The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-06

but refer to the well known opinions and hopes OF
the wsest and best men OF all parties IN every sec,
ton OF the country. Deyng the calumnies ana
asps rsons Of southern disunionists and. northern
abolitionsts- TO the whole Countrywide
President has steadily and hrmy insisted that the
measures referred to should ue regarded "as ma
settlement in principle and substance, the danger
Gus and frcitng subjects sohieh they embrace" Thus
by his official acts, he has indicated himself from
the imputations made against him while candi'
date for the Vice Presidency, and repeated against
him in this debate by the honorable gentleman
from Kentucky. lie makes a new appeal to the
fears Of the South upon this subject. MIR. Chair
man, let me tell the gentleman that such abolition
as has been developed in the official career OF the
present President of the United States does not ex'
cite the fears or anxetes of the South. All the
people of that section would be happy to know that
there were no other kinds Of abolitionsts In the
country.
| Thus, as believe, having "vindicated the truth
of history" now propose to notice briefly reck-
less assertion Of the gentleman from Maine, (Mr'
APPLEToN,) who, in "A written, studied, ana we'll
digested speech, expressly gives IT, as MS opinion.
that if Democrat had been elected President OF the
United States in lS4S, that the Compromise mea-
OF the last session would not have been neces-
sary. Does not that gentleman know that by that
assertion he blotted out at least six hundred pages
of his counry's history! If were disposed to fol-
low the bad examples which have been set me,
while struggling, as am, for the perpetuity and
preservation OF my country and its institutions
would begin with the question of nnnexing Texas,
the Mexican war, the acquisition OF Mexican terri
tory, and run rapidly down to the point OF time at
which the Compromise measures were adopted.
and prove that the Democratic party was warned
at every step, in the progress OF those measures,
that the policy pursued by that party would inev-
itably produce the consequences which the gen
| tleman from Maine says would not have BET
produced had a Democrat, instead OF wing,
| been elected President Of the United States.
/ will not, however, upon such question, aud
| on such occasion, indulge in party criml-
nation. 1t will not, however, be a violation
tn ref 10 la
that, when tho treaty OF peace was concluded
with Mexico, Democratic administration was In
power; James X. Polk was President OF the United
States and against all the influence which he could
WELD, the Wimot proviso, excluding slavery from
the territory acquired by that treaty, repeatedly
passed the House. receiving almost the unanimous
vote OF the Representatives from the North oil both
parties Every motive whether selfish or patriotic,
that can be presumed to influence the conduct OF
man, combined to inspire President Polk with the
strongest desire to settle and adjust before the ex-
piraon of his Presidential term the national diff
culties which had grown out of the acquisitions OF
territory made by the successful termination OF the
war with Mexico. Bills, having this object In
view, had been introduced in the Senate and In this
House; and, supported by all the influence which
| the President could WELD, had failed repeatedly
In view of these unquestonable historic truths, how
can the honorable gentleman from Maine Mr.
ArrLsrosl unblushlngly declare that, SI II Demo
gers and difficulties sought to be remedied by the
Compromise measures would never have arisen!
| Mr.. Chairman, my friend from Georgia, Mr.
| CHAsTAIS,) following the bad example OF my
| friend from Kentucky, in speech delivered some
time since, claims the Adjustment measure OF the
| last Congress of the United States Il Democratic
| achievement, and gives a faint and damning praise
| TO the good Wings who came up and helped them
| to do the noble work.
My friend from Georgia was not a member OF
the last Congress- which fact, to some extent, ex-
cuses him for the position that he assumed. Had
| he witnessed, as l did, day after day, week after
| week. and month after month, the combined efforts
| of Lewis Cass and Henry Clay, Daniel Webster.
| Sam Houston, and other patriots, good and true
of both political parties, aboring to save the coun
try from conflict Of arms, if not from dissolution
| he would not have made that assertion. Had he
| been here and seen your present Speaker and
members Of this House, Wings and Democrats
acting in like manner-an xous, above all things
TO adjust the difficulties growing out OF the acqui-
| siton of Mexican territory-he would have wit
messed and acknowledged the proud and crafty
ing fact that the passage OF the Compromise mea
sure was a triumph OF patriotism over party.
