Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-08-17
1Dolitital.
SPEECH OF JOHN NJ. CLAYTON
of Delaware,
IN DEFENCE OF ZACHARY TAYLOR.
DELIVERED IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATES, July 5, 1913.


Concluded.
The party leaders in the Convention that intro
duced this two thirds rule, and thus cheated it.
self, refusing TO allow the majority to govern,
have felt already the consequences Of their con-
duct This rule was introduced as permanent
principle of the Democratic party in the con.
vention of lS4i, and was a deliberate fraud upon
Mr.. Van Buren, and his friends. He went into
the Convention, expecting that the will of the
majority would be allowed. to control its action !;
and he received the votes:of decided majority
of that convention, But the politicians those
jugglers who understood the game which was to
be played so contrlved it, that majority could
not control the action of the convention. They
deluded Southern men by the pretext, that as
the North had a majority of votes, their inslitu-
ton of slavery was in danger, and thus procured
their aid to establish the rule, that vote of two
thirds was necessary to nominate the candidate.
They thus rejected Mr.. Van Buren,; and what
has been the result? This political magician
as he was called, has applied his magic touch to
your party, and 10! it is crumbing into dust -
1t is PROSTATE beneath his feet at this moment
The splendid party fabrc-the regency palace
which, oy his wizard art he erected in tie
Empire State, has vanished like the morning
mist, or one Of those dreamy mansions of which
we read IN Eastern tales, at lie touch of one of
the genii. The vengeance of the man who was
thus defrauded and defeated, equals that of Ma
zeppa, the Prince of Barnburners-
For if we do but mark the hour,
There never yet human power,
That could evade, if uniorgiven,
The patient search and vigil long
OF him who treasures up u wrong"
say to gentlemen who now vainly attempt to
uphold This totterng fabric of progressive. ag.
gresslve, and retrogresslve Democracy, that on
the day on which you established that principle
and overthrew the fundamental principle of all
republican government, your destiny was sealed
From that hour your doom was irretrievaby fix
ed. Nothing could or can save you from the
fate tht awaits you. Nothing can save any
party in this country, that shall dare to establish
such an unprinciped rule. The people may be
humbuggcd for time; but when they have beer
allowed opportunity for reflection, and see fraut
perpetrated, repeated ana enjoined as princi
Pile, by which the right of the majority is denied
the shackles OF party can bind them no longer
They imbbed this sacred principle from thei
tathers-they were taught it by their mother,
amidst the first lessons of their infancy and the,
know that without it our Government would b.
converted into government of pronuncamen
los, and could not exist an hour Wing as | an
and ever have been, have no hesitation in de
clqring that if the Wing party were to asselnb
in convention to morrow and adopt such princi
pie, would leave them the moment | could ad
uioSo lClIui W IlS puuIlC.
The Senator also inquiries what will Ger
Taylor do IN reference to the sub Treasury an
the Bank. l answer. that General Taylor ha
pledged himself in the Allison letter, to let tn
people govern. If they want this miserable sub
Treasury scheme, they will keep it. If they wis
to repeal it, he will interpose no veto upon tn
exercise of their will. On the other hand no,
stands Lewis Cass, the Champion of the Democ
racy! He stands pledged to retain the sub
Treasury, in spite of the will of the people.
three filhS of the people should come here de
handing the repeal of the sub-Treasury law
Mr.. Cass would be bound to trample upon tina
will. Which, then, is the Republican,? Whic
the true Democrat?
Mr.. FOOTE. Will the gentleman bear wit
me while submit another question. Does h
regard the veto power as a conservative one,
be retained, or as one to be struck out of Ii
Constitution? If to be retained, should it n
be exercised?
Mr.. CLAYTON.-I am very glad that Il
honorable gentleman has put this interrogation
hold the veto power 10 be great conservati,
power in the Constitution. | do not seek nor
the friends OF Gen. Taylor seek, 10 strike it flo
the Constitution. We regard it as the fathe
of the Constitution did as conservative DO,
er to enable the Executive to defend ITSELF al
to be exercised precisely within the lnta io
laid down by Madison and his associates. &c
Taylor specifies the causes for which he will a
ply the veto.
return now to the consideration of the que
ton of the currency and the national Bank,
which point the Senator interrupted the cour
Of my remarks. And recur to the Bank que