The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-21
srEEon os HON. q. N. FIrCH,
OF INDIANA

was asfeeu 10 as ionows--ayes 2l noes not counted
srEEon os HON. q. n. FIrCH,
In the House of Representatives, March 8, 1852
The House having resolved iisefinto Committee of the
Whole on the state Of the Union. the Chairman announced
| that Mr. FITCH was entitled 10 the floor
Mr FITCH said OF the special order-the bill intro
dueed by the gentleman from Tennessee, [Mr JOHN
sosl,-l have but little 10 say II. upon examination
that bill is found sufficiently guarded prevent fraud un.
der lls provisions, my vote will be given in lis support
Is the Presidents intend discuss and incl
aenaiy therewilh certain men, measures, and things
nol Including, however, the gentleman from Massacilu
seus, | MT DAVIS who immediately preceded me OF
whatever changes in others that gentleman may have
conf ssions and his vo,es Of his own popenes. ~ 'o 70
change and Of his entire devotion to one man. his espe
cai candidate for the pesdencyMr. Websier-regard-
wolves him. Beyond this, 7 leave him in tio hands Of
his colleaugc, Mr.. RANTouL ]
The policy Of political party is legitimate subject
ior discussions and its acts should be subjected to The
closest scrutiny especially when they grow out OF or in
dcaie policy An index 10 both the acts and the policy OF
!ne present administration IS afforded in the message Of
the President There is somewhat OF both which is
worthy OF praise have disposition to deny this
Indeed. 70 deny It would be dsngenuous-w ind-
cate either an ncapabiliy of discriminating the right or
disposition facously to aege wrong where il does not
exist. Furthermore, il would beray want OF magma
mly; while the exercise of OF that quality rather
than less In potcs-where, unfortunately, too little isl
now permitted to find exsiencc-can inure no party or
10 politician While, however, admitting that there is
matter in the message worthy Of praise, am constrained
70 say there IS more deserving OF As legisla
non VIII DC bad or attempted, relative to both lis good
and its evil, brief enumeration Of some Of the more
alluded to in il, with statement Of their bsarnss or
probable effect will the same time define position
and give the reasons for vote wsh however, not to
Dc understood while reviewing the message, and ad
ducng certain reasans satisfactory my mind WHY the
present administrative party should be denied renewal
oI lis power-as attempting or wishing TO intimate any
cnarge against the President, calling question his
character citizen man-any charge implying that
he has abetted knowingly acqulesced n corruption or
venay upon the part OF his appOinees II dshon-
orable, IN my estnaon Tor man to make vague in
definite charges against another submit such him.
self. respect Mr. Fillmore aad as an officer,
but diter widely from him in politics, and esteem many
OF his acts and recommendations to be the result Of
erroneous opinions and of policy injurious the public
FIRST shall briefly allude to matter of foreign pol
icy which is contained in the message-the policy OF
intervention The message correctly adheres to that
policy; but in the Cuban affair this policy was connected
with another, highly reprehensble ior lis cruelty
cizens and the Humiliation II may yet bring upon
country. wide distinction should exist, and would
exist in the estimation OF party approaching at Its worth
proper national PRIDE, between paetnal remonstances
10 our own citizens against violation OF neutrality
lava, accompanied with strenuous efforts our part 10
prevent such violation, ahd deDuncia,ons of the same
ciuzens o character calculated, II not deliberately de-
signed, TO invite their execution outlaws, regardless ot
eates Ia which we are party, and 10 the benefits OF
wnlch ali our czens are alike enttled and
lariuernoe, to invite interference with flag upon the
part OF foregD powers, under preence OF aiding
he execution OF our neutrality laws, searching
venlent to chage with their attempted nfracuon 1t is
well known this distinction recognised by The
administration a the position il assumed towards those Of
our cizens suspected OF being engaged IN the attempted
Cuban revolution The latter course adopted, while
The former would have been equally eHicacious in
securing obedienc. 10 laws, would have been far
more honorable 10 country, and more promove oil
respect Tor our flag. II visits for espionage
made to our shipping in the Gull oi Mexico by France
England, and Spain, II attributable less want OF
implied invitation part make such visits than 10
sense OF proprety upon theirs which induced oms
sion 10 avail themselves OF the invitation By his proc.
dnaiion, IN advance OF outawry AGAINST those OF
citizens who might be about to embark in the Cuban
erpnseby his declaration that they would be recog
nIsed entitled to any o privileges of citizenship,
or any OF the protection which flag TO all OF
citizens however errng TO the extent at least of seeing
ai they are legally executed ami due proof OF gul
II executed al allthe President jusuhed, IL he did not
vte, visits OF the character and o The purposes have
toned There be doubt that mad he insisted lha
all OF our citizens who might be suspected OF having
embarked IN that enterprise and captured should
have iair lral-such they entitled to by exist
ing ueates-many lives and much suffering might have
been saved. When was Great Britain ever known TO
abandon any one her ctzens victim TO the alleged vo
lated laws OF whatever naiion without Insisting upon The
exercise 10 his behalf OF all treaty rights And be-
Cause that country ever prompt 10 protect the lives aud
rights of her ciIzens, and punish any Illegal attempt upon
either that her people and flag universally respect
ed Unfortunately, The promptness upon tie part oil
government IN this in Withdrawing all proec-
lon m advancenoi IN giving IT when il needed.
comparison OF lis apathy and indiherence IN this
where the veo OF many were invoved-with the solic.
tkWtsstd tNeftiObs u~tn IN lecenf case Dy
Spain Ia behalf OF one OF lis own citizens, convicted in
tins country OF musder, ~ humaling TO every Amer
rhe INVASION oi Cuba aroused ire OF The span
Ish authorities OF That island, and not without reason
Tor am lar IRON lusfyn2 that INVASION, desiring 10
II repeated II excited thirst for revenge, which the
execution oi Cneuden ana his associates abated. but
has not appeased and which will yet again manifest
iseli 10 some act OF aggression upon our citizens The
justification Tor which will be sought IN that INVASION,
aud 10 President Fjlmofe's oullawry proclamation
When that aggression comes, come IL WILL whenever
Cuba the suspicion of another
INVASION, let ask II the interests of country, the
honor of flag shall be inused TO the keeping of the
party who has excused the aggression IN advance and
consequently. will be likely taney To submit 10 1T Shall
they be inirusted to man who, like Mr. Webster, has
evnced his e regar for either by refusing vote men
and money for the prosecution OF a war-ihe then exist
ing war with Great Britain Or worse, shall they be
bmset, and-so far as any act OF his could do
I--dlsgraced his county, by inviting enemy to
welcome citizen sodiery with bloody bands to
bospitaple grsvesp Or shall they be Infused to any
other whom have influence, and whose
opinions will be their opinions. aud whose policy VIII be
their policyi
Leaving the foreign, we pass next to the domestic
policy of the message. To that portion of devoted 10
the COMPROMISE | take no exceptions. II breaihes
spirit which, ii II continues to animate our Chef Mags
traes will afford every desirable assurance OF domestic
tranquility and OF the peFpetuy OF our government
WnIle the Compromise was under dscusson-whIie the
auestioa was the manner OF setenent-t was natural,
IL was 10 be expected, that diversity OF opinion would
obtain even amongst those perhaps the most sincerely
desirous o speedy and peaceabe adjustment OF the
questions In controversy IL not TO be expected,
however, that whatever opinion was entertained by any
representative would be iound associated with want OF
Nrt ltnlu vf..e IN