The southern press., 1852-05-22

all the compromise measures, and will make
none unless by the advice and with the consent
ofthe leaders of the Seward wing of his party.
And IL any is made with their consent, It will
be OF such equivocal character as to present a
Northern and Southern face--permit of one in.
depreciation at the North, and another at the
South. The gentlemen arrays against me my
vote on the fugitive slave bill lie may esteem
it what h. chosGs II is a vote shall at all
times be ready ard willing to justify, The bill,
| thought, went beyond any necessity for the
enforcement OF tnat provision of the Constitu-
tion which requires the delivery of fugitiyes.
But under the operation of the previous ques.
ton, there wss no opportunity for debate or
amendment aad no ether means of dissenting
from any of is provisions than negative vote
against the BILL 1t is now the law, and oppo.
sition TO it should cease, and its provisions be
fully and faithfully enforced; and more especi-
ally since auy real or fancied concessions in the
law to the South, have their corresponding con.
cessons to the North in other laws of the same
series.
4 That genteman, and others Of his Southern
political fiiehds who are testitying in behalf of
General Sc&t, declare, and probably believe that
he is in favor of sustaining the compromise.
But if he is so, why does he pertinaciously re
fuse to so 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.
4 preston upon his part to which reference il had
relative to any Of the compromise measures, is
OF date prior to the passage Of the fugitive
slave law, and is therefore no indication of his
opinion relative to that law Does such rartial
expression satisfy the gentleman from Tennes-
see.! The gentleman says that the compromise
i resolution which introduced is to be the non.
commttal platform upon which Democrats from
the North and South may stand. The warme t
compromise friend Of Gen. Scott would doubt.
less be satisfied If his peculiar friends-~those
who are so noisly tesifying in his behalf
would persuade him to publish to the country a
compromise platform, even one-half more non
committa than that The gentleman's speech,
and the speeches of certain other Wings. are
}, but the advance the forerunner of movement.
the result of which will be universal ecaving
in ppon he part of Southern Wings to the
support Of Gen. Scott The gentleman from
. North Carolina, Mr.. STANLY,1 who was the first
in the House TO hoist the Scott flag, will soon
be the Leader Of tic Southern Wings They
may come now under bis discipline, and mani.
fest signs Of uniting, bnt 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 accordmee with the principles they now ad
vocate but because they ma receive assurances
that he will make such disposition of the Offices
as will meet their wishes
4 Mr.. GENTRY. ] do not wish to make a
! speech, and shall not tax the patience of the
committee 1t all to day. merely wish TO say.
that during congre ,sional career somewhat
: protracted or as young a man as am, il has
been uniform rule of action with me whenever
| could do so, and have generally found that |
could do it To decline political contests upon
this floor with my own colleagues, even Of the
adverse parry. II it was ueedfu for me at any
time, in the performance Of what esteemed to
be my duy, TO shiYer a lance, always chose
rather to select an antagonist from some other
State. | have often felt here that collisions be-
twlxt the members nom any State exhibiting
the local controversies, examinations, and re-
examinations 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 apo~, ! say this by
way Of accounting for The fact that do not in.
terd to Join issue with my colleague, Mr. Cut.
LON who has addressed the House to day.
But, at the same time it is due to myself to say
Itlfat dissent from many of the conclusions
which he has arrived at in his speech and that
|
which have been debated by him on this occa.
sion. 4 desire TO say further, asl 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 disclaim the idea
that have arraigned my colleague. lie spoke
Of having been arrGicned.
Mr.. CULLOM The publication of those
who seeded fom the caucus, seems TO suppose
4 il was necessary they should make it. And if
il was necessary for them to publish, it was ne
cessary for me, not having been heard, 10 make
my response.
Mr.. GENTRY. Undoubtedly.
i Mr.. CULlON. But did not mean TO cast
any reflections on my colleagues motives or
action.
Mr.. GENTRY. want to say, in Justice 70
myself, that in the preparation Of that.address |
was 10 some extent consulted, and that my ad
vice was given at every stage OF that proceeding
to exclude from it every phrase that could in
the remotest degree be construed 10 impute any
improper motives Of any Of those gentlemen
from the South especially. who took different
tlemen who seeded on that occasion and signed
that address lie who will look through that
address, will see that there is remark in il in
tended expressly 10 cover such cases, and allow
every gentemin 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 ns we were. but diff
fered with US ~ TO the proprety Of time and
place. ii was the W sh of those who signed the
address, to give to It the fullest possible effect,
as being aH expression Of the fixed principles
and purpose Of the Southern Whig party, ard
as procaiming TO the Hort4ern Wing party the
condition, and the oniy condition, upon which the
unity Of the Wing party, as a party extending
North and South, could be maintained. Per-
haps we were wrong in our judgment; perhaps
il was needless movement; perhaps an ineffec.
tive movement perhaps a mischievous one but
do not so believe II the party is saved at ell,
that movement saves il. ! wish TO God / could
feel an assurapce That il can be. saved at all.
do not want false issue 10 be presented To the
pouutry ia rauard IN Iha nprutrenraa AZ that