The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-22

H'' r6NNs AinA@uPPB.j III Tic BsHtic'
man alow me 10 ask > qaesli0q!
what tiis question i, aud will give you ab ap.
propriate place to put it IN 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
and radical reforms, the widest departure from
established law and time-honored usage, that
has ever been attempted in the United States
achange in the Constitution, which the old
fogies" and conservatives Of all parties predicted
would overturn the constitution Of society and
reduce it to universal anarchy 30 far the State
government il concernci la movement which, |
am free to confess, with all my progressive
notions, thought dangerous experiment.
But it was popular, and among the boldest ad-
vocates of it, among the most earnest defenders
OF its greatest extravagances, was the gentleman
himself
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. Will the gentleman
allow me to interrupt him for u moment!
have been and am in favor Of Democratic prog
ress, as accomplished by changes introduced
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 RepieU ind-
Gated as proper to be carried out through the
federal government did not believe the fed
era compact, under our limited system of gov
eminent, could be used for any such purpose
1t is limited, it is fixed, and in my opinion the
theory and limitations Of our federal system
sprnng perfect from the convention at Philaic-
phn, like Palas from the head of Jove. The
distinction | take is broad and striking. The
federal government is not formed on the notion
of pure democracy, nor even of simple rep
rcsentative 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 annexa-
ton of Texas, the Mexican war, and the acqu
sitions that grew out oft.
M MARSHALL. desire to ask the gentle
man from Kentucky n 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 question--it is rumored here that there
was large and influential Taylor meeting held
in lS4S, 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
eloquence in advocacy of General Taylor's
claims, that has ever been heard in that notor-
ously eloquent State Of Kentucky. Mr.. BREcK
INRIDGE was said to be the gentleman.
Mr.. BRECKlNRIDGE. 1.-THE gentleman--
Mr.. MARSHALL. Oh, can't give you time
to defend yourself, it 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 a Taylor speech at a Taylor meet
ing
MIR. BRECKENRIDGE, (rsing) The gen.
tleman is too fair man to make charge and
not allow me an opportunity to reply. will
The taste that prompts it. For several days
have been the object of various friend
ly attacks however The gentleman from Hin
dis Mr. RIcHARDsoN] began them, and the gem
tleman from California follows him. under
stand it was contemplated, by one or two per
sons, to prove, if possible, that was Wing at
one time of my life. 1t is not true. The error
springs from the fact that the republican princi
Piles skipped one generation in the family Part
of them DETECTED from the right line Taught
err never was myself Wing.
Mr.. RICHARDSON. | never believed the
gentleman to be a Wing.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE. L did not say my
friend from Illinois had so charged. Indeed, j
know he did not. In reference to the Taylor
demonstration, the meeting to which the gentle
man from California refers, took place in the
summer of l847. Soon after General TAYLOR
won his battles upon the Rio Grande, and soon
after the editor of the "Cincinnati Signap had
written him letter. in which he took Demo
cratic ground in reference to the bank, tariff, in.
ternal improvements, and other questions, and
when General Taylor had answered that letter,
indorsing all those positions, (and mark it, this
was his first political letter. there was meet
ING held in Lexington, Gin which participated
which recommended him to the people for the
Presidency The best Democrats in the coun-
try also took part in that meeting-indeed, |
think they composed the majority in it. After
wards, when other principles were avowed, and
when he was taken up by the Wing party and
received the nomination of the Wing conven.
ton, | was found upon the right side. If there
was an error committed, which | deny in the
then state of facts, why, then, say in the Ian
guage of distinguished Democrat, who was
also in that meeting, shat it was the only poit.
ical error of nv life" Laughter
Mr. MARSHALL. The explanation is about
as good one as could be made under the cir
cumstapces, but | appeal to all the Democrats
of this House, and throughout the country if
that gentleman does not exhibit conclusive evil
dence that in party tactics he should follow, and
not lead 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 as one Of its
leadcrs-particularly as one of its advisers upon
so delicate and momcntous question as that
which he has undertaken to decide
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE have given no adj
vice about the Presidency, and challenge the
gentleman to point out the place where have
done so.
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