Columbus Democrat. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-18??, 1852-05-08
SPEECH OF HON. E. w. CHiSTAIN,
Of Georgia--on The Position Of the Union Party
Of Georgia. delirered in The House Of
Representatives., March 5, 1852.

The House having resolved itself into Com,
lmiliee Of the Whole on the state Of The Union
and having under consideration the bill to en-.
courage agriculture. &c
MIR. CHASTAiN said
Mr.. CHAIRMAN. ! do not propose to follow III
any Of the gentlemen who have preceded ma il
4 this arggmem upon The merits of this bill. | find
a disposition manifested on the part of this House
to osquander the public lands Il is useless for me
to attempt to resist il. Suffice it upon this occa
sion, however TO gay that shall yo'e against The
proposition now before the committee. | shat
likewise vote against all propositions disposing o
the public land for raiiroad aud internal improve.
ment purposes. | propose Mr.. Chairman, to
discuss quite different subject, Gentlemen who
have preceded me in this argument, have assumed
the priviege-and believe i is recognized by
the rules and practice Of this House to dicuss
political questions when private bills are under
discussion. propose, sir, not to make an attacl,
upon any aspirant for the Presidency. propose
MOTTO vndcaIe any of the aspirants for the Pres
ideney, either upon the Wing OF the Democratic
side Of this House, or the country. But, sir, |
have higher duty to perform | would have
been glad had il fallen to the lot of abler hands
L pEOpoct ciHpi1 W fibuitdtc NY own puHlltun
and the position of the party with which am
now acting--the Union party of Georgia.
Mr.. Charmnn, the position Of the Union party
of Georgia has been greatly misunderstood by
others. | propose now to consider the causes
which led to IFS organization, the principles upon
which il stands, lis past action, its present poll
oy, and lis probable destiny. My object, princi
palIy, is 10 put the Union Democracy right be-
fore the country, and to defend their cou Sc from
the unjust and uuioundei charges which have
been so freely made against them.
II is hardly necessary to premise with the re
marx that the passage OF the adjustment meas
urea by ihe last Congress. and the discussion OF
The question which that compromise was intend
ed 20 settle, produced The new political organzi>
ton Of our State. 0l the merits Of that com-
prnmise, and the principles upon which il rests,
have no argument to offer. will not re open
the questions which were lhen so elaborately de-
baled. II is my purpose rather to speak OF re-
suits lhau Of causes. The compromise was
rass aud Passed hy tte votes ot maIority Of
tie Democratic party. L has gone bel;rre the
country tnr lts approval or condemnation. and the
Democratic party 10y an overwhelming malori-
iy d ito mrmhers, have approved aud sanctioned
i.
Without intending 10 disparaGe tie claims Of
those pathetic Wags wan aided 50 efficiently in
the passage of these measures, leel folly au
thorizsd 10 repeat, that The conpromse was a
Dfm0crdii measure based upon Democratic prn.
ciPlts, ami passed hy Democratic VOTES, if ii
eAtles !ts irnnd. aud supporters 10 ary praise or
houor, the Democratic party, is entitled as
a pary 70 paHicip,te ia much the larger
portion sof that praise or Jpnor; and, on
the Other hand, il it be nirasuje of fraud
and injustice 10 any portion Of bic Union
let The luli responsibility Of il fail upon the Dem-
octacy for they did ;he deeA. II you ask for the
proof point 10 the records Of Congress, which
must forever sand the unimpeechabe witness of
The truth of what have said. Having this firm
and enduring ground 10 stand Gpnn, viii not in.
vile The argument which might be offered If
should assert another evidence equally true and
end undeniable--that this compromise was but
the consummation Of those great Democratic
principles upon which the Republican fathers and
Democratic leaders Of our country have invara-
bly, planted themselves. Let that pass and fof
he present we will only consider the recorded
judgment of the Democratic party as exhibited by
The Congressional Journal.
When the compromise had thus become the
law Of the land, aud The question'of il approval
Or acquiescence in it was submitted to the peo-
pie, il became with the people Of Georgia the /
paramount question, and all other political issues I
were absorbed in the consideration Of this one /
alone. During the pendency Of the subject be- I
ore Congress- there had risen up spirit of deep /
and bitter opposition TO the principles upon which
/ was expected the question would be seule1, and I
Ipon which it was ultimately settled. Threats /
lf resistance to the Government, aud a dssou- /
ion Of the Union. became as common as house, /
hold words with those whose morbid spirits /
DroOded over the destruction Of their Govern |
nent with almost heahless Indifference to The /
mighty results involved in their inconsderate /
policy. Before the final action Of Congress was I
lad, the germ Of this new and threatening spirit
vas fast forming ifself into a political party, /
whose leading spirits were bending all their /
1owers and energies TO the wicked work ofim
Wanting in the hearts Of people enmi;y aud /
latred to The Uuion OF our fathers.
The Nashville Convention, which met shortly 4
hereafter, perfected ihe work which had already
,sen begun By the master spifils who ruled the
lour in that memorable assemhlage. Prom the
deliberations and aciings Of that conclave Of
,eated and maddened spirits. sprung into eri-i
nee uai sectional party organization which
vas recognized by different states. but in my
,un received il baplisnlal waters ia the name
fihe Southern Righls party.
The principles Of this new party were partly
ct forth in their action at Nashville. OpPOsi,
ion 10 the compromise was the groundwork OF
Is action, and al is powers were directed 10 the
oint Of making that opposition efectual. That
pposiion was embodied ia the pregnant deola-
alton Of one of their resolutions. ~ihai al fJe
.rils anticipated by tie South have bsen realized
in The passage Of The compromise measures. !"
heir remedy was two foid First, n give you
leir language.) ''thai we earnestly recommend
70 al parties in tie siaveholding States to reiose
10 20 into or c runtcnance any National Conven.