The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-14

titude Of his acts acknowledged, and the on y
offence alleged against him il. that he does not
proclaim, on the highways and byways. the par
he took, thereby placing himself before the Amer
ican people as candidate for the Presidency
He ia willing TO do and has done deeds which
dound to the interest OF the whole country; but
he is not willing, after they are done, to claim OF
the hands of the American people any other com
pensation than the appreciation Of his conduct il
right; he asks no reward for doing his duty an
American citizen But he has written no letter,
and given no bonds that he Is true Compro
mise man. His whole life his letters, his deeds
of gallantry and daring, his time and SCARED
and wounded body, are his bonds II these are
not enough, he despairs Of satisfying you. You
would not be satisfied though one arose from the
dead He, too, avowed, at the meeting nt Castle
Garden, that sort of noble sentiment which should
characterize every American citizen. He there
clnimed to know South, North, East, or West,
but only the Union, to which he had devoted his
long life He thus has spoken where occasion has
demanded. He occupies towards the American
people no position requiring Of him n recapitula-
ton Of the acts he had done, or the deeds he has
performed; and had he occupied that position he
would not have shrunk from the responsibility OF
giving those opinions at any place and at all
times There ia no man living who has ap
preached him on the subject of the Compromise,
with whom he has used the least disguise; he has
responded to every inquiry demanded Of him.
avowing himself content with those measures Of
adjustment, and yet he has written no letter.; aud
of that those honorable gentlemen complain--for
that they blame the General
Nor did General Harrison in ls40, or General
Taylor in lSis, write any letters proc'aiming what
they would would not do They proclaimed,
Mr.. Chairman. the true Wing doctrine, the doc.
trine Of common sense philosophy, to wit that
human actions are the criterion by which are
10 judge OF men, and not by tales made up for the
purpose OF catching votes
Mr. Chairman, ] never lover Of those
| rlatlorms, never was lover sf those pretended
| pledges made by the candidate to few individu-
| nls, because their tendency is 10 withdraw the
r. he md ,,Ir
his duty to the country and to the Constitution
itself, and give him into the hands Of few polii-
cal intriguers. That is the tendency Of such n
thing but in the days of Washingto this W was
not known-in the days of the ancient republic
this not dreamed Of 1t was reserved for the
days of Martin Van Buren-wbo introduced a
number OF things which no one now approves e.
to originate that system Of conducting canvasses
think, however, that candidate should permit
his sentiments TO be known. But there are ways
better than by declarations. The history OF his
acts should BE- examined, but if not found to be
SUFFICIENT, to proclaim hat his sentiments are; all
high flown declarations made upon paper never
could produce an effect upon my mind, and never
should produce it upon the mind of any Ac-
tions more to be relied upon than words
which ia the true doctrine the Wings have prac.
tised; and upon which General Scott has placed
himself at this particular time.
Now. sir. believe, from the excitement that has
arisen by the agitation of this subject upon the part
of the North aud South at this time, that decla-
ration upon that subject is impor mt in the coming
canvass, and believe both parties will make il. /
had believed at the commencement Of this session,
but am glad have got out OF that opinion, that
the Democratic party desired to evade that Ques-
ton, and they wanted to do because they said
had beaten them by means of ,he slavery agitation;
aud they wanted the benz fit OF that question to beat
us; but l an happy 10 think that the majority
think differently now, and that they together with
the Wings, will be bound to endorse, as did the
Whg caucus. the Compromise measure as final
ity upon the subject OF slavery. They will do IL
uata Al ri nj v aa he 4 will
be done by both parties. and neither party will
have the daring TO refuse the demand of the South
upon that subject
II General Scott were to make ten thousand
declarations give ten thousand written obligations
upon that subject, my confidence in him would
not be increased one particle, or diminished by
the act. do not believe il necessary. ] bfeve
ii improper. lbelieve. il introduced into the Wbg
creed at this time, and under the present sircum.
stances, II will not be calculated 10 do any good.
The motive, doubtless, was u proper one, which
actqated AID prompted these gentlemen to take
the course they have towards General Scott; but
the gentleman has not treated General Scott with
due courtesy, because he had not kept up with
the improvements in the Whg creed. He had not
known that the principle upon which the Wbig
party had b. en- fighting heretofore, OF no pledges,
had been by the sacbems of the party abolished
as part OF their party creed think 1t would
have been but treating him with due courtesy to
have informed him OF the fact, and he would have
probably written enough letters to satisfy the
gentleman upon the subject. know not how it
may be with others but the action OF our party in
other times, compared with what these gentlemen
now demand Of the General in the name ofthe true
Southern Whig party, as to the propricty or impro
priety OF making these declarations, DO not speak
well Tor the party TO which We both belong. II 1T
was wrong to make pledges in lSa0, il IL was
wrong to make pledges in lssS, the same princi-
plcs would make IL ". ong to make them in 1852.
Any man who has practiced the doctrines we our
selves have preached, who has practiced the prin
ciplcs all Wings have heretofore laid down for
thus praoticing, should not be by condemned,
especially when that mans record is such
that Of General Scott-cspecsily when that man
has sacrificed much for the benefit Of the Govern
ment we live under as has General Scott. Scotrs
failure TO write letters now is according to Whig
doctrine, and 10 the actions of the ancient and
purer Presidents OF this Government. Slow, slow
should be the mind TO conclude any thing ought to
be done that would throw the least degree Of
picion upon a man situated as he was towards the
Wing party and the American people.
Nov, go far az MIR Fillmore is concerned ho-
nor the man. believe. from the time the ESecu
tive mantle fell upon him. he has performed his
duty fully and completely any could
have done. II fell upon him in trying unes; but
am far from giving to MIR. Fillmore the undi
vided. the entire credit Of proposing and carrying
into execution successful and happy execution
these Compromise measures They not pro
posed by him. They were not advocated by him
upon this hoor, and no vote of his was recorded in
behalf OF them. According 90 my understanding
Of the history OF the times they proposed md
advocated by such men as Clay, Case, and W,b
ster; and, by their joint influence, they were
passed into laws. and their benign influence felt
by all of the American people acknowledge that
he signed them, and, since that signature, has
faithfully executed the part he was compelled 10
execute under the Constitution and his oath OF of
fee. He has done hs duty fully, fairly, and nan.
fully since that time, for which give him all ere
dit. He has done his duty TO the South but he ia
not the only man in the North who is willing to do
the Sooib Justice in regard TO this question There
divers others in the ranks Of both parties will
ing so TO do.
Unfor rtupatoly, in looking over the history OF oar
party, which two years ago numbered as many 10
this Hall "a did their opponents. for naay weeks
there was n struggle between the parties 20 decide
which was in the maiority, notice that IL has
dwindled down until we have scarce a corporsPs
guard left For that decrease, il seems to me.
there 10 some causc, and that that cause can ho
remcdicd by proper attention 10 the matter. lt
Seems TO me, in going into this struggle, our proc
pcot 10 not bright and as fiattering az some sup
pose Il 70 be, and we are mistaken when we cal
culatc upon the divisions in the adverse party IA
promotive Of any good TO the Whig party. have
known them TO bsve wars before. have known
chickering's tn the adverse party. bat they
always settled before the election. They will VOTE
ss ono man. for whoever the Baltimore Convention
may nominati and am determined, 90 far as
nm concerned, TO vote for whoever the Wbiq Con.