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


slave trade IN the States territories, or districts OF this
Union should be considered objected 10, and the
question OF reception laid the table without debate
ieefsapon, Instantly. Mr. Fillmore OF New York. sta
ted bat II II necessary 10 object 10 the resolution.
pc OBJECTED Upon motion 10 suspend The rules Tor
It's introduction, find the name oi William O. Butler
recorded IN the Affirmative; and the names OF Messrs
Adams. Giddings. Fillmore. etc etc, IN The negative
Afterwards. sir, at the same session. the famous wen
" hrsi rule adopted wholly excluding abolition pc
utons whether they referred 10 the States, Territories
OF the District of Columbia Here again The name o
General Butler recorded in the affirmative. and
Adams Ghdings Fillmore, and others, and regret to
add some southern wings, in the negative Everybody
knows Mr.. Adams instantly commenced a system Of
agitation ior the repeal OF that rule During the four
years that General Butler remained in Congress he uni
formy voted agsnst The repeal while the fayore OF the
gentleman from Florida uniformly voted orit The Ken
tackan who is not 10 be trusted fought steadily Against
aboliops and every other anti saveDism OF the days
yef my friend from Florida reserves his entire confidence
lor those who fought upon the other side Mr.. Chair
man. one other "reminiscences In the course OF his speech
while speaking particularly the subject OF slavery The
gentleman from Florida says ." will give my sup
port TO man whose position is not definitely and clear
y known" This is very WE'LL and am glad to hear it.
Fnrihe on he says have never hesitaed TO express
my opinion. ! am IN favor OF the election OF Mlllard
Fillmoe for the President OF the United States" That
also is Eery clear, and by combining the two follows
that the opinions OF Mr. Fillmore upon the question of
slavery are definitely and clearly known 10 the gentle
man from Florida. Now. sir, il is well known to the
public that Mr. Fillmore, in his famous letter TO the Erie
abolilonsts, IA copy OF which now hold IN my HANDY
Ds,rc OF Columbia and of the slave trade between the
States. have any recantaton OF these prn
cples-never; but from comparison OF the Positions OF
the gentleman from Florida, OF three conclusions
must how--eiher Mr.. Fillmore has abandoned those
principles, or the gentleman from Florida has adopted
them Of he prefers to all others for the presidency the
man who holds them The whole thing is shut up to
OF these hree and the gentleman at his leisure may select
between them.
Mr. CABELL, Of Florida When The gentleman says
to this House that Mr. Fillmore has not written publish
ed, or said anything in opposition TO The sentiments OF
that letter, must say that he should take his insnuaon
charge of ignorance to himself for it is perfectly well
known TO all that the letter in which Mr. Fillmore es
pecally retracted his opinion the subject OF the abo
lition Of the slave trade between the States pub
ished during the last canvass in all OF the papers
throughout the country And yet the gentleman says
he is not acquainted with it. One single word more.
wish the gentleman to understand that my position is
ihis-and my remarks were addressed entirely and sx
candidates for the presidency with The compromise bills
said that would go for no man who was not IN favor
Of The faay OF this slavery agitation and believed
these Mr. Fillmores position upon that sub
ject perfectly well known but did not know MIR
Buffers opinion in reference to 10 it. although am per-
fecty well aware of his while in the Congress Of
the United States desire to have the opinion OF cand-
dates for the presidency in reference to these particular
measures
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE Does the gentleman consider
these particular covering the whole ques
tion and be perfectly regardless about the fate OF the
Institutions OF his section that he get somebody to
agree TO the fnality OF the Compromised do not think
that this system Of says word about the
slave trade between the States | ask the gentleman il
he will prefer Mr.. Fillmore for the presidency, should
he be in favor of the abolition OF the slave trade be-
tween the States.
MIR CABELL Certainly not But Mr. Fillmore is in
favor OF such will appear by reference to
his letters to Governor Gale and to Mr. Brooks, 10 which
Mr. BRECKiNRIDGE. am about to allude TO that.
Now, sir, he tells fact that did not know and
plead guilty TO the charge OF ignorance; for suppose 1t
% be uue-from the statement OF the gentleman from
Foridathat Mr.. Fillmore published letter retractng
his opinions 10 reference TO the action OF Congress upon
the slave trade between the States Upon reflection be-
eve heard something OF II on the stump last summer,
but have not seen the letter Let ask him this ques-
on Did he in this letter express opinions adverse to the
power, did he only surrender his former opinions in
obedience the decision OF the Supreme Court of the
United States Did he voluntarily give them up, was
he driven by the Supreme Court Of the United States
surrender The gentleman mods. and take il for granted
that that is it That is bad history You fasten
anything of that sort upon the Keniuckian am defend
Mr. CABELL II the gentleman will allow me- | do
not recoiect precisely the words OF lha, letter. 1t was
addressed TO the gentlemen from New York, [Mr.
BRooksl / will ask the gentleman to allow Mr. BRooKs
to state what the letter was
ICries Of " Go on !" /" Go on !" " Don't give way, or
your time will be wasted u
MI BRECKENRIDGE. | am perfectly willing butt
do not wish to lose my time Let the gentleman IRON
New YORK publish the letter again did not understand
the gentleman from Florida TO say that Mr.. Fillmore has
ever etracred his published opinions in favor OF the abo
ton of slavery in this District that he ever has in
the slightest degree varied the uniform anti slavery tenor
OF his public e for the last quarter o century Will
ask tue gentleman from Florida ii he understands Mr..
Fmoe's position TO be that ii the Territory OF New
Mexico, any other territory SHOULD apply io adms
sion into this Unon with slavery in her constitution, the
Executive would throw his influence in favor OF her ad
mission
Mr.. CABELL By all means. If there were no other
objections To her admission.
Mr. BRECKENRIDGE. You know il to be so
Mr. CABELL. have no doubt oil II.
Mr. BRECklNRDGE will tell the gentleman the
only reason why doubted it. | thought so, inasnuch
as Inc President his message said II was nal settle
ment in principle and detail appauded him for that,
for was willing 10 take IL as hnality and am IN favor
Of hnality OF the compromise measurss but lind that
The distinguished gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr
Webster1 member OF his cabinet, was traversng the
State OF New York last making public speeches,
and stating that his own opinions and those oil the Pres
dent ienuca upon this question, and at the same
time declaring that he Mr. Webserl was rrevocaby
opposed to The admission OF any slave territory into
the Union Therefore, Mr.. Webster was mslniormed
(which is probabe) when he declared the opinions OF
himself and MIR Fillmore were identical, Mr. Fill
does not occupy the position the gentleman sup
poses Mr.. Chairman, a sort OF conversation has
sprung up between my friend from Florida and myself
and as our relations such that we can question each
other without the apprehension OF being misunderstood
will put one other question to him In connexon with
his euogium upon Mr. Fillmore, would inquire OF the
honorable gentleman whether he considers Mr.. Fillmore
perfectly sound upon the question OF the removal OF the
Florida ndiansi (Laughter.1 saw a letter from the
honorable gentleman In the "lntegencer the other day
which looked somewhat significant Now, have no
disposition to interfere with the private affairs OF the
State of Forida-none in the world but there are a
great many kentuckans there constituents Of the honor
able gentleman and think have some for ask
ing the question hope he will take il kindly, and an
swer accordingly. 3H sa ft#k