The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-02

important Tor US to know where we stand. In con-
cluson, after additional remarks, he said that tue
! Wing party were harmonious, and on the prinoi-
/ Piles which they had laid down they intended "a
act. They were not like the other side, where All
sorts OF opinions prevail.
! Mr. MEADE was more than gratihed TO learn
from the gentleman that the Wing party had
healed their differences for the purpose OF support
! ing Compromise candidate. Ii he understood the
| remarks, the gentleman had stated as a fact bo-
fore the country that the Wing party Of the No! IN
are opposed TO agitation, and are perfectly
willing to execute every article In the compromise
neasures-slave bill and all--that there Is no IL
vision among the Wings of the North upon tins
subject. Did he understand the declaration, un-
qualifiedly!
Mr. BROOKS. The Wing caucus this morning,
almost unanimously, acquiesced IN the Compro-
Mr. MEADE understood that the Wings in eau
Gus represented probably one iourth OF the wing
party of the North. Did he understand the genie
men TO say that they reflect the opinions Of the
! large body Of the Wings of the North, ana uat
that party are now prepared 10 stop agitation on
the slavery question and carry out an INC pIoVl-
eions of the Compromise, especially that which re-
ates to the restoration OF the fugitive slaves OF The
South? Did he understand that 20 be the pledge
The Wing resolution was passed by Wings OF me
South, united with Wings OF the North, represent
ing but one-t third of them.
Mr. BROOKS. The majority of Wings in the
caucus were from northern States The number
was between fifty and sixty. In the Democrats
caucus there were but eighty Democrats. 4
voice: "Ninety- two"I But he would read the reso-
luton adopted in the Wing caucus IL was as fol-
lo&s
Resolved, That we regard the series of acts
known as the adjustment measures as forming III
their mutual dependence and connection u system
of compromise the most conciliating and the best
for the entire country that could be obtained from
conflicting sectional interests and opinions, and
| that therefore, they ought TO be adhered to aud
carried into faithful execution, final settlement
| in principle and substance of the dangerous and
exciting subjects which they embrace.
! Mr.. MEADE By what vote was il adopted!
Mr.. BROOKS There were but four or five OPP
! ponents
Mr.. FOWLER said that he was in the caucus,
and moved to lay the resolution upon the table He
was a Wing. and always should be one He would
state III this connexion that he would not be bound
! by the resolution. [Cries of GOOD, and demon
strations of applause.l There were about for
| ty members there, but he did not count them.
| [Laughterl He would further say that one-thiTd
of the Wings voted to lay the resolution on the ia
BILE. The proceedings of the caucus should be
| honestly reported. He meant to stand on his own
! footing, here and elsewhere.
Mr. BROOKS You went out before final &C
! ton.
Mr.. FOWLER. No; remained until final &C
| ton had taken place
There were calls to "order" and cries of +" Go
| on
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania called to or
der, on the ground of disturbing the harmony Of
the Wing party. [Laughter.l
! Mr.. MEADE continued. 1t appeared that there
forty Wings in attendance, and 1t was fair TO
presume that twenty OF them were from the South.
Every southern Wing voted for the resolutions;
! take away one-third who voted to lay 1t on the
table, and there were but five northern Wings sus-
tanning it. He knew the object for which this
movement was made; it was made for political
capital at the South, and gain Presidential votes
But the people of the South understand the Wings
of the North. His constituents. knew as well as
he did. They knew that there some glorious
exceptions in that party, and that a large body
of them, under the auspices OF celebrated Sen
ator from New York, are opposed to the Fugitive
| bill, and time after time have avowed their
determination to repeal it. All the talents of
Daniel Webster, and those who act with him at
the North, have been unable to ailay the storm
which has been produced in that section OF the
country. 1t is known that the Wings of the North
are un}aithfu to the Compromise, and that large
portion of the Democrats faithful to 1t, lnciud
| ing MARCY, BUCHANAN, DouGLAs, CAss, DIcKIN-
SON, who the acknowledged leaders of the
Democratic party at the North. They the true
friends of the Union. The Democracy are not TO
be gulled by the Compromise resolution adopted in
caucus. Let him know the fact that a large ma
jority of the people of the North, both Wings and
| Democrats, willing to let the South rest in
peace, and will adhere to all the features of the
! Compromise, and he should rejoice in proclaiming
before the nation that he too, should abide by it, be
il might be the means of giving repose to the
country
| Mr. Campbell desired to say that he did not
| present the name of Mr.. STEVENS in connexion
with the Wing caucus. He was there, but took no
part in ii.
| MIR. MEADE. The gentleman is Wing, and
his nominee is q Wing, and they could vote for
him accordingly. The Compromise resolution in
the Democratic caucus was laid upon the table 1t
being proper to be considered by the people repre-
scented in the Democratic Baltimore Convention.
| Voices: "Youre right;' "That's it'll They will
take it into their hands, and proclaim to the world
the principles by which the northern and southern
! Democrats can be united. There Freesoil agta
tors who call themselves Democrats. He, as a
Democrat, willing to carry out the Compro-
mise; and repudiated every soul of them who are
in favor of agitation here. They are not part and
parcel of the Democratic party OF the Union. They
are repudiated by the leading men OF the North
| whom the Democracy can trust The Democracy
wanted no declarations of opinions at this time
principles by which they actuatcd. He repeat
ed, he did not view Freesolers as members of the
Democratic party. If, however, they are willing
to abide the Compromise measures final settle
ment, they may come into the Democratic party,
and unite to carry out other principles ii the Com
promise resolution was taken up properly, not
half dozen Democrats would vote against it; bat
the Wings took 1t up to impose their rotten party
on the South.
Mr. RICHARDSON said that the soldier who in
the hour of battle deserted his post s loudes in his
joy in the event of victory. This is not only true
to the soldier, but as to the politician. The gen
teman from New York MIR. BaooKs) stands fore
most as the champion, and is oudest in his praise
of the Compromise measures which passed Con-
gross. If his memory served him right, he thought
that when the time arrived to try northern men,
the gentleman deserted his post
Mr.. BROOKS. ! voted on the question the same
way as CAss and DOUGLAS, and other prominent
Democrats.
MIR. RICHARDSON. Does he gentleman deny
that he was here when the vote about being
taken, and that he left the House,
Mr.. BROOKS understood TO say, you will
find my vote recorded, the final vote, az have
said.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. ! will read the record.
Only three northern Wings voted for the Fugitive
Slave bill, and the genteman's name is not among
them. The gentleman did not vote for or against
that bill.
Mr.. BROOKS. | admit the fact. II the
moet unfortunate act of my life that did not vote
for it.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. The gentleman must cx
cuse and pardon him. He had fought these peo
pie here since he entered Congress; he had fought
them before his people. The gentleman must par
don him if he could not follow him. New light
is broken on your way II the people of the South
follow them In their sudden conversion, he had no
objection. He repeated that he had fought the
abolition party for twenty years, and expected to
fight them until the end OF bis existence.
Mr. HARRIS, of Tennessee, said that on the
final passage of the Fugitive bill but three Wings
of the North voted for it, and twenty north
ern Democrats. Eighty-two Democrats In the last