The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-21


have said, and repeat il, that General Scott
has made no declaration OF his opnions upon
all the compromise measures, and Will make
none unless by the advice and with the consent
of the leaders of the Seward wing Of his party.
And If any IL made with their consent, 1t will
be of such equiyocal character as to present a
Northern and Southern face--permit OF one in.
depreciation mt the North, and another at the
South. The gentlemen arrays against me my
vote on the fugitive slave bill He may esteem
it what he chooses 1t is vote shall at all
times be ready and willing to justify. The bill,
| thought, went beyond any necessity for the
enforcement of thAt provision Of the C0nstitu-
ton which requires Inc delivery Of fugitives.
But under the operation of the previous ques-
ton, there was no opportunity for debate or
amendment, and no other means OF dissenting
| from any Of its provisions than a negative vote
against the bill 1t u now the law, and oppo-
sition to it should cease, end its provisions be
fully and faithfully enforced and more especi-
ally since any real or tancled concessions in the
law to the South, have their corresponding con-
cessions to the North in other laws of the same
series.
| That gentleman and others Of his Southern
political friends who are testifying in behalf of
General Scott, declare, and probably believe that
ho is in favor Of sustaining the compromise.
| But if he is So why does he pertinaciOusy re
fuse to 80 state to the public? And why does
not some one of his Freesoil supporters corrob-
crate the testimony OF these Southern wit
nesses ? The only semblance of public ex
preston upon his part to which reference is had
relative to any Of the compromise measures, is
of q date prior to the passage Of the fugitive
slave law, and is therefore no indication of his
II. 30, L.. :. Il
expression satisfy the gentleman from Tennes-
see The gentleman says that the compromise
resolution which introduced is to be the non
commiltal platform upon which Democrats from
the North and South may stand The warme t
co npromse friend OF Gen. Scott would doubt.
less be satisfied if his peculiar frends-those
who are so noisiy testfying in his behalf
would persuade him to publish to the country a
compromise platform, even one-half more non
committal than that The gentlemans speech
and the speeches OF certain other Wings, are
but the advance, the forerunner of movement.
| the result OF which will be universal 'cavinp
in" upon the part Of Southern Wings to the
support of Gen. Scott The gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr.. STANLY, who was the first
in the House to hoist the Scott flag, will soon
be the leader of tho Southern Wings. They
may come now under his discipline, and mani
fest signs Of uniting, but they will ultimately
fall into his ranks and march in his rear to the
support of their Union canddate-not because
they expect him to administer the government
in accordauce with the principles they now ad
vocate, but because they may receive assurances
that he will make such disposition of the offices
as will meet their wishes
Mr. GENTRY. do not wish to make a
speech and shall not tax the patience of the
committee at all TO day. merely wish to say,
| that during congressional career somewhat
| protracted for as young man az am. it has
been auniform rule of action with me whenever
| could do 80, and have generally found that !
could do it, to decline political contests upon
this floor with my own colleagues, even of the
adverse party II it was needfuI for me at any
time, in the performance of what esteemed to
be my duty, TO SILVER lance, always chose
rather to select antagonist from some other
State. | have often felt here that collisions be-
twixt the members from any State exhibiting
! the local controversies, ordinations, and re-
ordinations which exist in our local politics
everywhere, were in bad taste, and as long as |
can possibly do SO il is my purpose to avoid any
such exhibition upon this floor, say this bv
way of accounting for the fact that do not in
tend to join issue with my colleague, MIR. Cut
LON, who has addressed the House to day
But, at the same time, it is due to myself to say
that | dissent from many of the conclusions
which he has arrived at in his speech, and that
| intend, in due time, TO discuss the questions
which have been debated by him on this occa.
sion. desire to say further, as am upon the
floor, that in nothing that have said or written,
or to which have appended my name, have |
intended to arraign my colleague for the non.
performance of his duty upon the occasion to
which he has referred.
Mr.. CULLOM. And certainly have not ar
raigned my colleagues actions or motives.
Mr.. GENTRY. | wish to dsclaim the idea
that have arragned my colleague. He spoke
of having been arraigned.
Mr.. CULLOM. The publication of those
who seeded from the caucus, seems to suppose
it was necessary they should make it. And if
it was necessary for them to publish, it was me-
cessary for me, not having been heard, to make
my response.
Mr.. GENTRY. Undoubtedly.
| Mr.. CULLOM. But did not mean to east
any reflections on my colleagues motives or
action.
MI. GENTRY. want to say, in Justice TO
myself, that in the preparation of that address
was to some extent consulted, and that my sd
vice was given at every stage of that proceeding
| w SNS'vNS 'Oi'i !" S'''y tH'ooC e0"S Sou'N III
the remotest degree be construed to impute any
improper motives of any Of those gentlemen
from the South especially, who took different
view Of then duty from that taken by the gen
tlemen who seeded Oh that occasion and signed
that address He who will look through that
/ address, will see that there Is remark In 1t in
tended expressly to cover such cases, and allow
every gentleman to explain himself. We say
that We know that some OF the gentlemen who
remained were as thoroughly committed, to the
views which We entertained as We were, but diff
fered with us az to the proprlety Of time and
place. 1t was the wish of those who signed the
address, to give to it the fullest possible effect,
as being an expression of the fixed principles
and purpose of the Southern Wing party, and
as procaiming to the Northern Wing party the
condition, and The cnly condition, upon which the
unity OF the Wing party, as party extending
North and South, could be maintained. Per-
haps we were wrong in our judgment; perhaps
1t was needless movement perhaps an ineffec
tive. movement perhaps mischievous one but
do not so believe. If the party is saved at al
that movement saves it. wish to God could
foul IN. hat l. Cd ali