The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-17

decisive blow In tho great b1ttfa whirh resulted
in the election Of Mr.. Polk, and whose immense
conse q asnccs are f,lt By this country aud the
world. s
have shown that there is no colorado pretcxt
for calling him = mum candidate. In truth, he las
not ayowed himself candidate ut all. The
Democracy Of Kentucky have put forward his
name in respectful terms, md with it certain
platform; that is ALL What would the gentle
man have? What would others have Would
they have him to roam over the country, clam0r-
ing for support, and spreading his sails 10 every
breeze of popular excitement? Would they
have him, with indecent anxiety, Issuing procla-
nations like bulletins on a campaign, aud making
new character every fortnight to suit the shift
ing temper of the times Would they have
these things! General Butler has remained,
with quiet dignity, at his home in Kentucky; he
has not mingled in this Presidential strife. 10
my mind, sir, it is noble spectacle. II ia the
homage he pays to the good sense and capacity
Of his countrymen. This course carries the
mind back TO the earlier and purer days Of the
republic, and recalls the memory of those really
great men who neither sought nor declined the
Presidency The avidity with which high Of
fees are sought nowadays, | regard rs the
worst the very worst, symptoms of the times
From it, AZ from cop'ous fountain, flow cor
ruption, extravaganza, pr0fligacy, national dis
grace. The adm0Dtions of history upon this
point are full OF instruction. Choose where
you will, sir the moral is always the same
We learn that the Pretoran bands used to set
up the Roman empire at auction, and enforce
their bargains by the sword but sometimes the
arts and schemes that spring out of a corrupt
civilization furnish means of Legitimate ad-
vancement not less effective than arms. 1t will
be time for honest men to despair Of the repub-
lie when aspirants struggle after the same fash
ion, and struggle successfully, for the highest
and lowest offices in the land. hope that the
Chief Magistrate of this Union will ever be
designated by the spontaneous voice of the
people, and that the citizen who is honored by
the public choice may deserve the place for his
services, his virtues, and his nodesty.
Now, sir, of the opinions and course of Gen
Butler in the past have spoken: if the gentle
man from Florida is in doubt as to the future,
have one mere suggestion for his comfort. The
Democrats will hold convention at Baltimore,
and lay down written platform 1t is their
custom to do so--a custom which most re-
specially recommend to the other side. If,
among the names from which the selection may
be made, the choice of that convention should
fall on General Butler, | venture to assure the
gentleman from Florida that he will stand upon
the platform of his party, or not stand at ALL If
he cannot approve whatever resolutions may be
adopted, he will, like an honest man, repudiate
them and stay at home.
Having thus disposed of the attack of the
gentleman from Florida, will notice for mo-
mcnt certain rumors having no responsible au
thor, but of late very industriousy circulated
in this city and elsewhere. They are vague
they are intangible; they are supported by no
facts; they are traccabe to no authentic source
yet hundred busy tongues impeed by inter
est or the mere love of falsehood, have given
them currency. These rumors would be en-
tirely unworthy of notice. but that these arc If
ritable times, and honest men might be deceived
1t is rumored that General Butler is himself
Freesoiler; that he is the peculiar candidate of
the Freesoil portion of the Democratic party;
that he has come under obligations to and en-
tered into engagements with Messrs. Benton,
Blair, and Van Buren, that Mr. Benton would
be his Secretary Of State; and that the patron
age of the administration would be thrown ia
that direction. This, believe, is the sum of
these rumors. II they were true, General But
Ter would be eternaIly dishonored because the
public man betrays his party who comes under
obligations to less than the whole; and he who
makes agreements with factions or sections
forfeits the confidence of all the rest But they
are not true. In the name of the Kentucky
Democracy, deny them. meet them reco-
ing from the spotless character of their object,
and trample them beneath my feet. They are
false-false separatey-fase in the aggregate
false as the hearts in whose morbid recesses
they were engendered General Butler has not
contracted, and will not contract alliances, en-
gagements, or obligations with any class, sec
ton, faction, or individual He stands immove-
ably whore he has ever stood-a State Rights
Democrat; and the unbendng integrity of his
character repels this tide Of calumny as the rock
throws back the wave. Kentucky heard these
things, and the action of her convention is her
commentary upon them.
Mr. Chairman, have attemptedb vindicate
the action of the Kentucky Democracy. hRve
met the charges of the gentleman from Florida,
as well as the current-but baseless-rumors Of
the day. have shown that the dishonoring in
terences which spring from both do not attach
to the choice Of the Kentucky Democracy
now tell the gentleman from Florida, and others
engaged in the attacks of which General Butler
has been the object more than any other public
man, during the last three months, that they do
not know the man at whom they throw their
random accusations. ! will give them his char
acter in a single sentence and appeal to all who
have ever known him for It's truth He is man
pure and incorruptible, Democrat of forty
years standing, and of the Jackson temper.
statesman without guile, sir, and as soldier
why, the very Bayard Of his countryside knight
without fear and without reproach.
Mr.. Chairman, | have been defending this
gentleman against wing attack. 1t now be.
comes my disagrecable duty to notice one pro-
ceedng from Democratic source if that can
be called Democratic source which traduces all
the best and most honorable names in the party
II is we'll now to talk plainly, and it is as well
to have these things understood in the begin
ming We are all in trouble, Wings and Dem
ocrats. There is no doubt about it; and why
not say 500 Laughter. But the way for the
Democrats to get out of trouble is not for
part to fight out by attempting to mount up on
the PROSTATE bodies Of all the best men in the
party. Now, cir, my apology for noticing this
attack is to be found in the character heretofore
sustained by the periodical which contains it,
and in some other circumstances that make the
ofN mutt IL .I4i.