The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-20

with what semblance Of justice charge At once q
Tious and 50 important was made southern candidate
for the Speakershp was nominated BY the democratic
party and supported BY the united votes oi that party
North and South A northern candidate was nominated
BY the federal party for the same Office and sup
ported By the united northern and southern votes Of that
party have nothing 10 say OF the guerilla troops that
hung the TANKS OF the great contendng armies But sir
drawn up according 10 wellestablished party tactics
Party organization was paramount oa sectional feeling
throughout the contest Had sectional instead Of party
lines been drawn, how different the result for then il is
and must be perfectly evident to every that the
Joint vote from the North and West irrespective OF party
lies could have elected the officers and organized the
committees 81 this House within two hours after we
were assembled togethe the first day OF the session
The Speaker occupies the chair in which you sit by
wv wss s w q
justice he discharged that Important duty remains to
Dc seen--the prognosc laudaons OF the Union and the
true that the nominee Of the democratic party for the Of
flee OF Clerka gentleman, by the way who brought to
the advocacy Of the southern view Of the question Of
slavery an amount Of energy and argument and elo-
quencc seldom equaed and surpassed by the
gifted Of the South-it is true he was defeated
BY the desertion OF southern democrats who saw fit
q elect a southern whig. No one dars allege that
this detection arose from sectional motives 1t was
purely patriotic act The vote cast few days ago to
lay upon the table the resolution Of the honorable
Der from Ohio MR. RooT] indicated anything else than
the existence of sectional feeling the question OF the
Wilmot Proviso Thus, il must be seen, that the
ton against the integrity and patriotism OF those who
unfounded as it was nncalled for and unjust.
Mr. Chairman. does not the history Of the last pres
dental campaign furnish grounds to imagine that scarcely
two years ago some ten twenty thousand OF the chiv
alrous yeomanry OF the sunny South might have been
eagerly pressing around one oil their iavore orators
% bssa h soaa
thaldom OF northern fanatcism that the constitution
was safe, and the Union would be preservedl tina,
| he gave them Joy that that candidate General
| a herr ma III
princpes Elect him and let Congress pass the Will
mot Provsoi territorial bill, be will inierpose his
Let Congress pass bill abolshing slavery in the District
of Columbia his constitutional veto will protect you in
your just rights. May we not suppose him as adopting
the favorte and familiar language so often introduced in
the resolutions OF his political party the South -! The
candidate whose claims advocate is OF is with US,
ton and your country from destruction. And as his
words that burned and thoughts that brealhed fell
upon the Of his too credulous auditors, long.
loud shout Of Joy burst from their hearts The day came,
their votes cast, and General Taylor elected
President of the United States The first Congress under
this administration had scarcely conyened parties
were ballotng for Speaker; the Presidents message
had not been sent not ntimali0n OF his policy had
been given; the House unorganized not in condition to
egsale on the subject Of slavery, any other sub
ect and southern orator is seen rushing into the hall
OF national representation
IS His eye, in 4 ane phrensy rolling,
70 airy aoSns ioes Sob sns
Such tricks hath strong Imagination"
Ay, sir that same voice is heard here invoking the
spirit OF discod TO preside your councils, until he
has assurance for southern rights the subject OF
slavery proclaiming disunion and willing to dedicate
himself body and soul, 70 the accomplishment Of this
high and noble purpose Do southern federaliss forget
Truman Smiths Southern Life of General Tayorl Do
southern orators forget their solemn pledges TO
dng constituency! Do they forget that the redeemer OF
the South from northern thradom was elected has taken
an oath to support the constitution, and sits at
the other end Of the avenue, installed President OF the
United States, daily receiving aid and comfort from that
TONI Or have their iervent hopes in this The winter Of
their discomfort for political salvation from that quar-
ter, fallen at last into suen despair "
MIR. Chairman, II 10 not my design TO enter into an
elaborate argument upon the various thrilling and i'm
portant questions involved in the present momenious
issue before the couny; is simply to state here what
believe 10 be the sentiments OF majority OF the
people OF Pennsy Sir, this OF The political
elements may rage; the tempest OF civil discord may
howl around aud within the Capiio but there dan.
ger OF the destruction OF the republic The memorable
declaration that "the Union must and shall be preserved
Is as true when uttered by the ilustrious
Jackson
The "od Keystone OF the federal arch is 10 the right
place, and the foundations oil that arch laid firm and
deep in the affections OF the people The geographical
position OF Pennsylvania-he moral integrity and pro-
verbal patriotism OF her citizens, give her in
fuence between opposing southern and northern ex
tremities that always has and always must be felt
in promoting the general welfare. She is emphal-
cally the conservative State OF the Union. Receiving
fewer benefits from and comforting the conede-
acy than any other State. her self sacrificing motto has
ever been, "Unon, for the sake OF the Unionn II
she regards the Wilmot Proviso as one OF the political
hnmbugs OF the day, she looks upon southern nulca
lion as another and more deestabe II she con.
sden northern fanatlcism chimera, she regards
southern fury as another and greater one Extremes
are always dangerous; and II the North and South
meet II must be where alone there is safeyn The mod
Grafton and patriotism OF middle course II need not be
concealed, and II cannot be denied that in Pennsylva-
MIA we, with unanimiy unequaled any other subject
regard slavery as national and national dis
grace Indeed sir this is the noble and triumphant sen
nent OF the age in which live We symTathize in il with
all souls and in doing so, we but keep time in the
progressive march OF mind pressing onward and upward
to the aaiament OF the political and religious freedom
Of every son OF Adam. But remember the constitution
Of our country, and would forfeit our faith to the
Union BY altering erasng ot title ofthat sacred
the constitution left wiih the people OF the States in
which exists. This the solemn decision OF the Con-
gress OF the United States early the year 1900 when
the Society for the Abolition OF Slavery in Pennsylvania
petitoned for action the subject II then resolved
shat Congress have authority interfere in the
cpaon OF slaves with the treatment OF them in any
OF the Staest remaining with the several States alone
70 provide any regulations therein which humanity and
true policy may require"
As to the absolute and unqualified right OF Congress to
egsaie on the subject OF slavery in the Territories we
have not the slightest doubt The right is given in the
clear terms OF the constitution itsef-so amply and so
often Interpreted and confirmed by series OF Legislative
precedents that II is matter Of asonshment that any
just could hesitate the subject, or that even
virginia abstractonIst could have raised bubble
But u does not necessarily follow that because we pos
sess the right ought therefore to exercise it, We
may possess right and II be nexpedient, unneces