If could truthfuliy claim these great measures
as a purely party achievements Wing achieve
ment-l would deem it a mostunforunate truth 10
my country-portentous Of its carly downfall. Sucl
| claim would assume that the great Democratic
party, constituting nearly e-balf, If not major
ity, of the people Of the country was faithless t.
the Union, and TO the sacred obligations Of patriot
ism.
Mr.. Chairman, while am addressing this Hous
preparations are being made, from Bangor, Maine
TO San Francisco, preparatory to the approaching
Presidential election.
desire, II have the ability TO do go, to submit
TO this committee, md through this committee 4
the country, some practical suggestions that be
evc, although the remark may SAVIOR of egotsm
II acted out Ill give quiet and peace to the coun
try on the subject OF slavery. Do you desire, gen
temen, to run Presidential race, and let this ques
ton mix and mingle in it-a question 80 VITAL anc
one which Ia calculated to destroy your Govern
menr You know that since the adoption of tn.
Compromise measures, the entire country, bott
| Wings and Democrats, have endorsed them by al
overwhelming majority. The two great parties
| now have 1T completely in their power, by al
| act of noble patriotism, so to shape their Presi
Dental organizations to adjust this question o
| slavery virtually and efectually. III both partc
| will nominate men identified with the Compromis
measures, will 1t not inevitably drive the Abolition
party into separate organization and Presi
dental nomination Of their own Or will the,
not be compelled TO abandon their bercses anC
merge themselves in the two great party organi
sstions OF the country? Do you desire To con
tinue to bid in the market overt for abolition votes
Do you not know, by past history, that it was sue
bidding 10y both parties that brought your oountr'
upon the verge OF dissolution at the last Congress
You do know IL. This fact cannot be denied
Will you continue to persevere in such a course
will take the case Of the gentleman from Ohio
(Mr. CIDDIsos,) who IL now absent Do yo
want to bid for bis vote' If you do you dfie
with me. That gentleman said at the last sessio
OF Congress, in a speech made by hfn against tn
Presidents message, that ne would prefer the fam
Of the dead TO the fame Of the living Webster
| 10
, the moment some indignation. but it was only
, momentary feeling. On reflection, remembers
that that gentleman was not the first only ma
that had preferred n road that would end upon th
gallovs TO an honorable coorse. Do you want {
bid for the vote Of the gentleman from Massachu
setts, MIR. RAHToUL,) who stands pre-. eminentl
high az n man Of ability-a man OF known and nc
knowledged ability That gentleman, in a speec
made here the other day, said that he did not in
dulgc in bard words, for they would not settle tbi
question. oh, no; you have to meet it like states
: men. II ia not To be disposed of by hard words
Forgetting himself he charged, in substance, tina
I; every n An North, who advocated and voted for ID
, Compromise measures at the Last Congress, and q
persons now advocating them, were southern dur
:; eaters. would like to know of that gentleman
when he delivered an eulogy upon Judge Woo
bury, II he in that oulogy styled him n soutt
ern dirt-eater? ! would like TO know, when
was an ardent admirer of John G.. Calhoun, as
have been informed he was, If he considers
4 himself southern dirt-eateri ] would like
4 know, when nc was receiving crumbs from job
, Iyler's Presidential table, n he was a soutl
ern dirt-eater' look upon that remark az a col,
booded defamation OF the beat men of the countr,
n whose patriotic e1erons setticd this question.
= then, both the great parties pursue the course
have Indicated, we can have the proud satsfact 10
when the Presidential contest comes Of, to break
[ lance in fair and manly fight, upon questions
e expectancy and policy. with the proud and graf