The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-01-27
Debate on the KOssuth Resolution.


Mr.. TAYLOR. When referred to the four
members from Ohio who took an independent
position upon this question, it was not with the
desire of bringing about this colloquy. But
am glad it has been brought about Inow only
wish to refer to the fact that my colleague, MIR.
GIDDINGs,] who was so sensitive upon my vote
upon questions Of adjournment, and little ques
tons of no importance, has chosen to centre all
| his opposition and censure upon me. Why, |
do not know. | have always treated him re-
spectfufly and kindly, and never desired to treat
| him in any other way. But there is something
deeper about this matter yet to come.
But wish to say here, that from the first of
this proceeding in regard to the great Hungarian,
| saw that many gentlemen in this country were
greatly deceived. Those who styled themselves
Abotionists, Liberty men, Freesoilers, and
Barnburners-or az they now wish to show
themselves, Free Democrats-were eager to
take him in hand, and make the most capital
out of him they could And if they could blind
and hoodwink bunker Democrats, and through
this Kossuth fever and excitement to strike q
blow at the negro slavery of the South, do that
cover,ly and effectually. That is the question
and why did not you see it? Sir, saw it and
know it. You find men belonging to that nefar-
ious faction which the great Kentucky states
Clay, whose voice we probably shall never hear
in either of these Halls again. has pronounced a
curse upon the country, shufng about, tariff
men and free. trade men alternatively, rs you
have seen upon this floor when important ques-
tons have been brought up, in order to concil
late Southern Democrats, and to hoodwink and
blind them against the nefarious crusade against
their domestic institutions.
And we conservative Northern men, who stood
up to the compromise measures, warned you
against it. Sir, should not be surprised at this
coming Presidential election, 10 find distinguish
ed gentlemen calling themselves Democrats in
the South, shaking hands and burying tho past
! in oblivion, and casping to their arms these
Liberty men and Abolitionists, for the sake of
what, sir? To elect some one to the Presiden-
cy of the United States---an Office which should
never be sought for, but always filed by the free
and Independent votes of the whole people,
without reference to slavery or abolition |
take no pleasure in sitting here, since the pas
sage of the compromise measures of the last
Congress, as they were called, and especially for
the fugitive slave law, and for all of which
voted that have been the object of attack
from every quarter by this cbameleon-like
party, calling themselves Free Democrats
Look at it, gentlemen, and see Il member who
COIIpS here anu Ulaheb a IutSc dUouJ
colleague, and as he said he did not consider
me of any moment, he struck first at me, and
then at my friend from Virginia, Mr. BAYLY,l
and my friend from North Carolina, Mr. VENA
BILE in declaring in this House that he voted
for series of resolutions in relation to the
French revolution, which were not read to the
House. Sir, it is a small way to get out of such
difficulty, for a gentleman to rise and say he
intended nothing, when he sent to the Clerks
desk a series of resolutions that never voted
| for and now he says he was mistaken, after
| nearly three weeks have elapsed, when he knew
at the time that he was wrong.
| Mr.. Chairman, it behooves the people of this
country to keep an eye upon the present excite
ment Every day is evolving some new facts.
| The establishment of an abolition paper in New
York under the auspices of the Hungarian CO.
operators of Kossuth should open your eyes to
the fact that the Abolitonsts have been endea-
voring to make political capital out of that great
mans fame. yield to no man in this House
or country in sympathy with the great struggle
for liberty in Hungary. My heart was with
them and my hand shall be with them so far as
| am able; but will never yield the sacredness
of republican principles in my own country at
the dictation of any foreigner, no matter how
high esteem him, and will never give my vote
of liberty if you please, higher honor than you
or any man in this House would show to any
living American citizen. II General Jackson
should rise to- morrow--if Mr.. Madison were to
come among us-if any of the departed sages
of the revolution were to rise up from the dead
, you would not bring him here with committee
and hear his response as you did Kossnth's, the
eminent Hungarian, who is now visiting oul
land; and hence my opposition. ! could not
place him upon an equality with Lafayette La
, fayette came to us and offered us his life, his
fortune, and his sacred honor; and during sever
years of our revolution, helped to work out ou
glorious independence. ] did not wish to dc
anything that looked like elevating him to sucl
a high estimation, and shall never cease to re
ioice that had the independence to resist the
tumultuous ocean current of popular feeling
and to stand by what believed to be right.
4 Sir, hope that the genteman's explanation
this morning, If he thinks himself aggrieyed, viii
not be slumbering for three weeks. If die
him any injustice, did not intend it and il hs
says now he did not mean to do me any injus
tice forgive him, but his course led to that i'm