1
in iloinj, otV-r than their foiling of rigt prunivts.
lir.-'e t irv HU'.t'-r more trum us, in a p-'rty punt of
ni'w. thin tiiev doffo.ri ;!u tt:lo generally. The
Whigs nv.y, perhaps, in imw instances, b.' ept-r
tn.l weigh down I
t in yonr mint ml
ir ,iar;cultiinil ad-i
t ! 011, noi only by
I units -I canuiuale fur Ihe Senate., -Shculd tins W ii-w ninth oppresses your sons
! (iS:lh'L.J Li a iir,-ciil:ite miivoH.cm. and further i their intellects, vou have that
I 1 i.iii- In- .l.-i'r.J. th i (,ni irt.'ii movement' of ' wealth. Yutir w.itir Dower, vour ,isr;cultiinil
f manngTs. who ,;et tin leHtaitJinjly, on iblcs them ' vantages, the salubrity of y.n cliiuate, and the
i to 'jfftl Jo-.r.i th; resist. no, b.-eiu rtipy are usu- 1 heautv ul'voursceneiy ; ahovn all, in the energy.
i i ti.un iii,ii.iun,i,,nce. : ip t:i i uu'-.i n:m ovu 01
P. S. After thf alwe was placed in the hand I things to thai fxtremj'y. TVv know -.tjh Jvf ell ! sUwry in ilie wa Biiir-M,!iifc.iifi '.
of the printer, hut before I received the proel". sheet who it t,st t.u t'M wto from your rue ' pxUnw :e.fiiiJ, sn.l its mi Jntjiilt V wM. '
for examination, mv alte.ttoo h ben ca led M ; ,, .. , , , , ... . ' ' . . ' ' . r " . u n'. I !
. . ' ... fu.!,U. wrtiir m. nn li,l,l an, I tnimr n .nfntinni. BV 1 In Cnrt-t fllti,jn u it ft ; mfr lmirit riF en', rt'eraii'd
an itrticiu mono ul. the Ksleigli papers rclatuig i - 1 ' r j , , . , i,-, 1 ;
,j thii subject, which 9rin to hiva been
a nnml'?rnf mcmlrtrjnf Conrresi who aw mt
inn i iv-Ti
i . - .i . B 1 ..IK aitfl'.al inw.'i-n.tiii.w. MmuilT tM rt llTAtfllit . !
I9my W jeuoj. , . t i . .... rhiL.l.. uivi.n ihiiftJiv i ti!-r!rol'vuur sons: Ton havif thwit tlrnif nts.' f ! salist-ribers totkomij paper. ThoQi'h tlio urticle
U i3i liWi w.10.11 His luun r . . ' , j..': i ' ' .1 ..(... ...,ll.n: i -.,.t;nn .lit..ri..t v.. n-nm Iho
thini, thai tiifro :iro to;nc aecioi ou.'J, o a ocriwx; i sar, winrn ou-m iu inir ;uu iurnii an., 1 H. .. ...... ............ ... ....
chuiii.'lt r,"biit vhi4Vv nni.-r not be mfutioncdv for orod; That thi-y hiW bfhimwio it (wopa 4iiinior ia wliicti uttenlitih to talled to tt, fromtli
eon Mi Wci"Mv co;iMilcr,itin3.' ' " 1 count, you owe it to vow own itlf-rcpect, nd to 1 atyl hI tone of owaf the pwagrajhs, it wouUi
Willi rich Wi'aii in their tunas lliov ot course i iiiq cause .niujucei irimi. n uwriv. , puuuw . clih iu " i'n - m
i.-i! v iiiiuiv.
Vh.'n an ol.1
ut. It is thi'ii tissit ! V SiiB cr.EAT wc.
?,:'itx- Ra.t.trc ! .trr l's v.zn voru' ihusosm 1
3 us SrT i is axsc:i ! stxm t)x si'KOeiu
lii tin y call lo'ully mi
hnve iwv diifionlty in juniuintiiig tiymie tntj may j, yoa resolve to act as boco:!ies you, no one is under,
cli(ioi)B.to?eitHM; jutta thadulL'iai;'uuffli-r, wlwit t greater oliliiriiioim than myself to yo with von,
unJeven fntaKe inc re.ipmisiBimy oi tnc icau, oe
canseno on hat received more favors it your
..iTi viionn!" V;u t!i,-roHnsti, over, hJ hj" the pnvih-go ol eJiuClmg Ch ck to b
... " -t . . ..i... ;.. n I,,,,.., ikimr. is able to tarn im a ntrticiilare int.
iwy naniia imuiw -ivtm ui . ' J ivi. ., rf nf tlm n,hui.i1 niimlwr. Hmml- .iy ma wUI ! inn tlw tnitieo. 1 know, to
dnviii, sixmor m.'.ii bs-t .... . , ....
urar wiiiicn, MinifRf ivtiuw, iui hi? uniriw
cnnfi'ience reposed in uio by you,niy poor services
have aKvnys boon cfi'ered whenever Jiiero seemed
to bea chance to advance your interests. And if
you determine now to assert jour equality w ith
ihe rest of the State, then, so Kelp me God, I will
stan J with von.
i rtliniwn and trampled dm, sixmi-r Ih.'.n ns- f
. - , , ., r. L .u;. .1,- O... t..
rtiiuil ny the noisu irom uim w
U Kirrird, than they spring iip nimbly, and befure .
