The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-24
sPEEcH OF MIR. CHANDLER. OF PENN.
In the House Of Representatives., IN Committee
Of the Whole, on The Deficiency Bill.

mittee or ut least il ought to have been, but pre-
sumo not one word Of this bill has been read
in this committee by the Clerk.
MIR. Chairman, rise to make speech, not upon
any troubles existing in the Democratic or the
Wing party in the State of Pennsylvania They
have common field where they settle their trou-
Dles, and TO which they resort whenever they find
it necessary for either branch to break lance with
the other They never would appear upon the
floor with complaint Of the wrong doinrs OF this
or that branch Of the party. They would never
gerry of that State. They know, and they try to
show, that they were sent here for other purposes
Mr. Chairman, great mistake has been COM
united by the representatives OF the people on this
floor. One of the fret things that man owes to
himself 10 self respect And one Of the first things
a Legislative body owes to itself is the exhibition
Of that self-respect. will not say 1t has not been
exhibited here; but there is going abroad report
OF the proceedings of this body upon this very bill,
which is bringing upon this House that contempt
of the people which, in time, if fostered by con
tinuance Of the cause, will do more to endanger
the republican institutions of the country, and
tralze power, than all the efforts of corrupt Ex-
ecutive could ever produce.
Never, sir, in a country like this can the legisa
tive branch of the Government lose ts power, its
due weight, until, by neglecting the legitimate
object OF its creation, it proceeds to snatch from
the people their reserved privileges, or gives itself
up to the dictation of an ambitious Executive Sir
legislative power never recedes from the legisla-
ture, until its Legislators themselves concede, by
their conduct, that they are unit to exercise it.
To make the laws is our business to make rulers
and law makers is the business of the people. But,
sir, it will be better for the House to the
ger Of the people than to acquire their contempt.
The former may vent itself in displacing the ndi.
viduas that compose this body; the latter will re-.
suit in inquiries into the use of this body.
But, Mr.. Chairman, Ihear much talking of dan.
gers to the institutions of the country, and the
dangers, too, that are springing from some Of our
party organizations. But there are dangers ap-
parentIy unnoticed by this House dangers which.
though not springing from our own institutions,
are nevertheless around and near us; danger stalk
ing abroad in this country, to which the President
of the United States has alluded in his annual
message-dangers, sir, greater than can spring up
from our own people, and our own institutions,
which being migrated with these evil heresies
brought from abroad and presented with view of
being made part of our own institutions. And
yet, sir, that message has never been referred to
Foreign Relations has never been directed by this
House, to consider that portion of the message
which would lead to a consideration Of our policy
of -interfrsncs with the Institutions of other
countries, and Of the propriey Of considering how
far people from other countries may, by interfe-
renee with our institutions, disturb the political
peace of this nation by inappropriate associations.
or the destruction of social quiet and individual
morals by the promulgation OF sentiments which,
if allowed to operate, would work out the destruc-
ton of republican form of government, which can
only exist with the predominance of virtue.
Yet, sir, instead Of moving to the detection and
cold debate" upon the character and quality of the
old rotten boards of the Baltimore platform Sir,
the constant recurrence Of speakers to ga plat
form" to be erected is most grating to my ears.
There is danger, imminent danger, in these plat
forms. They are set up, sir, to attract the eye,
and insure the reverence and consent Of those who
arc of party discipline; but. sir, they are no more
the images Of constitutional requirements or privi-
leges than was the image which ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
set up in the province of Babylon, likeness of the
true God, though all must fall down and do wor
ship.
That last, however, Mr.. Chairman, may be re-
garded party evil, Of which. if the Democrats
do not complain, do not know that need trouble
myself; aud even though they did, it would, per
haps. be enough for me to offer the complainants
an asylum in the Wing ranks without attempting
any interference in their behalf.
But the evil 10 Of national extent, and ia working
in the general mind an indifference to the pure
teachings OF the Constitution thatwil finally allow
that glorious instrument to sink into oblivion, and
party platforms, suggested by party wants, local
conveniences, and temporary expediencies, will
usurp, in the affections and regard of the people,
that reverence and that obedience which are alone
the right of the Constitution. Mr.. Chairman, /
trembie for the country, when, this floor, hear
party men avowing themselves mems men instead
Of the nations men, and see them seizing on some
rotten plank Of decayed, or some green and sappy
contribution to rising, platform, and trusting to
that more than to the Constitution Of the country
On various sides Of me, but ms yet always from the
Democratic party, hear the confession: IL am Of
Paul, ! am of Apollos. and l Of Cephas" Sir,
give me the man a candidate or a voter who lay
his hand on the organic law of then nation and saye
] am for the Constitution, Of Washington.
Mr.. Chairman, day by day have we listened to
these speeches; and what 10 the cause OF it Why,
not long since there was proposition introduced
into this House, by which the printing Of q certain
document-which should be very costy-shoud
be given 10 a certain establishment in this city
''the organ" IL is said, "of the Democratic party"
OF that organ have nothing to cay. know no
"A 81 ~ kou H,,t, n to,os
arc discordant to my political But we have
heard, at different times, its groans and wailings,
through is friends, for want Of the usual pabulum
That pabulum was not given to il; and what has
been the result here upon the floor Of this House
Why, every day VIC see men rcsorting TO means to
carry out a party measure, and keep up party dis
cipline, at the expense Of the national treasury.
Mr.. Chairman, am not 30 ignorant OF the ways
and means Of parties, as not TO know that the pa
tronsge Of the Government ia likely to flow into
the channel which will most promote the views Of
the majority. ] do not complain Of the effort TO
sustain a party paper; but do complain, and !
havea right to complain, that the party having
failed in ih attempt 10 procure liberal patronage
for their paper, 40 that IL might act upon the ques-
ton of the Baltimore Convention should seize upon
the time OF this House, and transform our Chamber
into a party caucus, TO influence the election OF
delegates the opinions and votes Of delegates to
The Baltimore Convention.
But, sir, impugn no mans motives. interiors
with no mans party. Gentlemen upon the other
side OF the House who know me, and some do,
know that am incapable of that. But here VIC
now closing the fourth month Of our session;
and yet what have we done' One gentleman rises
upon the other side of the House (Mr HILLyxR)
and impugns the laws of Msssac bosetts, as IL we
had any thing to do with the difficulties and trou-
bies Of Massachusetts. The samc gentleman says
that the members Of the Massachusetts Legislature
have tried to repeal and did repeal the laws Of tha
State. by which II was forbidden to white man to
marry coored woman, and pics Wha,
have we to do with that? Have not the people Of
Massachusetts as good a right TO make laws by
which white man shall be allowed the privilege
to wve with black woman, as the people Of any
other State have to make laws granting the white
man any other privilege, without being married
[Laughter.l
But feel that am subjccdng myself to the
charge of a waste of time. feel that the bust
mesa Of the House is being delayed; but until the
finger Of that clock points to four. somebody will
wastc the time Of the House, and / might well
do it as anybody else.
beg to cay one word TO my young friend, the
member from the Portland district of Maine, (Mr.
Appleton That gentleman to day made his
mi .t,,ic n -