The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-03-04
THE REP U BLIC .
SPEECH
THE
HON. ROBERT C. WINTHROP, OF MAS
SACHUSETTS,

HON. ROBERT c. WINTHROP, OF MAS
SACHUSETTS,
Delivered in the United States House OF
Representatives. February 2lst, in Com
mittee Of the Whole on the Presidents
Message.
l do not rise, Mr.. Chairman. to enter elaborately
into the general discussion to which the annual
message of the President of the United States has
given occasion. But finding myself under an un-
expected necessity of leaving my seat for week or
two, have been unwilling to 60 without making
few remarks, which feel to be due to my own
position and character.
have abstained thus far from any expression OF
opinion declaration of purpose, In regard to the
unfortunate sectional controversies by which our
country is now agitated. have done 90 designed
y, and for many reasons, satisfactory to myself, if
to nobody else.
In the first place, sir desired to wait until the
excitement growing out of that protracted struggle
for the Speakership-to which, by the unnerited
favor of my friends, was prominent party
had passed away from the minds of all who were
engaged in ii; and until could express myself
fully and fearlessly upon these controvertcd TOPICS
without the suspicion of being influenced by any
thing of private resentment personal disappoint
ment.
In the second place, sir, desired to wait, until
something of that fervent and flaming heat, which
had been SO evidently brought here from what may
well be termed " the warm and sunny South,' had
abated; until the angry passions, which seemed
pent up within SO many bosoms at the outset of the
session, had found vent through the safe and whole
some channel of debate and until there could be a
chance, that a calm and dispassionate voice from
the cold and calculating North" might be list
ened to, with some degree of patient attention.
In the third place, sir, desired to wait until
matters should be rather more clearly and fully
developed until all the circumstances Of the case
should be before us; until we should have been
able to take observation of the precise position Of
the precious vessel in which we are all embarked !;
until we could ascertain, if possible what the real
length and breadth, and height and Depth of that
fearful chasm, that yawning abyss, upon the dizzy
brink of which, We told the Ship of State is
even now posing herself; until we could learn, too
what course might be proposed by older and ADLER,
and more experienced hands, for extrcating her
from peril; and until, especially, we might hear
distinctly, above the of the elements and the
rafting of the shrouds the voice of the responsible
man at the helm man, who has been placed at
the helm by majority Of the crew, with my own
cordial concurrence, and who, by the blessing of
God, hope and trust, and believe, is destined to be
hailed by us all hereafter, " the pilot who has
weathered the storm!'
These, Mr.. Chairman, of the views
with which ] have thus far abstaned. and would
gladly have still longer abstnined from any parti-
cipation in that strife Of tongues which has so long
been raging around us,-a strife, let me say which
has seemed to me likely to have no more important
practical issue, than that which was chronicled
by one of the sacred historians in regard to quar-
rel among the Hebrew tribes, when he summed up
the whole matter by saying-"and the words of the
men Of judah were fercr than the words of the
men Of Israel"
But sir, have not been permitted to pursue this
erpectant system an honorable member of the
medical faculty near me, (Mr. VEsABLK,) would
probably cali it'll have not, say, been permitted
to pursue this course of silent observation, without
interruption. II appears to have been the studious
policy Of few members Of this House to drag me
into the debate, whether would or no. Not sat
ished with having accomplished my defeat a
candidate for reelection TO the Speakers chair
defeat sir, which, in all its personal incidents and
consequences, have ever regarded the most for
tunate of triumphs. and over which no one of my
enemies has rejoiccd more heartily than myself, -
not satisfied with the accomplishment Of this result,
they have made il their special business to provoke
and taunt me by unworthy reflections upon my DO
litical and official conduct; and more than one Of
them has not scruped sssail me with the coarsest
and most unwarrantable personalities.
1t is my purpose, sir, at this moment, to notice
be surprised, think, IL should be found doing 80
in no very mincing or measured terms.
Indeed, Mr.. Chairman, both the House and the
country will bear witness that have been placed in
somewhat extraordnarypositiond during the pres
Capital before found myself held up, at the length
Of three or four columns, in the Democratic organ
Of this city, as desperate Abolitionist The Abo-
lition papers, In reply, exhibited me at equal
length, as, indeed, they had often done before as
from Tennessee, (Mr. ANDREW JoHSsoS,) coming
next TO the onslaught, and doing me the favor 10
rehearse before my face speech which he had de-
vered behind my back at the last session. arraigned
me in the most ferocious terms having prosti.
tuted the prerogatves of the Chair sectional pur
poses, and as having framed all my committees in
a manner and with view to do injustice ~. the
South. The honorable member from Ohio, (Mr
GIDDfSes,) following him, after a due delay de-
nounced me, with equal violence, as having packed
the most important Of those committees for the pur-
pose Of betrsying the North. The one proclaimed
me 10 be the very author and originator Of the Will
downright, or, at best, disguised, enemy 10 that
proviso. The one exclaimed, the very climax
Of his condemnation, al would sooner vote for
yousHuA X. GIpDISss himself than for RoBERr G.
WIsTHRoP." The other responded with equally
indignant emphasis, and would sooner vote for
HOW'LL Cons than for RoBkRT c. wsTHpoP-he
cannot do worse, he may do better" Nay, pre-
sumo IL Is safe TO say that the honorable member s
now Of opinion that he has done better since only
has the honorable member secured for himself a
place on the Territorial Committee but the report
Of the anti slavery convention, at their late meeting
in Boston, has remarked upon il az " curious and
instructive fact that, in the composition of commit
tees, Mr.. CosB has given more weight TO the anti
slavery element of the House than was done by his
northern predecessor" How far this s true leave
others TO pronounce.
But the honorable members from Tennessee and
Ohio, (por mobile fratrun) have not been the only
COulflOutort 70 tnlr DOet anlhDlf, COnsletent and
harmonious testimony in regard 10 my public con-
duct and character. An honorable colleague from
Massachusetts (Mr. ALLrN) has cast in his mite,
also, both by prompting others at his elbow, and
by the manlier method Of direct accusation. He,
too, has charged me with having arranged certain
committees, with the deliberate purpose Of pre-
venting the action which northern men demanded.
And more recently, again, an honorable member
from Virginia, (Mr. MopTor,) in speech which, |
take pleasure in saying, characterized by
tire courtesy, If not by entire justice, has told the
House and his constituents that he voted against
me as Speaker, because che believed me 20 be in |
favor Of the Wilmot proviso; because he believed
me TO be in favor Of the abolition Of slavery in the
District Of Columbia; and becsusc my name was |
found in minority of forty Eve against the sd- /
mission Of Florida a slave State"
Sir, IL my name little less humble than ! /
feel IL this day 10 be-if were not conscious how
small claim Il has 10 be classed among the great
names even of our age and country, much /
more Of the world, should be tempted 10 console |
myself under these conflicting accusations with
those noble lines Of Milton-which, as il is, can
not but remember
"Fame, IL not double faced, is double -tongued,
And with contrary blast proclams most deeds;
On both his wings, one black, the other white,
Bears greatest names in his wild aery flight"
But indeed, Mr.. Chairman, need no consolation
These contradictory charges the natural con-
rnlf