The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-26

could not, of course. be made responsible am in
favor OF the hnality Of the Compromise here, and
am for 1t in the National Wing Convention, and
ardently hope to see it there adopted. | may add,
that have said upon the stump, and in public and
private conversation, that am for the finaty of
! the Compromise, and that will support man
Tor the Presidency who is not sound upon those
| measures, the Fugitive Slave law included.
| Mr. CLISGMAN As my honorable friend from
Tennessee has asked me several questions, will he
! now permit me to ask him one?
| Mr.. CULLoM. have no time to sparc.
| Mr.. CLISGMAN will not detain the gentleman
| one moment. desire to know why the gentleman
did not Introduce his resolution into the caucus! If
he had introduced his resolution, and it had failed
and the vote had shown that those who retired
could have carried it, he might then have established
his point. The gentleman intimated his intention
| to introduce it. Why did he not do so3
| Mr. CULLoM. ] have fully explained my
sons. II the gentleman doubted whether these
solutions could pass before leaving, ] might have
| my doubts after these members had retired; and
being ardent in my support of the principles OF the
resolutions, did not choose to submit them to a
doubtful decision, though clear in the belief
them and am confirmed in il now, that the resolu
tions would have passed had the receding friends
remained with me and given them their support,
| as was ready to do.
But the Democratic party have cause for
! ultation. The Whig party in Congressional eau
cus, did, at the commencement of the session,
| dorse the Compromise and its fnality, which the
! Democrats refused to do. This places the Wing
| party on prominent ground, and trust that the
delegates will assemble in the convention with
! manly, Roman courage, and face this question );
| for it is cowardice that gives abotionism and
higher lawism place in the bosom of Americans
The Constitution, in all its provisions, and the
laws passed under it, must be executed and car
| rled out II we would maintain lnvioate the liber-
ties and sacred privileges vouchsafed to by that
Constitution which is the result of the years
war through which Washington and his com.
peers stood shoulder to shoulder, regardless of the
| many and trying scenes and vicissitudes Of that
most eventful period. What earthly law, Mr.
Chairman, can be higher than that derived from
| the Constitution? From that source derive
peace, prosperity, happiness, and give oountenancs
and protection to men OF all nations, to all reli
| gions, and all creeds. Destroy that bulwark of
American liberty, and chaos would come again.
Then, indeed, would we have higher law and
| higher license, which is in truth the proper def
milton, aim, and import Of higher law. That man
who is against the execution OF the plain provi-
sions OF the Constitution, ought not TO be dgntied
| with the name of American citizen, and surely
cannot be called an American statesman. That is
what say and tell our northern brethren that,
instead OF catering to this unholy and unjust cru
SADIE against the South and its institutions, you
| should rise above sectional feeling, and Ameri-
canize nationalize your hearts and meet this is
sue which demagogues have obtruded upon you.
and frown down all attempts to rekindle the fire Of
dscord between the two great sections Of this
Union. Nothing but courage is wanting TO over
| come this evil.
But this Union party s to be formed, and my
| friend from North Carolina (Mr CLISomAs) is to
De the Hfst PRESIDENT OF the southern Confedcfit
| If we get up geographical split; for il will tend
| to that; and there will be a contest between the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. CABELL) and the
| gentleman from North Carolina, (Mr. CLlSeMAS.)
| Laughter There will be awful seeding then;
there will be worse scramble Tor place and power
than there in the Wing caucus. Mark il! But
the Union par,y-I ask, in tee of all that is
honest, is not the Wing party part of the Union
party! Have | been fighting the battle OF the
| Wings? Have emerged from the smoke and din
! Of many glorious battles. either at the head or
| in the ranks, TO learn that have been fighting
| against my country and her institutions Forbid
IL. Heaven! hope the Wing and Democratic par
ties both are Union parties; and notg iths standing
the excrescences in both parties. both friendly
| to this Union. And that man who Gays the Wing
party s not devoted TO this glorious Union ISLANDERS
| as gallant a and Of patriots as the sun ever fell
upon, and proclaims in doing that lac is either
ignorant Of the truth or wifully at fault. am not
ashamed Of the name Of Wing; it is no reproach.
| Our fathers bore il, and have fought many po
| lilical battle under il. | seek no new alliances. /
| viii neither add an alas TO my name nor iorsake
my companions. In my advocacy Of Whig prin-
eipes, have only the interests OF my country to
subserve, and feel that the advancement of those
principles will best accomplish the desired object.
am for the Constitution and it's compromises
How is this third party TO be organizedl Upon
sectional grounds, of course. ] cannot fully dis
| cuss this subject here. Our gallant candidate in
the last gubernaiorial campaign in Tennessee
| labored manlully TO keep the party on national
ground; and fierce was the war against secession
/
had strong resemblance 10 those of the gentleman
from North Carolina, (Mr. CLiSGmAS;) but in the
struggle the Whigs were victorious, and the YER
dict Of the people was in favor OF the Union and
the Constitution and the faithful execution OF the
laws, and especially did they repudiatc all agita
ton; and while the North observes strictly the
compact, (and chndor obligcs me 20 say believe
it will be obseyed) DO trust that the South will
not unnecessarily agitate the question. Our fire.
eating dsunion friends came in for their full share
Of the anahemas metcd out 10 the Freesoilers
| They shared equally my denuncations No ]
never denounce anybody but argume tatiyely, for
am a mild man, tlaugbter;l but in my honest
judgment the men nj the South who contend
ing for the right Of the States 10 secode from this
glorious Union, and who are urging its cNercisc
upon trivial prctcxts are grossly culpable. Equal
ly culpsblc tbOse the North who agitatc this
! subject. and who, for opposite reasons, would de
stroy the fabric Of our liberties. Thus extremes
are often found among those who co operate in
some respects. proper view, and n conciliatory
spirit, would bring about different tate OF things
bot conciliation should come from the source
| whence the wrong sprung. The true friends OF the
Union have ever been right; and based upon con-
scryatisn. their acts will seldom be far wrong.
My voice is against him who lie against the Union
and against the perpetuity Of the institutions Of
bis country, come he from the North or from the
South. IL cannot be doubted that the eStremcs-
the Freesoilers and the Secessonists-arc, TO some
considerable extent, united against the Compro.
mise; but in the end they will accomplish nothing
beyond their own defeat. Truth is mighty, and
try, and he will not permit the throne Of liberty to
crumble beneath the blows Of the wicked or the
misguided.
| Mr.. Chairman, have been called a Scott man;
and why Simply because ! have everywhere
deprecated all denunciation of the leading men Of
! the party. am not, Mr.. Chairman, of that class
Of politcisns-who
| "Construe the times to their own necessities"
| Who believe, or act as though they believe, that
some men in their own party must be DETAINED and
cast aside simply because they stand, by virtue Of
their worth and prominence, In the way Of others
who are percbance but sectional Iavoritcs. 7 sir,
recognise such principle. Feelings that dictate
such principle find no Judgment in my breast. l
feel IL my duty TO speak upon this subject openly,
and with view 10 lessen the discord and other
evils that grow out OF IL.
| have men, in different sections Of this
Union, conduct their schemes of self ag grandize-
ment upon this baneful and party sacrificing prin
| ciple; and other gentlemen in this House have,
doub, not, witnessed the same thing. Ihave seen it
brought to bear in elections Of the most unimpor-
tant character, as well as in others OF much import
snce. have known good and true men, warm
and abiding friends Of this Union and OF our Con-
sttution, siandered and beslimed with the venom
Of the vindictive spirit Of the unboly ambition Of
| rivals. Sir, this unscrupulous ambition, bac ked