The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-05

State, with a clause in her constitution recognising
slavery that President Fillmore would cast his IN
iiuence in her favoT
MIR. CABELL. by all means bave no doubt
| OF the fact
| Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE said that while General
Butler and the American Democracy were trying
TO stem the fiery tide, the gentleman and his allies
| were augmentiDg It's volume. Now, the latter pre-
tend to be the especial friends OF the South. hut
| for them no Compromise would have been neces,
| sary, and we never should have heard OF a third
party on a single issue. He had said that the re-
| cent Democratic Convention OF Kentucky have
| presented General Butler for the Presidency. The
| action of the convention is known TO the country;
| and be might simply be allowed to remark that no
party Is more devoted to the Union OF the States
He had been asked whether the resolutions express
| the opinions Of General Butler. Now, he believed
that in public as well as private l:ie honesty is
| the best policy; and the man who, at any time, and
particularly now, connivcs at cchcealrienl OF his
principles is unworthy the supper, o. any party and
he thought that he should be entitled to contempt
hsiailed to answer all the questions lappeared mat
! some time ago Francis T.. Blair wrote 10 General
| Butler. He Mr.. b also addressed letter to him,
informing him of the charges OF bargain and cor
| ruption, and giving him the means OF refuung
them. General Butler answered Mr. Blair and
sent him a copy, together with the original, the
| latter to be delivered 10 Mr.. Blair.
MIR. BREcKENRIDGE then read the letter. dated
| Carrollton, February 2, 1852, in which General
Butler says that the resolutions were shown to him
before they were submitted to the convention, and
| met with his appreciation, including that endorsing
| the Compromises; and, towards the conclusion OF
the letter. he notices the charge Of corrupt IN
rigue between him and certain politicians Tor the
| purpose Of marking its iasehood 1t was enough
to say that he would stand aloof and let the public
| form their own opinion.
Mr.. Is. said that this the letter OF patriot
and an honest man, perhaps too honest ior political
| advancement during these times, and he dehed
| any man whose heart cherishes the principles OF
| honor to read it without admiration. The person
who charges General Butler with conceallng his
opinions will be met with ming lied feelings OF con-
| tempt and dersion. From revolutionary times
| the name Of Butler has been synonymous with
| honor and truth General Butler never lodged on
| the field OF battle, nor In the field OF politics lie
might have spared the blood shed in Canada,
| Florida, New Orleans and Monterey. General But
| Ter has never avowcd himself candidate for the
Presidency; be has not traversed the country
| adapting his views to the shifting times, but has
remained at home, exhibiting, IN this, "A novel
spectacle to his countrymen, indicative Of his good
sense; and this recalls the history Of the earlier
days of the Republic. when good men neither
| sought nor declined official honors
He then spoke OF the opinions and course oil
| General Butler in the past. If the gentleman
| from Florida has any doubts to hereafter, he
would inform him that the Democratic Conven-
| ton at Baltimore will lay down written plat
| form and he would recommend the example to
the other side. II-aughter.l If the choice of the
convention should inli General Butler, he
| will stand on the platform OF the party. or not
stand at all If he cannot approve the resolutions,
| he will rspudiate them. and stay at home.
| Having disposed of the attacks Of the gentle
| man from Florida, he would now notice rumoTs
having no responsible authors, but circulated III
| this city. They are vague and intangible, and
traceabe to no authentic source. Yet thou.and
tongues, inpelled by fasehoods, have given them
| currency. Ii is rumored that General Butler il
a Freesoiler, and Is the particular candidate Of
the Freesoll party; that he has entered into
obligations with Benton, Blair, and Van Buren,;
hat Mr. Rlalr IA IN he nT at
and that the patronage OF the Government IS 10 be
thrown in that direction If this were true, Cen
oral Butler would be eternally dishouored. He
who makes agreements with factions forfeits the
confidence OF honest men, In the name OF the De-
uocracy of Kentucky, he branded these charges
false, separately and in gross-alse as the hearts
in whose morbid recesscs they were engendcred.
lie stands where he has ever stood, State Rights
Democrat; and his character repcs the tide of ca
lumny the rock repels the wave Of ocean.
Kentucky heard tue calumny, and the action Of
her Democratic convention is the ommentary
Having defended General Butler against Wing
attacks, he said il became disagreeabe neces
sty allude to those from Democratic sources, if
such they could be called, which traduce the best
names. The Wings are in trouble, and tho Dc
mocrats are in trouble; and why not say 30! Ills
apology for this was the periodical containing
the nttack The Democratic Revie,o, heretofore,
was not partisan paper but periodical sap
posed to represent the whole Democratic party,
and TO discuss principles, finance and govern
had recently observed very great change. The
January number contained an article, extensively
circulated, the substance of which lie that no man
Who has been long distinguished for his character
and his scryices in the party Is mt for Presidents
that such persons odd iogies," and their age
dIsqualIhe, them for fashionng the policy OF this
country; that new Statesmen should be brought for
ward, not trsmmelled by an anterior era, and not
only young blood but young ideas should be en-
gagged in the councils Of tho country. Now, he
liked young blood, and strong, fresh ideas; but he
Odd not like this course. This article has been
considered attack nearly all those
who have been named candidates Tor the
Presidency. This il followed up by pledge that
the Reuie,C will descend from gencrahties to
particulars, and would take off heads s1iatrn.
The February number, accordingly, contains
gross and personal article, incorporating and de-
nouncing who Democrats before the
editors were born. lie was here TO make no charges
or assaults; but he would say, in friendship, and
With voice OF warning, on behalf Of ninc-tcntbS
of the Democratic party on the subject OF assaults,
that these things must be stopped. lie would give
"A brief history. There was gentleman, able, full
OF talent and capacity, who went 10 Kentucky on
political pilgrimage last fall TO drive General But
Ter from his native soil, by fastening public odium
upon him, but meeting with fate similar TO that
of thosc who attempted to drive McGregor from
his heath he returned and bought up the Demo
cratic Revie1, to promote the purposes which had
just been stated. Every man, Wing or Democrat
has right ~ be a candidate for any Office, and no
one should be blamed for the ndscretion Of his
friends. lie understood that the individuals who
are assailcd are CAss, BuCHASAE, BUTLER, and
HoUsToS, either coyertly or by name. Judge
DOUGLAS, who seems TO be the particular avorite Of
tho editor, Is excepted.
Mr.. RICHARDSON wished to say, in connexon
with the remark, that, 80 far as Judge DoUoLAs IL
concerned, lac has interest in or control over,
the Democratic RcuieD. He was not responsible for
any thing which has appeared, or may appear, in
It's columns, except over his signature. lie
knew that Judge DOUGLAS dcprecates tho assaults.
They made by a Democratic paper on Demo-
cratic men. HE object desire, and wish is, that
the entire party may have harmony, peace, and
good will He believes, as he (Mr. RI did, that
the perpCuity Of our institutions depends on the
success Of the Democratic party; and that by diyi
SION success cannot be promoted.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE was grstfcd 60 hear the
general stat cmcnt. He would, for the purpose Of
enabling the gentleman from Illinois 20 wipe away
the foundation Of IN feeling, ask another question
10 put Judge DoUeLAs right. Long after the Jan
uary number appeared members Of Congress
signed an article cordially recommending 10 the
! Democracy Of the country the RerietC containing
the charge, and sent out copies Of it for dlstrihu
ton. lie would ask whether, at that time, Judge
DOUGLAS had seen that number OF the magazine,
Mr. RICHARDSON replied that Judge DOUGLAS