The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-28

| II
recognise this right. he should loathe and scorn
| them. Ii gentlemen of the North will not stand
up TO the Constitution OF their fathers, they become
the parties who break the compact. Two years ago,
i when aggressions were threatened on the South
he said that if the northern people intended to ride
over those of the South, and disregard the consti
| tutonal compact, and bring their combined forces
against them, he, for one, was willing to dismem-
Der the Confederacy; and that We could get peace
only on condition of the fulfilment OF the Constitu
non Of the country. He said, at that time, he did
not believe that the people OF the North as some Of
| their Representatives declared, never would sub
mt to the Fugitive Slave law, or to refusal to re-
strict slavery in the Territories. The great genius
| that presided destiny slumbered at the
| time; but when the CONFUSION came with mighty
force shaking the foundations Of this Capitol,
1t was then the American spirit rose in majesty,
and said that constitutional justice should BIO rem
dercd to the South.
There two real parties-one in favor of the
| Constitution and constitutional rights. and the 9th
er opposed to them. In tins connexion he would
say to gentlemen who are attempting to get up
Platforms that none Of them will meet the popular
will unless they shall be planted on the Constitu-
ton. Gentlemen need "lay the flattering unc
ton to their souls" that the people Of the North and
the south viii submit to or support any admins
traion which will not stand upon it, The question
| may be adjourned from Washington to the Balt-
more Convention. And on the subject of progress
and adjournment he proposed to submit a few re-
ward progress that taken at the commence
ment of THE session by the Democratic caucus, who
consented to postpone question OF politics to their
National Convention.
Who, he would ask, are the responsible repre-
scutatives OF the American peoplee Those chosen
and elected members of Congress They the
only regularly organized body known to the law.
He, for one, willing to aver this day, 60 far
as he was concerned, that he could con.
sent that any body of men, unknown to and
unauthorized by the law, should proclaim the pol
itcs by which he was to be governed II is the
dtty OF Representatives to act in such way the
| Constitution OF the country warrants; and what
spectacle could be more humiating to the Ameri
| can Representative than to submit his will, and
bow his neck, and give up his own sentiments to
| an outside body, unknown and irresponsible to
| law, which makes politics to govern him and his
i po5terity! The Government and Constitution can
not stand if these things are to continue. Who
constitute the convention? As he bad already said.
men unknown to the law and the Constitution;
and what spectacle would the American Con-
gress present, if gentlemen came here the shame
fully vile instruments to register the edicts Of men
unknown to law. He scorned it Not SO
were the men by whom the Republic was estab
lished. He merely threw out these suggestions to
the Young Democracy and Old Fogies and the
Young Whigs-he did not know what the older
ones arc called-and also to the " W DOLLY Heads"
and "Siver Grays." Whenever the House or
the Senate shal consent that those outside parties
irresponsible bodies of men, shall dictate who shall
rule and what principles shall be given, the Ls
gislature becomes degraded and corrupt. That
may be the beginning, nay the end, of our insu
| tutons
II is the business of legislators to define their
| opinions in language which becomes them. He
did not speak in behalf of either of the factions,
| the Wings or Democrats; nor did he, on this
zion, pretend to reflect the sentiments of his
stituenta. He was here to advocate great princi-
pie, by which they and all others should be gov
| erned. He merely spoke hs sentiments. He
was here a sentinel on the watch tower and not
TO say whether he should for this or thnt man.
IL his constituents did not like what he had enid,
they might mend it, and send some other person to
Congress in bio place. He did not know who they
.ytll Ja Al
for man set of men for Congress or for Presi-
dent who will not avow themselves unqualifedly,
and before the country, as in favor of the Fugitive
Slave law and every other constitutional obligation
| resting on every American citizen. So far from il
being his duty to affiliate with any party of the
| North, Wing Democratic, or by any name or
faction, who hold that the Fugitive Slave law is un-
constitutional and that the North is too sQueamieh
to zee to its iulfilment, he regarded those men az
| public enemies-enemies 10 the Constitution OF his
| country. He looked upon them the worst enc.
mice we have. lie should soon hail horse
thief, or throw out blueght TO British invading
army, as to give countenancc TO any party which
wars against the fundamental principle on which
the Government rests. They deserve to be put
| down and crushed. Public duty and patriotism
| require 1t. He was not for aflatng with those
men or factions at the North who are tor cutting
down those of that section who stood up firmly and
manfully in maintenance of this principle.
He had said that he would speak plainly; be was
not going 70 be humbugged The party that does
not support this great principle 10 which he had
| N. !
| appear that either Of the parties stands on the
principles which ne advocatts should not receive his
sanction, and ought not. No man, without plain
unequivocsl declarat on Of them. should receive
| his vote; and he would cay, for his constituents
ought not to receive their votes. Why not Be
cause, when fractions Of people get together they
/ form combinations without declaration of prin-
/ ciples-conbinations, IA a distinguished Senator
| (Mr. CALHoUS) once said, who may be held '.by
/ the cohesive power Of public plundcr"-whsn they
can be held by no other. He did not belong to that
| party, aud no such power can long exist. II gen
! tlemen wish national party, IL must be governed
on the principles of our forofa thers-principlcs
which have made this young Republic, in less than
three iourths OF century. the greatest nation OF
the Garth; and II we bow to the high destiny which
awaits H. there must be national party standing
| on American principles, and slough of every ex-
crescence which encumbers It,
The Baltimore Convention would be respected by
him Just go lar Hs they do right He gave this no.
tice to all wire puller.. II they put Themselves on
| broad, high, national grounds they would com.
mand the admiration and respect of ell lovers Of tho
country, and receive their and his warm and cordial
support.
! lie said that the editor Of the Washington Union
agreed with him on the abstract question. In I'd
vance Of the convention, however, il is hcraldcd
forth, by that gentleman, that the Democratic par
! ty are in favor Of the Compromise. As proof Of
THE, analysis Of the vote the resolution Of his
colleague (Nlr JAcKsoN) appeared in that paper,
which MIR STEPHENS proceeded TO examine, for
the purpose OF collaborating the assertion set forth
in the article. ]. denied that if left 10 them the
\ Northern Democrats could have carried the ques-
ton; If left TO Tie Northern aud Southern Demo.
Gratis alone, they could not have carried IT, l. IL
| frank and right, hc asked, that the editor 90
sentinel here IN Washington, should misead the
| people North and South upon this subject? lie be-
iicved there were one hundred and forty one mem
/ bcrs calling themselves Democrats end only fifty
elk OF them voted for the resolution. TIE honest
truth j., that some Northern Wings, true rs gal
liant, and faithful to the obligations Of the Const-
! tuition, vltcd for IL; and some Southern Whgs
voted for II. He therefore claimed it as neither n
/ Wing nor a Democratic measure, but n great
! national measure; and " IL Ind been left 10 the
! Democratic party, il never would have been Of
/ frmcd in this House. The majority here must
make party, for the time being, on national ques.
/ lions. After further remarks on other portions
! Of the editorial article, Mr.. STEPHENS said that
he was not to be deceived and blmboozlcd in
any such way. He then passcd to the cunsidcra-
ton o. various matters connected with this suticct,
| and said he spoke from his knowledge and nc.
| quaintanco Of Southern Whigs--of men south OF
Mason and Dixon's lne-and IL there was one
among them inisvor Of running for the Presidency
a man who vac not openly and avowedly for the
execution OF tho Fugitive Slave law, he dill not
know him; and he should like any man in this
Hail. within the sound of bis voice. to rise up md
| If he could. 10 he IIc