t ry h.iva li.id.tim.' to rub nfl' tha mud v(t ! the
t :,'t nfthiJ Ueinncr.ii'Y who h.ivo marciied nver
tliein, t!tcy most nwdeslW iutiko arrauseinenti ;
T..r dividing simms 'thir fnurilea ll the j
o.Vits in t!ie St,it. Not cunteul is mere
'mp f illo-.vei-s with tli.-ir proper ptivi.Vjf ot p'.un
ileringthe iljir.lbey assume to distribute Ihe hon
n en l eppropri ite the. Sjioliu upiwa. Whit, il
Nitpohwn during his tsventy eampiigns had found
iti.it ihi-re w.is o.ie division of hiHriiiy .which was
r.ignkriy broken and routed in every engagement,
.would ho have b.'ati).vcd on that diviMon all the
oach memlxir Hhotit whom there ia doubt is ut
t.t.'ked in various ways. If he be a man of some
facility of di'jx silion, companionable, niid hind of
jr.wd livinf, V.s pcnerosiiy is Appealed to, and he
is in Ihe most kindly manner solicited not to stand
outag.iinst the general feelin; f the party end
State, at the sitne timo thai lie is nliwl wnn uin
mrs, wines, ice. ; just as, in some counties ol Hie Ymsr -ppoiieiua isy that they have no. .oubt
State.it is still the custom, on election days. loop- ,ut that there my be' temporary excitement in
erato on voters by treatiuj them to tiquorseuh r, ti)0 yest . ,m t,"at it wi',1 all die. away long lie
Lrtisferbread, and the like. Should he, on the other i furc the next election, and thai von will then sub-
lianu, ue a man ol noma aspiraimiM uunecn, ma , nut as lormorly, l his, However, iriiow-cnizriw,
vanity ia tickled, and ho is persuaded that a man ' depends on yonrselre. They say further,' that if
i,r liU lutntita rnnn.-.t t,inir r.-Himin in olisctlritv.und ! f.,r.wf . -ilil n KirLta ni' tlw. Vlftt. tiint rliitll
JonorssnJ priz-swnn bv the Valor of there.t of; " gives corain iwppun I iney will law some osner wchovu roan iiue
.oU.eml And if ho" had done so, it' he had ! the party, he will soon be taken up htmseir and or Wtll, out of revenge ainst u.e as tha origin-
.i.... i ,.r n,i.,mn r nroinoled. This lie readily believes, seeing tnst i utor of the rebellious woveiiieiit asainst their uu-
llirouniiuriu.nwn "i ! m mnlt .lntl It lliea means with ; SL. I. . i. I- .1,.... f..,r.. l.sthavo
tin, litnTOt: Ml. fUWin miLkiit eHr.h llpmonstra- ! ilia u.T ltr Alt..., .f LntMtriniT ih-.t tlutA wlm :trr to
iwnsienf, woulU lie tliersity have Kept nine mm , v . , . . "- -"" , ,
' . . ...... - r, ' ... 4 tmna nt it:i I l int Inn lit ivimn inipnti-J. fin far BS 10 .ilt.r n:n i4,.t tliiv ,,.,(ii rMii.nf.il trt iil. nnil
be made a deputy, nd is thus employed to beat nisy fairly ueiiire any honor (hat tlicir personal
down opposition, and whip in the rebellious from ; merit entitles lliem to cliihii in Ihe State. They
his own section. Whenever there is an office to I S1y fartiu.r, by way of intimi'lutioii, th l they will
be tided, he is of course postponed, on account ol j form combinations in tlic district, and bring the
souo pressing emergency which requires the elec- j CPutral pow er so to bear as to defeat me. On on
tion of another. " Ho h slow to learn that his ser- ' occasion like this. 1 scorn all such calculations.
i inA, ...I .i;i!-:ii,,'i.(l tn i!,rin Miilu iiniinitii's and i "1
would he theraby have kept alive inat ;
soint w uc t 'made' III lonowers ns true as siroi, .
alike amid the eurtiinu s.tnds of the l'yrumid and
tlu ices and suows ol .'.oscowi which made him4
ictonous against the odds at Marengo, enabled
itirn to overconia tha vast obstacbs in the campaign
if Vagrant, and carried his banner triumphant
under the sun at Austerlitii that spirit which
-caused a mighty monirchy to fall without a blow
before his nresenco. hn his return from-Elba, and
i They will keep up the el mm' -tout slavery is
long at ihey can make p 'iir.il capital out of it
as long as they can sow division iu our rank!, and
rob us in detail of buf equal' rights ntt privileges
as members of the Union. The boldest infrac-
If it is. understood, al it appear , ti,)na 0f the Constitution which have, taken place
for years, were upon this subject of slavery by two
leading Northern States, fassachusetta and New
York, wlio openly and shamelessly rrpiufiaied that
plain feature'of the Constitution, which gives to
the Southern Slave holder, the rigid to recover his
fugitive slave. - South Carolina talked of nullify
tation. fraud, cr intimidation, are resorted to. li
for example, a mernlwr sliill be anxious to pass a
moasnro for the relief of his constituents, he is
told that if he does tioteoino in his bill shall bo
vility has not brought him the respect of his mas
ters, and Uiat by abandoning' the risrirts of his con-
inada us o d iruard wiilmg as one man to aie ior i - .
.... .7 .t . i , ...lu, Kt..n Biliii.o.l linn Aflnr h( has o-rowtl t(J0
'imn w ti.il n utiir went flown nrover on t o neiu : " . t,-
at Waterloo f But the central division of our
t.niiy, Hie weakest and worst portion of it, has in
ail-engagements ben unilonrly defeated, and lu
n unit'oriuly claimed ull the fruits of the victory.
Not content, too, with this, 'sc people, with the
mischievous vanity of grown no children, are enn
atantly insisting tint they shall ctiooss the candi
dates and make ihe issues. V, : ' - i
If it were known, for samplc. that a particular
gentleman would, if a candidate for tha office of
governor, lose ten Whig votes in either the county
uf WakeorOrango, this would be decisive against
him, and he would be act aside. Hut if it were
only kuotvn that this same individual would lose
one or two-thousand voles in the West, such kn iv
ledgo would not shake the determination of these
wire-pullers to wake him' the 'candidate, If a
burden is la be borne, "throw U on to On Western
rrsme, her back is strong and JU to bear buri:n$,"
Under such a system, therefore, it is no wonder
t.iai our party u constantly pressed, notwithstand
ing it has x large majority of the e&ctive men
and party newspapers of the State. No parly, as
was said in my hearing by a shrewd observer, can
expect long to succeed "when the tail insists on
going before."
