The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-07-10
THE PRESIDENCY.


THE PRESIDENCY.
speech OF Hon. Il. Toombs, OF Georgia.
In the House of Representatives, July 8, 1852
CONCLUDED
But what are the Union wings to d. if tina
contingency does not happen? This question
would not be- at all embarrassing if the majority
| in the convention which nominated Genera
Scott had put him before the country on thei
own principles. The difficulty arises from Tn,
fact that the resolutions passed by that BODY
announce sound neutrality-suspicious. which
we approve object to but one resolution il
the series, and that one is at least equal to, i
not better, than the resolution upon the same
subject in the Democratic platform. mean the
one relating to internal improvements. The
Wing resolution asserts the constitutions
power in the government to make internal i'm
provements, but Restraints it within limits, which
if honestly adhered to-, would strip off most oil
| the objections to it. The other platform denies
the constitutional power to make such improve.
ments in particular manner and, in my judg.
ment, in the very way in which it ought to be
done. Therefore, upon this question, prefer
the Wing to the Democratic resolution, though
approving of neither. But while the compro
mise resolution of the Wing party is all de-
sired and the other principles announced are in
the main sound and republican, / have seen
nothing in the past history Of the men who
offer them to me, to afford me any reasonable
security that these principles would be honestly
maintained. When look to the record, when
| look to their votes, when look to their indi-
vidual action, when | look to the struggle
through which we recently passed in relation to
| the most important of these resolutions, can
not believe these principles will be safe in such
hands. They are my principles, and intend to
maintain them now. hereafter, and at all times
here and whe, ever may be.
| have already shown that General SCOTS
| friends are not TO be trusted with these prnci
| pies, and he has given no assurance that they
receive his approval, or will be maintained by
him. Both parties having affirmed the compro.
mise, it is important to examine how the candi
da es of each stand in relation to it.
| The four candidates nominated by the two
parties have all answered and lest l might be
charged with being hypocritcal, will give the
answers in relation to the platforms Of the par
ties of all four. The ia, we wish to know is
whether the candidates approve and will mnin-
tain the principles declared by their respective
parties. Every party has the right to demand
| thi, of its candidates, and without it no party
| party's nominee.
General Pierce says:
81 accept the nomination upon the platform
adopted by the convention, not because it is ex.
pected of me as a candidate, but because the
principles it embraces command the appreciation
of my judgment"
That is explicit. Thatis what General Scott
ought to have done, especially as he was afraid
of disgusting the people by writing anything be.
fore his nomination. Laughter.
Col King replies
"The platform az made by the convention
meets my cordial appreciation. It's national in
all its parts, and am content nat only to stand
upon it, but upon all occasions to defend it."
That is fair, open, and honest Those candi.
dates stand pledged to the American people that
they approve and will maintain these principles
and they are both honorable men. We have
from them all the pledges we had right to ex
pect or demand, and their uniform action and
declarations consistent Herewith before as well
as after their nominations.
We then come to tho Wings Mr.. Graham
the candidate for the Vice Presidency, says "ht
cordially approves of the declarations made in
the resolutions" ard that, "should the people OF
the United States give their sanction to the
nominations of the B fillmore Convention, 40
far as shall be invested with authority, a faith
| full adherence to those doctrines may be expect
ed" That is equally full, and explicit, and
satisfactory. These men did not intend to con
ceal their opinions. They did not take counsel
| of the enemies Of their principles, aud their Ian
guage needs no expounding
But what does General Scott say? He sale
he wrote no letters to secure the nomination
| That il true. But he declined to write any be
cause it was conform able to the policy of those
who sought to give it to him. Laughter.
They wanted silence, and he gave ii to them
We demanded to know his opinions upon those
great questions of public policy which we in
tended to make paramount to all others in the
election We could not get them. My friend
from Tennessee, Mr.. GENTRY, and from Flor
da, Mr. CABELL, and, according to Scott's
own statement, many others, were camorou.
before the nomination, demanding to know wha
he thought about them--what were his opinions
upon them-did he approve them--and would
he carry them out in good faith. They heard
no voice from him, sir; and it could not be
brought out, and there was but one reason why
it was not got. We were told that when he
should obtain the nomination we should receive
it. He would not write letters to secure the
nomination, but it would be fair -open sailing
when it should be made. How has he answered
those questions? Il accept the nomination
with the resolutions annexed" take it cum
onere Laughter.] There is not single line
in the whole letter which expresses his approva
Of the compromise, or commits him to its faith
ful maintenance. II does not require much
writing for man to say whether he likes the
platform or whether he does not like it, anc
whether he would carry out it's principles or not
But he took a great del of writing to ge
around it. He says, accept it. There is nc
declaration here that it hould be the policy o.
his administration; but on the contrary he says
he does not intend "to reduce [his party BY
prescription to exact conformity to" his princi
pies, whatever they are.
Mr.. CAMPBELL, of Ohio, Gnteuupting)
desire to know of tho gentleman from Georgia,
! Mr. TooMBs, inasmuch as he is assailing the
letter Of General Scott, whether he did not send
a telegraphic dispatch to the State of Georgia,
calling upon his friends there to oppose the NOM
ination bafore that letter Of General Scott APP
peared'