The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
MR HALE on PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS
AND PLATFORMS
TN SENATE. MAY n.

Mr. HALE Yves about to say that the
remarks of the Senator from California called
up some impressions to my mind, which feel
it due to lay before the Senate and the country,
that they may have the advantage of them
They were with reference TO the policy the
propriety and the expedieney Of putting can
dIdnte before the country at the approaching
Presidential election, bound, and pledged, and
sworn to maintain and support inyiolate what
are called the great measures Of Compromise
and peace to the country.
Nov, sir, wish to say, and TO say II with the
best wishes Cor some folks, that il the Demo
cratic party, at the approaching Presidential
election, should undertake--and you know that
the Democratic party now has good many
characteristic features and elements in it that
may not be characterized as General Jackson
wanted TO have his Cabinet characterized, as a
unit; and It is impossible il should be so, and
perhaps il is not desirable that il should but
should they undertake TO put a candidate into
the field upon the Compromises platform, they
will experience defeat, compared with which
they had a victory in ls48, unless the candi-
date of the honorable Senator from North Car
olina mfr Manguml should suffer himself TO
be coaxed into the same trap Bot il he should,
and IL the Democratic party forgetting the
forlorn situation Of their Free-Soil friends in
the Northern States, should undertake to lay
down that platform, and make adherence to
the Fugitive Slave Law and commentator
aud approval of the Compromise acts rs part
Of their platform. il it should be put on and
tackled on to the Baltimore platform, tho scat
tered planks Of the Buffalo platform viii be re-
united, and there will be a scene of confusion"
unless they have the sagacity to coax General
Scott on 10 the same platform
A great deal Of credit has been taken by
some gentlemen for having saved the Union. |
wish to set history right ON that subject The
truth is that If the Union is safe---and some
gentlemen think there is some doubt about
that now--it was the Buffalo Convention that
saved it. and not the compromise acts. And
why, sir Because the Buffalo Convention,
by The manifestation of that rebellous spirit
which the Northern Democracy had against
submitting TO the new platform, demonstrate
to you, aud demonstrated to those who WELD
ed and would WELD, il they could the force
and energy of this Government to one dircc-
ton, that il would not BIO safe 10 40 in that di-
rection any further That is a fixed fact
They showed that and they showed by this
rebellious demonstration that, if they put them
selves in very small minority, they took their
minorities That being fact Of history, 1t is
well, as the history is written that we should
improve by 1t, And the only way In which
the Democracy, zee, can recover cur lost pow
or, is TO give up the idle prstonce that we must
bring all our members up to swear TO the sup
port Of the finalty of the Compromise as part
of our creed. The only way in which IL can
be done, is TO "let by-goncs be by-goneso and
If we mean 10 epdeavor successfully to retain
or regain power and place we may as well I'M
derstand at once that the Compromise, "a an
efficient political measure is just rs dead as
the Buffalo Convention. They must both be
content TO lie together; and their friends, if
they have friends can go and weep together
ia sympathy over them both, because you can
not elect your candidate, il Is settled fact
that you cannot do it, without the support OF
the Buffalo Democrats And these Buffalo
Convention Democrats have screwed their con-
sciences up to the last extremity, when they
consent to stand by the old Baltimore platform
They do not feel comfortable there; but for
the sake Of party, and Of regaining power, and
place, and plumber, they will 70 there, although
they do not feel very comfortable. They will
70 there and stand on the Baltimore platform
Vi you will let il be Baltimore and nothing else.
Blu, the moment you undertake 70 tic one fugi-
tive slave TO one Of It's uprights, the moment
you undertake 10 make a single endorsement
OF one OF thess measures as necessary certif-
cate Of qualification, you will drive the whole
OF them of Is II not best therefore, 10 take
counsel and learn wisdom from experience
We have resolution lying on the table---f j.
il not now under the table--proposng the en-
dorser,ent Of the Senate 10 These measures.
Possibly that may be enough II il lies there,
il will do no harm but the moment you un-
dertake to take it from the table, and resusci-
tate and reaninlate IL and make it . party
political platform, that very moment the friends
Of that measure will look to the Presidency
through that enohansment which distance gives
TO the yiew---s distance four years long Now,
iu we consider, and conceiyc, and admit, that
|. il highly important that there should be hon
eat. upright right-thinking men in ofhce-and
this Il no Impeachment Of man patriotism
a. THAI Ia oas Of thu frst things TO be sought
after, and looked TO, and cared for il seems TO
mas that tho part Of wisdom requires that IN
laying out our platform and building Il up and
selecting candidates, the first object should be
h obtain yotea. You cannot get your cand'-
date elected without them and 1t appears TO
b admitted now us a fact that you cannot
have both votes and platforms. Take your
old platform and elect your man.
A SENATOR Touch lightly on that.
Mr.. Hale My friend says touch Lightly
ON that
Now for General Scott aye.nothing TO
say against General Scott. ] think If he il
oooainated a. he stands he viii make pretty
4. - .n.... k..t lanawaI Soatf-and sxorv mar.