Al w, however, the contest i over irt the State,
these wire-workers having by amngemeittatttoog
themselves settled all things, forthwith ga to work
to execute what has been decided on. . j
The central press, under their cantrol, by a se
ries of articles framed for the purpose, endeavors
4o mould public opinion to the proper shape. "
Jf, for example, their candidate for the Senate
happens to bea young man, then they proudly re
fer to the great achievement of young men in the
world generally, and bring to 'mind the ta ct, that
those men who bave acquired most reputation and
influence In the Senate have gone ihsre early, and
insist that if North Carolina ever expects any of
her sons on that thoatrc to take the fir' rank, she
must give some of her young fheti .of talent a faijr
thanoe.f' But should their favorite happen to be
nn elderly man, then tbey say that the senatorial
tation was from its very nature jnteuded for old
men whose iuh'maat, softened by time, enables
them to control the fiercer spirits of the nation,
and they indulge largely in praise of eltete Hour
txmii.n and senility generally, 'The general argu
ment is thus shifted from time to time, and they
- make also labored eulogies on their favorites; while
they refuso to publish any 'communication, even,
that may be intended to operate in favor bf some
other person. ; Besides -litis, tetters are Written to
all such persons ss . they can venture to approach
throughout ihe Slate, and every sort of influence
out ia metion for the purpose-intended. When the
members sf Ihe legislature begin to assemble, (he
managers and their instruments are exceedingly
autive i There are alwaya among the members e
ioct a number of plain, honest, soluble men,, who,
accustomed to live in retirement, and to believe
that persons at Raleigh are much ir.oro knowing
thn themselves, and having a stron; purpose mere
ly to do what is right, and because of tlieirown
. lionestvunditirness slow to c;pwt others of ee
unfair uutuosb. Such men are easily operatedont..
iney are ioiu inai juage n. aeciarr mai air. t -their
candidate, is the greatesT man he mf tea In
all his life, and that if ho w -rloeted to flie Senate
North Carolina will stand higher abroad than she
lias ever done ; that "Mr. B. has just re turned from
the North, and eiys, that all ovvr. tlut region, e
jtecially in New York, Bbrton.ahd Phili ielphia,'
every body is lotkingwitb Che greatest at (iety foe
his eloclion." These, thinn.ilwiag repeated' by
nearly every one who speaks U hi in on Hie subject,
his shoe black inclusive, probably ma.K an impres
sion on Win, in the confusion 'vhich surrounds hint
for the first day or two, he not snspeotrtig that
these people are goinj atbim hy desijivtot mere
ly supposing thift ho is .Uecting ttia oiti;ion-of
ne place biriy. otiould a ruauseem a utile, ob
tinate, (bey tell him, "my dewsir, yed are wrong
in this matter; we here in the fentre emttillex
aetty the opin ion of the Statin yonr fri .nd is man
of such eminent ibilllio hevt lie cannot be kept
back long; ia fact he is onr (wonj choice now,
send would be our trst, battliattlis present emer.
gertcy,as well as tlie general fceii ig yf the whole
requires that onr man sljoitla oowtte elect.
J!" Elderly men with sad' 'couhfeii-ajices, with
groans and starling toart,nricri,iimingarotuii
him, "my Cod! you art not (iry. ;otngt n bwa
It often happens that the prime 'originator of re
sistance to oppression parish, and yet the move
ments go on. Hampden and Sidney survived nol,
but the cause of Knsrlish hiiorty was ultimately
old to serve the public, he perceive that he' Jias j triumphant. Bozaris died, but (ireece betnme in
been making an exhibition of folly, similar to that . dependent. Warren fell early in the struggle, but
of the clown who waited on the bank of a river I our -revolution stopped not then.."'
for tha water to run off, so that he might get over Von stand alone, fellow-citizens, separated from
drv.; Vyery imaginable means wlieliier of suhYt- ! (h3 rest of the State j but vour very isolation,
ihoui'h il denrives vou of the iiower to act as olh
CM, rendi;rs you secure from attack. Vou have
urdv to determine on it, and you triumph. As
things were this winter, had fonr or five of Vour
defeated, . Thus, during the present winter, men j numbers determined to act together in supjtorl of
of respectable standing in tho Leuislature have
not heiitatod to say to such as were regarded as
my friends, that if they persisted their local mea
sures should bj defeated. In suah cases I, of
courss, advised them to make the submission re
quired, to protect from injury the interests of their
constituents. I have some reason to believe that
two year ago, on account of the show of opposi
t'en mado to the central influence, which was soon
given up, Ihey extended a little lav to the U est,
to sootli and keep it quiet. I trust that at least as
much will be done this winter. ; As far as I am
Individ nally concerned, I shall cheerfully acqui.wce
in any disappointment I may be supposed to feel,tf
any of my constituents get un advantage in ex
change' therefor. They will probaby have to pay
a hitrTtw nrice each year to secure our submission.
But, fellow-citizens, this onght not to be. You
ought not thus to be compelled to 6uy justice.-
You ought not to be obliged, to secure your fair
ahira of legislation, to sacrifice your men always,
because you may sometimes have those who can
not be bargained awa? without injury to the pub
lic It ought not to be so, gentlemen, but legisla
tive benefits and, official honors should be distribu
ted to all sections according to merit
To break the force of these views, it win oe
said that, in 1840, the Legislature acted through 1
a catena, and that I, as a member,' concurred in
that course. But then, the system just adopted
was materially different from what it is at this day.
