The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-06-02


spirit of sectionasm, by" agreeing TO disagree"
on principles vital to the existence and perpetu-
ity of The Union.
Mr. GREY, Gntenuptng ! ask my col
league if he will, in his speech, publish the very
words Mr. Clay used upon that oecasion-that
| is the extract TO which he alludes III so, my
answer to his question will be obvious.
/ Mr. MARSHALL AS a matter OF course
will. ! never miss fire on an extract. Laugh
ter Kentucky will perceive, sir, that the sign
ers of the Address" intimate third organlza-
ton only as the remedy for necessity hlch may
| be created by the prostitution of the Wing party
TO the embraces OF that faction which now refuses
TO recognize the inality OF the settlement, or to
declare a determination to abide by it. The adj
dress is arraigned, and am prosecuted by the
honorable member for the Identical sentiment
announced to Kentucky by Henery Clay. re-
peat It'll express It'll will act up to it. IL may
suit others to hide it " in smiles and aifabity,"
and to teach the people of the slave holding
States that the expression of such sentiments is
evidence per Sc of wish to disorganze the
Wing party. 1t may benefit my colleague to
take upon his Atanean shoulders the fortunes
of the Wing party in such an emergency, and to
pledge the higll-spirted people of his district to
stand by the Wing colors, no matter where they
are to be borne--never give up the ship-but
sir, the people whom have the honor to rep
resent on this floor, even with the ineidious
counsels OF the press constantly poured in their
ears, will not be found either ignorant of true
principles or too timid to ayow and maintain
them.
repeat that nay political position is the result
of an honest conviction of what will promote
the good of the country. accord to others oil
that claim for myself; and am one of those
| who have never made difference of opinion
which ! believed was honestly entertained, a
matter of dstrust between me and any other
individual. | believe, sir-and | have stated it
publicly, | have stated it over my own signature
| stated it at the commencement of my canvass
| have stated it everywhere, and continuously
that an endorsement of the compromise mea-
suses as final settlement of the questions they
embraced, was vital to the peace of society Do
you believe, sir, that with that solemn profession
in my mouth, with that solemn understanding of
my sentiments that would agree to be puliti-
cally associated with those men who 90 forth TO
the community with the declaration in their
mouths, that for the sake of expedency, and to
catch voters, we shall agree to disagree upon
this high question? How could /? No, sir
am willing to stand arraigned before the people
of Kentucky for the suggestion Of third party
| organizations upon the basis Which has been
suggested, aud--no matter what others may
ay-l say that it will be as possible for mortal
hand to repd the sun from the heavens, as to
induce the men of Kentucky TO stand to any
candidate--no matter how he may be heralded,
no matter with whom he may be associated
whose banner does not contain, in the poetic
language of my younger colleague, g in letters
Of living light" so that every mountaineer may
see IT, and the humblest cottage may understand
tha dc, arafin in I,,p of otivo,
he will lend the full benefit of his i, fuence in
upholding and proclaiming the fugitive slave
law, the fnality of the compromise, and in
Strengthening the buwarks which the patriotism
of the Thirty first Congress erected, to prevent
the bitter waters of sectionalism from flowing
over this happy country. ! promise that will
stand upon the platform erected by Henry Clay
in 1850, whatever may be the consequence.
| | wish now to be understood distinctly ::
| First, contend that the settlement of sectional
questions, which was made by the Congress of
| 1850, in that series of measures known as the
compromise measures, is to be considered final
settlement of the principles it established that
these are to be maintained and upheld hereafter
as fundamental principles Of administration in
ttis federal government; settlement of consti
tutiona power on the disputed points. Second,
that the law for the reclamation of fugitive
slaves is to be carried into faithful execution, as
part of that adjustment, at every hazard and
through every instrumenaty which may be
necessary to give it complete efficiency; that
the law, as it stands, is to be maintained, with.
out modification until time shall show the points
in which it is liable to evasion or abnse; and
then modification shall be made, by the consent
of its friends only to render the system more
perfect which we have adopted. That, sir, is
what mean by "the iinaity of the compromise"
tho idea my mind entertains Of the position
that should be assumed by the National Wing
convention and the National Wing candidate for
the Presidency. And | now say here i'm nv
place, that this is the unalterabe position the
people of Kentucky. Should the Wing conven.
ton or the Wing candidate fail to come fairly
| and tqnarely up to pledge to the principle
have asserted gentlemen will see what faith
there is to be given to promises of the vote of
our people for the mere sake of party gentle
men will learn that | have correctly estimated
the force and direction of the ballot-box In
case of such failure, whatever exertion | make
shall be honestly and continuously made to as
sert the principle on which, in my solemn judg
ment, the safety of the Union reposes at this
moment, and which so ardently desire to es-
tablish firmly My colleague shall have the
benefit Of the popular Judgment; have no fear
of the result He may arraign me, not only for
the suggestion, but for the actually, of third
organization should both parties fail In that
event he may form an issue between him and
me, and the people can judge who stands fairest
and boldest, and truest, and most loyal to the
principles and their consequences which the
Wing convention of my State has laid down
as the Wing guide
My honorable colleague, in justification of his
own course in the caucus, and by way of chal.
longing my competency to suggest principle
, Of action to the Wing party, has alluded to the
fact that an editor in my district speaks of me
as a Wing of only few years. standing"
Such illusions TO my political course are made
with the intent to break the force and influence
of my action, and to create prejudice against
me in the minds of my fellow-Whigs The hon
orable occupation Of collating this sort Of news
paper love, to reproduce it here accompanied by
comments, and to circulate it through the coun.
try, as his debut statesman, shows that nv
nIIear,,n hoe ssn1iaJ ,.olI il,o ,,,.,.a,