The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-16
THE REPUBLIC.
SPEECH OF MIR. GENTRY,
OF TENNEssEE,

The CHAIRMAN stated that the frst question
d er consideration was House bill No. 43. "making
appropriations for the current and contingent
expenses Of the Indian Department, and for full
filling treaty stipulatiOns with various Indian
tribes Tor the current year ending June 30, 1853"
upon which the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr.
GENTRY) was entitled to the floor.
Mr.. GENTRY then said:
MIR. CHAIRMAN: have not obtained the floor to-
day to discuss the merits the deneris of the bill
which 10 nominally, at least, the question under
consideration before this committee; but to avail
myselt OF that common law of this House, which
permits Its members. when the House is in the
Committee of the Whole on. the state of the
Union, to discuss any question which may be
regarded ns important to the general welfare
OF the Republic Although some week two
ego, when responding briefly to a speech made
by my friend and colleague from the Nash
Vile district, (Mr. CULLoMO ] announced my
purpose to discuss fully and at length. at some
suitable time, the important questions referred to
by him on that occasion, habitual disinclination
to occupy the valuable time of this committee with
speech making would have kept me silent, l be-
ieve, but for the speech of the honorable gentleman
from North Carolina (Mr. SrANLY) on Saturday
evening last. In that speech he expressed some
views and opinions in which do not concur, and
the tendency Of which / deem to be eminently
mischievous. He occupies prominent and con.
spicuous position among the Southern Wings of
the United States, and fear if his speech should
pass unanswered that the conclusion might be
arrived at by gentlemen from the North, here and
elsewhere, who might if they chose exercise a
very considerable influence upon the consultations
OF that Whig Convention which is to assemble at
Baltimore in a few days, that may induce them to
exercise that influence in manner adverse to what
believe to be the true interests OF the country.
have therefore, obtained the floor to controvert and
combat the idea set forth by the gentleman from
North Carolina, and to endeavor at least to impress
the opinion that the view which he presented on
Saturday evening is not common to the people of
any Southern State in this Union.
If l understood the honorable member from
North Carolina-and / may have misunderstood
,ka-,
hear him very distinctly-he expressed himself
decidedly opposed to the introduction into, or the
adoption by, that convention OF any resolutions
which should recognise the series Of measures
passed by the last Congress to ad the sectional
controversies between the northern and southern
States Of the American Union. which had grown
out of the annexation of Texas and the conquest
of territory from Mexico, as q compromise. He
proclaimed himself in favor of the nomination of
Mr. Fillmore as the Wing candidate for the Presi-
dcncy; but taking his speech in connexon with
speeches heretofore made, and letters written and
published by him during the present session OF
Congress-, think it will not be imputed to that
do him injustice when say that the fair and
legitimate inference from his speeches and his let
ters is this: That while individually he would pre-
fer Mr.. Fillmore he looks TO the probability Of
the nomination OF General Scott. And think he
will not that IL is unfair inference from his
speeches and his letters that the whole influence
which he is able TO WELD tho public opinion
of the State which be represents, the Southern
States generally, and the American Union, has
| been welded to prepare that State which he in
part represents, and the Southern States, and the
whole Wbig party of the Union, to accept General
Scott the Whig candidate for the Presidency. /
differ with the gentleman. deem il to be a mat
ter OF high national importance, rising infinitely
above all mere paltry, temporary party interests.
| and that both Of the great political organizations
of the country should avail themselves of the op
portunity which this hour and this occasion fur
| nishes to nationalze themselves, and so to shape
their Presidential organizations TO bring all the
influences which those two great political orgsni-
| nations WELD to bear upon the American heart
| and mind, North and South, with view 10 har-
monize, TO conciliate the North and the South, and
TO give tranquility to the country and bring each
section Of the Union-every part and parcel Of our
Union-to recognise all of the obligations which
the Constitution imposes, North and South, and to
bring the public men in each section to resolute
| enuncia,ion Of purpose to maintain the obliga-
tione Of the Constitution everywhere. and to throw
| the whole weight and influence of both of these
two great party organizations in favor Of teaching
the people the truth and their duties under the
Constitution, North and South.
believe If the two great political organizations
OF the country act upon this principle that great
good TO the Republic now and for long wears here
the unfraterpal passions, which these sectional
Questions TO which have referred have cngender-
| ed North and South, will be obliterated and cx-
punged--tbat the people Of the whole American
Union will again fraternizc brothers-ha rInon-
ize and together uphold the nstitutons which they
have inherited from their fathers-apd that Re
shielding, protecting, and making happy all of it's
children, will go forward in its career Of prosper-
~, greatness, and glory, and be as sun in the
heavens to all the nations OF the earth lighting up
their pathway to freedom and happiness like that
which enjoy. And if these two great parties
do not thus act, have serious and painful fsars
that the fountain Of bitter waters, which as we
hoped had been sealed forever by the eiertons of
thosc brave and noble patriots who co-operatcd
together on that occasion, will be reopened and
that sectional strife, sectional antagonism denun-
Citations OF the North by the South, and the South
by the North, will again be the order Of the day;
and that presently, instead Of argument, reason,
and the baot-box to adjost questions relating TO
the interests Of this grtst Republic, we shall be
thrown upon that lsst sad resort-the cartridge
box, bsyonets, and the eword. That is what ]
fear. Talk to me about party victory or defeat
when such interests as these are involved, Better
infinitely better, be defeated by doing your duty
to the country than TO win mean, miserable, and
ruinous party triumph by bringing upon your
country evils such as those have suggested
viii not look TO the question of victory or de-
feat. see plainly-and every man must see-what
is the path Of duty If We arc trying to take care
of the public interest, to make safe the Republic
and public liberty. Let os, then, trample under
foot every mean and paltry consideration Of party,
and do our duty TO our country. That 10 what
think we ought to do. And, a Whig-e South
crn whig, a National Whig, that has Believed tho
maintenance Of that party and its sscendency
was valuable, wac important to the interests of
the Union--I have TO say now that | would inf
the Presidential fight, ii we must make Prcsiden-
tal fight, without receiving the vote Of q solitary
State in the Union, upon such principles as are
national in their character and tend TO produce the
results which have indicated, than TO carry every
State in the Union and be borne to spoils and
plunder by the sacrifice Of the permanent interests
Of the country. And he who cannot work himself
up to this sentiment, and TO this principle, has not
in my opinion, studied and comprcbended the du-
ties OF patriot. say, deem IL a matter of high
national Importance, reaching far beyond the pre-
sent, reaching deep into the future, affecting vi
tally, and perhaps forever, the fate and fortunes
Of this Republic, that thcse two great political
CARNATIONS shall nstionalize themselves in the ap-
proaching Presidential contest. II they fail to do
so, sectional strife, the end of which no man can
foreseo, and all the evils which had hoped we're
overcome by the enactment Of the Compromise
measures, will come back upon us with increased
force. That 10 my belief Sincerely entertaining
this opinion IL quite in vain for any raise
the cry of party PARTy! PARTY TO me to Sc
doce me from the performance of duty which
connects itself with tho accomplishment Of these
great objects, addressing themselves to the welfare
Of my country
But the honorable member from North Carolina
thinks there ought not to be any platform adopted