Then, on the evening of onr second meeting, after
tho preliminary stops had been token,' the names
of several candidates were presented ; those gen
tlemen, all of whom were then in the city; were
invited iota our meeting, and in their several' ad
dresses made known their views fully on all sub
jects of interest at that time. We then adjourned
over to the next week, before balloting for a can
didate, so as to give time to allow members to de
cide for whom tiiey would votej, and, to afford a
lair c'ljuco to the friends of each candidate. J
remember well that, when it "was proposed, that
w should meet after an interval of two days enry
to vote, prominent gentlemen declared that in such
an event they would not be bound by . the nomina
tion, Haw different was this proceeding from that
adopted two yeas ago, wneu uie present incum
bent was taken up. Then it was given out that
it was to be e-merfl meeting for taking prelimina
ry steps, and ibe members, , generally were taken ,
unawares; its proceedings were exclusive, secret,,
sudden, and characterised by circumstances of
fraud.' It was only, however, by such means that
the nnioriiv were titirarvti into a course of sev
ition which their own sense of propriety, a well
as their regard Tot their constituents, would have
enabled them to avoid, had a day's deliberation
been afforded them. "
A-rain. in 1810, all the wsoitt "voted for went
into caucus voluntarily and agreed to abide it de
cision, and I might thva have .well - argued, as I
did, that they were bound by its action. But in the
case this winter, my Irieude expressly refused to go
into caucus, leaving themcerves free to act as they
might think proper. - As In 1940, we bad acted
through t caucus, when out proceedings were as
sailed, I made the beat argument.it) my power, and
defended, as well a I was ahlet'the gentlemen at
tacked, viz.,' Messrs. Mangulit Graham, and Bad
gef the test bei n(f assailed bk'aase - our legisla
tive: caucus bad adopted a . teso'ulion, -offeieit . by
me. requesting Uenetal Harrison to civs, tun a
cabinet arrjointment. as tie consequently aid do,
If, however; the system of proceeding then adopt
ed has been distorted and abused, it is especially
my d-ity to arrt tr eTtl'K--my letter of credit
has been grossly abused, then J ought (d withdraw
iL If i have been, to any extent, instrumental in
"frocklng" these gentlemen ; then'by" the grace
of "God, T will nnfrsk .theni tfl have the
power.- 4- "''' '- ' '.'-i
: Jf ij thallV-saij tliat, in She -kte election,-1
wasthc lv scrson oroposed from the WsL v4
that, the opposition was tome en personal groand; L
vour riirhL lhev would have succeeded wilhout a
doubt; for as soon s these people perceive that
you are dr'.-rmiiied no longer to be their slaves,
they will, for the sake of obtaining your co-ofra-tion,
admit you as equal partners. If for the fu
ture you ntend to act, men select your men wnn
.. . ,, . i .i i
care, lake sucn men as win regaru uiomseives
as wour renresentatives, rather than tho servants
of the Central managers men, in short, who will
dare to tell them that if they want unite .'me
they must look for them elsewhere tnan in tnc
Western rcsorvc. Should the persons thus select
ed by you, when Ihey get to Raleigh, be cajoled or
intimidated into an abandonment of yonr rights,
then beat them with many stripes, and set cur
marks upon thenvtothat they may be incapable
nf ilereivinirairain.
In giving you these views, fellow-citizens, it is
not my purposi to cast censure on, of rrento prej
udices against, those western members wlio look
a different course from the friends that 1 have
been thus endeavoring to defend. No man, .per
haps, is to be censured for not being the first to
join in a ntw movement, These genilemon, hav
ing Deep enoscn wimoui reiremB to mmi t""
erations, doubtless felt themselves justified in the
course taken by them ; and it is not my intention
to question, in this address, the motives which gov
erned them. On the contrary, a number of them,
a the declared themselves, individnallv preferred
me to any ono else. Jfy purposes rook rather to
the future, and, if some things seem atrongly
stated, it most bo remembered that thore are dis
eases which require thtirp Medicines. ' :
To the conductors of the public press, in central
parts of the State, too, I have to say( that I am
well aware that I have occasionally, in past times,
received at their hands much mero of favor, than
I mrrjtcdj and if, on any occasion, I have had
less than my friends might think doe me, it was
(kmhtless to be attribnud. not so much to their
feeling individually, for I know that some f
them were moved towards me by aimt an gener
ous impulses,) as it was to the circumstances in
which the were blaecd.it being but natural that
they should act 'in accordance With the sentiment
of the atmosphere aronnd theni.- -As-sar as I sm
ihilividuallv cohcemed. I wish :it distinctly' under
stood .that I do not pretend to have any ground of
complaint..'! roost willingly bear my testimony,
too, to the general worth and liberality of the citi
zens of the central narts of the State, a large num
ber of whom I halve had the' honor f nambering
among my personal friends, and from whom I have
received, in times past, many proofs of civility and
kindness. It is due to them lo say mat iney nave
nuiihet recnvnil nor Boncdit ahv advanta see from
the state of thinfr which! have described. A few
nnlitleal mumpers onlv have, for selfish purposes,
endeavored to control the power and. patronage of
the Stale. . . - ;.,., , , ,, i.-'
' I lit conclusion I have to say, that if this system
of greedy rapacity is to be persevered in, if menof
worth and talent over the State generally are to be
proswibed because of their location, and by means
of the system of puffing and machinery heretofore
used the most inctncem ano unpopular una n iu
be pushed np from time to time into high places
tive exposition,
to be inthnntt'd, thai this embodies Mr. Buiger'e
views; and if it be true, as there stated, that he
Vt ill not regard himself as indebted to thenngnan
imjty of Mr. Farmer and Mr. Clingman for his re
cleMion; if, in short, lie repudiates the support,
with what propriety can he retain Ihe fniittol that
sniiLort? If it be true, as titers stated, that after
a while ne would nave ueen electee uy outer means,
then it is easy for him to test the truth of this dec
lantion by resigning, because the legislature is
still in wssion, and anelectinri now will require no 1
more public time, than would then have been con
sumed by tlie prolonged balloting. By each a
course only can he, in the public judgment, fully
relieve himself from all obligation to Mr. Tanner
and myself, unwilling as he appears to be to rest
under mieh a burden. The fact that there is now,
in ronseqwoce of tlie occurrences of the aoaiion,
a clear Whig majority of four or fiv, renders it
cirtaiu that the iuteseat of tlie Whig party will
not be jeopardized ty such a course, since no one
but a Whig can be elected in any event. As to
the'ffivine out in the article that when I return
to my constituents Ishall fail to get a renewal of
their confidence, I shall leave it to von, fellow-citizens,
to give it that response winch jotir own
unbiassed judgment "and free will shall hereafter
dictate. ' '
The mail from the South has also brought the
intelligence that a citizen of Wist Florida has
been elee'ed to the Senate of the United Stales by
getting eight Whig votes, and tha aid of the Dem
ocratic party, so as In heat the regular caiicns
nominee, a' resident of tho centre of the State.
