The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-15
SPEECH OF HON. E. &. CABELL,


Mr.. CABELL, of Florida, said:
Mr.. CHAIRmAN: ! availed myself of the leisure
afforded by the adjournment of Congress last week
to make notes. OF the thoughts suggested by a
consideration OF the questions involved in the COM
ing Presidential election. They very numer-
Gus, afording materials for half dozen speeches,
which do not propose to infct upon the House.
Your kindness in assigning me the floor ad-
journment has enabled me partially to methodize
| some OF these notes, as many rs supposed could
compress in an hour's speech.
| My time is limited, and the points TO which
wish to speak many and, as l do not intend to say
any thing demanding personal explanation from
| any member Of tho House, ! trust may be allow
| ed to proceed without interruption
Political parties arc organized for the purpose Of
carrying into effect political principles and to in
| suro the adoption Of political measures. In this
country men have generally arrayed themselves
under the banner Of the Wing or Democratic par
ty, as they supposed one the other of these par
ties would conform most nearly to their views OF
governmental policy. Candidates for office are
usually presented by each party as the representa-
tyes and ou0Usd adUOedes of the recognized princi
pies OF the party, and as such are entitled to the
support OF its individual members. But it may
| happen that one party presents candidate whose
| opinions are not known, and who refuses to
| them, or who is opposed to important principles in
the creed Of the party by which he 10 nominated;
and that the other party presents candidate on n
platform moro nearly in accordance with the opin-
ions Of the members Of the opposing party, and the
avowed advocate of q principle of vital moment to
| them. In such case a member of party
would not be inconsistent in casting his for the
| candidate OF his political opponents. BY doing
he would prove himself to be party man ON fnIs
CIPLE.
1t 10 leading principle in my political creed on
which the Southern Wing party are united as one
ma that "ths Compromise measures" including
and carried into faithful execution as final settle
msnt, in principle and substance. of the dangerous
and exciting subjects which they embrace"
Iii the universal sentiment of the Wings Of the
South that this principle is and should be, par
amount, rising far above and absorbing every quos-
ton OF nero party policy. 1t may DO described
| the cor stone of tho platform Of principle on
Mise the validity and binding force Of this princi-
| pie, is not one If US; and he who stands on this
platform, and 10, and auo,os himself the advocate Of
this principle vital to the existence of political
association, is with Us, and of US, and tphdteccr
| name he may assume, 10 entitled to our sympathy
and support in preference to one who, ''wearing
| the livery Of our party" and agreeing with
questions Of mere administrative policy, differs
from ~ on Dis, and refuses publicly to commit
himsslf and to act with u.s. but proposes to "agrec
| to disagree matter of such momentous CON
sequence.
| declared my determination to vote for Gpo,ced
Compromise Democrat for the Speakership, in pref
srence to an Compromise Wing, or one whose
| opinions were not known to the public, did not
cease to be a Whig," but only proposed to carry
out the principles Of my party. illustrated in the
admirable administration ofour distinguished Pres
| ident. And now, sir, the Southern Wing party,
and OIL that - national in the Northern Wing par
|
triotsm' and carry out it principles and the princi
| Piles Of our excellent Wbig Administr alton, by
striving to elect to the Presidency Democrat
who will publicly commit himself to the mainte-
nance Of "aH the meosues of mpromise" and the
constitutional rights Of the South, in preference to
a"Whig" who is afraid TO auo,o his sentiments,
10 not adr0eate of these measures as q final SET
tlsmsnt and il willing to deceive section of the
Union, and to his nomination entirely to anti
slavery influences, as will be the with General
Scott, should he be nominated as he stands be-
| fore the country.
| Mr.. Chairman, after the passage of the "Com-
| promise acts" well remember that a Senator
| from North Carolina was conspicuous for his ef-
| forts In building the political platform which
| l now stand. He was then for making the advo-
| cacy Of and adherence to these measures q test,
| and signed pledge that he would vote for
for the Presidency, even for seat in the Lege-
lature OF his State, who did not stand this plat
| FORM AT that time, perhaps, he was one Of that
class OF politicians whom he describes men
| " whose ambition is limited to a State" Now
the Senator rtdic,ies the idea Of introducing into
| our platform this new principle" After speaking
| oontemptuously Of .hose who maintain
| ing the policy established by himseH and CLAY,
| and almost the entire Southern Wing party with
a respectable portion Of Northern National Whigs,
he sneeringly cxclams, "WeH, boi srota,d BE- plat
Jorm!' Perhaps the ambition Of the honorable
Senator 10 longer limited to a State" The
platform which he erected for his State and the
South and the constitutional men Of the North 10
not broad enough for SKwAnp and his Frecsoil
sociates, by whose votes he hopes to elect General
Scott, and wbomsoever the anti-slavcry influences
in the Wing party may select the Vice Pres-
Dental candidate.
| Ii is not, Of course, my purpose to reply TO the
speeches Of the honorable from North Caro-
lima. only desire to call the attention Of the coun-
try TO the fact, that he wns Of the authors and
| builders OF that political platform which now
| stand. and which he now seeks TO bring into ridi-
cule and contempt But, before | proceed to the
confederation Of other more important questions.
will merely say that, prior TO this reputation of
| his former policy and platform. it would have
cited surprise that he should have sought TO dis
parage the two men of the North most prominent
| In advocating bis policy and uphoding his plat
| form. He spoke of tho pretensicns OF the one,
,chon The Vhigs Of fourteen Southern STATES have
united in nominating for the Presidency ''the
development of premature and absurd ambition"
or the other he says. IL should time have felt
willing TO vote Tor him with great deal Of plea.
sure" What has caused the Senator TO change
| his feeling for Mr.. Webster. he does not state.
Possibly the publication of his admirable letter to
Mr.. Tavenner, Of the 10th OF April, in which he
fully and unequvocally endorses the entire ssries
OF "ComPromise measures" may have presented
an unpleasant contrast 20 the unpatriotic election
eering silence Of General Scott.
| The course which have felt II my duty 10 pur-
sue, Mr. Chairman. has called down upon my head
the unmcasurcd vituperative abuse Of the Scott or
Frccso papers OF the North, with few exceptions
| they are one and the same,) and have been bit
| terly denounced by their southern coadjutors.
IL was not because Of the manner in which spoke
| OF General Scott, for could well have alluded
| to him in kinder more complimentary terms.
| And II 10 now matter OF deepest regret to
4 'h's -" SVhsf"insu ny my nuty ds n PUBIC
man, and in disregard Of my personal feelings, to
| oppose his nomination and election decidedly.
Bot 1t was because expressed my regret that ne
| bad not publicly given TO the Compromise inca
the benefit Of the influence OF his M me- nnd
| because svowed my unalterable determination to
stand up to the pledge that had made, to support
| no man who occupied the non -conmittnl position
in which he had thought proper to place himself,
in order TO secure anti slavery votes. That public
| pledge, signed by Mr. CLAY, Mr.. MANoun, and
90 many distinguished men OF both parties, I in
| nAgrCdly 10 bc 10
| OF whom now know nothing, comes up TO its
quirements, and no such Wing candidate is pre-
scented. shall unqucstonably vote for the Demo
crat- do not think il possible that can ever
"turn Democrat" My principles and sympathics
are all with the Wing party; bat, Uhig, and
expecting always to act with that party on general
| principles, and TO advocate its measures, I shall
vote for man calling himself Democrat who
agrees with me on so vital a question, il have
opportunity TO vote for Wing But do not there
by intend TO join the Democratic party, and adopt
| its principles and beresica. This position al