The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-07-10
Washington, Wednesday, July 10, 1850

circumstances, to affiliate with every faction,
and enroll among their ranks every discomfort
and every deserter from our party; and, conse-
quently they can have no unity of purpose or
identity of principle. They can never admins
ter this Government with success They can
never adjust these difficulties satisfactorily to
the nation. In addition, the very receptions
practised, and frauds committed, in obtaining
power, will prove an insuperable bar to them
If this country is saved, it has to be done by
the Democratic party Let us only for mo-
ment review our past history. r.. ..st......
1t was this party, under the lead of Mr. JEFF
ferson, who made the purchase of Louisiana,
and added that vast and fertile territory to our
country, in the face of the most violent opposi-
ton of the Federal party. 1t was this party
who carried the country in triumph through
the war with Great Britain in 1912, whilst the
opposition was weakening its movements at
home by threats of dsunion. twas its policy
which removed the Indians to the country West
of the Mississippi and opened our new States
to settlement and cultivation, by an Industrious
and energetic people, amidst the sympathetic
tears and cries of their opponents. When the
moneyed power organized under the lead of a
great National Bank aspred to the control of
the industrial pursuits Of this country, and even
to the distribution Of its honors and offices, I'M
der the lead of the patriotic Jackson, in solid
phalanX, we breasted the storm, and sustained
the strong arm of our leader, whilst he throttled
the monster; and now, while that great power
lies quietly in the DUST all the people rejoice
over its demise
One of the charges of aggression made by the
South on the North, by the gentleman from
Ohio, MIR. Campbell, in the enactment of the
revenue tariff of 1916, and which works so ad-
mirably as far to exceed our most sanguine cx-
pectations. This great measure Of equality and
relief to the labor of the country, did surely not
find its peculiar advocates in the South The
whole party, North and South, are willing to
share its responsibility and claim its proportion
of the honor
This party has ever advocated an economical
Government, and opposed extravaganza expendi-
lures, though it has often been defeated in this
policy by desertion from its own ranks. This
party has ever commended for strict cOnstruc-
ton OF the Constitution maintaining the rights
OF all the States, and resisting the Capitalization
ofpower in the Federal Government.
When the great question of the annexation of
Texas came up for discussion and decision, the
whole party abating n few deserters, took hold
Oft with zeal and decision. remember well
our connections and if any section of our party,
by its talent and energy deserved to lead the
others in this movement, from Il full and per-
sonal acquaintance with all the facts, this posi-
ton should be assigned to the indomitabe spir-
its of the Northwest 1t was followed by II war
with Mexico, and for the most part, the Demo-
cratic party sustained our troops, supplied our
armies, and were entitled to wear the honors of
our triumph. The result of this war was the nc
QUESTION Of the territories of New Mexico and
California.
Candor requires me to say that the Democratic
party are responsible for these acquisitions.
And when peace had been declared had we been
able then to settle all the conflicting questions
arising out Of this extension of our common
country, doubt not our party this hour had
been in power But our failure then to settle
all these questions shook the confidence of the
country, and amidst the discomfort and confusion
which was consequent upon the failure, the peo-
pie called our opponents into power and imposed
this responsibility upon them. 1t is thought by
many that this relieved our party from all respon-
sibility This is n contracted and improper view
of the subject. As partisans, but as partisans
alone, is this position true. But as patriots, as
lovers of the Union and Of constitutional liberty
| appeal to you to come to the rescue. 1t is APP
parent that the Administration can never make
an adjustment without throwing itself into the
arms of those who desire to put their heel upon
the South, and thus make these acquisitions q
curse upon the country. And it must be further
apparent, that in future, the South will be con-
strained to affiliate with that party North, of
whatever denomination, that will nobIy make
sacrifices in this crisis to sustain her rights
You cannot, then, believe that the flag Of the
Union owes US no protection Of our slave prop
erty on the ocean or in our territories. II You
are Democrats, willing TO support the Constitu-
ton in its integrity you must believe that it
guaranteed every right existing before its forma-
.tion AS sovereign States, we had this right
before we entered the Union. This is most
clear. BY that association we lost no rights
but received assurances from q united people Of
an additional guarantee, by an arm stronger than
our own. AS Democrats, you cannot desire to
surround us with "cOrdOn of free States,
thus alarming the fears of property holders,
rendering insecure our titles and thus forcing a
free people, by the pressure without, to abolish
common Government, a common friend.
As Democrats, with n love for the whole peo-
pie Of the Union you cannot entertain such hos
tility to us and to our institutions thus guaran-
teed by the Constitution, as to maintain that dis
union and all its train Of consequences are to be
preferred to an admission that single acre of
our large common domain, which ought to be
common pasture ground for us all, shall be set
aside for the occupancy of Southern property.
If you hold these opinions and entertain these
DESIRES and intend to carry them ont, my honest
conviction is, that it is best for us to separate,
and separate now. Postponcmcnt will but ag-
gravate the evil day, which will come rs certain
ly as that death is the doom of us all.
When know these things have been said
here by enraged madmcn, | will not believe the
whole North thus abandoned and unjust. And
i'll my unbelief, have hopc faint, it is true, but
strong enough to prevent me from believing |
am surrounded by enemies.
/ have waited, Mr.. Chairman, for propositions
from the North have not allowed myself to
become indissolubly welded to anything | am
ready to take hold Of any measure which deals
with the whole country fairly and justly. |
want measure which gives fnalty to all these
sectional discussions and differences preserving
the equality of the States, and the integrity of
the rights Of ALL for the present, and promising
peace and security for the future.
With these views, shall examine the propo-