'Phis result, I learn, has been produced bv the fol
lowing canse. West Florida is decidedly Whig,
and its majorities have enabled the party to carry
the State ; but the offices hare been given hereto
fore exclusively to tlie centre. Tho western peo
ple therefore determined to submit no longer to
such an unjust system. But Florida has not been
four years in the Union as a State, and yet they
became in that time so impatient a to insert their
just rights, How many generations must go by
before the people of the western North Carolina
will be entitled to follow this example t
ost construction, cn juiy giv ,lw ,l!i' lif-nrM . i
Government any sntliority' inter ihi m l. vl
municipal- Instltntion'. "A lnt"fhrnief";i of t'ie
Federal Censt!tation',..'t!ie imU' liail j'l.e .piiwpf -nnd
the .wealth,nd,the North 'i','l iWvn un
ion witUlhe mest iUtteritigand endranng epithets:
The union his made her rich and powerful, end
she is now disposed to Impair the terms of tlie co- ;.
partnership by which sJ.o has so wonderfully iui- , ,
proved.' i ; -il ;,J ? -nl ,':-n n1 ":'' --'i
j The third rescdiitkm exinceses'- thK concern, 1
which the chnsttnt oggression' bri 6af rights, ty
ing an obnoxious law of Congress, but New York the encroachments of the North,, is prodncing.r-.
and Massachusetts practiced it; and yet we have 'This resolution Sir, appealsdeeply to the feeling,
never heard the Union was In danger froni their j not only of every, Senator here present, but of eve-
acts, but when a Southern man remonstrates a- j ry thinking individual in onr community.
REMARKS OF MR. WM. B. SHEPARD,
fn Semite, Tuesday, January 16, 1849, on the
Sttbjtct of Slatrry.
' Mr. SHEPARD commenced by saying, that he
promised the Senate on vesterday, when they a
gre?d to make these resolutions the order ol this
day at 11 o'clock, that he would occupy but little
of their time, he would now strictly comply with
that promise.
He would at an earlier period of the session
have introduced the subject of these resolutions to
the attention of the Senate, but as . move had
been made on the subject in Ihe other branch of
the Legislate re, he prcfc.tcd for various reasons,
witli which it is not now necessary to iron .e tlie
Senate, te a writ the action of that House. .
. The aeesion of the Legislature is now drawing
rapidly towards its close, and lie was sorry to say,
the House of Commons has not yet finally acted
on these resolutions, and he was afraid the session
will pass off, and leave them among tlie mass of
lumber upon therrta'We. : , '
Mr. Speaker, the peesleof North Carolina, the
whole South, expect us te epeak out boldly and
without disguise, on this interesting and all impor
tant subtect.
In my judgment sir, H will be a rndelihle lg-
ma upon uie cnaraeiw m mis iiriaituic, u
adjourns without a final and decisive action on
these resolutions. , j' ;
It is idle to say the resolutions are abstractions
and will produce no result; if so, then your con
stitution hi an abstraction, and !1 the guarantee
yrm possess for the eniet and peaceable enjoyment
of your slave property are abstractions, and yon
must be content hereafter to hold that property
not under the sanction of a Constitution, which we
have sworn to obey, but at the will and caprice of
northern masses. ' - '
Sir, I am no alarmist, bnt I cannot look at wiat
is now passing In Washington City, without seri
ous apprehensions for the result. Since the com
monceineni of this session, we have seen the House
ot Representatives make an unprovoked and wan
ton attack upon the rights and property df the
slaveholder in the District of Columbia; an at
tack so outrageous thatmost of the Southern mem
bers, without distinction of party, have been oblig
ed to meet in convention to resist it And shall
this Legislature look on as unconcerned and idle
spectators, without offering the slightest encour
agement to those gentlemen who are fighting pur
battles and contending lor pur rights? T hope not
sir., I hope I that North Caroline, wijl at least be
spared that ignominy. . ; : , ,, : ' ,,.. , ,,',-.
It is a common practice now-a-days, when a
move is made in defence of Southern rights and
institutions, to raise ,the cry of Nulifkatioa and
Disunion iu order lo alarm eur loyal and peace
loving population. Such a cry as this cannot de
ter me (cam doing my duty. At a time when wnl-
ideation had many ardent admirers in North Cave-
merely became they aft their favorites, then they line, when k was the favorite doctrine with most
p me wnignariy aew wiiea wo w4.wsanncnai ,,.. - v tl,.f. on H unmet acta.
............. tuin- , . r, - , - j
t SlOns; Il was aisuuciiy llia.uo known uj my I1I.TOVI9,
tlmtthey wenld aqiece'lthesHppoiof ethers,
n9t-cttienjOtUe oentrttM tnfy sJioa se waen
p, tlir objectbeing to obtain tlie reeognitioai of
the right pf. the extremes of the Stato te have a
Senator1 somet'uTics.' ' It may also ba said that Go
verfiorfiwam-MtJ'Gus'emorGrabitm, both western
saen, have been favored with high; office. But this
Is u mistakej far Uiese genttemon, before sno)i,e.le
siion. had becotne citizens of the centre ;. the one
being aVinhabitantpf Wake asdtheothef of Or-
ovor every thing." v & K mm
f no main point, nowever, witu. we nRngewitif
in prevent Bentlemnn from, diflVrent sei tions hav
ing time to confer together and .e!cfl'. The ,'propey
non for the vacant Ution3.r3Ini(fj,1 ti'ri r! sfcond
or tliird etesiiig sfUr (he'ofaniiat'lf olM gerf
etal assembly, a e.iucns is hiMd. '-lffjs' 'jrrnenttly
nndorstnod to be raervlv. a teetifi?dfyousiittafoh
i among the Whig members, tn which'. rif coufse,3no
one has nny bbjection!; As, iootij'fciivefcr, its 4
snlficient nsmbtr )iaVe'' potttn. .'.ngrth'o.r, a person
ileprttea lor the purpose- oilers .tt'swofuiioti, Ocolar
ing that, inasmuch ae harmony anil eoiu.fiit 'of a"
timi aTe necessary, the memlxs'j'iiill agree tp 4c-,
Vpdesce in Ihe derifler) sf the i"j,)r!:y." Tbii'fcs;
flliition, coming no suddenly and uai t:iocteif!y, pef-'
hap, meets no oppositinn, those 7mv.ii( rfot hayhfe'
.hid time to understand eueh'ffllier'l tewi,'or 6di-(
sny pun ui ttciiyn, ,nuu tthi.ii ni; waHinir
wDsesily tor others to rpM It arid fi3nir Several
jf -nt!eiupii, according to previous arrangetnent, sup.
