The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-11

| Mr. STANTON. i have his declaration here. [He
Aa Ha ddPs on h ~a as'h a. gentleman
Mr. s%.s STANTON mt Cen ca.s never dodgeno even
the letters OF his friends when the postage not paid
will the gentleman completely by reading from
the well-known letter TO Mr. Nicholson. General Cass
says:
reay them opposed TO the exercise of any jurs
dicuon by Congress, this subject and in iavor OF
leaving 10 the people OF territory which may be here
after acquired the right regulate II for themselves under
the general principles Of the constitution Because lsi
do not see in the constitution any grant oil hs requisite
power 10 Congress" &c, &c. .r5 :.
lconceive that these sentences OF General Casss letter.
besides others contained in It, are altogether explicit
They are sufficient for me- and for the south g -,
| Mr.. ASHMUN Is General Cass in favor OF the com
promise which has been lately proposed This subject,
which gives the whole thing into the hands OF Congress
Mr. STANTON. understand the compromise bill
fonnty with the sentiments declared by General Cass
In that bill Congress does not propose to egsate on the
subject of slavery, but prohibits the Territorial govern
from doing If the compromise is to be carried
out in good faith, of course Congress will not attempt to
violate it by any further Legislation Now General Cass
says Congress has no power 10 DO So Hs also says
States. Some OF their rights are nchoate, and they do
not possess The peculiar attributes Of sovereignty" In
another place. speaking of the subject, he says:
They do SO, at any rate, as soon as their political
independence recognised by their admission INTO the
Union" 1t is clear that General Cass does not contem
plate any legislation by the Territories on the subject OF
slavery until they shall become States This repeat,
in precise conformity to the compromise bill OF the
Senate
| ton on the compromise, or on any other question
| Mr.. ASH NUN. don't know General Iayor's opin-
ions on any domestic question. lLaughter] suppose
that General Taylor living in the section of country
where he does, maintains those opinions which belong
generally enlightened, honest patriotic and moral men
of the south But do not believe that he maintains
opinion inconsistent with his published declarations
do not believe that the people, by the act OF their rep
resentayes in Congress- should refuse to extend slavery
preston of the popular will Can you say as much for
General Cass
Mr. STANTON. have already said precisely the
But, Mr.. Speaker there is another prominent person
age, whose opinions this subject of vital import
ance. How stands Niard Fillmore upon the principle
of the "Wilmot ProvsoF' assert that he favor OF
it. And now call upon any gentleman from the north
to deny this if he can; There are gentlemen here who
ions well challenge any OF them to rise here and
deny what | have asserted. pause for reply. No
man denies it. challenge any northern say that
he does not believe this OF Mr. Fillmore Not one OF
ventures TO deny it.
/ now ask any southern man to deny that have truly
stated Mr.. Filmore's opinions; You are all silent.
teman from Tennessee question Laughter suppress
ed.] He was of few words. In answer to the
gentemans question, he would ask him, in his turn,
whether he knew Mr. Fillmore TO vote for the Will
Mr.. STANTON. | have appealed in vain for an an
swer, both to the north and to the south have, there
fore, the right to what this floor dares
deny that Milard Fillmore in favor of the Wilmot
Proviso. The fact stands admitted by the silent acqui-
Mr.. DUER. wish to ask the gentleman question.
Mr., STANTON Il don't give way for questions. Let
gentlemen answer my questions if they can. Let them
answer for their effort 10 make the people vote for man
| whose principles are unknown or misrepresented.
Mr.. DUER, lraising his voice above 'the noise and
confusion Wlll the gentleman answer me whether it
favor of the Wilmot Proviso'
| Mr.. STANTON. | have propounded plain questions,
and am determined that gentlemen shall not avoid them
| BY making other questions.
Now Mr.. Speaker how stand the States OF this Union
in regard to slavery We have fifteen slave States and
Senate. The Vice President to be elected in November
next will occupy the chair of that important hody and
all questions, when there is tie, must be decided by his
casting vote. And yet southern gentlemen calling
upon their people to support. for the second Office in the
government man who is here to-day, acknowledged to
be utterly hostile to their interests For Vice President
one known to be against u.s. for President, who is
claimed to be so, without any contradiction either by his
friends or hmself-thess the presented for the
votes Of the southern people, and sustained by the efforts
wish to refer you, Mr. Speaker to one more subject
and to read another short quotation from the wing cleo
pioneering document to which have already referred
is only from these documents that get any kind
Of insight into the plans and purposes of the party which
supports General Taylor for the presidency read
massage from the letter of the honorable gentleman from
Connecticut, Mr.. TRUMAN SMITH, which runs thus
"Ihe former haze for,sasy done by nomina ng Gen
Zachary Taylor as candidate for the presidency and if
for convince teoU-ctfisens of the ,cest north
uesf and sowthoest by liberal legislation the suect of the
public lands. and harbor and improvements zoe
friends. in order to siue permanent ascend
public lands shall longer great corrupt fund
be used by deungogues for mschevous political pur-
poses; and intend hereafter liberal
for such objects shall appear be useful important
the west"
| Here is something new indeed General Taylor has
not made known his opinions in reference the public
lands but this honorable gentleman, one of his most
prominent friends informs that hereafter he intends
adopt beral legislation the subject of the public
lands" And for what purpose lmpelled by what
tve "Toeo1vince Jeloc citizens of the rest, north
,uest and socahaces, that their true friends and
10 order "to gsre permanent ascendeney the gou-
ernmentr am amazed Mr.. Speaker, at the bold au-
the public good but the desire for Office and power For
this purpose, important change of policy is promised!
saw change! That honorable gentleman has never
yet voted for the graduation OF the price of the public
lands, OF for any OF those great measures in refer
ence to them which the western people have demand
ed as liberal" and Just. The whg party has gen.
orally voted against Them The votes sof that whole
party to man, recorded against the graduation bill
| OF the last Congress. And now the gentleman from
Connecticut avows his determination change his poll
cy! Does he suppose the western people will believe
him. Does he imagine they will be SO easily duped
take to their confidence, " true friends those who
have always been against them Does he dream that
we will give A" a permanent ascendency in the govern
menf' to those whose conduct has heretofore
titled them confidence The bait, SIR, rather
plain to be caught at by the silies gudgeon in the
believe be just shall cndeavor to do it by the cleo
ton OF those who have always advocated them, and not
by that of who promise to do what they have
heretofore always resisted