The daily union., 1852-04-08
SPEECH OF MIR. c. II. WILLIAMS,
OF TENNESSEE,

OF TENNESSEE,
Delivered in the House Of Representatives, March 81
1852, on the homestead bill, the presidential ques-
tion, DC.
The House being in the Committee Of the Whole on
the state OF the Union on the homestead bill
Mr.. WILLIAMS said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: have moi obtained the floor for the
purpose OF making an argument in favor of the home
stead bill have obtained il for far different purpose
Ii is true however, that, with regard to the homestead
bill, differ from my friend from Kentucky from the
Ashland district, Mr. BREcKIHRIDGE,1 who the other
day expressed doubt whether he ought TO vote for the
bll believing that il would likely lessen the population
OF Kentucky. would vote for II il were conscious OF
the fact thai every Tennesseean who has not home
would move an participate in the benefits OF this BILL il i
shall become law and would look upon il as proud
fact in Tennessee's history II we could rnhtully say
however, sir 10 make what may be called political
speech have too much regard for the time -honored
custom OF this House TO conne myself TO the bill under
consideration. [Laugherl wish to make political,
and il may be denomnated president-making speech.
aware that the newspapers charging that these
speeches are wrong, iliimed and out OF place osdl-
naruy speaking, when there questions involved IN
presidential nomination but those OF mere exredlency
and OF policy would most heartily subscribe TO that
doctrine but believing as do that, N the approaching
presidential canvass there is question involved con.
necied with the pemanency and durability OF the Union,
and therefore in importance infinitely above all mere
questions OF expedency-and remembering, too. that
President making includes all kinds of legislation, and
sometimes very exciting legislation have, in my judg
ment sufficient for seeking the floor for this pur-
pose.
desire in the of my remarks TO pay my respects
briefly TO the gentleman from the Ashland district Of Ken
lucky. MI. BREoKIsRpaE ! will not follow the bad
ador do justice TO anybody that is my favore do gross
injustice another speak TO the question Of abolition
petitions for the naked purpose OF placing the history Of
that question fairly before the country My friend from
Kentucky mir MARSHALL the other day debated this
question He went into il minu,ely. HIS argument was
able and unanswerable. desire to present it in sone
what different and general aspect. II so happened
that was here in the Tweny-ffih Congress-one Con-
gress before the distinguished gentleman from Kentucky,
ardeniy defended By his friend, Mr. BREcESRlDcE
had a seat upon this floor. During that Congress- Mr.
Slade OF Vermont, made speech upon the slavery
ton The late President Of The United States (Mr. Pok)
then S Speaker e. Of the Houss Rns the de-
ions OF Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, William B.
Giles, and host OF other distinguished Virgnians, upon
The abstract % Of slavery the late @ s
traordnary gesture, mpored the gentleman from Ver-
mont that manner and mode of debate, and save
the Union. Mr. Slade with cold. blooded purpose,
pursued The tenor OF his Argument and member from
Virginia. and from South Carolina, called upon
southern members OF the House 10 go, pell-mel without
adjournment down to the OF the Committee for the
District Of Columbia in order TO devise ways and means
to protect the South. Southern senators invited TO
attend the meeting. The invitation was promptly ac-
cep,ed And accordingly the southern representatives
assembled in the committee room | was in that meet
ing for two hours; and here state IN my pace-and do
not for the purpose OF rejecting upon any gentleman
who participated in that debatef had the capacity TO
understand the purporl of argument, not solitary argu-
ment advanced, while ! there, but what looked
to dissolution of the Union, directly or indirectly, as
the remedy retired, after remaining there two hours,
refusing to participate any longer, assigning my
that my constituents had not sent to Congress Tor the
purpose of calculating the value of the Union. Their
sittings continued for three days. IL my memory is
rect, and the result Of their labor the introduction
OF Pa'tons celebrated resolution. II is short and will
read il
/" Resorsd That all petitions memorials, and papers
touching the abolition OF slavery, the buying selling.
transferring slaves State District Territory
United Staies be laid pom table without being debated
printed read, or referred, and that no further action shall
be had thereon"
The House adopted it, The senator's from the South
in the Senate OF the United States assisted in concocng
this resolution They could neither be read debated,
referred for consideration. Six days thereafter with
markable inconsistency the late John e. Calhoun OF
South Carolina, after having thus cooperaied in tying
duced IN The Senate series of abstract resolutions the
subject OF slavery, and opened the whole question
debate which continued for weeks. II the decision OF
this House correct and il wrong to discuss that
question here by the representatives Of the people,
any man assign sensible reason why it right
10 pursue a different course in the other end of the
Capitoli
coopersied with the southern representatives., and
supported Pattons resolution. When convinced OF an
error, am at all LINES willing TO admit IT, Subsequent
experience satisfies me- and think must convince every
impartial mnd that the policy OF refusing TO receive and
refer petitions the subject Of slavery unwise, and
failed 10 produce any good result in aayng and repress
ing The dangerous sectional excitemenls growing oat oil
that question. II enabled the unprinciped agtators Of
the North to combine great popular question, which
itself TO the acceptance and approval Of that
entire section, with The abstract hostility 10 slavery which
is known TO exist in that portion Of the republics and thus
faction, which had previously been contemplate in
numbers and powerless for mischief, grew into mag
ntude OF strength which has for years disturbed the
peace OF the republic and threatens lis very ex-
isence
The succeeding Congress, William o Batter became