The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1844-03-26
POLITICAL
SPEECH OF THE HON. CALEB B. SMITH,
OF INDIANA,

OF INDIANA,
On the memorial Of the g Democratic Members
Of the Legislature Of Rhode Island.
DELIVERED IN THE HOUSE REPRESENTATIVES OF
THE UNITED STATES, MARCH Ia, lSf4
The resolution reported by the Select Committee,
to which was referred the memorial OF the
Democratic Members" of the Legislature
Of Rhode Island, asking authority to send for
persons and papers, being under consideration !:
Mr.. CALEB B. SMITH, of Indiana, being enti-
tied to the floor, said he was at loss to conceive
what motive had prompted the introduction OF
the memorial TO the House, or what object was
expected to be attained by those who had caused
it's introduction -
1t purports, (said Mr.. Smith, to be memo
rial from the q Democratic Members " Of the
Legislature of Rhode Island. 1t is not usual for
persons who petition this body for Legislative ac-
ton, to assume distinct political character;
and presume, tits the first time that petition,
or memorial, has ever been presented to either
branch OF Congress which, upon its face, pur-
ported to emanate from any political party. 1t is
true that majority of the members of this House
belong to that political party which styles itself
the g Democratic party" Why is an appeal made
to their political preIudices2 Do the memorialists
suppose that their prayers are more likely to be
granted because they assume the name OF { De
mocrats r. Do they entertain so poor an opinion
Of the majority upon this hoor as to believe that
they will yield to them, on account Of the identity
of their political opinions, that which, without
such identity of opinion, their judgments would
induce them to refuse Those who can ask, or
expect, that their petitions will be granted upon
such grounds, must be as base and corrupt as this
House would be, should it be influenced by such
considerations. saGdN T
I cannot believe, MIR. Speaker, that it has ever
been expected, either by those who signed this
memorial, or by those who have been instrument
tai In bringing it before the House, that any ser
Gus action would be had upon it here. We are
about entering upon an important political canvass
IA contest for the supremacy for the next four
years is about being commenced between the po-
litIcal parties which divide the people-the par
ty which was driven from power in 1910, for its
numerous and gross abuses, is again seeking pos
session of the Government. Its leaders, with an
appetite for the ssspoils" whetted by four years
abstinence, have again spread upon the breeze
the standard of Locofocoism. To encourage their
followers, and afford them some prospect Of sue
cess, some new questions must be presented, and
some new issues raised The stale and exploded
humbugs of Mr. Van Burens administration will
no. longer answer the purpose OF deludng the
people. Some. new political capital must be
manufactured, as q basis for future operations
This pita is to be sought for in the Dorr rebel
lion of Rhode Island.
| This memorial has been presented and refer
red to committee, which now asks from the
House authority to send tor persons and papers.
Should this power be granted, few individuals
Of the proper stamp may be sent for, to tell the
story OF the wrongs and sufferings Of the s4perse
cuted PATROLS of Rhode island, an in6ammatory
report be made, presenting partial and car parte
statement of the matter, which may be spread
before the country enlist its sympathles in be-
half of those who have been successfully resist
ed, in their attempts to subyert the government
of State by lawless violence. Beyond this the
action of this House cannot 60
| That we have any right to interfere with the
domestic affairs of Rhode Island will not be con-
tended for. Whether Thomas w. Dorr is the
| lawful Governor of the State, or whether he is
Justly charged with treason to the State, ques
| tons with which we have no concern and any
attempt by US TO investigate them, would be a
| misapplication OF our time, and an abuse of the
| trust coutided to us by those whom represent.
| Some portion of our time has already been
spent in the expression OF our opinions upon mere
abstract questions, presented In the shape of re-
solutions, which required no action beyond SIM
| pie expression of opinion. Whether the opinions
| Of the members of this House are of sufficient
consequence to the country to Justify our sitting
! here, at the public expense, to promulge them,
would be worthy the consideration of those gen.
tlemen who have brought such matters before us.
I have supposed that our duty to our constituents
would be best performed by the completion OF
such practical legislation as the interests of the
country requires, and that our opinions upon other
matters might, with great propriety, be reserved,
| at least, until we may express them without tax
| ing the country with the cost.
! The memorial Of the Democratic Members
of the Legislature of Rhode Island has, however,
been presented and referred. Some disposition
must be made of it, and if an unnecessary con-
sumption of time is the consequence, the respon-
sibility must rest with those who have brought
| the matter here. There are contained in the me-
moral, and also in the speeches of the gentle
man from New York, (Mr. Rathbun,) and of my
honorable colleague, (Mr. Kennedy who have
addressed the House upon this subject, principles
so extraordinary in their character, and so alarm
ing and dangerous in their tendency, that can
not forbear to avail myself of the opportunity to
express my dissent from them.