Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-10-23

DctiloCTdtlC poliliCid'IS Oh t'llo iotdtc II it-
la.lon TO the slavery question IS 50 well
shown up in the following expose Of Dr.
Fitch's Congressional career. copied
from the South Bend Register. that We
commend it 10 the people Of the State. and
especially to the constituents Of that gen
.leman:
THE TRIMMINGS OF TRIMMER.
4 political trimmer. il is well known
sets his sail for any favorite breeze. whicn
seems 10 have the breath Of popularity Ill
il. lie does not look back On his past
course. nor does he care for past profess
ions; but he tack> about to all points If
the compass, as circumstances may inai-
cate 10 him. We may have such a trim
mer III this District Letus see
In 10 l8. one Graham n Fitch, tray
ersed this District as Cass Elector. He
then argued long aud loud against the
WiImot Proviso He contendcd that it
was legal nullity. and wound up his
sarcasm upon il and is supporters. by
styling il a ..woolly headed humbug -
he placed himself on the record on this
question deliberately aid uncluivocally.
That election passed over Ca@s was de-
featcd and Taylor elected. Put. more
closely watched by Dr. Fitch than the
schedule Of votes in the Mon. was the
official vote of this District lie saw that
Cass had small plurality over Taylor,
but that the Van Buren, men held the bal
lance Of power; and he found. from every
indication Of popular sentiment, tn at the
People were determined 10 elect Con
oressinan in 1919 who should be sound
on The Proviso, and against the a-gress-
ions Of Slavery. 1t soon became evident
that if the Democratic nominee should
be man who could not lie relied on
upon that question. the election Of the
whig candidate would be bevond perad-
venture DR. Fitch was determined 10
obtain seat in the Halls Of Congress at
all hazards. no matter what pledges might
be required. lie shaped his course ac-
cordingly.
In 1919. the Democratic Congression al
Convention assembled Those, who
would like TO have had their names pre-
sented as candidates. were in some way
got rid Of; and Dr. Fitch. being nomina-
ted. made a lengthy speech. previously
prepared, defining his position. The
somerset was executed adroiflv. lie was
ulStitlCuy IoT pdSSHiy ti1e TONlSo rue.
one miserable reason alleged for the
change was that the Democrats were de
tcrmined to pass il to make old Zack sign
or veto ito force him 70 show his hand.
But on the stump. as he progressed thro
the District. especially ~ Free SoIl local
tiles, lie became warmer and warmer on
the subject. His competitor who bad
been. unlike him. is uniform trend and
advoc ate. he threw IN the shade by the APP
parent cartlestness and warmth of his sup
port. lie would press it in Congress. he
promised and would prove faithful to il
under all circumstances The last week
or two of the canvass. when the result
seemed even more doubtful than ever. he
became still more enthusiastic III his prom
lses 10 stand up against Southern aggres-
sion. sc, &c. And here will be the APP
propriate place 10 Introduce his famous
correspondence with the Plymouth Free
Soilcr>. but the Saturday before election,
which obtained him their votes
Plymouth. Aug. 4. 13i0.
'.Sir:-As there are a few who think
that YOU have not been quite definite
enough on some Of the questions involv-
ed III the present canvass. | wish YOU 10
"1st. VIII YOU. il elected. vote for the
unconditional abolition Of slavery ia the
District Of Columbia,
"2d. VIII YOU vote for the abolition Of
the inter-Slave trade!
..3i. VIII YOU vote for the Wilmot
Proviso being extended over the territory
Of California and New Mexico. and
against any law authorizing slaves 10 bc
aiken there as rroperty9
Please answer the above questions
yes or no without comment
'.N i,h pleasure ! answer yes 10 all
above questions. GRAHAM y F.TcH
Entertaining the view indicated in
ny answer above. shall not only vote
\ eS on these measures. but if no older
or abler member. whose influence for
hem would be greater than mine. intro
iuces them 10 Congress. 1 shall do 50
myself if | have the honor of holding a
seat there GRAHAM \ FlrcH"
The election was held: and ~ the help
of the Free Soil votes obtaned through
these plclses-throu.h this swallowing
and splitting on, Of his last wears arru-
was elected. and became. not
Dv virtue of the canvas. but bv the votes.
an "lIonorable.
lie, Us pass on. lie entered Congress.
His first act is 10 vote for Howell Cobb Of
Georgia. for Speaker. who packed ever>
important committee for Slavery--a man
whom Gov. Doty. Of Wisconsin. Cover
Tor Cleveland Of Conn. and other Dem
,cra,s. (not Free Soiers.) absolutely re-
used to touch. lie was. though new
member. placed conspicuouslv on several
novel incident. but which
doubtless satisfied him that he had done
iIht. and had truly represented the Free
'oilers to whose votes he confesSedIy
'wed his election. His next vote was for
W. Forney for Clerk whom the Ma
ional Era justly characterizes as one Of
he most unmitigaied donghfaceS in the
\o'lh-~orse if possible than Dickinson.
lis mex; vote was for Newton Lane. of
kentucky. for Serge ant al arms or Door