The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-07
SPEECH or MIR. CnAsrArN,
OF GEORGIA,

SPEECH OF MIR. CHASfAiN,
OF GEORGIA,
Deiooed IN the House OF Representatives. March s. 1862
The House, in Committee OF the Whole, having under
consideration House bill No T. for the encouragement
| OF agriculture" &c
! Mr. CHASrAIN said do not propose to follow up
any of the gentlemen who have preceded in this argu.
ment upon the merits OF this bill find disposition
manifested the part Of this House to squander the pub
c lands II Is useless for to attempt TO resist IL
Suffice it upon this occasion, however, TO say that shall
vote against the proposition now before the committee.
shall likewise vote against all propositions dsposlng OF
the public land for railroad and internal Improvement pur-
poses propose, Mr.. Chairman 10 discuss quite diff
terent subject Gentlemen who have preceded me in this
argument have assumed the pveege-and believe 1t is
recognised by the rules and practice OF this House-o
discuss political questions when private bills are under
discussion propose, sir. not to make an attack upon
Of e s on
the wing the democratic side OF this House. the
try. But. sir. have higher duty to perform would
have been glad had il fallen 10 the lot OF ADLER hands
propose simply TO vndcae my position and The po-
ssition of the party with which ! am now acting the
| Union party OF Georgia.
Georgia has been greatly misunderstood by some, and
grossly misrepresenied by others propose now TO con-
slider the causes wi ch led to lis organization, the pnc
pies upon which stands, its past action, its present poll
cy, and its probable destiny My object principally is
put Inc Union democracy right before the country and to
defend Their course from the unjust and uniounded
charges which have been so freely made against them
il is hardly necessary TO premise with the remark that
the passage OF the adjustment by the last Con-
promise was intended TO sete produced the poiti-
cal organization OF State OF the merits OF that Com
promise, and the principles upon which il rests have
argument to offer will not reopen the questions which
were then so deliberately debated 1t is my purpose rather
10 speak of results than OF The Compromise
passed. and passed by the votes of majority of the
democratic party 1t has gone before the country for its
approval or condemnation, and the democratic party by
an overwhelming majority OF It's members, have approved
and sanctioned it,
Without intending to dsparage the claims Of those pa
q
these measures, feel fully authorized repeat that the
Compromise was democratic measure based upon dem
ocrac principles, and passed by democratic votes II it
entities its friends and supporters any praise honor
the democratic party entitled, party, participate
IN much the larger portion OF that praise or honor and
the other hand, II it be OF fraud aud nus
tce TO any portion OF this Unon let The full responsibility
OF il fall upon the democracy, for they did the deed III
you ask Tor the proof point 10 the records OF Congress
which must forever stand the unimpeachabe witness OF
the truth OF what | have said. Having this firm and
enduring ground 10 stand npon will not invite the ar.
gumen which might be offered II should another
evidence equally true and untenable-tha this Compro-
mise but the consummaton OF those great democratic
principles upon which the republican fathers and demo.
cratic leaders OF country have invariably planted
themselves. Let that pass, and for the present will
only consider the recorded judgment OF the democratic
party exhibited by the Congressional Journal.
When the Compromise had thus become the law OF the
land and the question OF It's approval acquescence
il submitted TO the people, II became with the people
oil Georgia the paramount question: and all other polti
cal issues absorbed in the consideration of this
alone During the tendency OF the subject before Con-
gress there had risen up spirit OF deep and bitter oppo
sition to the principles upon which 1t expected the
question would be settled, and upon which il ulti
mately settled Threats OF resistance the government
and dissolution OF the Union became as common as
household words with those whose morbid spirits brood
ed the destruction oil their government, with almost
hearess indifference 10 the mighty results involved in
their inconsderate policy Before the final action OF
Congress was bad, The germ Of this new and threatening
spirit was fast forming itself into political party whose
leading spirits were bending all their powers and
gies TO The wicked wolk of implanng in the hearts OF
The people enmiiy and hatred TO the Union OF our
fathers.
The Nashville convention which met shortly there.
after perfected the work which had already been begun
by the master spirits who ruled the hour in that
BILE assembage. From the deliberations and actings OF
that concaye of heated and maddened spirits sprung into
existence that sectional party organization which was
recognised by different names different States but in
my received its bapiisma waters the OF the
southern rights party.
The principles Of this new party partly set forth
in their action al Nashville Opposition TO the compro
mise the groundwork OF It's action, and all its pow
directed 10 the point OF making that opposition
ehectual That opposition was Embodied IN the preg-
nant declaration OF of their resolutions, that all The
epis anticipated by the South had been realized in the
passage Of The compromise measures Their remedy
Tor this evil two-iod. First q give you their Ian
guage that earnestly recommend all parties in the
saveholdng States to refuse TO go into or counenance
any national convention whose object may be 10 nomi.
hate candidates for the presidency vice presidency OF
the United States under any party denomination what.
ever until constitutional rights are secured" You
will observe that this after the passage OF the Com
promise, and u was the constitutional rights which they
alleged had been lost by that Compromise which were
required TO be restored before they would consent 10 20
into any national convention, under any party uhai
euer Let this fact be borne in mind we shall have
use for II in the sequel OF our argument
Their second remedy was call for a southern con,
gress whose duty II TO have been TO arrest future
aggression and 10 restore those constitutional rights that
were lost by the passage OF the Compromise or failing
in this, 10 propde for their future safely and independence
What that body may do in this latter respect rohen
they meet, cannot say, do care. There may, per
baps, be those present who have looked into that
matter than have done, and who may enlighten the
| House on the subject.
Such, then, the principles with which this south
enrghts party set out at Nashville During the heated
contest which followed the adoption of the Compromise
in Georgia, these doctrines openly proclaimed and
sect Nor was their anger appeased or their passions
salaied with the avowa and advocacy of these hereca
docrines but If from the very fountain of bitter
waters they poured forth continuing stream OF abuse
and execraon upon the heads of alwhether from the
| North or the South, whether wing or democra,--who
had participated in the passage OF The compromise
ures They hesiiaed not TO declare that Cass had
med fraud upon the South in bis doctrine OF non in
tervenon--Bnchanan had deceived them in his prom.
ised support Of the Missouri Compromise douglas
trckster whose ridiculous pretensions TO the presi
dency a fruitful OF bitter mlrth--and the
whole catalogue OF good and true al the North who
had stood firmly by the South in her many struggles Tor
constitutional right alike unworthy OF their support
and base beayers of the confidence they had eposed in
them One OF their leading journals, columbus Tlmes,)
speaking OF the purposes and intentions OF the southern
rights party IN respect TO northern men, held this lam
guage;
srn.rghs menl feelings and opinions and We say that
they discover In northern public