Lives of Distinguished North Carolinians, with Illustrations and Speeches
History
Lives of Distinguished North Carolinians, with Illustrations and Speeches
North Carolina -- Biography
His competitor talked a great deal about the peace and quiet of
Mr. Fillmore's administration, and charges Black Republicans and
Democrats with causing all the excitement and danger of the existing
troubles, and he stands upon a platform, said Governor Bragg, which
denounces the administration for having recklessly and unwisely
repealed the Missouri Compromise--a pretty platform for a Southern
man to stand upon, especially when adopted in place of that of the
year before. He read from the speech of Mr. Badger to show that
all the Whig Senators from the South supported the Kansas-Nebraska
Bill, except one, and that the measure was passed by Northern and
Southern Democrats and Southern Whigs, and that Mr. Badger said it
was right and proper that it should pass.
Governor Bragg then gave the history of the Missouri Compromise
line--showed how unjust it was to the South originally, that the
South had, however, shown every disposition to abide by it, and had
time and again sought to have it extended over the new territory to
the Pacific, while the North repudiated that line. The South was,
therefore, not properly chargeable with any breach of faith, and
was right to get rid of the odious act. Now, he said, there were
questions of vital importance growing out of that matter, and he
wished to know where our Know-Nothing opponents stood with regard
to them. But no one could tell. What was Mr. Fillmore's opinion
upon any one of these questions? Nobody knew. He had said nothing
while at home, and at the last accounts, strange as it might seem
to Know-Nothing ears, he was in the city of Rome partaking of the
hospitalities of the Pope. When the matter is pressed, we are told
that the party eschews all sectional questions, state and national,
in order that the "Paramount Principles of Americanism" may have
full play, thus raising the question only, who shall hold the
offices of the country, and not, in what manner our government shall
be administered. Can it be possible, said Governor Bragg, that the
people will be thus humbugged and trifled with when the country is
in danger?
Governor Bragg said he would then examine the claims of this new
party. He went into a full examination of its principles; stated
what had been its history North and South; what had been its fruits
in different sections; how it sent nothing but abolitionists and
freesoilers to Congress, and challenged his competitor to point to
one solitary Northern national man of his party in either house of
Congress; gave the history of the election of Speaker of the House
of Representatives, and how not one of them voted for Aiken when the
contest was between him and Banks, although five of them had voted
for him the day before, including their candidate Fuller.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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