The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-05-26

anx and go forth freed IF faction, unshac klad
regardless OF petty personalities, giving heed to
the calls OF Januses, and battle for the maintenance
OF those principles, and for the party they believe
and declare to be in the right. In union there is
strength, and in strength and action there is sue
cess The Wing party possesses all the elements
oi suceess and whenever united IL is triumphant
Its principles are those OF liberty and true epubli
canism.
could not tell who would be the nominee OF the
convention could not say whether il would fall
upon Scott, Webster, or Fillmore. With one sin
gle reservation have declared myself for the
ddatc Of the Wing Convention. That reservation
was that the nominee must be unequivocaly sound
upon the Compromise measures.
mr. POLK, Gnterruping.) You say you will
support no man except he be sound upon the Com
promise. l ask if you do not require distinct
pledge from the convention? How viii you find it
out il there is no pledge?
MIR. CuLLoM / must ascertain the fact in some
way, beyond all dispute and unequivocally.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, i have deprecated this fra
ternal STRIFE and do not think it very cupable in
me to stay my hand from intiicting injury upon
my Whig friends, with whom expect to co ope-
rate in the struggle which is to come off. When
have demonstrated with some gentlemen, and at
tempted to keep them from casting frebrands into
our party ranks, have been nctuated alone by
desire TO the Wing party and it's glorious prin-
ciples triumph, and not for the promotion of any
particular man. With the Wing party, the motto
has been measures, not men, and l, sir, am not
disposed to reverse the maxim.
! had, Mr.. Chairman, the honor of being upon
the electoral ticket Of the distinguished President
who now fills the Executive Office with 30 much
credit to himself, and with 30 much benefit and
glory TO this Republic; and, sir, humble the tri.
butte is, stand here to award to him in my own
right, and in behalf of my constituents, the fullest
need OF praise my tongue can lisp, for the man
ner in which he mas discharged the arduous duties
OF the station to which he has been elevated by the
franchise of the American people. / say too, sir,
that the people in Tennessee-I speak particularly
OF my own constituents, but the remark will ap
ply to the people of the whole State, and speak
II in their voice-are undivided in their devotion to
Millard Fillmore. There is no respectable division
of sentiment IN Tennessee upon that subject.
have always preferred his nom na ton, and the fact
is well known. have said, too, that If he could
not get the nomination. and the convention should
present man who is sound upon the Compromise,
| would support him with equal ardor, and devote
TO him, as l did to Mr.. Fillmore in the last
campaign, whatever Of zeal and ability can com
mand.
There is MIR. Webster, sir: ! could support him
for the Presidency, and could support him with
great pleasure. lie deserves the thanks not only Of
the American people, but of the world; his genius
and patriotism are transcendent.
But, sir, although say this much for those gen
tlemen, shall not raise my voice in detraction of
General Winfield Scott. | have never done So
and, God being my witness, | never will. His
rivals would scorn the action, Justice would re
bukc il, honor and patriotism would forbid it. lie
may or may not be nominated II he receives the
nomination, he should receive, as he deserves, the
support OF the American people Mr. Chairman,
while have been sleeping upon beds of down, be
has been defending me-he has been marching and
fighting gallantly-not under the black flag al
luded 10 by my honorable colleague, (Mr WILL
LIAMs,) but under the flag OF our own dear coun-
try--the stars and stripes of liberty Yes sir, be
has been defending Us and liberties; he has
been fighting the foes of the country, upon for
egn and domestic soil, when the country has been
wrapt IN sweet, forgetful sleep; and my tongue
shall never utter sandcr imputa ton against
him. HIS laurels have been dearly earned. A
black flag, indeed My colleague (Mr. WnLIAMs)
did not measure the force and weight of that de-
claration. What is black nsgl Why, pirsti
cal nag. Sir, is II 10 be said that the gallant sol
dier, the victorious chieitain Of forty three years.
and oi go many glorious battles, has marched un
der piratical fagl Can il be possible that my
honorable friend has remote conjecture that such
could ever be the case? Why, sir, the conjecture
is an imputation, and avows a want Of patriotism.
