The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03

chusetts is coalition between men who do
not oppose the compromise measures, and the
fugitive slave law particularly, with men who do
oppose them, an unholy coalition!
If it be, where and since when was that dis
covery made! Was il by the Wing party in tAe
State of Missouri? Has the State Of Missouri
been denounced again and again upon tbis floor
by Wing gentlemen, because the gentleman Mr.
GEYER who holds his seat in the other branch
of this Congress, was elected by a coalition, as
understand is, of those who favored and those
who were opposed to the fugitive slave law, and
the compromise measures, IN the State of Mis-
souri,? Is il in the State of Wisconsin, where
the gentleman nominated by Free-soil conven-
ton, and known to concur in their views, was
elected and the Wing papers, from one end OF
the country to the other, set up a shout of tri-
umph at the Wing victory in the State of Wis
consine The Free-soil candidate of the Free
soil party was elected, and hence it was as one
would suppose, a Free-soil victory. But is a
Wing victory Free-soil victory? Are they one
and the same thing! The gentleman says they
are not the same, but very different things but
yetth is no outcry of indignation against Mis-.
sour, or against Wisconsin for these enormities,
but much applause, because coalition has given
to Wings a share in the distribution of office
and power There is little to be urged against
Ohio, or New York, or Georgia but great deal
against Massachusetts. And why | do not
know, unless il is because her own sons eontri-
butte to heap imputatons of dishonor on Massa-
chusetts, on this floor, because the stab from the
paricidal hand rankles most sorely, and stimu-
lates the malignancy of strangers to follow up
the blow and add fresh venom to the wound
DO not know why else she is made to bear the
sins of all the other States-why else she is to
be the "scape- goat" for all the other coalitions
in the United States
Are not we in Massachusetts at liberty to
Judge Of our own political position, and political
course, IA well as gentlemen in Missouri or
Wisconsin, or Ohio or in New York, or any.
where else in the United States-in Mississippi
or Georgia. or any other State Is it so clear
that in any section of the country--East, West,
North South, or central--is it, | say so clear
that gentlemen, who call themselves by the same
party name, agree upon these very questions
Is it so clear that, in South Carolina, or Alaba
una or Mississippi, the Democrats all agree
about this fugitive slave bill? Do not some Of
them say that it is constitutional, and others that
it is unconstitutional Do not some propose
one course of action, and Others precisely the op-
posite course of action with regard to it! Yet,
day after day, with an insolency countenanced
by her own sons, Massachusetts is denounced
upon this floor, and no other State but Massa
chusetts-a State having right equal to that
of any other sovereign State in this confederacy,
to determine what she considers right and prop
err, and what course she deems best TO pursue
in her own domestic affairs, and for her own
good government Why, the gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr.. STANLY] thinks he would
not 90 to heaven with Democrats like those of
Observation-Disclosures could not bear to tread the
same path. Sir, he has not trod our path here
tofore, and we therefore had no reason to ex-
pect his company in the straight and thorny way
at this time; but because he refuses to join u.s.
we shall not the less firmly press on, and not
the less safely arrive. at our journeys end.
Massachusetts, say has the same right to
manage her own political affairs, in her own
way, with that of any other State in the Union
And she has not only the same right, but she has
the same ability, energy, and determination, to
maintain that right with any other State, and
she will maintain it, at home and abroad.
But am not going to take my stand behind
the dignity of the State of Massachusetts, and
say that she does what she pleases, and she will
not give an account of what she does. stand
ready here to-day-what have never done be.
fore in public, and what would not do now, if
| did not feel particularly clear and particularly
free from doubt that am doing right in what /
am doing to indorse the coalition in Massachu-
otis. i believe understand what it was, and
what 1t did, though was not present at the .inaa
it was entered into. | was in the State of Hi
nois But after my return heard what had been
done, and am now in the condition of an i'm
partial locker, on and being thus free to take
my own course, | can say, and do say, that
think it was eminently wise and patriotic in the
majority of the people of that State to take the
government of the S ate out of the hands of the
minority, however, UNI easant TO the minority
that proceeding might be.
Before proceeding to discuss the proprety of
that movement, and Of the mastery combination
by which it was made let me, however, inquire
for moment, what it is that makes the charge
of corruption against the coalition in Massachu
sets? NY colleague from the sixth district r Mr.
DAVIS undertakes to read lectures to the De.
mocracy and Free-sol party because they act to
gether in Massachusetts. That is all He has
not impeached them for their acts, bat only for
their concurrence in those acts. lie has not
singled out any one act Of those parties, except
that of acting together That he considers a
violation of political principles | have right
to presume that all our great measures were
right, only that it was wrong for us first to agree
to do right, and then to do it, lie has not &C
cused US Of voting for any law or any reaolu
ton, but he has accused us of appointing men to
office He has not accused us of appointing
bad men, He has not said that the offices are
not better filled now than they were when the
Wings were in power. If he had, should take
issue with him upon that proposition. He has
not designated one single net of these parties
but he has designated this coalition ITSELF and
per Sc as offensive to his political sensblities
And now, what does my friend from the
sixth district mean by charging upon the Demo.
Gratis breach of political honesty in acting
with those who agree with them upon certain
particular points of action-in electing the gov.
eenor lieutenant governor and other officers of
State administration, and in passing certain
Il easures of reform, in which the Democratic
party has been engaged for fifteen or twenty
years past in Massachusetts, but which they had
not accomplished and could not have accom-.
plished without the aid which he thinks thew
ought not TO have received, when it was ten
dered! Does the gentleman from the sixth
district believe that it is wrong for Free-soer
to act with Wing, or Wing with Free.
sciler! To make my question more definite
and more pertinent to his own position, does he