port it la speeches, l't i tHkcrf to beln accurd
Mce with the gener.it wiVh. " ttf iti in c ! ti m
is taken, its frrnds, I. i. , .t.tii, h,tmi "aje!
tnl very loudly, wlm n o; nnerits heailate -ven
fo vol at M, beta? nofcw it Ht a los iihj t
e i'B0inced by the'ckiiftfrW tfVks) cttjrVSfil, - f '
tiuo?di;;telyittieeaKoir it "fit j.'r,wti to nwiii.
miiatexDeet to meet wttn tesieunce, i hey will
find arrayed against, them some whose aid they
have needed in times' gone by!, men who are wif
Unirlnniritostr'uffL'leawinst tvrrany: i" "'
p I And should they fail, as they are most likely to
dor m the efforts to keep the state cnsiavtu, uieo
it would bebntjust if they should be treated as
such cliques haie been in other States, ,in conse
quence of tlie fooling arrayed against them'on ac
count of their -rtpaeiryi- 4n ether words, they
ought not teeomplalnU they sttoald, siKisr a just
aystere of .reUlialion, be placed for half a century
where they nave sept me resi oi uie otaie., ,jiui
if on the other hand, thev should at lasf resolve to
do jiistice ttf the extremes' of lb fttate,'- by allow-
ingthem to come m m eqasatyuiey nave w tnerr
power to restore harmony good feeling, ,. LV
dor such a system, the entre ,by means , of ito
many advantages, as well as Ihe nature of s por
tion of the offices to be filled, will alwaya get more
t'raa aa eeuaf shin with the thermits -ef-the
statKi-f . si;!i Ci.i-.tr V-l lv i'Jwu vo ,!:
I la snaking this statemerit, fellow-clCzens,! have
not used all the materials within, my reach. , Onr
easemiglit be mad much stronger, but in se doing
I should have been obiired to alludo to person by
ame, and I am iveTse totalling this eoorse,
should be ecluJed, because, b,a chooses) reside
id our district. A man iniiny 'part of the 'State
eoglttfo feeHhit itHif hr dpen'to hi.- B?
sitles1, ftfeWpMetfoM iy bmtut urn
to tliefianlri at tlwse ncwonei tHry;iayyow
tufiwiers, arc constantly; saeejriDj.tat you (or ypur
nupposed i jmr:ince, c.treBes, ar barbarism.
Th.'Vtar thcf have l5etter'iBatertats!'rJl!ta'ii.-
It ia not se, fellaw-cilisTOj h is not sot-t' W!ieih'
er in the debir?rcrp itTiu),: ntafy Wirm or of poo
M..ir iasemlRr'. frv have, tttvur nVn't-Jtkeiit"es-
tiinod euelve.""! distaterestetf .wbter???
places sorfUlow that. "-ThmigW te-vfrd-ke--
coniuaredpfvij'.-:', tHrfngh h'.i!mM Y.
of the leading politicians In my rSiettict, I opposed
it as an unconstitutional move, and a remedy
worse thanthe dtsease. ' If South Carolina erred
in her resort to nulificatloh upon snch a subject as
the Tariff, ' it therefore wise or statesmanlike in
us, situated as we are, to brasd all resistance ef
federal power, as Jangcroiis'tothetJnion. ' .'
tY'u'ltfka a-j ow f.M. fS.rftl, iTiimtlna'ufiAfli
gainst such unconstitutional aggressions upon his
property, ho is told to be quiet, he is pursuing an
abstraction. , ( , .,, ?.
In my judgment, sir, the only disunion we need
fear, is a disunion among ourselves. , Uuited, we
can bid defiance to all our enemies ; divided, ''none
so poor as to do ns reverence." There is one fer
tile source of division in our ranks, the pourr and
patronage of the Federal Government. Washing
ton alone, wllh its brilliant official stations, is wor
thy the ambition of aspiring gcnlm; the Northern
press, with its thousand blasts, can alone waft rep
utations to the remotest corners of the Republic.
It is not then Sir, very surprising, that the poor
South should lie regarded as an abstraction, the
rich and teeming North a substantial reality. ' Let
us then, as the temptation to stray is very great.
keep a vigilant eye upon our public servants ; let
us pass the resolutions before us, that gentlemen
may know what are our sentiments upon the sub
jects which now agitate our public concils. If
ever that glorious motto of the gallant Decatur,
our country, right or wrong we goi with her,
was true, it is so iu the South on. tlie subject of
. .1 ... .. ' !l I f
slavery, When una lustiuuion is uswneu iruin
without its borders, the man who can stop to calcu
late tlie cost of defending it, Is no Southern man
in feeling. If it be an evil, those people who en
dure it, are the sole and exclusive judges cf the
mode and method of redress. "'
There ia, Mr. Speaker, a manifest propriety, and
an urgent necessity for the.psssage of these reso
lutions at this session.' It is in vain to difguise the
fact, that the speech and vote of One of our Sena
tors, Mr, Badger, upon tlie Compromise Bill of the
last session of Congress, was much disapproved of
by many Whigs throughout North Carolina ; a dis
approbation which required the most stringent par
ty drill In this Legislature to overcome.. They
were surprised that a gentleman representing the
Isrge slaveholding intorcst of North Carolina,
could not nn that subject have acted with the groat
body of Southern Senators, together with, Borrienj
of Georgia, and Clayton, of Delaware, two names
dear to the Whigs of North Carolina
I did not, Sir, vote for Mr. Badger, but I am not
disposed to do hint, the slightest injustice. . I be
lieve hira to be a gentlemar) of great talents, and
tlie strictest integrity. I admit that bis vote upon
that occasion was not a decisive test ef hid opin
ions, and that it might have been merely an error
of Judgment. ' Should he hereafter in his place as
Senator, support the spirit end object of these res
olutions, and give to his State tho benefit of his
great abilities, no man In North Carolina will ac
quiesce more cheerfully in his election than I will,
or will rejoice more in any future honor which may
be bestoweJ upon hira. Should, however, he de
cline to do so, it Is not for me to say 'what 'should
be his course ; but (his I will say in the most con
fident belief that I speak 'the real 'sentiments of
those who hear me, that if he declines tt snppnrt
the spirit of these resolutions, he will neither rep
resent the majority of this Legislature which flee
ted bin, nor tho wishes, or feelings, or interest, of
at least nine-tenths of the people of North Carolina-
,(ii'::,,, t '. , ',i;. .;--'-T -;'(' . "' 7 '"?,".'. '-r i
Let as now, Sir, examine these Resolution-, and
see what they wre, and how they originated t r
- A scries of resolutions on the same subject' Were
introduced into the other House, by a distinguished
member of tlie Whig party, Mr. Steele, of Rich
mond: These resolutions were thonght by some
gentlemen too strong for th ofccaslbniand In order
to put them into such a shape as would secure an
unanimous vote, thev were referred to a Committee
equally composed ot, distinguished picmhcrs of
both political jwrtieri. It was thought, on such a.
