The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-26
THE r. EP u BLIC.
THE COMPROMISE PRESIDENCY.
SPEECH OF HON. VIM. CULLOM,


OF TENNESSEE,
In the House Of Representatiuss, May II, 1852.
The House having resolved itself into Com
nittee of the Whole on Territorial business
Mr.. CULLOM said:
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: / regret that feel constrained
upon this occasion, from sense OF duty to the
Whig party no less than to myself, main tanning
the attitude which do and have done from early
life in that party, and maintaining asl docertain
relations towards certain movements of that party,
/ regret, say, that feel constrained, in order
that my position may be understood here and else
where, in relation to the exciting questions to which
the public mind ID directed to depart from what
has. been my settled purpose in relation to these
questions. ! had not intended, Mr.. Chairman
and my silence upon this floor will attest the sin
certify Of this avowal-on taking my seat here as
member Of this House, to consume the public time,
the time egitimately belonging to the business Of
legislation upon the great interests OF the Ame-
rican people, in expressing my opinions, or in de-
signaling to my constituents and to the country
who, in my opinion, would be the suitable candi-
date of the Whig party for the exalted Office Of
President of this Republic But, sir, in the pro-
gress OF events, proceeding with the Legitimate
business, for which purpose have been sent here
by generous constituency, when the Wing Re-
representatives. in Congress were called upon, ac-
cording to custom and their recognised province
and duty, to meet in caucus to recommend the
time and place for the meeting OF the Whig Ma
tional Convention it 80 occurred, and regret the
occurrence, that the part took in that assembage
has been the subject of Misrepresentation, and,
aught / know, with many of my constituents,
whose intelligence and opinions ! bold in high
esteem, and by whom it is right and proper that
my position upon all matters OF public interest
should be correctly and fully understood.
What, Mr.. Chairman, was the legitimate object
of that caucus? 1t was called by the Wing chair
man for the sole purpose OF designating or recon-
mending the time and place for the meeting of the
Wing National Convention. This, and this alone,
was lis object. Other gentlemen thought or acted
if they thought, it had another and more cx-
tended object and province in connexion-to do
what the people have assigned to the convention to
do-namely, to prescribe certain rules, in part
platform for the party in the coming campaign;
and regret deeply, and express 1t here, that
should have bad occasion in that meeting to differ
with any portion of my Whig brethren-I q will
call them brethren, because have stood side by
side with them for years.) With them have
fought for the glorious and cherished conservative
principles of our common party-the principles
which involve the veal and perpetuity Of the in
stitutons Of our great, and prosperous, and happy
country. have been with them in victory ana in
defeat; butt sir, have never been called upon pub
licy, from a sense of duty, to differ with any
spectacle portion Of the Whig party until the oc.
casion alluded to-
come now, sir, to review the circumstances
which surrounded me and them upon that
sion. / shall still hold and regard them as breth.
rem. am not here to ceneure them or to impugn
their motives. grant them all purity Of motive,
and all desire for right; but sir, am here to justi-
fy and defend my own motives, and my own ac-
ton on that occasion. What was that actioni
did not presume. when took my scat in the
Gus Of the Whig party, to arrogate to myself or TO
that caucus, the prerogatve OF prescribing the
rules that were 10 govern the representatives Sc
lected for the express purpose OF nominating can
didate, and laying down such political principles
the party chose to be governed by No. SIR, that
10 the brsiness of the convention. IL was the
business of the caucus TO select place, and to
suggest time for the meeting OF that convention;
this alone its business and further than this il
had no authority, either delegated customary,
In amir fnnE seati in he "a nrft
disposed 10 discharge the duties imposed upon me-
But when 1t was proposed by the gentleman from
Kentucky, (Mr. MARsHALL,) and again by my
honorable colleague from Tennessec, (Mr. GBS-
rRY,) TO introduce certain resolutions that were
ruled out OF order by the Chair they not being ger
name TO the pending resolution, deemed IL TO be
my duty to sustain the Chair, and voted consci
entiously to that effect upon this strictly para-
mentary question, we being governed in our de-
lberations by the rules OF the Senate. But IL was
announced by the meeting that the propositions
would be entertained as substantive propositions.
and as such pledged them my support was not
in favor Of the resolution at that juncture, not be-
cause am not now to day, and have ever been, in
favor OF the Compromise measures, and OF the
hnality OF those measures, and OF declaring at a
proper time that fnaiiy, but because believed il
would be trenching upon the legitimate duties Of
the convention. believed that that was duty be-
longing to convention called by the great body
OF the people for the special purpose Of laying down
those rules. ] thought that, perhaps, the great
body Of the American people might not choose 70
be dictated 10 by self constituted caucus OF Con-
greesionsl gentlemen; and that, therefore, IL was
proper for them TO do nothing than to recon-
mend time and place for holding the National
Convention.
When that resolution was announced, ! stated
TO the meeting that my sense Of duty would com
pei me TO sustain, Hs parliamentary question, the
position OF the Chair, but that would vote for the
resolution Of the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr.
MARsH.LL) II IL came up, and ALEC that ] would
vote for the resolution ofmy colleague, Mr. Gss-
TRY,) and called upon my southern friends TO
remain and aid me in obtaining the passage OF one
OF those resolutions; for, although did not ap-
prove the introduction of those resolutions, yet,
after they bad been introduced felt willing to
sustain them in substantive manner.
Mr.. Polk. understand my colleague 20 be in
favor Of the fnality Of the Compromise, and that
his only reason for not sustaining the resolution Of
my colleague, MIR. GEsTRy,) in the caucus, was
that IL was not introduced at proper time and
place. Now, ! desire 10 ask the gentleman one
question.
Mr.. CULtos. The gentleman misunde derstands
me; but he may state his question.
MIR. PoLr. i desire to ask the gentleman, that
in case the wbig National Convention should re-
Mr.. CgLtos. Oh, will come TO that subject
directly, SIR.
Mr.. PoLr. I wish TO know whether, in case the
whig Convention should refuse TO pass any reso-
luton declaring the fnaliiy Of the Compromise,
you will support their candidate for me Presi-
.dencyi
Mr.. CULLos. Not unlcs, your party lodges tba,
sures which bad become the settled law Of the
country. the Compromise which had been endorsed
by the Wing caucus at the beginning Of the ses-
sion, and which bad received the endorsement Of
majority Of the Representatives OF the American
people In this House but the other day, might be
considered as settled for the present. had noped
that that would be satisfactory until the meeting
of the National Conventions Of the two parties OF
the country. But inasmuch as doubts we're enter
tanned, inasmuch some friends Of the South
thought II wore threatening aspect-tbough
confess have seen nothing 10 justify such an inn
pression-l have seen no demonstration to arouse
my feelings as a southern man; though the South
is the land of my birth, and though my interests,
whatever have, are southern interests, and my
attachments all southern, I would guard as care
fully as any other man this great question--yet
say, had seen nothing TO excite my fears upon
this subject. or to prompt me TO introduce resolu.
tons into the caucus touching the subject but
repeat. that resolutions having been introduced,
should have supported them had they been put 20
vote But with all due respect TO every member
of that caucus-and am bound TO believe that
they all discharged their duties according TO the
best lights before thcm--I am constrained TO say
that think the course of our receding friends
calculated to arouse sectional feelings. thought