The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-03

cbusetts is coalition between men who d,
not oppose the compromise measures, and tn
fugitive slave law particularly, with men who d,
oppose them, an unholy coalition?
liz il be, where and since when was that dis
coyery made! Was II by the Wing party in th
State Of Missouri Has the State Of Missouri
been denounced again and again upon this floor
by Wing gentlemen, because the gentleman MI
i GEYERl who holds his seat in the other brancl
of this. Congress, was elected by coalition, as
understand Il, OF those who favored aud thos
| who were opposed to the fugitive slave law, am
the compromise measures, in the State Of Mis-
sour! Is il in the State of Wisconsin, wher,
the gentleman, nominated by Free-soil conven
ton, and known to concur in their views, wa,
elected, and the Wing papers, from one end
| the country to the other set up a shout of tri
umph at the Wing victory in the State of Wis
consin! The Free-soil candidate of the Free
soil party was elected and hence it was, as on,
would suppose, Free-soil victory But is ,
Wing victory Free-soil victory! Are they on.
and the same thing? The gentleman says the,
are not the same, but very different things; bu
vet there ia no cutlery Of indignation against Mis-
souri, OF against Wisconsin for these enormities
but much applause, becausea coalition has giver
| to Wings share in the distribution of Office
and nc wer There is little to be urged against
Ohio, or New York, or Georgia, but great dea
against Massachusetts, And why do mol
| know, unless it is because her own sons c0ntri-
butte to heap imputations of dishonor on Massa
chusetts on this floor, because the stab from the
paricidal hand rankles most sorely, and stimu
lates the nalignancy of strangers to follow UP
the blow and add fresh venom to the wound.
do not know why else she is made to bear the
sins of all the other States--why else she is to
be the sscape- goat" for all the other coalitions
in the United States.
Are not we in Massachusetts at liberty to
Judge of our own political position, and political
course, as well as gentlemen in Missouri, OF
Wisconsin, or Ohio, or in New York, or any.
where else in the United States-in Mississippi,
or Georgia, or any other State :! Is it so clear
that in any section of the country-East, West
North, South, or central-is it, say, so clear
that gentlemen, who call themselves by the Same
party name, agree upon these very questions |?
Is it so clear that, in South Carolina, or Aaba.
ma, or Mississippi, the Democrats all agree
about this fugitive slave bill Do not some OF
them say that it is constitutional, and others that
it is unconstitutional Do not some propose
one course of action, and others precisely the op.
posite course of action wish regard to it? Yet
day after day, with on insolenc, countenanced
BY her own sons, Massachusetts is denounced
upon this floor, and no other State but Massa
chusetts-a State having right equal to that
of any other sovereign State in this confederacy
to determine what she considers right and prop
err, and what course she deems best to pursue
in her own domestic affairs, and for her own
good government. Why, the gentleman from
North Carolina, Mr.. STANLYl thinks he would
not 90 to heaven with Democrats like those of
MISUNDERSTANDING could not bear to tread the
same path. Sir, he has not trod our pa,h here
tofore, and we therefore had no reason to ex-
pect his company in the straight and thcrny way
at this time; but because he refuses to joia us,
we shall not the less firmly press on, and not
the less safely arrive at our journeys end
Massachusetts,, ] say, has the same right to
manage her own political affairs, in her. own
way, with that of any other State in the Union
And she has not only the same right, but she has
the same ability, energy, and determination, to
maintain that right with any other State, and
she will maipiain il, at home and abroad.
But am not going to take my stand behind
the dignity of the State of Massachusetts, and
say that she does what she pleases, and she will
not give an account of what she does. stand
ready here to-day-what have never done be
fore in public, and what would not do now, if
did not feel particularly clear and particularly
free from doubt that | am doing right in what !
am doing-to indorse the coalition in Massachu
setts. believe understand what il was, and
what it did, though was not present at the time
il was entered into. | was in the State Of Iii.
nois. But after my return heard what had been
done, and am now in the condition Of an i'm.
partial locker on and being thus free 10 take
my own course, can say, and do say, that |
think IL was eminently wise and patriotic in the
majority Of the people Of that State to take the
government Of the State out of the hands of the
minority, however uni easant TO the minority
that proceeding might be.
Before proceeding to discuss the pfopriety of
that movement, and of'the mastery combination
by which il WIS made, lei rue, however, inquire,
for moment, what il is that makes the charge
of corruption against the coalition in Massacbu
sets My colleague from the sixth district Mr.
DAVIS undertakes TO read lectures to the DE.
mocrscy and Free-soil party because they net to
pether in Massachusetts. That is all. He has
not impeached them for their acts, bat only for
their concurrence ia those acts. lie has not
singled out any one act Of those parties, except
that OF acting together. That h. considers q
violation Of political principles. have right
10 presume that all our great measures were
right, only that IL was wrong for Us first 10 agree
70 do right, and then 10 do il. lie has not nc
cused us Of voting for any law or any resolu.
ton, but he has accused us Of appointing men 10
Office. lie has not accused Us Of appointing
bad men. He has not said that the offices are
not better filed now than they were when the
Wings were In power. If he had, should take
issue with him upon that proposition. lie has
not designated one single act Of these parties
but he has designated this coalition itself, and
per Sc as offensive to his political sensibiIites.
And now, what does my friend from the
sixth district mean by charging upon the Demo.
Gratis breach of political honesty IN acting
with those who agree with them upon certain
particular points Of action--in electing the gov.
ernor, lieutenant governor, and other officers OF
the State administration, and IN passing certain
measures of reform, in which the Democratic
party has been engaged for fifteen q twenty
years pat in Massachusetts,. but which (ssy had
not accomplished, and could not h1ss sccom.
pished without the aid which he thinks they
ought not 70 have received, when II was ten.
deredi Does the gentleman from the sixth
district believe that Il is wrong for Free-soiler
| 10 act with Wing, or Wing with Free.