The southern press., 1852-03-16

Cos, ssbb's srsssh 81 Ianmsny Hail.
Sour distinguished guest and brother--Gov.
Cobb, OF Georgih-his various services In the
cause OF bis country, entitle him TO the warm
and cordial support of every true son Of ST.
Tammany.A We had him. within the walls of
the Great Wigwanl, Surrounded by his warm,
ardent, and enthusiastic friends"
The toast was received with the greatest en-
thusiasm and applause M
Governor Cobb then sad--I feel deep gratif
cation at the opportunity of meeting you this
evening, and thank you heartily for the honor
you have just now conferred upon me by drink
ing my health. IL is not proper to detain you
with speech, but, Ia few plain observations,
| shall be enabled to convey all that you want
TO know, in relation to the South. will, there
fore, in reply to the hattering remarks OF the
Grand Sachem, offer few reflections on the
past history and the probable future of the
Democratic party in the Southern States. 1
need not say, in the face of this assembly, that
am devoted to that cause which is known as
the cause of the country and the Constitution
In connection with those great principles, have
been long too well known to admit of any
doubt; but you have ca led my attention to
that more dangerous issue which has divided,
and may continue to divide, the people of this
country, and which recently hung over the no.
public, threatening the destruction of the no.
best fabric ever created by human wisdom. |
profess no greater sagacity than my fellows
around me; but, in the earlier stages of this
movement, thought that there was one line of
policy which would save the Constitution from
violation, and the Union from ruin, and that
policy was marked out by the charter OF Demo-
cratic principles. Applause. Those were the
principles that we rallied for in the Presidential
campaign of l848--those on which the Demo-
cracy of the whole Union, with individual ex-
ceptions, had stood immovably-those priuci-
Piles which were found in the party, wherever a
man turned, East, West, North or South the
power, the capabiity, and the right of the people
of every State, as well as of territories propos-
ing to become States, to determine for them
selves the nature OF their institutions. APP
plause.
For causes unnecessary TO be mentioned here
the Democracy were defeated in lS48, with
those principles distinctly avowed, and stream
ing on the banners then unfurled throughout
the land. The history of the political world
does not afford parallel to what am now
about to state. Here was party defeated on
certain avowed principles; and yet, in the cor
rectness and efficacy of those very principles
was found the only basis fora settlement ofthe
VIII atCuiuS loouCs nc itdlOH was carried
into Congress, and sectionalisn ruled the hour.
North was arrayed against South, and South
against North. Every patriot felt that there
was impending danger; but thank God, thsre
were patriotism and wisdom enough in the land
to meet the danger. That wisdom and that
patriotism found in the great principle that eve.
ry people has the undoubted right TO decide for
itself what institutions it will have, the platform
on which the Democracy could everywhere
stand. The measures of adjustment of the last
Congress were adopted in accordance with those
| principles-the principles of the Constitution
the principles hallowed by the best blood of our
revolutionary fathers. Applause which made
the wigwam ring Whether these principles
are right or wrong, shall stop to discuss with
the advocates of Democratic prnciples-with
you who recognise but one sovereignty, and
that residing with the people Renewed ap.
piause. Fellow citizens, have referred to one
portion OF the principles on which the contro.
versy was settled There is another. Your
brethren of the South came 10 you with the
Constitution in their hands-ihe pledge that
they received from their fathers and which your
fathers solemnly adopted aud signed-and they
asked you to fulfil this pledge. You responded
in the spirit of true republcanism and true Amer
icansm; and you did redeem the pledge of your
ancestors. When we asked you to respond to
the demand of the Constitution TO deliver up
our property when it ran away from rs and
came to you, your response was worthy of those
great men whose memory shall ever be vener.
ated rs long as the Constitution is respected or
the Union lasts Applause
When you look al the compromise measures.
who, i ask, are responsible for them! The
Democratic party are responsible. Applause !
Va. III - -
bility.) Much laughter For one. / am will.
ing TO be responsible for my own principles,
being a Democrat; and / think 1 know the
feeling that actuates the Democracy. Their
principles are to be found in the Constitution
and the records Of the country, known Of all
men. IL there be any responsibility, therefore.
we shall assume il. For myself Il afford4 me
great pleasure TO do So and IL is my pride that
have been among the first TO support the princ
Piles on which the compromise was adopted.
Applause. Some one will ask me, were there
none Of the Wing parry who advocated these
measures ] answer that / have a heart for
Democracy as true as any other man in this
land; but ] thank God II Is large enough 10 ad
mil The patriotism and the magnaninity Of those
Wings who threw aside party prejudices when
The Union was IN danger, and co operated with
Us in preserving il intact Applausc.l These
measures passed through their assistance. and
became the law Of the land-part OF the settle
ment Of this vexed and harrnssinp question.
When these bills we're passed, another question
then arose, both In the Norih and South, and
was freely discusscd-as, indeed, il was during
the progress Of these measures-What were
their character and bearinQl One would have
i that they were triumph of the North !; an.
other, that they were a triumph Of the South
Fellow-citizens, they were neither a triumph Of
North nor South, but Of the Constitution.
Great spPlause II was no sectional triumph
Of any kind, unless a triumph of that great
charter Of our liberties can be considered one
u was in reference 10 this measure that was
placed IN the altitude Of conflict during The last
twelve months, md that ! was elected 10 81 the
executive chair Of Georgia by large majority.
That majority was given me not only BY the
Democrats, bot llrge portion--a majorty--of
the Wings Of the State. And why Because
there was an effort made 10 destroy this gov.
crument-an effort 10 have practical secession
carried out IN the Southern State, on account
h. a