The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-15

and cordial support Of every true son OF 81.
Tsmmary. We hail him within the walls oil
the Great Wigwan, surrounded by MS warm,
ardent, aud enthusiastic friends"
The toast was received with the greatest en-
thusasm and applause
Governor Cobb then said Il feel deep gratiii
cation at the opportunity Of meeting you this
evening, and thank you heartily for the honor
you have Just now conferred upon me by drink
ing my health. 1t is not proper to detain you
with speech, but in few plain observations,
| shall be enabled TO convey ali that you want
to know, in relation to the South. VIII, there
fore, in reply to the hitterng remarks OF Inc
Grand Sachem, offer a few reflections on the
past history and the probable future OF the
Democratic party in the Southern States.
need not say, in the face of this assembly, that
| am devoted to that cause which is known as
the cause of the country and the Constitution.
In connection with those great principles, have
been long too well known to admit Of any
doubt; but you have ca led my attention to
that more dangerous issue which has divided,
and may continue TO divide, the people of this
country, and which recently hung over the re-
public, threatening the destruction of the no.
blest fabric ever created by human wisdom. |
profess no greater sagacity than my fellows
around me; but, in the earlier stages Of this
movement, thought that there was one line O
policy which would save the Constitution from
violation, and the Union from ruin, and that
policy was marked out by the charter Of Demo-
cratic principles Applause. Those were the
principles that we rallied for in the Presidential
campaign of l8i8-those on which the Demo
cracy of the whole Union, with individual ex-
ceptions, had stood mmovably prnci-
pies which were found in the party, wherever a
man turned, East West, North or South the
power, the capabiIity, and the right Of the people
of every State, as well as of territories propos-
ing to become States, to determine for them
selves the nature of their institutions. APP
p!ause.
For causes unnecessary to be mentioned here
the Democracy were Defeated in 1913, with
those principles distinctly avowed, and stream
ing on the banners then uniured throughout
the land. The history of the political world
does not afford parallel to what | am now
about to state Here was party defeated on
certain avowed principles; and yet, in the cor
rectness and efficacy of those very principles
was found the only basis for settlement of the
thr, atening issue. The agitation was carried
into Congress, and sectionalis n ruled the hour
North was arrayed against South, and South
against North. Every patriot felt that there
was impending danger but thank God there
were patriotism and wisdom enough in the land
to meet the danger That wisdom and that
patriotism found i'll the great principle that eve.
ry people has the undoubted right to decide for
itself what institutions it will have, the platform
ON which the Democracy could everywhere
stand. The measures Of adjustment of the last
Congress were adopted in accordance with those
principles--the principles of the Constitution
the principles halowed by the best blood of our
revolutionary fathers. Applause which made
the wigwam ring. Whether these principles
are right or wrong, shall stop to discuss with
the advocates of Democratic prnciples--wlh
you who recognise but one sovereignty, and
that residing with the people Renewed APP
plause. Fellow citizens, have referred to one
portion of the principles on which the contro-
versy was settled. There is another Your
brethren of the South came to you with the
Constitution 10 their hands-the pledge that
they received from their fathers and which your
fathers solemnly adopted and signed-and they
asked you to fulfil this pledge You responded
in esprit of true repubcanism and true Amer
canism; and you did redeem the pledge of your
ancestors When we asked you to respond to
the demand of the Constitution to deliver up
our property when it ran away from us and
came to you, Your response was worthy Of those
great men whose memory shall ever be vencr-
ated as long as the Constitution is respected or
the Union lasts. Applause
When you look at the compromise measures,
who, | ask, are responsible for them? The
Democratic party are responsible Applause. I
"a voice--Yes, and we will take the response
biity) Much laughter. For one, am will,
ing TO be responsible for my own principles,
being Democrat and think ! know the
feeling That aciuates the Democracy. Their
principles are to be found in the Constitution
and the records of the country, known of all
men. If there be any responsibility, therefore,
we shall assume it, For myself, it affords me
great pleasure TO do so, and it is my pride that
have been among the first to support the prnci
pies on which the compromise was adopted
Applause. Some one will ask me, were there
none of the Wing parry who advocated these
measures? | answer that | have heart for
Democracy as true as any other man in this
land; but thank God it is large enough to ad
nit the patriotism and the magnanimity of those
Wings who threw aside party prejudices when
the Union was in danger, and co operated with
us in preserving it intact. Applause. These
measures passed through their assistance, and
became the law of the land-part Of the settle
plent of this vexed and harrassing question
When these bills were passed, another question
was freely dscussed-as, indeed, it was during
the progress of these measures-What were
their character and bearing? One would have
it that they were triumph Of the North an
other, that they were Il triumph of the South
Fellow-citizens, they were neither triumph of
North nor South but of the Constitution.
Great applause 1t was no sectional triumph
OF any kind, unless a triumph of that great
charter OF our liberties can be considered one
1t was in reference to this measure that was
placed in the attitude of conflict during the last
twelve months, and that was elected to fiji the
executive chair of Georgia by a large majority
That majority was given me not only by the
Democrats, but large porton--a majority-of
the Wings of the State. And whys Because
there was an effort made to destroy this gov
ernment--an effort to have practical secession
carried out in the Southern States, Oh account
of the compromise measures When that was
known, and that both Democrats and Wings
were engaged in the movement, offered nv
services to those Wings and Democrats who
al tn Nv N,