The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-08-10


Proviso. That there might have been members who
were, he was free to admit
Mr.. GAYLE asked if the attempt not made in the
Baltimore Convention TO repudate the Wllmol Provso
| and II II did not fail
Mr.. COBB replied, that his friend from Alabama sure
ly had just walked up daughter that very question had
few moments since, been propoundel by his colleague
Mr. HILLARD, and he would refer him TO the answer
which he had then given To the ntenogatoy But he
wished the point not to be lost sight of He was
discussing the question of Platforms and had nsanced
me case OF the Philadelphia Convention Illustrative
OF his argument to show why the wing party could
not, or would not, lay down platform. u
| Mr.. ASHMUN reminded the gentleman thai he lad
not YET answered the question whether General Cas-,
elected, would veto the Wimot provso Would the gen
tleman answer il before the country
Mr. COBB have already replied to the ineroga-
tory OF the gentleman He had limited his inquiry 10 the
Oregon BILL and have given him only reply but
accompanied II with the which thought would
fully justify any one in psrsuing the course which
had ielt 1t to be my own duty TO pursue but have no
Discrimination to respond to the gentlemans inquiry in
The broadcast terms in which he might think proper to
propose IT. If he desires TO know what think would
be the course OF General Cass the subject OF the Viii
mot Proviso, applied TO recent acquired Terrific
res, refer him to his able letter to Mr. Nicholson in
which Continued Mr. CO understand him TO declare
as his opinion, that Congress has constitutional power
to leglsate upon the subject at all referring its decision
TO the arbrament of the only safe tribunal for its correct
settlenentand that the will OF the people of the Ter
ro1y. With that declaration of his opinions before me-
feel the ampes assurance that bill containing the pro-
visions of the Wilmot Proviso can receive his official
sanction. But gentlemen very unwilling to allow
me to proceed with my course of argument was
showing the reason why the Wing Convention would
not agree upon platform have referred to the fact
supported on the ground that he would protect the
great interests of the south on The Wilmot Proviso
and have shown that II was attempted to induce the
people OF Georgia 10 believe that the Philadelphia
Convention against the Wlmot Proviso | have
also drawn out evidence TO show, if that effort met
with success, that would be fraud upon the in
tehgence OF the p ople Of my State. What has trans
pred here to-day midst, and in the presence,
were of the country? Compare the answers given bv
ut he IN thp
inquiry have proposed to The opinions of the Pha
delphia Convention the Wilmot Proviso Both of
these gentlemen and Jealous supporters OF Gen
Iaylors election; each goes to his respective constu
enis to represent the action and views of their national
convention on this important subject. The says to
the people OF the NORTH that he believes that MAORI
y of that convention, coming Gas that majority dd) from
the free States, favor of the principles of the
Wilmot Provso' The other with equal holiness, de.
clares 10 the south, that when that convention in the
open light of day, thousands looking on did put
down the Wimot Proyso it gave him the strongest as
against it, Is not manifest that the people of the
the other section of the country is to be deceived
and imposed upon' This scene today presents true
picture OF the game attempted to be played by the
wing party throughout the Union. While at the south
General Taylor is advocated upon the ground taken
by that correspondent, and the wings of the north are
held up sounder the question than the northern
democracy, what are the notes which come from the
north, and fall upon the Of southern and OF the
countryi Let me read single paragraphs from docu-
emanang from the gentleman from Massachusetts,
INT AsHMUN]-a letter addressed by him to his consli
tuens, after the action OF the Philadelphia Convention
Ellis General Tayors) declared sentiments guar
that he will the slightest interfere
with the action OF Congress- when they shall forbid the
the Of the people and of The States left
Tree to act upon that uncontrolled by Executive
influence and Executive veto, and we are sale
have before extracts from leading whig papers OF
the north, which they declare to the people OF that
ton of country, not only that General Taylor stands
pledged not to interfere by virtue OF the veto power with
the regular action OF Congress this subject but that
from the avowed sentiments OF General Taylor, eX
pressed in his Signal letter, he is himself opposed to
the extension of the institution of slavery. One of the
leading organs OF the wing party, now out in warm and
cordial support of General Taylor in the city of New
York, declares that the pledge (as they read i IN the let
veto power upon questions OF domestic policy, is am
pie guarantee to them; that with this g arrangement =
TO the emphatic language of the edtor-they OF the
north are satisfied. Not only SO; but these gentlemen
and these editors their anxiety to os upon this coun
try an administration which should stand and
dumb statue called upon their people TO send repre-
senatves Congress who would prove true to the north
this question Yet at the south the effort made
TO induce the people to believe that the northern wing
mocracy Will gentlemen have the country shut their
eyes the plain reading OF the records OF this Congress
and OF every Congress which had assembled during the
agitation of this question Will they call the people
OF the south to believe that at this late day sudden,
accountable revolution has tax en- place in the public opn
ion of northern whgery this SUBJECT When, during
the history of Congress, has the first northern wing voted
with the south on any OF these test quesons Never.
Let the records bear evidence to the truth alsty of
my statement Redu history Oh tne w liot
in past Congresses, and in this one There is the evil
dence. And would ask OF southern wing members,
what language do these records speak to our common
constituency, upon this important question, Justly
deemed by them of the most vital character Does 1t
afford that satisfactory of which the gentleman
from Alabama has spoken-that the wings OF the north
will stand by the south against the Wmot Provso Do
they find that the votes given by Willard Fill
more their candidate for the vice presidency, upon the Ath
erton resolutions, with which the country SO Ia
miar? Do they find it in the fact that every
when the Wmo Provso has been presented to Congress
for its action it has received the of epery northern
chig Do they find it in the fact, that at this time there
not to be found in this Congress sing northern wing
who does not cling, with all his heart, SOUL and
find it in the reasons given by the northern wing
press and politicians for their support of General lay
Tor These inquiries to which the honest, thinking,
and intelligent people of the south will require clear,
explicit, and unequivoca answer Their interest de-
mands that their minds should be relieved from all appre-
tensions on the subject Not only the people OF my
section of the country but of the north Also inter-
esed IN having this matter placed upon Its proper oot
ing, Let not the settlement OF these conflicting repre-
sensations be postponed to period when 1t shall be
placed beyond the reach of the people to regulate and
control It, Let General Taylor and the wing party take
their position, and stand by it. If the people sanction
and approve it, be so duty is to acquiesce and
shall do it cheeruy But, the name OF the north and
the south protest against this system of double dealing
imposition upon the the ether section of the Union
We'll may my colleague, in speaking of the issues in
voved in this contest say that the wing party differ, and
! differ widely, upon some of these questions.
have prosecuted this investigation sufficiently for the
purposes OF my argument think may safely say that,
the reasons why the whig national convention did not
lay down any platform OF principles, to be found IN