The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-21

When he said no DIVISION ne ne did not mean to except
the few who might be opposed TO the appropriations for
the war But il would be found by Mexico and The
world at large that when the United States uniods her
banner oshe breeze her sons rush as one man follow
and defend it, His friend from Tennessee MIR GENTRY
appeared TO take peculiar pleasure and pride in being
ranked in that category 10 which the remarks OF the Pres
dent applied But he did not stand 'sone IN his glory"
The gentleman from Ohio [Mr GIDDINGsl followed or
rather led in the same path Yet the gentleman from
Tennessee further than anybody else He said he
took particular delight in being in that category and he
used the most opprobrous terms the vocabularycould
furnish for the purpose OF expressing his disgushs ha.
tre-hs violence of feeling against the President of the
United States Ii fortunate that the President Of
the United States happened 10 live in the same region
as that from which the honorable gentleman came
as that circumstance, perhaps, afforded solution
OF the otherwise almost inexpcable attack made
upon him BY the gentleman Perhaps some private
pque, some personal feeling engendered in the fierce
conflicts OF party IN some OF the numerous cleo
pioneering contests in which the President had so often
been victorious ranked in the gentlenan's bosom Per-
haps-
Mr.. GENTRY. l desire to say with the utmost sim
certy that never have entertained and do not now en-
terain the slightest feeling of personal will towards
the President OF the United States There has been
any occurrence which had tendency to excite such a
feeling. On the contrary far intercourse has
extended has been uniformly courteous and polite II
has been such intercourse gentlemen holding opposite
political opinions could entertain. With regard TO our po
litcal contests no personal aspeny has mingled with
them My opposition to the President is directed against
him solely in his public character and not indi-
| yidua
d
But il certainly not TO he wondered at that the
coarseness and yulg arty of the gentemans remarks
should have suggested the idea that some personal pque
| existed. .
Mr.. GENTRY. ! beg to say that when seek instruc.
ton in elegance OF language will not apply to the gen.
| teman from Georgia.
we too often ncorrglbe, and will not seek nsruc.
hon; Yet still hope that "the sober second thought
Of the gentleman will convince him that his remarks
that occasion were entirely too vulgar.
| Mr. GENTRY. Not at all.
Mr. JONES. They were quite too coarse to come
from member OF this House, if too coarse to be
applied to the President OF the United States Does the
gentleman approve OF the lie direct from one gentleman
| TO anotherl
man, must and will correct this [Cres Of 'order"l
Mr.. JONES. ! cannot be corrected in that 1t must
be in the recollection of all that he applied these ephets
TO the government of the United States.
Mr. GENTRY. The gentleman is in error II has
been supposed even by some OF own political friends
that did apply that term to the President ! did not
II is true controverted his truth and sincerity in making
the declaration that this was not aggressive and
after arguing that, concluded by saying that he had
labored to make the people believe lie 1t Scrip
ture quotation and have 1t here. know what is due
Mr.. JONES. am glad that the gentleman has at
length taken back the offensive.
| MIR. GENTRY. | take back nothing, sir.
Mr. JONES Then the gentleman ought to get some
friend to tell what he did say He certainly used Ian.
guage not proper in this House, and most certainly unfit
TO be applied to the President of the United States. |
will enter into any further controversy this point
The gentleman probably led away in the heat and
hurry of argument
MI GENTRY. The gentleman has entirely misappre.
Mr. JONES If so, do not stand alone. The gentleman
admits that his friends understand him. Bull desire
to be done with this subject and the Interruptions which
accompany 1t. Did he not say that the President made
false assertions with regard to the OF the war;
! Mr. GENTRY. Certainly.
Mr. JONES Did he not say that the President had
endeavored to make the people believe le'
Mr. GENTRY; Certainly.
Mr. JONES. Pray, then, is it not that charging the
Mr. GENTRY abide by what said
Mr. JONES / ask has not the President .p always
character for truth and veracty'
Mr. GENTRY have never attacked the Presidents
private character. 1t is idle for the gentleman to cate
chise me in such way.
Mr. JONES. Have you never cast any imputatons up
Mr. GENTRY Certainly not drew a, distinction,
between the character of the and the character OF
the President Ii the gentleman desires TO caechise me
about the Presidents character, think he hal better not
press me. "A taught
and the nsnuaon Of the gentleman is not in keeping
with his former candid confession.
Mr.. GENTRY. What nsinuaton'
quite clean breast OF it.
Mr. GENTRY. The gentleman does not comprehend
Mr.. JONES. fear the gentleman hardly compre.
bends himself At all events do not understand that
system Of ethics which draws distinction between
straightforward honorable veracous, and pure minded
man in private life, and deceul scoundre as public
officer Could any believe, he (Mr j. askel, that
James K Polk, who had maintained pure character in
apoltical life OF more than thirty years, could now de-
beratey in the character of President of the United
States, labor to make the people believe lie? Why
the imputation was not ireverent TO make the com;
parison-was somewhat akin to that which the inhde
cast upon the Savior of the worl when he represented
him presenting in his life and conversation spoess
eXemplar of purity and holiness and yet being guilty
from his cradle to his grave Of the greatest mposture
ever attempted Mr. Polk stood peur and sans re,
proche But the gentleman from Tennessee represented
check and curb free discussion, but compelling gen
tlemen 70 vote for war which they believed to be
wrong What an omnipotcnt President And 1t was
said that the had been originated simply that the
President might proclaim who James X. Polk was
He (Mr. had not heard that question asked since the
PRONUNCIATION OF the first message. In that document the
keenest eye of the partisan had been unable TO detect
paper writers could not point out in IT, 1t was
said, indeed, that the President did not write it. Even
that statement true where the disgrace or
fault, when they all knew that the Father OF his coun-
try employed others to write his messages? But the
statement was true If Mr.. Folks hand did moi
trace the characters, his mind dictated every idea ant
every syllable that the message contained. To thu
last message the only objection urged was tina
he charged them who denounced this war a:
unjust as being guilty of treason. For this the
President had been assaed with the greatest feroc
And they told than once that they had the
right to impeach himyea, more than this, that gen
tleman had the right to commit treason-moral treason
so long he cleared the halter. He might encourage
the enemies of his country by his acts and yet be within
the pale OF the law But (repled Mr. j. the who
acted barely within the pale of the law was only hal
~ dad siIp