The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-04-24


my reputation if the person who renders IT was
some Beau Brummel, the head of some fashion
ably constituted board which had right to pass
upon what constitutes gentility and TO adjust the
qualities and character cf gentleman. There Is
| nothing on earth more difficult 10 deserbe-though
| every one has the idea in his mind-thc beau ideal
OF what constitutes gentleman but when you APP
proach the language OF definition, Of what const-
tutes gentility, there is nothing upon which man
| kind will more disagree.
| And there is yet another allegation against me,
| Mr.. Speaker, which descends indeed, to low
| water mark and becomes amusing enough, if for
| nothing elsc, at least for it's originality. have
had, during long political life, many, very many,
| astonishing insinuatons directed against me- both
in my public and my private relations; but this |
| am about 10 state bears of the palm in freshness
| and novelty II has been alleged that much OF my
political action has been affected by the fact that
| III my more youthful days 1T was my misfortune
| (or fortune rather) TO suffer from that common
irailty OF youth the loss my heart; but, alas! on
| the wrong side Of the Potomac, and so have become
| allied to the South by matrimonial connection
| That certainly was a very grave crime, and |
plead guilty 10 the charge uttered against me, and
| which continues to be uttered against me- in the
| Northern States. Buta charge OF far higher i'm
| porancc is made against now in the Con-
| gressional GIobe, that ] nm the owner OF a car
| riage, and that ! roll in luxury, with vered
| servants, in the streets Of the metropolis. The
, author of this charge has undoubtedly mis-
taken the carriage of another member Of
| Congress, who sometimes kindly gives me a
ride, for his Imagination has invested my common
clad driver with livery. Such are my simple
| habits and taetes, that have never been in the
| carriage to which he alluded but two three
| times In my life; for ] much prefer when ! can
| get the time. walking to riding 10 toe Capitol
But what if had liveried servants, and own up TO
| the mighty fact! Well, sir, had rather be
driven by negro in livery, than. southern man,
be the liveried coachman Of northern Abolition
| lists, driving Abolition team for the Presidency
There was an expression OF applause on the part
| of many gentlemen, which the Speaker promptly
lreprrssed.l Such trihes as these, however, Mr.
Speaker, could not have strung into print such,
jewelry of words as have before me. There must
| have been some other provocaion that what ap-
pears here in this letter of the New York Express,
! or its editorial article. l know full we'll what it
! was. 1t the remarks which made in the other
end of the Capitol a few evenings since -remarks
| which could have no effect out OF that place, aud
| were, therefore, innoxious, because no reporters
were present, and because they could not 60 forth
| to the country from the secrecy Of that chamber.
| But when like sentiments and similar ideas were
| published elsewhere. naturally enough those who
felt themselves hurt within doors, became out
| rageous when their ideas got without, and felt
1t necessary to rise up, and If possible, to over
awe me and break me down as a public man
Sir, it will require much more than this ful
mination to overawe me in the discharge Of my
public duties, or to make me neglect, at all
times, and upon all occasions, fearlessly to utter
my sentiments of public measures and public men.
But the great cause OF this onset upon me, comes,
| repeat, from what said in the other wing of the
Capitol. J. then and there, implorod the presiding
officer of that convocation-if he was about TO
| render me, to surrender me and such as act with
| me, as prisoners of war-that we should have the
soldiers honor of being shot, and not be strung
| up on gallows erected by executioners educated
| at Christiana or Syracuse-that when the halter
was about my neck, should be taken by white
men TO the execution ground, and not be dragged
there by ropes in African hands Thus much
may reply to what believe really prompts this
assault upon me.
