The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23

platform upon which not one-fourth OF the
party could take position, would have had no.
thing to Say if when he had pronounced .
panegyric upon General Butler which ranked
him with heroes and demigods, he had gone no
\ further-if, when he had painted with most
accomplished and mastery hand a portrait which
all would admire as beautiful, but which no one
could recognze--if the subject had been suf-
fered TO rest with this eulogy, and the gentle
man would have been content TO free his friend
| from all mputations, and leave him raised above
all anxiety and almost all human interest or pas
sion, and not proceeded to degrade others,
should have nothing to say. But he did not
stop. His graceful and artistic defamation
upon the Democracy and general character and
services of that distinguished citizen forms a
very small part of his speech, and is wel-nigh
| forgotten in the more striking effects Of those
offensive portions which give its true intent and
genuine spirits. The gentleman takes up two
articles which have appeared IN the Democratic
Repie,o, one Of which contains only an abstract
discussion on general principles, which he con-
strues into an attack on all tried and standard
men of the party; the other being in fact ain
assertion of the same principles contained in the
| first and an application Of those principles TO
General Butler, demonstrating the unfitness OF
his nomination to be made by the convention.
| He proceeds to comment upon these articles,
but does not controvert or even state fairly and
intelligibly single principle they contain, or
deny, as sound political doctrine, any notion
which is contained in the Repieao. The facts
chargednhe pronounces false, but does not even
attemPrto prove them so, and contents himself
with denouncng the editor of the Reuie,o and
the whole character of the publication, without
| measure or moderation.
| AZ. L.
will allow me for a moment. My friend from
California says, that not one fact charged direct
| ly, or by implication, against General Butler, or
any other candidate in the Repieso, did deny
| did not, sir, except in general terms My
time did not suffice to go into detail. pro-
nounced the statements in the February num-
Der untrue. / repeat now the general state
ment, and substitute it for particular denial
ofevery charge.
| Mr. MARSHALL. That is but confir-
nation Of what have said, and is precisely
what stated the gentleman's position to be.
lie did not meet the reasoning of the ReuieU,
and did not disprove its facts 1t is periodi-
cal in which feel no special interest, except,
SO far as it is bold and ably edited paper
But in connection with his denunciation of the
article, and the editor he most adroitly, and
with the skill of special pleader, nsinuates
that Judge Douglas, in whose interest he as
sumes the Reuieao to be, is responsible for its
course. These insinuations--fo the gentle
man denies having made any charge-have been
met and refuted by the gentleman from Illinois,
Mr.. RIcHARDsoN;] but. whether the effect has
been done away or not, is another question
which remains yet to be decided. The gentle
mans motive in making that speech is as clear
as daylight. Everybody can see for what puf-
pose it was made. Every one can tell precisely
the course Demonstration and agreement which
that speech carried out The article to which
it pretends to be an answer, attacked the priuc.
pies of all those candidates whom the gentleman
had characterized as the tried and standard men
of the Democratic party. II was doctrinal
article-eminently so-which attacked the prin-
ciples of those who have been denominated, and
correctly so, "oid fogies"-canddate for the
Presidency-in the Democratic party. And
am obliged TO admit, what wish to Heaven
could deny, that these ''old fogiesa have friends
active, energetic friends--drawn to their sup
port by the State pride, the patronage of the
Presidency, and other Influences, and although
not particularly strong, individually, yet collec
lively, they appear formidable. Yet, sir, all
these influences are not sufficiently national to
give any one a proper prestige for the Pres-
dental Office. The Democratic candidate for
that Office must personify the idea Of national
progress. Yet the gentleman from Kentucky,
| who, from his instincts and age, ought to be a
friend of progress, and whose enthusiasm
would be becoming in this connection, is select
ed to make this attack, and to carry out the
sold fogy" notions
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. The gentleman is
mistaken in point Of fact
| Mr.. MARSHALL. Everybody can see how
this thing occurred. These sold fopies" are as
much at war with one another as they are with
Judge Douglas. They considered the attack
upon their principles in the RevielD as fatal to
the whole system Of ~ old fogyism" and the
claims Of all Of its representatives and must
be permitted TO hope that their apprehensions
are founded on good reason. The friends Of
these candidates saw at once that this attack
might be made a bond Of union among them, and
seeing that Judge Douglas was the second choice
Of everybody, and the first choice Of very many,
determined, by combination, 10 defeat the most
powerful Of all the-candidates, and TO detract
and destroy the whole Democratic party; and
in the execution Of this design, they steal the
Legitimate thunder Of young America for the
purpose Of breaking down and crushing the
hopes Of young America That task could have
been more fifty assigned TO other hands. There
~ ktuhthiah W iiOuht. auo Jul uV w lUlt
House, a friend Of General Butler an old friend
and messmate Of General Butler. and an older
man, though not an older fogy, than The young
gentleman from Kentucky. Laughter What
a tribute Iii then, 10 young America, that when
there bad 10 be something done, bold, dashinQ,
adrot, and adventurous, and an assault made,
intended 10 be mortal, that the aold fogiesr take
the background and intrust this attack 10 a
younger gentleman's hands. None OF them
will put themselves in view, but put young
America forward 10 make the attack. ! say il
is high tribute to young blood and young en-
ergy when an old and rotten cause leans upon
Il for support.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. I do not wish TO
interrupt the genueman's strain Of eloquence,
but desire simply 10 say that the gentleman is
mistaken when he supposes that my remarks
were the result Of any arrangement and consul.
tation with the friends Of anybody. say fur.
ther that have not been put forward in this
House by anybody, and il I know myself sm
not man 10 be thrust forward by any who
might wish 10 put me in the breach, and them.