The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH or nos wm II. POLK.

~ n, Presidency and he Compromise Measures; dsisU
,rsd IN the House OF Representatives., Apras s. 1852
rhe House being in Committee OF the Whole on
hs state Of the Union. tMr HBBARp in the char.) on
me homestead bill IL t4.teEtt
~M ~Mr POLK rose and said
a. cbaTman shall vote for The bill now under con.
;ir,,ion am in favor OF its passage, for the
~, believe il TO be auxiliary IN carrying out The mis-
ua0 uoo Of this great republic believe that its passage
would have the eject TO attract from the cities on The sea
hd that portion OF the laboTing classes who are living
Sre IN slate OF poverty, in many cases the most depo
be and place them in the independent position OF the
anyaors OF the soi-thus contributing 10 the develop
mep OF the resources OF our country aad adding 10 our
%he government Of the United States. Mr. Chairman is
sras one; It's policy should be a magnanimous
Ios what purpose or object should il retain in its posses
I'm ,he immense tracts OF Wild land belonging 10 il
Should il be. sir, 10 have the grass the native fruits and
,he forest trees growing IN wild uxuriance, while
Oooulaton OF aborers with snewy arms, suffered to
,btong our cities, with not pulsation in their veins d.
,ael,d 10 the advancement of the country Or sir, shall
we il our eadeavos to carry out our MISSION TO preserve
md advance great nation, send laborers TO the plough
share give them right and interest in the soil, and
make their patriotism identified with the interest OF the
onnlrvi II we do that, ii should again breathe
unon our land they will enter The army not only with
ebeerIulness but with enthusiasm. They will know
thew march and when The bullets the destructive mis-
sles of DEATH whistle about them, they will be enabled
10 saw although may tall here, although we may be
en-, down although one OF these messengers of death may
send MS 10 that bourne from whence no traveller re-
turns" yet great, good, magnanimous government
has
plare-a home wh,ch cannot be wrested from them.
Would not such reflections inspire the heart OF any
solder' Would moi this policy identify the foreign pop
uIaion with the country and make them of us' These
are some of the reasons Mr. Chairman, which will in
duce me TO vote Tor the bill
AS il has been The custom, however to speak upon
presidential matters, perhaps il would be well enough for
me- in this connexon, TO say something upon that sub
ecl and SHALL IN the progress OF my remarks call the
attention OF the House particularly TO remarks,
true IN themselves, identifying the whg party with the
AZ adj fret davn nj
this session. and which have been subsequently, repeated
upon this floor for the purpose OF creating awhg capt.
tl 10 which they entitled but which they have
directed all their attention 10 form, TO operate upon the
Iam Mr. Speaker one OF those denomlnaled the young
Americans ! am in favor Of young America; bu, my
definition oil what constitutes young America may dieI
from that OF others. What understand young America
be is to keep up with the progress of the age; 10
tesland the progress OF The republic TO live IN the eye
the world, and 10 carry out great mission. do
moi denounce . old fogyism." do classify it as
| meaning wrnkled brow, decepit body, age hanging
upon the forehead. mean by young America, the man
that lives up TO the present poin oil our progress, and Is
rady and willing and determined 10 WELD the influence
and power of this great and to carry out o
he great public good contend sr-and npon this occa
son especially state tha, object TO the remarks
made by who belong to the same glorious party
with myself and whose blood leaps and dances through
| heir veins mine does.
made upon the old democrats, who have stood and bat
IA for the OF our cause. which. as believe, is
Rcountry's cause; the men who stood in the front
nks and who marshaled us, as young Americans, up
| the struggle against our common enemy-the wing
party l. Mr.. Chairman would consider II parricidal TO
strike blow against OF those gallant bosoms, so
sacred in the service OF our country.
go for the interest OF the party, because believe that
the OF the principles OF The party and the purity
Of the governmen identified may have my pref
eencetha preferencel will frank avow; but do ask
il you please young Americans, whose fold live.
land sympaihize with the palm that grasps another
insncerey)do not ask me 10 strike Lewis Cass blow.
A.x.t IA ~. 4.
dead my side when that noble old bosom is presented
10 me TO nhct wound upon II. will not do IL. He
has served his party too long He has served his
Try in various positions. He has maintained its dignity
abroad. He has sustained its honor at all times He
stands to-day Of those who progressing to the
grave, marked with nearly three years and ten,
:" the nobest Roman of them ALL"
So much, Mr.. Chairman, for my position with regard
TO "young America" and " fozysm." hope am an
honest democrat, ready TO 90 forward, place my hand up
on the altar OF my yand that altar consider the
altar Of my counuy-and say that will sustain aud vote
o the nominee OF the Baltimore Convention. i will
make the sacrifice OF any preference may have Il there
ademocrat here who will do the sanei Is there a
single who will paint upon his flag his prefer.
nce and ask all others TO obey s Such request upon
me will never obey. Such a request will never dare
lomake. The wings have their troubles aboat their
al the Baltimore Convcntion--and u they get into
convention, suppose they will arrange thers--wbicb s
Considered a, this time very doob,ie judging from The
recent wing caucus in which il ruled OUT Of order
BY the chairman Mr. MASeUM, senator from North Car
ona) 10 offer consider resolution approving the Com
promise This fact Of itself speaks the tone OF sent
lnent governing the whig party.
Mr.. chairman, will touch upon the all eDgross-
ing SUBJECT Who is responsible for the agitation OF the
slavery question: Without stopping 10 enumerale or to
cite the record oil the country IN regard 10 H. proclaim
here TO gentlemen upon the other side OF the House and
stand prepared TO prove thai the whg party respon
aoe Tor the origin Of the slavery agitation that they
have nnrsed ii that they have ei Il that they have
simulated II TO the present hour And II anything il 70
onow IRON IT, u anything - 10 grow out OF u, II the
republic ~ to be destroyed by II, TO You, gentlemen,
Hone belongs-partcuarly the southern whigs-ihe
blame You are now allied with the northern whig abo
huonlsis You stand entirely coaleaccd with them Let
lhs be deniedl Without the northern abolition party,
mere Is no whig party in the land There is no whig
party IN the whole country that has strength enough 10
cam The consideration OF party, IL separated from the
aon9sia abolition strength. Deny u, and will prove
~ ~ nov many wing governors have you who are for
MWeNompTomisei One and Tennessee boast OF him
swef me- s,'S e '
Dir CABELL, Of Florida I represent a Safe, and
wi ,goyeInor is decided Compromise
nH roLk. IL " so small State that I had slmos,
snn asoien H. Langhterl ll,s not whig, but demo
sue ca'e. submit the PLAIN proposition, that there "
wv norm ol The Potomac al this hour single whg gov
amor out was elected upon the principle that he for
ns repeal or modification OF the fugitive slave law
WI WI ase Nermont viii take Rhode Islsnd--ipdeed,
axe al OF the States where the wings have governors
va mere ls not single one of them--Hin, of New
os, and all--but VINO elected upon the PLAIN and
suhe proposition that the fugtiveslave law should be
TT*red, modified, repealed. Will any whig deny !, :
~ Why do you assume 10 yourselves the prerogailve
otng the Compromise party J Show me the record
nov me the OF the peopetheir decision between the
ngs and democrats throughout the nation to that effect
,i ~ Wllng y should be so, II you can name to me a
KR State North thai acts, that votes with you, that