subject of slavery, we should have no pay divi
sion; bujt that the Legislature, if U spoker should
speak tlie sentiineots of the, great majority, if not
of tl whole people of Nor Carolina. ; iTh res;,
olutisns on your table, with slight assstdaieirt are
the 9y&oa of that Committee, have received
the eaitct'ioh, wtth but few exeeptian, nearly
every MenibeT'of the House of Commons, f both
politics! partite j and I have introduced the here,
that the Senate' may have a rfertuiiltf ;iof ci-
presslne their Opinion, be 'ors' the confuswri and
ingi i'Tho qntstion lias been -tanntingfy askedf less stives) to it in eelf-defeice: by fortlusr attack i
Biey-twhy do you M WKjvd tthecntM pre-1 My purpose has beenratber tp rnd'ra grounds I
far.te uv witli yen t iliereas m reaen,.wnj.o,r upon wmcu mjuiviiM?. "s.r".-n"
Die r-S-SnOS SHCHRi. no. t,gn. j ropm
thai those conductors of the newspaper tircs's who
hsvS oniected to the conrte of trrv friendr, will ftd
it due-to theMto Uish tills; temaiiti Should
tly. .UI )tsintlst retraotjth tewar. here
tofore expreeeta, mey wilt suiwa piivipeu, ue
, l li 'iuilonrat. of a Durwme 'to 60 wrnnB. "
T'You.' Tcnow-eittz'.iif,1ive only 0' wifl rtrfnti
wt'rni,'! (iwlii alU) Wbh"
toyenv flink rfirnarvtrtioi-'of teufi-,.ii,-t-ani
mnr1tv-Ntowfc4 a-) di.e.
T,.ti . n vCii?.' t.iis ..tlust .
T,i ;.7 t,iif .; :;T.' I. CUNGWANL'-:
Ty-Vit AY.irtfMJTot, 5.tn.'tb. W 1
die subject of slavery the South standi isolated
from, jthsi rest of fhe ,y,nio. V have in fact
sir, the .yllple world a( war, against lliat, iostto
tjo at carats among us ; and .whetlier we desire
it of not, th . who) SoutlieTJt country must (tand
tiKfalltogethefti est 1 Bun V
The iastitation tt slavery is bo deeply engnft-
ed -m ontwoeiai relarioni that H cannot be eradica
ted W Lc cislation; ' -The ruirt and desolation
which England tutrWdiight open her West rndi
Cokmlce, -bugtit (o satisfy every man f sense hat
Legislation cannot 'iAch this 'SiftJect' WitA tlielieisi
WtCTrtiorw,'lh6ul tirodncing 'incalculable- evil.
And yet sir, when' everf tnait comes Wen to our
halls with'tlie rost undoubted 'testHnony 'of the
faring reclssness of Congress, we r told We
mij ,W iifietj, ,youry"refolutiqns aisy distnrb the
ltfnic-as tf,'n. ipion of fijeeinen eonid ! ever be
jiennanent upon ieiirther nrlwiote 'ihu.,!!!! .flf
qual.s i;WJ?rtiaj justice .jtq aty., i. mcmers.
f Th.er is nc4 )Kr,Bcf Jhartliero,,bsesj for years
I ' .t. it :l:. .1 .1.. J: ,
tin Bnieiv..of ,tli tluiess AVeaire tosi elate!-
feaitsdby thai tics-sf interest tvrr t titVuleUie
people would ant know how to begin sedivide-
iht northers) brethren,' with- all then" clamorous
What Is there, 8ir, these resolutions, winch
should prevent their unanimous adoption, or which
can prevent the sweet timid or scrupulous metnlier
from Totme for ihdt Tlw .language U .not as
strong and. decisive e.s North Carolina ' before
used towards the Federal Government; ar in. my
judgment a, strong aai the occasion moat sui ply
This continual apd sonselcs agitation, .o.he.n
subject , of Slavery,, it the - greatest grietsrtce
that a.ty civilized government ever inflicted upon '
any portion of its citizens, whose peace and seen- -rlty
it was bound to protect, a hd promote. When
belore was it ever seen that a government, either
civilized or barbrirous, occupied itself in daily pet- 1
ty 'annoyances, calculated to disturb the peace, '
to enda nger the security, and tp embitter the feel
ings of a large portion of its citizens? And 'Mr,
incredible as this fact may seem, It has been al- !
most tlie exclusive occupation of the House of "
Representatives during its present session. '.The '
ignorance manifested by these agitators, of the ;
true condition of Southern slavery, and of the best
and safost mode to remove it, is only equalled by
the intense malignity of tlifir'fee lings towards tho '
Southern owner. f Can we then Sir, Willi any sort 1 ;
of fuirnew, be accused ol indulging in any hmlr.
or Improper feeling, when we throw back rtpon onr
assailants with energy, tho indignity they wouid '
cast upon us? -' ,. ' " . - . '' ' 1
The fourth resolution declares, the exercise by
Congress of a power to exclude a Southern' slave- ''
holder from emigrating to any of onr conquered
lerritcties with bis properly, would be an act not "
only of gross injustice and wrong, but likewise
contrary to the true meaning and spirit of the Con- '
stitntion. I am not, Sir, about to enter iuto ahy '
discussion upon th Wilmot Proviso J this resolu- '
tion expresses' in the most modified, and subdued
manned, the least that a Southern man should V
claim upon such a subject. No wise government, 1 ' '
least of all a republican should ever exercise
a doubtful power, that may bring it into conflict '
with the rights and interests of any portion of its
citizens. " Ever line the adoption of the Federal '
Constitution, the true mojle i of construing Its pro-
visions has been a tftattet of dispute. One set? ef
poliiician are desirous bf enlarging the powers ; .
