The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-02-01
Remarks of MIR. Underwood ON the Late
Presidential Election.

Remarks of Mr.. Underwood ON the Late
Presidential Election.
In the Senate of the United States, January 81,
1853, in the course of debate on the Clayton
Bulwer treaty, Mr.. UNDERWOOD, of Kentucky,
made the following remarks, which we copy from
the Globe:
ssmatter- of fact man." desire to make few re.
marks in reply to what has been said by the Sena-
tor from Arkansas, who has thought proper to
make an attack upon the Wing party. wish to
vindicate that party, in very few Words from the
charges which he has made against it, and to prove
that it is not in that miserable minority which he
has assigned to it. / shall turn the tables upon
him BY few plain facts, showing that his party is
exactly in that situation. Now, sir, how many
votes did General Pierce receive? Look at the
tables which have been published, and you will
find that he received less than 100000. How
many voters are there In the United States? Sir,
for other purposes, applied at the Census Bureau
to ascertain the number of free white males over the
age of twenty-one years, and / found there were
in 1885, the date of the census, upwards of $780,
0O0. You have, then. less than one-third of the
voting population OF the United States who elected
the candidate of the Democratic party. And vet
we are perpetually tainted with the declaration
that we, the Wings, have been overwhelmed with
defeat, and that you. the Democrats, are in tri-
umphant majority Thus the Democratic party
contrive to makes triumphant majority, by electing
their candidate with the votes OF less than third
of the voting population of the United States.
Such is the state OF facts. Sir, you might get every
electoral vote provided you could get majority
OF one In the popular vote in each State of the
Union-and majority of has sometimes
elected Governor of a State-I say you might
get every electoral vote save those of one State,
and yet be In considerable minority of the peo-
pie of the United States. rose to state these facts
and to show this boasting party, which is SO con-
stantly haunting us with being in miserable mi
nority, that when the amount of support which it
received 10 compared with the whole voting popu-
iation of the United States, that party occupies
the very position which it SO constantly attempts
to assign to US.
1t may be said, in reply, that 1.-THE whole popu-
lation had voted, the relative proportion which
each party would have received would have been
the same; and that is the only reply which can be
made to the facts have presented. The fact that
the people did not go to the polls and vote, shows
dissatisfaction, if may be allowed the expires
sion, with both the great parties; and, if l had
time, could show the foundation of that dissatis-
faction. But l will not go into it. / will. how
ever state the fact that in the State of Kentucky
where the whole voting population was 1861 O5 in
Auditor, only IL GIT went to the polls the late
Presidential election, leaving 81 1888, nearly one
third, who did not vote at all. know come of the
reasons which kept them at home, but will not
go into that subject now. There is no ground
for contending that the proportion of votes would
have been the same mad all the voters gone to the
polls.
olf, UeHefdl FlerCe ID IN q minority OF AZ ZOO
the New England States, of the actual votes given
If you will put the votes which the gentleman who
occupies the seat to my left MIR. HALEY received |
with those of General Scott. And if you take |
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, |
and Maryland, with them, he will still be in mi.
nority OF more than 10000 of the votes actually |
given. You may carry on these calculations
throughout the whole of the Atlantic States, and |
i viii be found that General Pierce did not obtain |
aalf the votes cast in those States. Sir, these |
soasts which are made here, by way of haunting u.s.
IN all occasions, have facts upon which they |
can rest Sir, deny that the Wing party lack |
In the virtue and intelligence of the peo
pie, deny it, and / call for proof
Mr.. BoRLAND Will the honorable Senator per- |
nit me to say one words did not expect, by the
remarks which made, to call forth any statistical
accounts OF our late Presidential election But |
hiding great fact before the country great !
act, say-that is, that with very few exceptions
he Wing party has always been defeated, and as
understood, most signally and disastrously de-
Gated IN the recent election, / undertook to &C
'ount Tor 1t upon principle of political philosophy
md the one which announced was that which &C
cured 10 me as being correct and sound one. If
he Senator, however, undertakes to contest that
,oint, and intends to bring forward array of
statistics from the various Presidential elections
hat will open new field of inquiry, which will
'equire little time to prepare reply.
Mr.. UNDERWOOD. have given the facts in re.
gard to the election; and have also given the fact
n regard to the number of male persons over
wenty one years of age, some of whom NAV not |
,e voters in.he United States, which obtained
rom the Census Bureau. Those facts speak for
themselves,
was about to conclude my remarks bv stat;no
hat, 80 far as ] am connected with the Who narty
deny the charge that it was or is our poiicy 10
'onceal any thing from the virtue, and intelli- |
'ence' and the knowledge of the people. So far as
vais i h bad wing principles and Wing pol
'nd intelligence, and reason of the people. have
ways attempted to bring the facts, and nothing /
'uI acts, before them. Sir before charge of that
ort ought TO be made, the Senator from Arkansas
Mould have pointed out the specification, and said:
mere ls the subjects this is the time and this the
iace where the party that am now assailing has I
zen guilty of endeavoring to suppress Know
edge OF facts from the people, But there is no
petihcation given; there is no time, or place, or
act pointed to, which we can gainsay and DENY;
md after this general denial of the gentiemanss
harge, it will be time enough to make particu-
ar response, when the fact, the time, the place.