Semi-weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1852-1853, 1852-05-05
ADDRESS OF THE Seeding WINGS


Il We alluded. in last. 10 the address put forth
10 the Wings of the United States by those Wing
members of Congress, who, in the late caucus in
Washington were overpowered by the Sewardites,
Nand consequently seeded from the caucus. We
shal give readers the substance of this address,
| pot being able to make room for the whole Of it,
The signes declare, in the outset, that the events
atthe Federal City, within the last twenty days. are
likely to affect the future union of the Whig party as
they have already disturbed the harmony of its
bers. In the first caucus, Mr.. Marshall of Kentucky
said that, inasmuch many of the contemporaries
Wings had publicly assaulted the resolution adopted
by the caucus of the Wings of the House, the
mencement of the session, endorsing the position of
the administration upon the compromise measures, as
an untrue expression of Wing sentiment in regard
those measures. it was thought proper restate in
the meeting of the Wing members of the Houses,
the position which the Wings in Congress hold on
the compromise measures, 6efore proceeding TO the
Steps preparatory for Convention Of the Wing party.
He indicated his purpose to offer resolution that
effect This view was opposed by some, the ground
that any political test was beyond the province of
the Caucus and by others that the proper for
the Wigs was to "agree 10 disagree'' upon ques-
tons connected with the subject of strengthening
every section to think and will, as a common
platform inaccessble-Mr. Mangum, the chair
man, also announced in advance, that he should de-
eide any such resolution Of order. This an
nunciatIon of foregone determInatio n,' and this
s. assumption by the chair met by instant re-
monstrance''-the right present the resolution was
pressed as point OF prlnc pie, and notice given
that at the next meeting it would be insisted upon
! At the next meeting, accordingly, Con the Goth
Apr) Mr.. Marshall of Kentucky offered resolution
embracing recognition of the finally of the Compro.
mise and at the Same time recommendingthe hold
ing of Wing National Convention. Mr. StanIy
objected that it Of order, and the Chair
sustained the objection Mr.. Marshall appealed from
the decision of the Chair. Mr.. Stanly moved that
the appeal do lie the table. The appeal was or
dered to lie The table by a vote of 46 to 81. Of
those voting in the affirmative SO are from the free
States and only from the slave States. OF the 81
noes IA are from slaves States and from the free
States.
| Upon the announcement of this vote some OF the
Southern members 'Tithdrew from the meeting-and
the rest left, SO similar resolution moved
by Mr.. Gentry Of Tennessee. also ruled out of
order. The signers of the address say:
by reference the list of persons who partici.
paed in these proceedings, it will be perceived there
great disparity in the representation from the
free States and the saveholding States. We are au-
IhorlZed to state that several gentlemen from the
slaveholding States. belonging to the Wing party
declined 10 participate at all in meeting of which
the result pal pabe, under the intimaons of pur-
pose advanced by the Chairman the first meeting
| The meeting was composed of forty-sx gentlemen
from the free States, and twenty from the slave
holding States. The vote is divided, forty-six to
twenty one-seven from each class of States voting
with The opposition section.
| The entire meeting was meagre majority Of the
representation cIassed Wing in the Congress of the
| States. the
States remaining in the meeting after withdrawal
was just one-fourh Of the Wing representation from
the saveholding States The determination of the
time and place for the Wing National Convention
may therefore justly be considered made by tie Con-
greSsiOnaL Reprcsen tatiUes fron1 The free States.
| OF the members of Congress from the free States
present and acting In this meeting, large majority
were committed, by legislative action, against the
Compromise measures AT their passage. or have re-
fused TO express an intention 10 maintain and
them since their passage. Among those who took
these proceedings were some Of the conspicuous
opponents OF the Adjustment and most active agators
of the orth. Ofthe thirty Representatives from
the free States, who voted f.matively the propo
siiion that the appeal do lie the table, only three
had recorded their votes in favor OF the passage of
Hiilyer's resolution at this session. expressing
sense of the country that the Compromise measures
should be maintained as final settlement of the
questions they embraced, and should be fairly and
honestly executed. Nineteen had voted against that
resolution. Nine were absent. These united to the
of the Senators, would have been sufficient to
overpower the whole representation present from the
slaveholding States, had that representation been
united. We will not dwell upon the considerations
these facts suggest, express the reflections which
they naturally awaken. II is apparent, however, that
the time and place have been determined only by
minority of the Wing representation, but by pre-
ponderance of that element of the representation, wh
either opposed the Adjustment or disavows the " Nm
aity'' of the settlement
The signers then proceed to show the absurdty of
the decision of the Chairman, Mr.. Mangum, ruling
the I" Compromise Resolution of order:
.s What be rendered for the decision that
the resolution out Of order? 1t differed from Mr..
Stanly's in particular only. In addition to the
determination of the time and place for holding the
national convention, Marshalls resolution suggested
the congressional caucus resolution of December
1851, as condition precedent to the union of the
whig members of Congress in the approaching
vass 1t did not attempt to describe platform for
the national convention. or to dictate to the delegates
from the primary assemblies of the people, 1t avowed
the determination of its friends to remain uncommit-
ted and to abstain altogether from taking steps ntia
tory to national wing conventions unless the cond
ton satisfactorily met. 1t inconsistent
with Stanlys resolution bat cumulative thereto by
the imposition Of a condition affecting only the &C
tors in This congressional meeting, and, implicitly,
lieving them from committal to sustain the nomi-
nees of convention which might fail to require the
same condition of its candidates. 1t did not dictate
seek to dictate the programme of the national
venton; but merely asserted affirmative endorse
ment of the fnality of the compromise basis
of union among the whig members of Congress. Was
that improper? Can the whig members of this Con-
xxh0 cIa he in fhor faolIn