld ever coml On thesu more than" in that ancient land of cloqu'ciic'o', poe- Georgia has declared tlua she will go out of tho try,nnd song.-' Applause. Tho came may be Union; aud' for these she would be justified by said of Italy. Whore is Rome, once the - mis-.' the nation ot the earth in o anHig.M ayt tres of the world ? Q'hcre are the same seven hills j same; I said it then ; -I say it now, if Mr. Lin now. tho same soil, tho same natural resources : I cola's policy should be carried imt. I have told nature is the same : but what a ruin of hum in !"you that l.do not think his hare election sffieicut greatness meets the eye of the traveller through out tho length and breadth ot trial most down trodden land ! Why have not the people of that Hcaycn-favored clime the spirit that animated their fathers? " Why this sad difference? It is the destruction of her institutions that has caused it. And, my countrymen, if we (shall fn an evil hour rashl v pull down and destroy .those institu- ; tions which the' patriotic band of our fathers la- the Union ; and I say so too. I stand upon i long and so hard tp build up, and which t Georgia platform, and upou every plank, and cause; but it his policy should be' carried out, in violation of any of these principles set forth in the Georgia p!atfoiin,i!iaf jrould be such an act bf aggression as ought to bo met as therein pro vided for.. If Ilia policy shall be carried c-uji in repealing or modifying - the fugitive slave law'" so as to weaken its efficacy, Georgia4 .lias declared that she. will in the last resort disrupt the. ties of pon tbe say, policy of these laws and mr own do not disagree. ! bored so We occupied thesame ground fu relation to them j have done so much for us and tho world, who can j if the aggressions therein proyidtd fi r talc place, Congress., It is. not my purpose to defend venture tho prediction that wmilar. results will II say to you, and to tret copieot ueorgia, keep, - tbettt now. But it is proper to state some mat-inot ensue ? Lotus avoid it if we can. 1 trust your jywder dry, anj let your assailants then ten connected with their origin. v .. ;i the spirit is amongst us that will enable Us to do j have lead if need bo: Af plaiise. I would wait , One of the objebfs was to build v4 a commcr-: it. ! Jt us not rashly try the experiment: for if i foi au act of aggression ;' that is my posuioft.. becaow a marTbat been constitutionally elected, my position. The only question now i-vnTri-4merican marine by giving American bot-1 it failsrns H-did in ureeee and Italy, and i in .ihci ow, upon Mother point, ana that tho most id uw num. -.That it wiinfc-.r t io4u-ne-cxci.usive carrvaoiT ' iradj between our-' soui i American iiemwucs. ana in every oiuer i-uuiirau mm um-ions oum rousiu- own ports. , Ibis it & srreat arm of jmiional . n ace wherever liberty is oneo destroyed, it may. iteration, I win speas. inai is mo course which This obiect was accoum shed. We ; never bo restored to us airain. I Applause, j -this Mate should pursue towards those Northern- an amount of shipping, not only coast- There uiit defects in our Government, .error in j States which by their lc out u in the wrong. tain the Constitution. Many of u bare worn , m counselling with you to night jiboul .. Can to support it.- Can re, therefore, for. the mere; it be secured? In my judgment ifmaybe ; yet election of man (o th Presidency, and that, it may not be; but let us do all we can, so that in too, in accordance wih tbo prescribed fojmi of, the future, if tbe worst come, it may never be tbe Constitution, makt a point of resistance to the laid wo were negligent io doing our duty to the Government without becoming the breakers of last. ' , that seared lostrament ourselves? Withdraw j My countrymen, I am not of those who be ourtelve from it? Would we not be in the fiove this Union has been a curse up to this wrongT Whatever fate ia to befall this country, time. Trui meg, men of integrity, entertain let it never bo laid to th charge bf the people of , different riewa from en on this subject. I do the South, and especially to the people of Goor-1 not question their right to do bo; I would not gia, that toe wer untrue to our national engage-: impugn tbeir motive in o doing. Nor will I niAota. Let th fault and tht wrong rest upon I undertake to aay that this Gorernment i)f our other. - If ail oat hope are to be blasted, if tht 1 father is perfect. There i nothing perfect in Republiei to go down, let us be found ia thtjthi world of human origin; nothing eon last momtnt tndinr oo ihf desk wit ti Sag aeoted with, bunas aaturo, from ana himself to power. gislative acts have at-. tempted to nuiiity tht fugitive slave law. ! know that in some of thee States their aefsar pre tended to be based upon the principles s-ct forth-' in the decision of the Supreme Court oft he United v Srate in the caseof Prif g ngiitit Peni'syl vania. ham now an amount of sliirpin?, not only wise but to foreign countries, which puts us in . administration, and short comings of many kinds, the front rank of the nations of the world, Eng-; but, in spito of these defects and errors, Georgia land can no longer be styled the mistress of the '' has grown to be a great State: soas. What American is riot proud of the re-1 Let as pause here a moment. In 1359 there anil f Whether fhoM lavs fhnu!d hA AAnI.inft - via nTu crisis hut not ko fearful as this, for is another question. But 'on? thing is certain, j of all I have ever passed through this is the mosbj That decision" did procraitu tlie-doctrine thst tho uo frcsident. northern or Southern, has ever ret Bon ous. and requires to be met with tne greatest oiam oiaecrs are noi ooun.i tiveirry tr v,v, recoinmeuded their repeal. And my friend's calmness and deliberation.. There wore many effort to- get tbem repealed has met with but among vain 1S-JH) lealpu to go at once out of little faror. North or South. - "' - tbe Union, to disrupt erery tie that tinds us to- These, then, were the true main grievances or gethor. Now, do you believe, if that policy had ground of oomplaint against the general system j tejn carried out at that time, we would have of our Government and it working; I mean been tbe tame great people that we art to day? visions of a law of Congress; thst the Federal Gor erument cannot impost! oVricsiipon State officials; that they must execute their own laws by their own -officer. And this may be rrue. But ttill it i the duty of tht States to deliver fugitira altvot, as well as ths du'y bf the Genera! Gorcramiat U 3
North Carolina Argus (Wadesboro, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 6, 1860, edition 1
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