The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-07

Green JltO pOWcT
by betraying both: What the effect OF this may be in
certain quarters, know not but defy any man. whose
heart chershes the love OF honor 10 read these letters
without admiring the who wrote them The charge
that General Butler would beat about the bush avoid
political responsibility will be met wherever he is known
WIN mlnged feelings OF derison and indignation This
Is mol the ume nor the occasion Tor me TO pronounce
eulogy upon that gentleman but this much will say,
that IRON revolutionary times TO this day, that has
been synonymous with honor and truth all the hered-
ary instincts oil ms race spun concealmen or evasion
inform my friend from Florida, MIR CABELLl and all
others concerned that General Butler lodges, either
the field of battle the field OF politics He might
have dedged the service OF his country and thus escaped
the enduring memorials which his person bears OF the
second struggle for independence He might have saved
his blood freely shed in Canada, in Florida al New Or
leans, and at Monterey. When he was a candidate for
governor of Kentucky in 1874, against most able and
great statesman before the people for the presidency
that name more potent 10 rally his cansmen than any in
American history that OF Jackson-Buter might
have dodged direct and manly defence OF the preceding
democratic administration and been the governor, but he
scorned TO shrink from any issue AT The head OF the
Kentucky democracy he led the orlorn hope and struck
the first decisive blow IN the great battle which resulted
in the election Of Mr. Polk, and whose immense conse-
qusacss are fell By this country and the he world.
have shown that there is colorado pretextfor call
himself m self candidate at all The democracy oi Kentucky
i. certain platform that is all What would the gem
tleman have : What would others have Would they
have him to the country. clamoring for sup
port and spreading his sails TO every breeze OF popular
excitement Would they have him. with indecent anx-
eiy issuing proclamations like bulletins on a campaign,
e hs n s
hings General Butler has remained, with quiet dignity,
at his home in Kenucky he has not mingled in this pres
dentia strife. To my mind, sir, il noble spectacle 1t
the homage he pays to the good sense and capacity OF
his countrymen. This carries the mind back to
the earlier and pure days OF this republic and recalls the
memory OF those really great men who neither sought
nor declined the presidency The avidty with which
high Offices are sought regard as the worst,
the very worst symptom OF the times From it, as from
eXtraVaganCe,
lgacy, national disgrace. The admonitions Of history
upon this point are full OF instruction Choose where
you will, sir the moral is always the same We learn
that the Pratoran bands used to set up the Roman en-
pre auction, and enforce their bargains by the sword;
but sometimes the arts and schemes that spring out OF
corrupt civilization furnish means OF iegtimate ad-
vancement not less effective than II will be time
for honest men TO despair Of the republic when aspants
struggle after the same fashion, and struggle successful
ly for the highest and lowest Offices in the land hope
that the Chief Magistrate OF this Union will be des
ignated by the spontaneous voice Of the people, and
that the citizen who is honored by the public choice may
deserve the place for his services his virtues and his
modesiy.
Ter in the past have spoken if the gentleman from
Florida is in doubt as to the future, have sug
gestion for his comfort. The democrats will hold con-
venion at Baltimore, and lay down written platform
1t is their custom to do so-a custom which | most
spectfully recommend to the other side II, among the
names from which the selection may be made the choice
of that convention should fall General Butler, ven
tue TO the gentleman from Florida that he will
stand upon the platform OF his party or not saAd at all
adopted, ne will, like an honest repudate them and
| stay al home.
Having thus disposed of the attack of the gentleman
from Florida, will notice for moment certain rumors
having responsible author, but of late very indus
riousy circulated in this city and elsewhere. They
vague; they intangible they supported by no
facts they lraceabe to no authentic sourcel yet
hundred busy tongues, impeled by interest the
love OF falsehood have given them currency These
mors would be entirely unworthy OF notice but that these
irritable tmes and honest might be deceived. II
is rumored that General Butler is himself free-soer
that he is the peculiar candidate OF the feesol portion
of the democratic party that he has under obga-
tons 10 and entered into engagements with Messrs.
Benton, Blair. and Van Buren,; that Mr. Benton would
be his Secretary OF States and that the patronage OF
the administration would be thrown in that direction.
This believe, is the sum oil these rumors II they
true General Butler would be e,ernally dishonored be-
cause the public man betrays his party who under
obligations TO less than the whole and he who makes
agreements with factions or sections torfes the conf
dence OF all the rest. But they not true In the
name Of The Kentucky democracy deny them. meet
them recong from the spoess character OF their object
and trample them beneath my feet They are false
false separatelyfalse the aggregate-alse the
hearts whose morbid recesses they engendered
General Butler has not contracted, and will not contract
alliances, engagements or obligations with any class,
section, faction, or individual He stands immoveably
where he has ever stood-a Saterights democrat and
the unbendng negy OF bis character repels this tide OF
calumny as the rock throws back the wave. Kentucky
heard these things and the action OF her convention is
her commentary upon them. .s f
Mr. Chairman, have attempted to vindlcate the action
of the Kentucky democracy have met the charges Of
the gentleman from Florida, well as the currentbut
/ ba aseless-rumors of the day have shown that the
dshonong nferences which spring from both do not at
tach TO the choice of the Kentucky democracy. i now
tell the gentleman from Florida and others engaged in
the attacks Of which General Butler has been the object
more than any other public man, during the last three
months that they do not know the man at whom they
throw their random accusations. / will give them his
character single sentence, and appeal to all who
have ever known him for its ruth. He is man pure
and ocorruptble democrat OF forty years standing and
OF the Jackson temper statesman without guile, sir,
and as a solder-why, the very Bayard OF his county
| the knight without fear and without reproach.
! Mr. Chairman have been defending this gentleman
against whig attack Ii becomes my dIsagreeable
duty to notice proceeding IRON democratic source
il that can be called democratic source which tradu
ces all the best and most honored in the party II
is well now to talk plainly, and 1t is as well TO have
these things understood in the beginning We are all in
trouble wings and democrats There is doubt about
1t; and why not say SO tLaugher1 But the way for
the democrats to get out Of trouble s not for part 10
fight out by attempting mount up the prosiratc
bodies of all the best in the party Now, sir, my
apology for nocing this attack is 10 be found IN the
character heretofore sustained BY the periodical which
contains it, and in some other circumstances that make
the whole affair quite in American poIhcs Inc
Democratic Review has been heretofore not partisan
paper, but periodical that supposed to represent the
whole democratic party and TO discuss genera ptnepies
OF finance and OF government ~ the sense OF Nne aemo
cratic party 1 have observed recently very great
change The January number OF the Democratic Review
contains an article which has been very extensively cir
cuated over this country the substance OF which s that
| no man who has been distinguished either for bis
services or character is ht TO be Presidents that all who
were born away back towards the period OF the American
be good Tor that day. but that