Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-22
SPEECH OF MR.. MANGUM,
OF NORTH CAROLINA,
IN RevieW Of the Democratic Platform" &c.
In SENATE, july 3, ls4e.

The Senate having the consideration of the reso
luton passed by the House Of Representatives fixing day
for the adjournment Of Congress
Mr. MANGUM said: When this question was last before
the Senate 1t will be remembered that the Senator from Mis-
ssspp abandoning the tone and character of the DEBATE
which had been concise and strictly confined
to the consideration Of the most appropriate day ADJOURN
having reference the Of the business before Congress
gave entirely direction to IT, and pushed insnuations
quite offensive the sclfespect of those to whom they might
be supposed to apply.
Although extremely anxious avoid any discursiv and de-
sutoy discussion, touching party questions and the
position and views Of Presidential candidates. yet
strained deRy promptly and Peremptony that the Wing
party, that as of that party, unwilling to meet
any question pending before Congress will be remember
ed that the Senator from Mississippi at exempted
from thecatego of tmid and shrinking Whigs who
unwilling to face all their responsibilities, but still persisted in
the justice Of his nsinuaon against Others and entered upon
wide and extended field Of aggressive party debate and, by
series OF nteogatores addressed to personally thrown
out with somewhat triumphant air, fastened upon this
discussion which could have avoided, without seeming
to shrink from investigation Of Wing principles and Wing
Wetensions.
regret that this subject has been called up early to-day,
and before the Senator from Mississippi has taken his seat be-
will be remembered that when gave way former
day. late hour for adjournment was in the course Of
senng series Of nerogaoes 10 the honorable Senators
and wheherho matter somewhat embar
rassDg whether the gentleman taken somewhat by
surprise, whether he not in his usual frank and COM
municave vein, certainly received very little light from his
satisfactory had hoped that If the honorable Senator
in his place, after the lapse Of several days Of consideration
and inquiry he might have found himself enabled to relieve
from this interrogation, which somewhat
besome myself and annoying to the Senate, although the
result of such questioning Of some interest to the
country After having given explicitly and frankly all the
information that possessed in regard to the views of Gen.
Taylor upon various Subjects Thought necessary present
nteogaores in regard to the opinions Of Gen. Cass,
BECAUSE looking at the positions Of the gentlemen, it is
matter of interest to the people the United States that their
views and opinions should be understood have inquired
the opinions Of Gen. Cass in regard internal improvements
the improving Of harbos in great inland and the
removing of distinctions in the Mississippi and its great bu
taesand have received information from the Senator,
excepting the general and me- unsatisfactory state
ment that Gen. Cass stands upon the provisions Of the
stituon.
Passing from this subject that which the Senator from
Mississippi regard Of the greatest interest at
this perod-that which is termed the Wmot provsoI
deavoed to ascertain what Gen. Casss views in rela
ton that subject and told by the Senator that those
views had been explicitly presented to the country in letter
addressed Mr. Nicholson, Of Tennessee and that there
could be no doubt in regard to them replied that had
read that lette-I dsrespec but to useless
labor, had waited for the last edition. have sat by
calm spectator have Of opinion followed by
waves OF opinion, modified reformed and sometimes revers-
ed the political phantasmagora having just amused
what stess attention. in boyhood has sat and watched
evening clouds in their evervayng and fantastic
fomsther bodies Of shadow edged with brilliant sunlight
all uDsubstants and full Of change Imagine these waves,
in their eager chase after another to be frozen sudden
y fash Of electricity then you have something you
steadily contemplate So, when Gen. Cass, in his letter OF
acceptance Of his nomination for the Presidency by the Ball
tmore Convention announced that this letter. gentlemen,
closes my profession political aith considered this last
editon-"the Nicholson eter"-as final, stereotyped.
As last meeting this subject received light from
the Senator from Mississippi but barely reference to this
letter. have since read it and studied with must
regard it definitely fixing Gen. Cass's position this
question He declines giving further this closes bis
sprofession Of political faith"
his and he
t. with and with candor. This brings me to begin
where left off the other day What the views and prn-
cpes Of General Csss tho Of this provso My
poposonone that shall maintain beyond the possibility OF
refuation evasion, escape that shall demonstrate
clusvey every fair and unbiased minds that General
Cas in the Nicholson letter. has evadcd the only "real
issue" this subject and left the public wholly in the dark
in regard his opinions And here undoubtedly, shall be
little tedious but beg the Senate to bear with me-
mean to be particular and exact.
To arrive conclusions this subject precise and salts
factory, it is necessary have fixed the mind the
and precise points in controversy between the North and the
South.
There is no controversy between the North and the South
in relation slavery exists in the slavehodng States in
the South and West. The Morrill, the whole North
with the exception Of that band of mad and wild fanatics,
who would desecrae and destroy the constitution to
pish THE immediate abolition Of slavery, and their numbers
and their influence believed he small and comparatively
insignificant say the whole North-thc intelligent, the
wise, the patriotic, the lawabdng and constuon-oving
people Of the Nohare impressed with deep that
domestic OF the greatest OF evils both moral
and political" This conviction cannot doubt they hon.
esy entertain, yet the whole North, with the exception
referred stands upon the compromises Of the constitution
upon this subject They occupy the ground taken by Mr..
Webster in his celebrated speech in reply to Mr. Hayne,
delivered in tho Senate Of the United States in January,
1880, to wit:
.sThere not has been, the North dispose
ton interfere with these Interests OF the South Such
interference has been supposed to be within the
Of Government has IL been in any attempted The
slavery OF the South has always been regarded matter of
domestic policy, left with the States themselves and with
which the Federal Government had nothing to do Certainly
sir, said Mr. WERsTER aud have been OF that
opinion" The domestic slavery of the South leave where
find it, in the hands of their Governments IL their
affair, not mine"
These opinions exact accordance with the plain mean
ing and intent Of the constitution Of the United States and in
conformity with the opinions Of committee consisting
of Northern out Of in the House Of Representa-
tves whom the subject referred in 1890, and to the
resolve Of that House Of Representatives passed in that
year, in the following words
Rcsoipcd That Congress have authority to interfere
in the emancipation Of slaves in the treatment OF them in
any of the States remaining with the several States TO pro-
vide rules and regulations therein, which humanity and true
policy may require"
These are now the opinions OF the North
have heard, in this chamber, opinion avoved by any
in the midst Of the exccments, and rrtaons and
eaouses arising Of the annexation Of Tcxas out OF
the Mexican which supposed to be begun and pro-
secuted with purposes of territorial acquisition have heard
heard Of any opinion expressed in this chamber in the
hof