The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-23
Mr. PENN, (interrupling) wllIthe gentle

Mr.. PENN, (interrupiing) Willthe gentle.
man allow me to ask aquesiionl
" Mr.. MARSHALL. Not at this time. know
what the question is and will give you an ap.
propriate place TO put it 10 directly. There was
an exhibition in his native State Of one OF the
most remarkable outbreaks, they tell me, of this
principle of progress which the gentleman now
opposes and ridicules one Of the most complete
i and radical reforms, the widest departure from
established law and time-honored usage, that
has ever been attempted in the United States
change in the Constitution, which the old
fogies" and conservatives of all parties predicted
would overturn the constitution Of society and
reducei to universal anarchy, SO far as the State
i government is concerned--a movement which,
am free to confess, with all my progressive
notions, | thought a dangerous experiment.
But it was popular, and among the bodest adj
vocates of il, among the most earnest defenders
Of its greatest extravagances, was the gentleman
i himself
i Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. Will the gentleman
4 allow me to interrupt him for a moment?
have been and am in favor of Democratic prog
ress, as accomplished by changes introduced
i into the State constitutions and also in the gen.
eral government, within the limits and according
to the spirit of the compact was in favor OF
the new constitution of Kentucky which popu-
larizes the institutions Of that State My re-
marks on progress were wholly Incidental, and
were directed to that sort Of progress which the
tone and spirit of the Democratic Repieio indi-
Gated as proper to be carried out through the
federal government. did not believe the fed
eral compact, under our limited system Of gov
eminent, could be used for any such purpose.
1t is limited, il is fixed, and in my opinion the
theory and limitations of our federal system
i arfa ~
phia, like Pallas from the head of Jove The
distinction take is broad and striking The
4 federal government is not formed on the notion
of pure democracy, nor even of a simple rep
resentatye system. Hence, though in favor of
! an elevated judiciary for Kentucky, | would OPP
pose the application Of that principle to the fed
era judiciary. / cannot now enlarge, but |
consider the opposite view as tending directly
and fatally to consolidation. These remarks
apply to the new ideas of federal progress.
! They do not touch the question OF the extension
of our country. | was in favor of the anhexa-
| ton of. Texas, the Mexican war, and the acqui-
sitons that grew out Oft.
M. MARSHALL desire to ask the gentle
man from Kentucky a question in this connex.
ion 1t is rumored, and the rumor, if false,
| ought to be contradicted-I am not prepared
with evidence to prove the fact, but merely sug-
| gest the queston-it is rumored here that there
was large and influential Taylor meeting held
in l848, about three months before the conven-
| ton met for the nomination of the Democratic
candidates, and it is said that at that meeting u
young gentleman of Kentucky did pronounce
the most transcendent and glowing eulogy, did
| give to the country some of the most immortal
! eoquence in advocacy of General Taylor's
claims, that has ever been. heard in that notori-
/ - Il De-.
i GNRIDGE was said TO be the gentleman.
Mr.. BRECKINRIDGE. Ifthe gentleman
Mr.. MARSHALL. Oh, / can't give You time
to defend yourself, il would take all my hour,
and more hours than ever mean to consume
upon this floor, to defend yourself from that
charge. / want TO know if the charge is true:
did you make Taylor speech at Taylor meet
ing?
MIR. BRECKENRIDGE, (rising) The gen
tleman is too fair man TO make charge and
not allow me an opportunity to reply. / will
answer the question, though | do not admire
the taste that prompts it. For several days
| have been the object of various attacks-friend.
ly attacks however. The gentleman from Hin.
OILS ( Mr. RIcHARDsUE began them, and the gen.
| tleman from California follows him. | under
stand il was contemplated by one or two per
sons, TO prove, IL possible, that was Wing at
/ one time of my life. Its not true. The error
springs from the fact that the republican prnci
pies skipped one generation in the family. Part
of them DETECTED from the right line Taught
er.l Inever was myself Wing.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. | never believed the
gentleman TO be Wing.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. did not say my
friend from Illinois had so charged. Indeed, ]
know he did not. In reference 10 the Taylor
demonstration, the meeting 10 which the gentle
man from California refers, took place in the
summer Of lS47. Soon after General Taylor
won his battles upon the Rio Grande, and soon
after the editor Of the "Cincinndti Signal had
written him a letter, in which he took Demo
lcratc ground in reference 10 the bank, tariff, in.
ternal improvements and other questions, and
when General Taylor had answered that letter.
indorsing all those positions, (and mark Il, this
was his first political letter. there was meet
ing held in Lexington, Qn which participated }
which recommended him 10 the people Tor the
Presidency. The best Democrats In the coun.
try also took part 10 that meeting-indecd, !
think they composed the majority in IT, Afler-
wards, when other principles were avowed, and
when he was taken up by the Wing party and
received the nomination Of the Wing convep-
ton, | was found upon the right side. III there
was an error committed, which I deny in the
then state Of facts, why, then, say In the Ian.
guage Of a distinguished Democrat who was
also in that meeting, "thai Il was the only polit.
zeal error Of my life" Laughter.
Mr. MARSHALL. The explanation Is about
as good a one as could he made under the cir
cumstances, but appeal 10 all the Democrats
OF this House. and throughout the country, II
that gentleman does not exhibit conclusive evil
dence that in party tactics he should follow, and
noti3d that before the action Of the conven.
ton has regulated his judgment, he Is the most
unsafe adviser IN the selection Of candidates that
could possibly be consulted. Laughter Does
he not come, with an admission Of the kind
which he has just made, admirably recommended
TO the Democracy Of this country a. one Of its
leaders--particularly as one Of IL advisers upon
so delicate and uomentous question as that
which he has undertaken 10 decide.
Mr.. BRECKINRlDGE. | have given no ad-
vice about the Presidency, and challenge the
gentleman to point out the place where ! have
done 80.
| M MARSHALL I aa;d In Tho orop;o, "a