The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-04

.ss
opposed the measures ii The compromise. The
irc-brand was thrown ioto the Senate early IN
the session, BY one who no longer has a seat
there. and il still Ss and burns, dffusng its
malignant heat, until II kindled kindred fame
inthis House. NJ
Let those who agitate tal
the responsibility
to themselves Let those Who coyet the honor
of being approvers Of the compromisc, and adj.
vocates Of its provisions, array themselves with
all the glory which such services ought to Sc.
cure but modesty forbds. them to claim pecu-
liar patriotism, because they acquiesce, or be-
cause they donounce those who, not approving,
peaceably abide by and quietly endure wrong.
Sometimes Ills not pleasantto pIaceformer trans
actions in view; and it is considered under such
circums tances, breach not only Of order, but
of good manners Those who approve Of and
cordially acquiesce in those measures, should
rejoice in their own seIfcomplacency. They
are living illusiratrations Of what have long
since known" That there is nothing which
men bear with SO much philosophy as their
neighbors' misfortunes, or with so much for
bearance as the wrongs Of Others" leave
them to the illustration ofthis high and disinter
ested moral feeling. with the assurance that if
the power OF the Freesoilers and Aboltionists,
secessionists and disunionists, is so great and so
powerfully combined inthis House, they are not
SO secure as they suppose in The control of all
things us they may will. There were three
defeats sustained on Friday last, by those who
urged the adoption of the report of the COM
mittec. But, sir, IT is easy TO demonstEnfa.the
fallacy of any such charge. BY refere1 "
vote to lay the whole subject upon tII
mil OF tbara tx,x
Mr.. FREEMAN. What do you call old.line
Democrats? x
Mr.. VENABLE. will tell you presently
Are you one Of them?
Mr.. FREEMAN. / am.
Mr.. VENABLE. i hope the gentleman is
satisfied he decides that he is an old. line Dem
ocrat, and need not raise the point with me !;
and inasmuch as we have not voted together on
this subject, there are some old-ne Democrats
on both sides. But, cir, upon the vote
the whole subject on the table, there MS
demonstration made of those who voted to sus.
tain the action of the Committee on Printing ::
There were thirty-three Wings, and forty-niDe
Democrats, including nine who voted against
the compromise resolutions. OF those who
voted against sustaining that action, there were
fifty-two of the old line, and eight Freesoil
Democrats. Ofthe Wings, there were twenty
eight of those who voted against the compro
mise resolutions of Mr.. JACKSON, there were
nine Northern and eleven State Rights Southern
Representatives. If the vote on those resou.
tons be a test Of opinion, to wit, conservatism,
loyalty to the Union, and profound patriotism
on the part of those who voted in the affirma-
tive, and of Freesosm, Abolitionism, Seces-
son;sm, and Disunionism, the gentleman might
have avoided the position which his charge of
coalition has forced him mto--he would have
seen that all put together that the fire-eaters,
and all their so called allies, could raise but
sixty -four votes against Mr JAcKsoN's, and sixty
five against Mr.. HILLYER's resolutions, whilst
his company numbered, on the first, one hundred
and one, and on the second one hundred votes.
This patriotic host of one hundred and one,
were few days after beaten by the minority
which they had SO lately trampled under their
feet. Should it be asked how this occurred
will answer the question. II was principle
which decided the vote on the resolutions Of
the two gentlemen from Georgia. II was a
matter of distribution of party spois which de-
termned the other. a majority became a
minority because the principle of cohesion was
changed. Members changed places, voted as
they chose, without reference to former votes
on subjects affecting no principle involved in
this. shall pursue this part Of the subject no
further-it was due to all concerned to examine
it and probe the charge 10 the bottom. Indeed.
there seems of late to have sprung up sort Of
sense of violated majesty amongst some of the
Democrats Of this House, if the editor Of the
Union newspaper is spoken of with that free.
dom which ought to regulate the speeches Of
those who discourse about journal protesting
TO be party organ.
And here, permit me, sir, to remark, that So
luton may be found TO the inquiry so often
made, why is the Democratic party in such
confusion here? And why is there so little
harmony amongst the Wings? The inquiry
admits Of an easy solution. There was time
when principles separated the parties. Distinct
creeds made The lines Of demarcation between
them. That time has passed; and the only
principle which now governs the controversy Is
the S6000o;000 year, multiplied by four, and
looking TO the Presidency rs the organ of dis.
trbuiion. This, taken together with the nun
Der OF aspironts, the hopes OF cabinet appoint
ments and lucrative stations, have created so
many expectations in such a numerous host.
that the fluctuations OF stock, real and fancy, IN
the market, does not more excite the interest
OF brokers, and give more energy 10 the action
OF the bulls and the bears. Animals of prey
are not grcvarous. The lonely condor, the
watchfu vulturc, and the swift winged kite, like
The tiger and the leopard, rarely hunt in couples
From the prowling wolf to the crazy fox, the
lordly lion 10 The insinuating weasel, the tower
ing eagle TO the midnight owl, they are solitary
in their habits, and will not associate without
contest and strife. The reason is, that they are
not prepared TO divide the prey. II is equally
true Of those who, having fixed their eyes upon
the emoluments Of Office, and the good things
which are connected with the treasury; they
abhor long division, or such diffusion OF The
spois as may lessen their share. Real party
issues, upon which we were wont 10 rally, are,
IN great measure, obliterats d, sniiquated, or
dead from the progress Of events. Many are
barred by the statute Of limitations, or beca \
defuncI and decayed in themselves. -
Time, Mr.. Speaker, that destroys all thII
has brought about that decay, and they are pc|
ishing from before us as things Of no import. \
ance. The question of great intcrcst Is the
$50 900 600 nultplied hv four This G14o