The daily union., 1852-09-17
SPEECH OF HON. W. II. POLK,
or rrSsEssaE.

The House being in Committee OF the Whole on the
Mr. POLK said Mr. Chairman, as II is not my pur.
pose discuss any Of The subjects connected with this
BILL propose TO ask The gentleman from Pennsylvania
II Mr.. STEvESsl question: When the gentleman from
the Pilsburg district making his speech the other
day he Mr. STEyEssl rose and asked whether the gem
lenan from lbe Pltisburg district kasw Me fad that
adopted Baltimore and said that he accepted The
naton upon thai platform, Tie word . mar was not
MIR. STEVENS. Of Pennsylvania / do not under
stand the beginning OF The genilemans remarks. f.
Mr.. POLK. said that you stated, when the gentle
man from PENNSYLVANIA Mr.. How'll was upon the floor
that when General Scott adopted the whig platform at
Baltimore the word final" not in IT, thereby making
the assertions as il by authority that General Scott was
and clearly indicating thai if the word final" had been
in it the despatch would never have been sent ap-
Mr. STEVENS. do not remember it,
Mr.. POLK Il say that have il here upon paper. Ia
| ken down al the Ime.
/ Mr. STEVENS. Then, why ask me the question
/ Mr. POLK. do ask you the question. for the reason
that fear il escaped the attention Of some Of the south
en Scott wings, and to prevent denal by the whig
press, when assert the fact Did you say noi'
] Mr.; STEVENS. Does the gentleman refer TO my
/ Mr. POLK do not refer 10 your speech refer to
the question you propounded to the gentleman iron the
Mr STEVENS. l do not know what said then, but
am willing to make independent statement upon that
MI. T. M. HOWE Ii was not the gentleman from
the Pttsbug district. but my coleage from the Franklin
district.
Mr.. POLK Well, mean Mr., John W. Howe, Of
Pennsy ylvaDia. renew my question.
! Mr.. STEVENS intend TO say This, them That at
the time General Scott sent his despatch to Baltimore he
had before him the edition OF the platform which was
published in the National ntegencer and in the Repub
c of that morning, neither OF which contained the word
" final" That is what stated with regard TO the Com
promise A H .a5##T E2 g.g
Mr. POLK took down the language Of the gentle
/ Mr STEVENS believe you are right
| Mr. POLK. Then, sir, do understand that the whig
party OF Pennsylvania are supporting General Scott with
ont the power, and force OF that word fna' in the
platform erected by the Wing Convention at Baltimore
Mr. STEVENS will answer the question If il is
asked respectfully.
Mr. POLK Oi course, mean no disrespect to the
Mr. STEVENS. dono, understand the gentleman
as meaning anything offensive. mean to Say, then,
far as know anything OF the whig party in Pennsyl
vana that some OF them snpport General Scott because
he word "fnal" is in the platform, because il
4 is not in the platform.
Mr. POLK. mean 10 show up and expose this mat
ter, and do it especially Tor the outside of the
House than any effect it have here, all ia
niar with the circumstances that marked the transfer
OF the whtg national party to the "higher-law party AT
Baltimore. mean 10 expose the gross jobblng which
has been done between the OF the North and our
brethren OF the South and from Tennessee particularly
if be done without emitting other matter of his
torlcal interest in the short space OF an hour.
Mr. STEVENS. The gentleman has asked me a ques
ton, and have frankly answered him. Now, will the
gentleman allow me 10 ask him question
i Mr. STEVENS. 1 wish 10 ask whether the demo-
Gratis OF the North support General Pierce because he
in favor OF The fnality Of the Compromise, some OF
them because he is in favor Of it, and because he
is not rs 5tss 9at Jat
Mr. POLK That question is answered by General
Pitrce's letter 10 Major Lally. which was read at the
Baltimore Convention before he was nominated, and
which states distinctly his position the Compromise.
Mr.. STEVENS. VIII the gentleman allow me to ask
him another question .dtea
MIR. POLK. cannot yield the floor. for have more
to say than can be compressed into the hour allowed
propose to prove two things, Mr.. Chairman: first,
that the whig party national party, have gone
liquidation. say tha, at Baltimore when they nom
mated General Scott that ii understood for three
four days before the nomination effected thai the
men from Tennessee from Kentucky, and Virginia had
agreed yield the Seward influence when sufficient
number OF ballots had been made 10 afford reasonable
excuse for deserving Mr. FIJI more and that the nomlna
ton oil General Scott from first 10 last, only Ques
non OF time IL was all understood the public walks
o Washington, before the convention Assem- bed, that
senator iron Tennessee although nominated by his own
State for Vice President on the Fillmore ticket, al
heart for General Scott, and the result proved the truth
OF the rumored detection. II this senator Mr.
JONES Of Tepnesseel who vsIied-as Is generally un;
Scott the day before the nomination was effected to OBJ
tain from him recognition OF the platform without the
word final in il. as Mr. STEVENS OF Pennsylvania has
stated which belrays his connexon with the overthrow
of Mr. Fillmore and MIR Webster and entire surrender
OF southern rights 10 northern fanaticism
| My colleague Mr.. CULLoMl ought TO know whether
an understanding existed and whether not the South
was beiray ed TO Sew ardsm," and to go chained
by obligations that analica power ruInous southern
interest and southern safety
II Mr.. CULLOM. Will my colleague allow me to ask
him II he alludes TO me cannot hear my colleague
Mr. POLK. wish my colleague would come little
nearer, then.
Mr.. CULLOM Was the allusion OF my colleague to
myself in relation 10 the betrayal OF the South, OF any
other public interest OF the country
Mr.. POLK If my colleague will listen TO me, say
that the who occupies position senator from
Tennessee at this moment was nominated upon the
ticket with Fillmore for Vice President by the State
venuon OF Tennessee. say furthermore that be be-
raped that interest My colleague answer whether
he connected with that betrayal not it not for
me to say or determine.
Mr CULLOM My colleague in the Senate, to whom
self in relation 10 his betrayal But disclsim here and
pronounce in my place, that any charge that have
had any participation in any betrayal OF any public IN.
eresi, Norh South, East West OF any public
private interest," grau,ous, uniounded, unlruthu and
utterly false.
Mr. POLK Well, Mr.. Chairman, there is but one
way arrive at the facts IN this and that by
frank, open, and manly course have charged my col
league with nothing and therefore consider his
language applicable to but as he seems 10 have
worked himself into towering passion will make
diversion another point the result OF which may pos
sbly give him fair for his wrath ! therefore
make further charge. will not allow this thing go
into an indefinite SORT OF responsibility. will make 1t
fixed one
will not alade TO my colleague in the Senate but
The public square OF this city tina, Frank Pierce tainted
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