The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-07-01
PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.
Remarks Of Mr.. Gentry, Of Tennessee, in the
House Of Representatives on the Indian
Appropriation Bill.

The CHAIRMAN stated that the first G
question under consideration was House bill
no. 40, making appropriations for the In Q
dian Department, and for fulfilling treaty stip-
ulations with various Indian tribes for the cur
rent year ending June 80, 1858, upon which !
the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr.. Gentry,
was entitled to the floor
Mr.. GENTRY. Mr.. Chairman, I have
not obtained the floor to-day to discuss the
merits or the dement's of the bill which is
nominally, at least, the question under con-
sideration before this committee; but to a
vail myself of that common law of this House
which permits Its members, when the House
is in Committee of the Whole or the state
OF the Union, to discuss any question which
may be regarded as import ant to the general
welfare OF the republic. Although some
week OF Two ago, when responding briefly to
Speech made by my friend and colleague
} from the Nashville district, Mr.. Cullum,
announced my purpose to discuss fully and
at length, at some suitable time, the impor-
tant question referred to by him on that &C.
casion, habitual Discrimination to occupy
the valuable time of this committee with
speech-making would have kept me silent, l
believe, but for the speech of the honorable
gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.. Stan
lly,l on Saturday evening last. In that
speech he expressed some views and opinions
in which do not concur, and the tendency
OF which l deem to be eminently mischiev-
Gus. lie occupies prominent and conspic-
uous position among the southern wings of
Il the United States, and l fear if his speech
should pass unanswered that the conclusion
might be arrived at by gentlemen from the
h North, here and elsewhere, who might, if
they chose, exercise very considerable in
tuencc upon the consultations of that whig
y convention which is to assemble at Balti-
y more in few days, that may induce them to
exercise that influence in manner adverse
to what believe to be the true interest of
y the country. | have, therefore, obtained the
floor to controvcrt and combat the idea set
forth by the gentleman from North Carolina,
and to endeavor at least to impress the opin-
ion that the view which he presented on
Saturday evening is not common to the peo-
pie of any southern State in the Union.
- If l understood the honorable member
from North Carolina, and l may have mis-
understood him, for l was in a position
= where / could not hear him very distinctly
he expressed himself decidedly opposed t.
y. the introduction into, or the adoption by
that convention of any resolutions which
should recognize the series of measures pas
cts sed by the last Congress to adjust the sec
in tional controversies between the northern
and southern States Of the American Union
which had grown out of the annexation c
Err Texas and the conquest of territory fror
10 olnIY,
cry himself in favor of the nomination of MI
Fillmore as the whig candidate for the Pre-
dency; but taking his speech in connectio
with speeches heretofore made, and letter
1917 written and published by him during Il
' to present session Of Congress, think it Wi
UNI not be imputed to me that [ do him inju
tice when / say that the fair and legitima
inference from his speeches and his letters
q this That while individually he would pr
y fer Mr.. Fillmore, he looks to the probabili
of the nomination of General Scott AnC
think he will not say that it is an unfair
ference from his speeches and his lettC
that the whole influence which he is able
>, WELD over the public opinion of the St;
-it"' which he represents, the southern Sta
'ART generally, and the American Union,
been welded to prepare that State which
III U in part represents, and the southern Sta:
icles, and the whole whig party of the Union,
care accept Genera. Scott as the whig candid
einlly for the Presidency. l differ with the g
,,o tleman. | deem it to be matter of hi
salts national importance, rising INFINITELY aD'
it or all mere paltry, temporary party intere
that both. of the great political organi
tions of the country should avail themsel
%, of the opportunity which this hour and I
occasion furnishes to nationalize themsely
and so to shape their Presidential organ
q Do tons as to bring all the influences VIII
those two great political organizations
LE WELD to bear upon the American heart
rival, mind, North and South with view to
untry monize--to conciliate the North and Sol
tns and to give tranquility to the country,
bring each section of the Union-eVery
s. and parcel of our Union-to recognize
nsevs of the obligations which the Constitu
leach imposes, North and South, and to bring
nades, public men in each section to resolute en-
LICE citation of purpose to maintain the obi
tions of the Constitution everywhere, and
throw the whole weight and influence
- both these two great party organ
lNKs, lions in favor Of teaching the people
tOOoU' tTuUn anu IneH uuGleS unuer Tue OOASl
~. ton, North and South.
S, l believe if the two great political org
LA. cations of the country act upon this pr
n con- pie, that great good to the republic now,
for long years hereafter, will result. /
lieye that the bitter feeling, the unfrate
passions which these sectional questions
which have referred have engendered N
and South, will be obliterated and expul
that the people Of the whole Amer
Sta Union win again fraternize as brothe
Ok harmonic and together uphold the ms
tons which they have inherited from
Nv of fathers-and that our republic, restores
,oso,,s tranquility and harmony, shielding, pro
''sS ing, and making happy all Of its chill
will so forward in its career of prospe
greatness and glory and be as sun Il
heavens to all Of the nations Of the e
d Note lighting up their pathway to freedom
Boards happiness like that which We enjoy.
If these two great parties do not thus
and OF have serious and painful fears that the
e. tain Of bitter waters, which asWe hopes
been sealed forever by the exertions Of
! .. brave and noble patriots who co-operat'
= quail .gether on that occasion, viii be Teop'
and chat sectional strife, sectional an
q 3 sE = - IL