The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-05-27
THE VALUE OF PLEDGES.

| While Mr.. Fitch was candidate for Con
gress in is4s, interrogatories were addressed
to him by Anti-Slayery voters to which he
| replied favorablyi pledging himself TO an Anti
Slavery course of action His views must have
undergone some change after his election, for
his pledges remained unful6lled Having been
reelected to the present Congress, he took 90.
casion, some months since, to manifest an entire
change of opinion, by attempting to offer .
resolution in favor Of the Pro-Slavery fnslity
test.
MIR. Cullom, of Tennessee, IN his speech on
the 18th, in the House, referred to the former
pledges of the Indiana member, as an eyi-
dence that his new born zeal in behalf Of the
Compromise was questionable Let us hear
the defence of Mr.. Fitch
The answer to the interrogatores made by
Mr.. Culloni, he said,
"Was in. accordance with the then senti-
ments Of large portion of the citizens Of my
State. II conceded with the then opinions Of
most Of the Democrats Of my district, and also
with fhe opinion of most Of the Wing party Of
the State. It is an answer which had been
previously gisen in substance by my then Wing
competitor The sentiments and opinions, OF
which sucn answer 70 such in1errogatoriss was
co,,r r. sct;os ,,rdc;ssIv .;n,;ar >. a. 20
now advocated bv The gentleman. namely--the
nomination and election Of a candidate for the
Presidency, without asking any pledge or any
apinion from him, upon the sectional question
.neu ~ ,. s,'J =. s as ~ NY S'see'
ard wnrmlv advocated tho election Of cand;,
date openly pledged TO opposition TO it. The
Wings and especially you Wings Of the South,
eskea no saon p'euEe-ao opinion rom y ~,
v .",''s !" Il. . w s"''SSy s,s.ssJ him We
were INDIGNANT & vour abandonment Il those
In the North who were striving to defend your
constitutional rights--indignsnt e. your nun,
Ierenoe 70 your own llgSs s nv. ~ nsrfv M.
l,,,n., sn.es.s w. dsssym;ned "a no longer
aght your battles upon our soil and 1t our cost.
IN cur anger, we determined 70 permit the free
Soilers--ay, Nd tnen'--n ss'' "a Al hs,,ad
.aS"0. s ~ Won KNOW TIE result, in the
S.rs.rons Agitation and excitement Of the last
ConSres. Bat The ComProm'se passed we
are DESTROYS Tor me eaos su ,,Ss..ha ~ sa's
COUNTY,, :nSs !, -. ' .ss,nted in aood fa;thn
". n,,,.t v;nd;oate Mr.. Fitch and his Demo-
- c:.,ds T. Indiana against .hemselves
!. -.,rssertine their ardent professions of op-
.,.;,,r,, ~ SLAVERY. in ls4s. as the product not
- ,..,,.,.,,s sentiment but n nettv sn;te not
I. SINCERE hut affected, they grossly libel
themselves. What? pretend 20 be Anti-Sla-
vsrv when they are not Join the Free-Soil-
srs, whom their judgments condemned, just for
the purpose Of worrying and injuring the
South, against whom they had conceived a
temporary piquei Is this really the attitude
In which an American Legislator would appear
before the country Mr. Fitch must excuse
Us we cannot consent to insult him by accept
ing his testimony on this point. Fortunately,
reference to dates enables us to dsprove this
libel on his character You asked no pledges
from your candidate, in is4s says Mr.. Fitch to
the South--you courted Free Soil votes--you
elected your man" we were indignant at your
abandonment of those in the North who were