Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-04-10

attempted to revive its In assaing Mr. Fllmores vote
for the adoption Of that rule he viii that he araigns
the vote Of his own party in repeating it and the action
Of that party in repeating the rule present to the
try vindcaon Of the President for the vote selected
| for his condemnation.
The course Of the Democratic party in connexion with
the twenty rule offers instructive lesson by which
the people OF this country may well study and better aP
the philosophy Of passing events That rule
adopted at the session Of Congress preceding
the Presidential election of l840 The competitors for
the Chief Magsracy Harrison and Van Buren, that
Z" Northern with Southern principles whom the
Democracy delighted to honor. The agitation Of the
slavery questions the Of abolition petitions
and memorials concerning slavery had goaded the South
ern people to degree Of excitement which rendered
them easy prey to whatever faction might choose art
fully to play upon their sensitiveness in regard to the
peculiar institution" The discussion Of Thompsons
solution, which Immediately succeeded the rejection of
Wses proposition, offered the opportunity to drag the
whole subject of slavery as it exists in the South into
the Of party politics Pressed in the contest for
power and weighed down by the thousand evidences of
Van Burens maladminstration, which being devel
oped to popular the Democracy in their des
manufacture therefrom eeconeerng capital for the
| tasion. Southern Democrat-now more-opened
the upon the Wings Of the country, by the general
accusation that they were allied to the Abolitionists
Comparing with elaboration and apparent accuracy the
of parties he deduced from selected instances su
fcient materials to authorize, in his opinion general
conclusonwhch his party adopted-that Harrison was
Aboitonis; that his supporters the allies Of the
Abolitonists; that Martin Van Buren, the with
Southern principles upon whom the South might lean
with unhestatng confidence, and that the Van Buren,
Democracy of the North alone could be relied for
the protection and maintenance of the constitutional rights
of the South Sir do not to recur to the incidents
Of that Some there here who imagine that
the people msled by the cry Of l0g cabins, hard
cider and coon SKINS This is sad mistake The
greet with which the Democrats still look back to Van Blu
rens defeat and the nsuciency Of the to which
they attribute it, argue little appreciation Of the difficulty
escaped by avoiding whose views of the slavery
questions have since been distinctly developed and
less respect for the popular intelligence.
The people, sir, through Mr. Van Buren, before the
politicians did will do the Southern Democrats Of 1910
the justice to say that they particular, at least in
the arrangement Of the terms upon which they brought
the abolition question within the range of partisan poll
tics They not contentas some Of the Democrats
of today-with whatever platform National Convention
might choose to adopt They not willing to refer
such vital questions to mixed arbtrament of Massachu
sets Coaltonsts, New York Freesoers, and Southern
Secessionists They required, at the beginning egs
atve exposition and applied to the Northern wing Of the
party the test which the twenty rule proposed
That test seemed to offer the chance Of making election
eerng capital out of the slavery question: and, at the
same time, to the establishment of principle
which would exclude from the future consideration of
Congress all petitions relating to slavery and the slave
trade in the States Territories, the District of Co.
umbia They committed fatal error in consenting to
bring the constitutional rights and peculiar institution of
the South into the range of party conflict terms
But, sir, their test applied and the Van Buren, De-
mocras took the pledge" Methnks can now behold
the conclusion of that memorable scene Mr. Wander
poe of New York. was the spokesman Of the Northern
Democracy. He uttered in their behalf with solemn
phasis this memorable pledges 81 Until we become
wretches, and wholly nsns6 to the obligations Of covenant
and duty, win faithfully fulfil the compact"
The compact referred to the compact to accept the
Southern Interpretation of the Constitution to w.t. To
recognise slaves property to continue them ele
ment of representation this floor; and finally not to
entertain by Congress- any petition touching slavery
the slave trade in the States Territories District
He then called the previous question: and the vote
the twenyfrst rule adopted admit, the accession
of the Van Buren, Democracy Of the North to the Of
the votes Of both parties from slayehodng States This
true sir but further reflection is also suggested in
this connection. There sincerity IN that declaration
cloak the occasion, and the pledge scas insne
date rpudiaed By the The North whom those obH
gers represented. This is history.
Mr. John Quincy Adams at the next Congress moved to
rescnd the rulen less than sixty days after the cleo
State Of New York voted for the repeal The election had
passed by and the continuance of the could longer
answer the purpose O. political m. .S VIII
jority The rule not repealed by that E1ess But
at the commencement of the twentyeig Jess the
resolution Of rescission failed by only f0s There
in the twenty Congress large Democratic
orty At the second session of that Congress 1t
pealed by vote of hundred and eight to eighty Mr.
Chapman of Alabama attempted to revive the rule at the
commencement Of the tweny-ninth Congress- bur failed
by decisive majority The history of the twenyfrst
rule is them story Of political inconsistency. When my
colleague arragns the vote Of Mr. Fillmore against its
adoption he brings at the moment into strong light
that grave delinquency Of the Van Buren, Democracy
which assumed principle Of action without intending to
pursue it, abandoned II without honest and open
confession Of change of sentiment Mr. Chairman, with
these lights of the past shining full his path my col
league ventures to say that again the South should base
its reliance upon the Democratic party of the North If
the lessons of that past and especially the action of that
Democracy upon the rule referred to- have been lost upon
my colleague the force Of political utilization must confuse
his generally accurate perceptions have good deal to
say and must hurry over these matters.
Mr.. BREcRENRIDGE There is another specification
which would be glad my colleague would notice.
MIR. MARSHALL. | suppose my colleague refers to the
Erie letter do not know what else. II he does,
derstand Mr. Flmores view upon that subject to be
pressed succncty in his reply to Governor Gayle re-
fer my colleague to that letter.
surprised that my colleague, in the conclusion of
his comparison between the President and General Butler
should affect TO doubt the soundness of the President
upon great questions that may arise for Congressional
action touching the institution of slavery Sir, refer
to the writings and votes of public for evidence of
their probable when invested with official power.
They accepted guides to calculations Of their
conduct upon unsettled questions through uncertain
future 1t was upon such trust the Democratic party
accepted Mr. Van Buren, though his subsequent develop
ments Of sentiment exhibited the faacy of their hope
and the insecurity of their reliance His avowals
fortunately put to any test during his admin
istraton But in Mr. Fllmores case there remains no
for speculation there apology for the pretence
Of doubt He has been tested officially, thoroughly
trely His views known from his official action as
President Of the United States His determination has
been expressed in regard the future by his acts through
the past, and by subsequent declarations in wecon-
State papers touching the future made under oil the
- A. A.. Al N. L..