One word more before | sit down, in justice to
my Southern Wing associates who may have mis-
understood what said here the other day in tLes
House. amid numerous interruptions, TO the
effect that the Southern Wing column laltered
or wavered, and that was the reason why Wing
northern national men were depressed and why
they staggered, and why there apparent
change from the action of the old Wing caucus to
the record OF the votes made in this House. l did
mot mean that the whole column faltered or wa
vered any part of it, beyond the first shock felt
when its chosen head gave himself up, and US
northern National Whigs, without stipulation or
condition, set forth in a certain speech in the
United States Senate. He has been captured and
taken by the enemy, and is now in their posses
sion; but-and say it with delight-so far as /
know now, no southern Wing Of the column wa
yers now but all are true and faithful to the Const
tuition, and 10 the northern men who were con
nccted with them IN the hour Of trial II there
has been any miscOnstructona regards that senti-
mcnt, withdraw it freely to all Of them. After
that trying scene which occurred the other night,
in the other wing OF the Capitol when the great
body of the South felt it necessary to separate from
/ us Northern Whgs; the sentiment Of every South
| crn Wing who remained bohind, and opened his
mouth to speak, was. that northern men should be
protected, and that the pledges OF the Compromise
should be fully sustained, and that no candidate
| FOR the Presidency should be put forth who would
not come out for the hnsliy Of these measures aud
VINO woald not stand recorded for their fnality,
too
Am not right in this announcement of a gen.
crsl Southern Wing public sentiment Ii was
due 20 Us, northern men, that should have
such support from them, for in that terrible hour
81 trial mere two sessions ago. our services were
necessary for them, and they given to them
freely, with the implied, II not expressed, under
standing that they would protect Us TO the extent
Of their ability. Ever since that, we have been
hunted down in tue North, as the Missouri com
promise men were, who acted with the South in
1870, under the lead of MIR. Clay, ma VIC North
crn Wings acted under his lead In 1850 But one
or two Northern members VI Congress who voted
Tor that compromise, survived the political .hock
Of that day; nay, almost the whole of them were
buried In their political graves II, therefore VIC
feel unusually sensitive now, amidst the adverse
public opinion about Us Ia the North, must be
pardoned Tor our anxiety, as again and again we
demand cOuntenance and protection, in carving
Out what great mass Of our people deem 10 be an
OdOus provision Of the Constitution or In creating
sounder sentiment Of respect for the execution OF
hat INSTRUMENT IN its very spirit and letter. In
demanding all this with sincerity and energy we
demand but what is our right, and what il ia your
duty 10 give us And II ve can have it cbecrfully,
unrtcdly, We can support ourselves and our com
mon Union upon the basis Of the Constitution.
Without it, We must all become the miserable vic
tins Of ianaticism and political fury.
Mr. sTANLY (by unanimous consenD address.
cd the House to the following effect / have not
seen read the article in the CougTsssion1I
Giobe. The gentleman has said nothing which
ealls Tor reply on my part; therefore leave
u 10 the gentleman who has been assailed 10
take care Of himself "a he thinks proper, and
can, " he chooses. DO not speak in bis defence
bc would not thank me II attempted 81; for that |
would imply he needed IL. lie has spoken 10 |
my regret IN the Senate, as / regret personal |
fnatters here or In the other House. II any de. |
icncc was needed, would call on my Denocra.
TIC colleague (Mr. VnsABLr) vino represents his |
district, Or my Colleague (Mr. CusomAx) who
cite m front Il the gentleman from New York and
Who u on ne friendly terms with the Senator ma 1
am myself ] depore exceedingly this state Of
things these charges and cOuntercharges a eainst
members VI the Senate and the House
only rOse to saya single word, in all caifaness
ard Without rejecting on any body.
Tho only point Of the speech of the gentleman
which tou, he'd rne, the other day, (Which he has
40 generously vitbdrswn.) the idea Of south.
crn men waNcnng on the question Of the Com
promise. felt hurt at what thought a charge of
inhdeliiy TO the people who have hOnored me with
their confidence; and, the gentleman has refer.
red 10 he remark made in the last Congress Of
wOOing tones towards southern men and fierce
tones towards northern men Utti ii