of the General Government by n forced and attain- :
ed construction of the provisions of the Instru
ment, whiUt the ether class, go Into the opposite :
extreme; Let who will administer the Federal 1
Government, the Mperienct of the last forty yearu :
has amply proved, that tlie apprehension of their
not assuming power for any purpose whatever, Is '
a mere Chimera. ' The South, feeing the weaker
portion of the confederacy, having tn Interest pe "
cullar to itself, Which Is liable to be assaulted
from every quarter, very naturally an properly'
looks upon fcny constriistldit of the Constitution "
which tondsuhnscessarily to increase the power '
of th General Govctnmdnl.asdaneroiis end V-'";
larming. This is -whtt tlie fourth resolution rx- 1
presses, a nd does any oh her doubt the truth of '
the propositlout Where Isthe necessity for any ae- 4
tion at all, by the Fetleral Governtnenr upon the?''
Hubject of slavery 1 There clearly is none ; why '
then contend 'or a power, which is not needed t-J
Why not leave slavery wherever it may be fonn.d
solely and exclusive to the manngm.nt of those
who wish it, add who ire best able lo take care sf
it 1 Was It intended that ihe Federal Governmtnl '.
should administer tothe whims, the caprices, or if,'
yn prefer the expression? the! philanthropy of the
NJortli T ' Thi fourth resolution then 8ir, "simply "
xprcsseg what' every ' considerate Statesrna,'.;
whetlier North erJ SouihKdoubtlsa considers the .
true spiritauduieaBing by whidi your Consitutiow, .
should be construed. -1 '": ; fft;
,, I' The fifth resolution tenders to the North a torn-'
promise on 'Jiis vexed question; It says wo are wllUne;
to adopt Uie' Missouri Compromise, which gives' tf
the' North Sj climatew'hich suite their constitution ,.
iki rritory large enppgh fof ge of emigra.
tiorK .''' If tlie North has any dir-position towards
fairnese and equality ahe eonnot reject tins com.1
promise.,' jjdmhif you please, jhat New Mexico ,, ;
and California cau never, be -slaveholding Slates
Is not thir ffact a. further, proof that the present
'Wetlonof tli North on the stibject'Js deliberately
intcndeJ for au unprovoked end causeless insulTto
the South Jf the. Federal Government baavtheit
richt under the CoBstitoUbn to s)robibit slaveryit l
hascertainly the relative right topropngatlt.i',
We ilb'not ask her to ropegste It. We sny'to
Iter lrt.it alpne-&T'not . disturb, the relations of p
yonr citizens by t. Quixi.t'c cmsade, tn teascfi of J
illsd grievance With which, you have nothing "
tosi. .v Mr.r.l i:. -T-"' "'?-.
! The sixth aesolntiou merely psnposcs to ley these'.;
rcsetations before Congres aa Ihe deliberately ex-';
pressed opinion of tlie constituted antlw rilies of the 'k
Statsf iiorth Carolins. Tliere wa a tirne wlien
the-Legislature- of North -CavotUsftr-spohe m the1 -tonesocommaudto
hef Sefliii:fnilt'jtoeliaB
gone uy; We uw spcan wu,u reiiicisnce, anu mi
ltniion, as if1 we-' were ' approaching snjieViqreJ
i,nrt wK sen afraid tbeffondi. '' Whv Is this sol .
justifies. .TMeeswe ehoone toremainpawiieeand fij, t residence. ia Washington Indplro' u.
And, Bir, an we emsli iIoftt I Ar' we IW wmcu a wteaw wnuirnisn , or rainrr o.r,
' ' ( I ' f IV & t ( illiMHii mi A-Vt i h ont.
boand by every tie which bind as to oaf lytfHLtttiV
tntt , to fpo&V; that they limy be &wr ol tiie tlftR-
We re placed here as sentinels upon, tho
watch tower, and if we slum!) irren por, posts, or
fail to sound, theaUrro to pur, mstitucBts who.
are reposing in fancied security under tjie banners
bf,mConstitutio9 which, we-knowto b yiolaeii,
we are not true to those who tely uposii oiu vigi-
tuw end fidelity. i .-nd stii-i tst al
i. The rat retsdanioA sasser tst the. equality tits
States In rights, privileges, snd, kwmnituiS) 'under
tim Ceuctitutlo. TMsissoplajnaudclesra pro-
aosUloa, that I presume no one will deny it, at
least pe this floe. "'' t' '.':- " r J '' "
The scdond reso'mtion sssortd, tlifit at the adiip-
nates ftnm Washington, 'and wMcft flirbu-s srotin ;
all Who partak of it,' a ' poruVm of that;"dlvluit ;
Which dothhedge a King," ..-t.,i s-
I have now, Mr. Speaker, run over these reso.
lotions in a hurried avcf, with a view of. shew'.
Ing thattk" U.not one of them which in
jiidgment, doe not deserve the approbation ef ever j
Bcrmtor m tliis floor. 'Yont Ipprbvul f uVm
Will shew at lenst to jfctft fSoutherrr1 bnHiri?ii.iir'
WsKbinyton CiiyiVnatyon-sympathUd-ivlth'tlum'
Irt ; the-strnjjl tlity are enduring for onr riylitei
ind privileges, "'And slthoiifih vbif yield tn nonOi
Lin yonr (itiachptent to th union of. these Stales, ,
V icineft-ber tba In , politics ,m well al nont)s(tbe ,
max.UA a nuid one, fto titiueoiyn sll he true, ,
thoaeau'st at ths be false to snyiin.!.: t u
' N. B. .T'to Vote wa .taken separately" '
the resolutions, and ihey alt passed nnaniiuo""
with the exception of the fonrta an tilih( w.ytr
sympathy fot' negroes, (urv no idea ef ynshtogj tinn' of the' Fedpra! Poisfltutiou,. the sulijrcf ofj there were ty.- votes ip the negative),