The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-22
AMERICAN PRncaEss JUDGE DOUGLAS = THE
PREsDnACY. 4


AMERICAN PRICELESS - JUDGE DOUGLAS - THE
fREsDnACY. A
speech Of Mr.. MarsAaIi, Of CxlIfeenIa,
In tie House Of Representatives., March ii, 1852,
in reply 10 The speech Of Mr.. Breckenridge, Of
Kentucky
The House being in the Committee OF the Whole
on the state of the Union, on the bill to encour-
age agriculture, manufactures and other branch
es of industry, by granting homesteads to actu
al settlers upon the public domnin-and in re-
gard to the Presidency, American progress, and
in defense Judge Douglas
Mr.. MARSHALL said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN: II is not my purpose to-day
t. discuss the special order in committee, al
though that is measure in which | take much
interest, and which believe is of great import
ance to the country. But, sir, there has been
delivered upon the floor of this House, by dis
tinguished gentleman from Kentucky, Mr..
BREcKNRIDGE,] and member of the Demo-
cratic party, speech containing sentiments
wholly at variance with those entertain. From
tho conclusions to which the honorable gentle
man has come, am forced to dissent, and the
nsinuatons as to matters of fact (for the gen.
tleman says he makes no charges or accusatons)
have been already demonstrated to be unbound
ed and false. There are many circumstances
w lIldh0 bOIuc IcSpOUbo 10 ILLS
speech, though there is no member of this House
more unwilling unnecessarily to occupy the
time of the House or the committee than am
No member of this House can more sincerely re-
greet that the debate has taken this course, or
that it has arisen at all no one deprecates
more the consequences which may, and proba-
bly, will, flow from it to the party, than myself
Yet the attack made upon the individual who is,
believe, the fayorte of the people, and who
know is the nominee OF my constituents for the
Presidency, and the attack upon those princi
Piles which regard as the life blood Of American
Democracy, and to which my constituency owes
its existence, calls imperatvely for some reply
1 believe that discussion of this character
should not be introduced upon this floor, so
long as there is single great measure of pub.
lie policy not completed long as there is u
single bill which ought to pass not acted upon, SO
long as there is n single private claim against
the government not adjudicated. think all
discussions Of this sort are wrong under exist
ing circumstances; but | do not propose that
those who do the wrong shall enjoy all the adj
vantage, and would rather consume one hour
Of the time of tho committee, than permit
speech containing such political doctrines, or
such personal destinations MS that Of the gentle
man from Kentucky, Mr.. BREcKlNRIpGE,] to 90
forth to the country, even with the negative in
dorsement of my silence. regret this debate
because gifts probable effect on the Democratic
party, and of certain waste of the public time
1t was prophesied once (and really that prophe
cy seems approaching fnlfillment) by one OF the
most learned, acute, and thoughtful of all for
eign commentators upon our country and its
Constitution, that the very thing which is now
happening would happen--that the Congress of
tho IInifa1 Stnfoa wopl1 IN ;ts
constitutional functions as the Legislative power
of the nation, and would become, (what it has
not yet become, but what | fear it is approach
ing) mere factious, discordant, Unbalanced,
inefficient caucus of presidential electors But
while deprecate such result, and depore even
the small share have in bringing it about, |
must insist that all the responsibility rests with
those who have induced the necessity for further
argument.
The State of California, which | have the
honor to represent, in part, upon this floor, is
the greatest result of Democratic principles a nd
the perfect illustration of Democratic progress.
That State owes its very existence to the doe
| trines at which the gentleman from Kentucky
permits himself to sneer, a doctrine upon which
he turns all his sarcasm, but to which he ad.
dresses no argument, and against which he has
adduced not one clear and manly reason. He
did not venture to state the question in any fair
or Ineligible propositions, nor did he dare to
meet the conclusions logically resulting from
such n statement. should not then, represent
my people if were to permit the very principles
to which they owe their political existence, to
be made the subject matter for ridicuIe and scot.
fling, in speeches in the House, without reply.
But, further than that, there has come up from
the people of California one unanimous, univer-
! al ,tn,,a r.
of Judge Douglas as the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency, and should not represent
my people if were to allow an attack-for the
whole speech was an attack-a most subtle
covert, aud formidable attack, in its spirit and
tendency throughout-upon Judge Douglas, and
the principle upon which his popularity rests, to
pass unanswered. am, for these reasons
forced to respond, at least so far as clear and
distinct expression Of my own views and opin.
ions are concerned.
The nomination Of Judge Douglas by the
State Of California is an event of the highest
import, of the greatest significance, and requires
from the Democratic party in Congress, and in
The nation, graver consideration, and higher
respect, than any other mere State nomination
could possibly receive. Look at the population
of that country. There is not State in the
Union, not city, village, or neighborhood,
which is not represented there; nomination,
therefore, from such State is the highest evil
dence and best criterion of national popularity.
No nomination from any other State carries
with it the same authority, for upon every other
State local interests State pride, and the thous
and indirect influences which control human ac
ton are brought to bear. California is great
national convention, composed of the best ma
teria, men proven by the test of emigration to
be the best, upon whom no sinister or selfish
motive could possibly operate-it is a great un-
packed uninhuenced, disinterested national con
vention. There was no bargaining for the po-
sition of Secretary of State, them for California
knows that except the offices within her own
limits she has no hope Of Executive patronage.
Being, then, the fullest and iarest national con-
venton and the best exponent of national SEN
timent, claim for her expression of opinion in
favor of Judge Douglas-unanimous as it is, so
far as it has been expressed, and enthusiastic as
| know the feelings of that people to be towards
him, from personal acquaintance with almost
~