The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-22


patty could take position, would have he'd no.
thing to say If, when he had pronounesA a
panegyric upon General Butler which rasked
him with heroes and demi-gods, he had gone no
: further-if, when he had painted with mott
accomplished and mastery hand portrait which
all would admire as beautiful, but which no one
could recognize--if the subject had been suf-
fered to rest with this euogy, and the gentle
man would have been content to free his friend
from all imputatons, and leave him raised above
all anxiety and almost all human interest or pas
sion, and not proceeded 10 degGde others, |
should have nothing to say. But he dld not
stop. His graceful and artistic defamation
upon the Democracy and general character and
services of that distinguished citizen forms a
very small part of his speech, and il well-nigh
forgotten in the more striking effects OF those
offensive portions which give its true intent and
genuine spirits. The gentleman takes up two
articles which have appeared in the Democratic
Repeio, one of which contains only an abstract
discussion on general principles, which he con-
strues into an attack on all tried and standard
men Of the party the other being in f9ct an
assertion of the same principles contained In the
first, and an application of those principles to
| General Butler, demonstrating the unhtness Of
his nomination to be made by the convention.
He proceeds to comment upon these articles,
but does not controvert or even state fairly and
intelligibly single principle they contain, or
deny, rs sound political doctrine, any notion
which is contained in the Reuie,o. The facts
charged he pronounces false, but does not even
attempt to prove them so, and contents himself
with denouncing the editor of the Reuieo and
the whole character of the publication, without
measure or moderation.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. Ii the gentleman
will allow mo for a moment. My friend from
California says that not one fact charged direct
ly, or by implication, against General Butler, or
any other candidate in the Reuieao, did | deny.
| did not, sir, except in general terms. My
time did not suffice to go into detail. pro-
n0unced the statements in the February num-
Dor untrue. repeat now the general state
ment, and substitute it for particular denial
of every charge.
! Mr.. MARSHALL. That is but confir-
nation Of what ! have said, and is precisely
what stated the genteman's position to be-
He did not meet the reasoning Of the Reue,o
and did not disprove its facts 1t is periodi-
cal in which feel no special interest, except,
40 far as it is bold and ably edited paper
But in connection with his dcnunciation of the
article, and the editor, he most adroity and
with the skill of special pleader, insinuates
that Judge Douglas, in whose interest no as
sumes the Reue,o to be, is responsible for its
course. These insinuations--for the gentle
man denies having made any charge-have been
met and reiuted by the gentleman from Illinois,
Mr.. RICHARDSON; but whether the effect has
been done away not, is another question
which remains yet to be decided. The gentle
mans motive in making that speech is as clear
rs daylight. Everybody can see for what pur-
pose it was made. Every one can tell precisely
the course ofconsultation and agreement which
that speech carried out. The article to which
it pretcnds to be an answer, attacked the prnci-
pies Of all those candidates whom the gentleman
had characterized as the tried and standard men
Of the Democratic party. 1t was doctrnal
artcle--emnently so-which attacked the prin-
ciples of those who have been denominated, and
correctly so, sold fogies" --candidates for the
Prcsidency-n the Democratic party. And
am obliged to admit, what wish to Heaven
could deny, that these sold fogies" have friends
active, energetic frends--drawD to their sup
port by the State pride, the patronage of the
Presidency, and other influences, and although
not particularly strong, individually, yet collec
lively, they appear formidable. Yet, sir, all
these influences are not sufficiently national to
give any one proper prestige for the Presi-
dental office. The Democratic candidate for
that office must personify the idea of national
progress Yet the gentleman from Kentucky,
who, from his instincts and age, ought to be
friend Of progress, and whose enthusiasm
would be becoming in this connection, is select
ed to make this attack and to carry out the
sold fogy" notions
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE. The gentleman is
mistaken in point of fact.
Mr.. MARSHALL. Everybody can SEQ how
this thing occurred. These sold fogies" are as
much at war with one another as they are with
Judge Douglas. They considered the attack
upon their principles in the Reuiev az fatal to
the whole system of sold fogyism" and the
claims of all of its representatives and ] must
be permitted to hope that their apprehensions
are founded on good reason The friends of
these candidates ut once that this attack
might be made bond of union among them, and
seeing that Judge Douglas was the second choice
of everybody, and the first choice of very many,
determined, by a combination, to defeat the most
powerful of all the candidates, and to detract
and destroy the whole Democratic party and
in the execution of this design, they steal the
legitimate thunder of young America for the
purpose of breaking down and crushing the
hopes Of young America. That task could have
been more fifty assigned to other hands. There
is a gentleman in this House and high up in this
House, friend of General Butler, an old friend
and messmate of General Butler, and an older
man, though not an older fogy, than the young
gentleman from Kentucky Laughter What
tribute it is then, to young America, that when
there had to be something DONE bold, dashing,
adroit, and adventurous, and an assault made,
intended to be mortal, that the sold togies" take
the back ground and intrust this attack to "A
younger gentlemans hands None of them
will put themselves in view, but put young
America forward TO make the attack. say it
is high tribute to young blood and young en-
ergy when an old and rotten cause leans upon
it for support
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE | do not wish to
interrupt the gentleman's strain of eloquence,
but desire simply to say that the gentleman is
mistaken when he supposes that my remarks
were the result OF any arrangement and consul
, tation with the friends of anybody. | say fur
Their that have not been put forward in this
, House by anybody, and if know myself am
/ not man to be thrust forward by any who
:, |, -, -: III Al.