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

did not offer in The Baltimore Convention resolution
IA opposition to the Wilmot Provso, and if he was no
warned not to press it
4 Mr., COBB | was not present in the convention, bu
have been iniorme that Mr. Forman introduced
oluiion the subject of the Wimot Provso and with
drew upon the ground taken by large majority OF the
South IN that body that the resolution already repeatedly
adopted by the democratic conventions and thereby nco
poried into the creed of the democratic party salts
factory ask the gentleman, in turn, If he believed thai
The Wing Convention, IN voting down the WLnot Pro-
vlso, intended to declare themselves against II
Mr. billiard said he judged OF the sentiments o
the body By It's actions 1t was rejected by large ma
MI COBB | recall the gentleman to the question
This is no time, when are discussing question In
voving the dearest interests of the gentlemans constu
eney and my own, TO equiyocate upon terms. again
ask the gentleman If he believes that majority OF the
Philadelphia Convention were opposed 10 the Wllmo
! Proviso!
| Mr. billiard replied, that the gentleman had as
much information upon the subject as he had He asked
the gentleman if significant expression OF the
opinion OF any body could be gwen than the deliberate
4, ne of that body?
Mr. COBB SAID that unfortunately that body declared
they would not express any sentiments and his honora-
bic colleague Mr. TooMBs was an able advocate OF that
position Now, did the gentleman from Alabama pretend
to say that his party could denounce platforms and pTnci
Piles. and yet avail themselves OF that votea vote given
upon the principle of erecting platform? Would the
gentleman from Alabama before the people OF that State
before the Union, say that that the honest sentiment
expressed by that convention!
| Mr. billiard replied that the northern gentlemen
of that body assured them that the resolution should be
put down il it offered; and by the motion OF north
| ern man. a member from Pennsylvania when the Will
mot provso was brought forward, was laid on the
table by overwhelming VOTE lie asked II there
could be stronger expression OF the sentiment OF that
body and OF respect OF southern rights than was shown
on that vote
Mr. COBB remarked, that the gentleman from Ala
bama was very diffuse IN answering his question he
again asked, that there might be equivocation, did
the gentleman from Alabama believe thai the majority OF
the Philadelphia Wing Convention were opposed to the
principles of the Wilmot Provso'
| M hat ha fama do.
termned understand him. He desired to say, that
when that convention in the open light OF day. thou
sands looking on. did vote to put down the Wimot Pro-
vso, gave him the strongest assurance he could ask
that they would stand by the south against It,
MI. COBB replied SO strong was the assurance, that
the gentleman would say that he believed it, Laugh
teri The gentleman right not TO believe those
with whom he associated. He commended the gen.
teman his constituency for the open avowa made, in
effect before the country, that he could not place conf
dence in the assurance of his northern friends.
Mr. billiard never liked to risk unnecessary decla
rations; he referred to facts.
Mr. COBB said, the gentleman was right in this con-
test He advised him to follow his leader and to risk no
unnecessary declarations" He was strictly on the
and HasRRTpneps pa aoEsd if the gentleman
would answer why Mr. Forman was prevailed upon not
to press his resolution in the Baltimore Convention.
however that the resolution withdrawn upon the
declaration given at the time that the resolution already
adopted sufficient. He had answered the gentleman
but the gentleman had failed to answer him.
Mr. billiard asked if the gentleman would say
that he honestly believed that the only reason why
the resolution was Withdrawn by Mr. Foman'
Mr. COBB did not pretend to deny that other influences
might have operated upon of them. This is sub
ect upon which no concealment ought to be Prachsed
nor would the country Justify any evasion and regret
that the answers OF the gentleman from Alabama have
been marked by such manifest indsposition to en-
tighten the public mind upon the subject OF my inquiry
Ii unnecessary, therefore, further to continue the
conversation with that gentleman and as my time IS
rapidly passing away, and desire the benefit of the es
inony OF other Witnesses will turn my attention to the
gentleman from Massachusetts. [Mr AsnMuN,] who,
am happy to see, is now in his seat That gentleman
was member of the Philadelphia Convention; and
should be pleased and the country would be grahed to
learn his construction of the action of that body the
Wimot Proviso resolution; and whether or not he be-
ieves that majority OF that Convention was opposed to
the Wilmot Provso
other question which the gentleman from Georgia might
choose 10 put to him, with pleasure.
Mr.. COBB would not have presumed TO put the ques
ton, if he had supposed the gentleman would have re-
ceived it in any other spirit than that which he ex
pressed
MI ASHMUN, in reply, stated, that although he
was a member of that convention, he was not IN the
body at the moment that proposition was made, nor did
he hear word upon the subject OF II, nor was he
present when he understood it was laid upon the table
He could not therefore, answer for any one gentleman
to his for voting for or against the motion
could he state in what precise form the PROPOSE
ton came up But he would state this if the gentleman
wished to know he was acquainted with his Mr.. A. -
individual ENTHUSIASTICALLY knew them lie would
state that he believed majority Of that convention
tnat majority ulu) Tue
in favor of the principles of the Wilmot Proviso He
stated matter of belief and of fact he did not state
1t reference TO any action of that convention, because,
although they held individual opinions upon the subject,
he did not consider them essential part OF their pro-
ceedngs He thought, however, they were In favor of
the WIlmot Poyso General Cass was two years ago,
because he from the latitude where it was thought
proper; and if he General Cass) had changed since,
would the gentleman tell him why
Mr.. COBB replied if General Cass had entertained the
opinion ascrlbed to him, and had changed since that
,me the to be found in the course pursued
by every honest man, who, when the conviction was
made his mind that he wrong, changed the posi-
the other side, he knew, could not appreciate such
course Laughter That, however, was not his fault.
It for him to lay the truth before them-not TO give
them the intellect and heart to appreciate it. tRenewed
Mr.. ASIMUN asked the gentleman if he did not be-
then, and this tme in favor Of the Wilmot Pro-
viso' He asked the gentleman, further if the Oregon
bill passed the Senate and this House with the Wilmot
Proviso in it, if he believed that Gen. Cass, elected
President would veto it, He wanted the question an
swered in the face OF the world.
Mr. COBB asked why the gentleman put the question
in reference to the Oregon bill? He (Mr - himself
with this very proposition it, and had been willing thai
it should pass in that FORM because the Territory was
north of SO deg 80 min. The south had always been
willing to abide by that compromise line. She was now
prepared to adhere to it and IN conformity with thai
we'll known feeling the part OF his constituents, NJ
passage of the BILL and his received the unqua
ned sanction of the people he represented lie thought
| and southern democrats generally who voted Tor II
thought that this provision ought not to have been there
that it an Unconstitutional exercise OF power; bu
when, as that it not practical question he
H. H., t. H.. ale ~ Trav.s