Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1847-03-12

2
to this matter? 1t was the gentleman political
| friend from Trumbull (hlr. Truesdale0 or my
lInemory is likewise treacherous Is the author
| of those resolutions a democrat? The gentle
! man saws mot of your stripe, and thank MN
for it. Not of our stripe, indeed, and God grant
that we NAV never be democrats OF ms stripe-ol
the stripe which indicates those who array them
selves against the dearest interests OF the country
and worship at the shrine of political selhshness:
The gentleman and his friend from 1'rumbull'
never can be of our stripe; for the democracy
which we uphold does not suffer in its supporters
any but undying devotion to the country, and
shrinks from the practice OF devotion to every
tother country than our own. But the gentleman
Essneers attus as progressive democrats ana i
for one glory in the sheer. Our progression has
been in knowledge and better understanding OF
the science of goyernment-pace alter pace with
I,,he general improvement OF the age in which we
live We, indeed, hare progressed by the lights
of experience, but how has it been with the gen
ileman and his fellow partisans? why sir, their
fault is that they have not progressed-that they
are where their fathers were, sustaining the same
odious principles which distinguished the feder
asts of old, and warning against the principles
of free government. Like the man who pout9
carry a stone TO mill in one end OF the sack, not
withstanding its weight, because his father had
carried one before him, the gentleman and his
friends persist to carry the dead weight OF teder-
asm alitheir lives. Because their fathers preach
cd treason in 1912, they must preach treason IN
1876 Because their fathers made systematic
attack upon the administration of James Madison,
they must make an attack upon the administration
Of James X Polk. Because their fathers laDored
faithfully to rend asunder our glorious Union, they
must labor as faithfully now to the same laudable
purpose.
The gentleman made great ado about the ''sub-
aervience of the democratic party to the power OF
shareholders" He has forgotten the old adage,
ihatpeope who live in ' glass houses should never
throw Stones, of which | now beg leave affection
.elv to remind him. Subservience to the power
Of shareholders, forsooth, because we supported
Mr. Polk for the Presidency Why, Mr. Speaker,
who, in all conscience, was the candidate OF the
rentleman's party? He was man, sir, who has
done more to sustain and perpetuate slavery than
any five other men in the Union. Let me exam
inc his career n few minutes. When Arkansas
was to be made a territory, and our laws 10 De
extended over it, Henry Clay was speaker OF the
National House of Representatives. 1t was tho
roughly discussed in that House whether the ter
fil0ry should be free one, or should permit STA
yery and Mr.. Clay decided in favor oil slavery by
his casino vote The Gentleman's candidate had
absolute power &c prevent 81 the curse OF slavery
jas the gentleman calls it.) in Arkansas, yet he
chose to rivct upon the African more tightly the
claims of toll and bondage. And again, upon
convicted BY his own testimony. OF like behaviour
Tic was then. also, Speaker OF the House OF Keep
fesentaives and was detained at home by ndIspo-
stion When he arrived at Washington, he tells
us Missouriwas excluded unless she would abolish
slavery within her borders. He obtained recon-
sideration of the vote, and the appointment OF a
committee upon the subject. He went before
that committee and so influenced that committee
that they reported proposition to admit Missouri,
as a slave State into the Union. He even eXtorted
pledges from different Representatives that they
would sustain the proposition, and steadily ne
fGrced it through the House. Henry Clay has
boldly advocated slavery, ard the perpetuatlon OF
slavery, in the Senate OF the United states. ct
with these facts, and the fact that MIR. Clay is
large Shareholder himself, the gentleman and his
partzans sustain the man, sing hosannas to MS
name, answer to his beck, bend humblya his leet.
: Subservience to the power of shareholders The
. gentleman ought to blush at the charge. Lei
him 90 and wash himself clean OF the leprosy be-
lore he dares again to speak as he has here SPOKEN
lie and his party have been subservent to slave
holders in all time past, and, mark me they VIII
} again be subservient to it i'll disregard OF every
consideration but the attainment ofpolttIcal power
There are honorable exceptions, MIR. Speaker, TO
( this remarl-vourself of the number-but they
are only exceptions.
] The gentleman spoke of John Tyler as one
: elected Indeed by the wings, but one "who went
! over to the enemies of the country" meaning my
: political friends and myself, but afraid even he,
openly to style us SUCH The gentleman is Will
: ling enough "to wound, but does not dare to
strike" Ipropose however, in reply to TINS as
! sertion. to inquire who have been and who are
I now, the enemies of the country. In 1872, the
: yyhiG party then commonly known as Federasts)
not only took the side of Great Britain, but affect
+ ed to present to the vision of James Madison an
i island of Elba, and even to talk to him about
/ halter They met in secret concIave, and plotted
! bow they could most surely betray the country;
and discover the Union. And their leader, Dane ;,
: Webster, whom they style the Godllke Daniel,
voted agaisnt every appropriation OF men and
| money to push on the war. And when Andrew
/ Jackson recommended reprsals upon France, for
The refusal of indemnity to our citizens unJust!y
| withheld, this same wing party, IN its own name
] was agouized with sympathy Tor our Toe, and the
| same " GodiIe individual was heard to asseVer-
ate that he ''would not vote to put one dollar into
! the hands of the President, though the enemy
should be at the doors Of the capitol to batter them
T down.; And in the controversy with England
about our boundary at the northeast, the same
/ v hir party, with Mr.. Webster leading, showed
lis patriotism by denouncng our claim, and finish
J ed by a sacrifice of our rights and our soil And
! in the present emergency, they are for Mexico
not indeed the rank and file Of the party, the people
ideluded by false assertions and false colors, but
the leaders, the Godlike' personages, are Next
cans TO the hearts core. If | were asked the
great principle of wing policy, could not but an
swer that tits adherence to the enemy, and giving
( him aid and comfort in each moment OF peril and
distress of our own country.
| The gentleman from Harrison also asserted
/ that John TYLER was so emphatcaily orr Pres-
dent. that he offered himself, candidate, 10
| the Democratic Convention. It's all new to me,
Mr.. Speaker, and new to every body else but the
gentleman The fact does not appear in the re-
cords of history but is written, doubt not in the
political log-book OF the gentleman. Perhaps it
will do to he asserted in Harrison county ;