But, sir, General Scott, OF all living men, per-
haps, has shown the strongest evidence that he
ioyee his country. ] will not now stop to enume.
rate his achievements. Gentlemen say that they
know he is sound upon the slavery question, and
the declaration is supported by gentlemen upon
my right, (Mr. CLlSGmAs, MIR. OUTLAW, and Mr..
srAsLY;) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr.
CABELL) has himself borue evidence 10 his sound.
ness upon this question. The gentleman from
Connecticut Governor CLEvELASp) comes gal.
lantly 20 the rescue, and makes General Scott pre-
emincnuy responsible for the passage OF the Com
promise measures while acting Secretary Of War.
lie actually lent the influence Of his office to carry
forsafd these pacific measures.
Here is an extract from Governor CLGvELAND's
speech. delivered in tho House Of Representatives,
let April, 1854 Amongst other things, he said:
cit proposes TO endorse the infamous Fugitive
Slave las. purely Whig measure, and that IL is
such will demonstrate, 80 that no man upon this
floor can denyit"
Again, be saSs:
"But MIR. Clay, as have shown, had conceived
the plan Mr. Webster for reasons best known
TO himself. bad made bis 7th OF March speech.
General Taylor died, and MIR. Fillmore took com
mand Of the ship OF State, discharged the old and
shippod new crew, with Mr. Webster first
officer ; hoisted the Compromisc flag and started
on his southern cruise. What motive governed
Mr.. Fillmore in bic entire change Of policy Of the
Administration-whcth IL wa love of slavery and
power, hatred of his rival, Governor Seward, am
not abe 20 say, and believe the country is equally
unenlighiencd on this subject. General Scott was
by Mr.. Fillmore placed temporarily at the bead
OF the War Department, and in that position,
coupled with his great military fame, able 20,
and did, exert powerful influence in favor OF the
Compromise measures Here, then, is every man
whose name has been mentioned, or is likely TO be
mentioned as a candidate for the Presidency ON
the Wing eide, TO wit, Clay, Webster, Fillmore,
Scott, all exeriing themselves TO the utmost in
pushing through this series Of mcasurcs-the slave
Law included. And what was the position Of these
distinguished Whgsl One was at tho head Of the
Government, another in command OF the army -
Again, in the same speech, he says:
"But must pass on; tbese measures were passed
fnalnly tnrougn TIC influence OF Clay, Fillmore,
Webster, Scott, Cobb, ard Foote; these were the
men who carried them through, and every man
who was in the last Congress knows it."
Thus we that Governor Cleveland makes
witnesses Of every member Of Congress 10 the fact
that General Scott was one Of the msin supporters
Of those measures before and al the time they
passed And while the Freesoilers in the North are
holding General Scott responsible for the passa ge
Of those measures, with view TO render him obi.
Gus, others in the South, with the same view, arc
endeavoring 70 make IL appear that he is, and has
been, opposed TO them
After all this, cir. gentlemen say that he must
declare that he is sound. They want guarantee
that be will not array himself under the black flag
with Mr.. SEWARD at the head tLaughter.l My
stare, how Mr. SEwARD hightcns the American
peopel Why, sir. as much was said Of MIR. Fill
more, but defended him upon hundred stumps
from the charge Of abolitlonisIn. II my lot
upon the electoral ticket TO defend Hmm from
his friends, bot against the Democratic press, from
Maine 10 Georgia, and against orators as numer-
Gus as the locusts of Egypt.
Now, ! understand that Mr.. SEWARD will sup.
port the nominee Of the Nhg National Couven-
ton and IL is said he is a Frcesoer. ] am not
his defender. Does bic unsoundness tant the can
didate who receives his vote II so, how utterly
unworthy of trust will be the Democratic candi-
date who receives the votes, as he will be he whom
he may, OF GIpDIses, KiNG, SUMNER, RANTouL,