Washington sentinel., 1854-01-29

ways treated me with marked kindness and ap
parent confidence, though II may be his policy OF
game TO treat most people in similar manner
and If II is so, shall OF course be compelled
10 deduct very heavy per cenlage from the
otherwise seeming high compliment to myself
tLauehter) So peculiarly sofening and seduc
tive Is he in this respect, that | have studi.
ousiy avoided calling upon him since the opening
OF Congress, as | am too conscious OF the irailiy
of my own poor, weak, unsophisticaied nature,
when subjected 10 such seductive influences, from
even one OF my own sex, TO wantonly expose my
self 10 such dangerous influences. In this respect
he reminds me of the effect produced, during the
passage across from France. by the manners and
conversation of Napoleon, on the old commander
OF the Bellerophon The mighty but now fallen
and captive conqueror was very ANXIOUS, on arri-
wing in England, 10 obtain an interview with King
George from the ministers who were sent 10 see
him. They received the proposition favorably
but, on asking the commander with whom he came
over what would in his opinion be the policy of
such step, he promptly replied "D-n IL, sir, it
will never do know II wont; If yon once let
them have i've minutes conversation together,
they will become the best friends in the world"
know the Presidents winning ways, and also my
own susceptibility, and desire 10 avoid certain
consequences which might possibly result from
too great intimacy between as. From what Ihave
said, no gentleman will, presume, suppose for a
moment that.l am going 10 use any unknd ex-
pressions towards that high functonary. simply
tlemen must draw their own inferences.
Sir, the position which the New York democracy
has really and unwaveringly occupied, throughout
this severe and proiracted struggle has been
grossly and shamecssly misrepresented. The
contest which had its final and glorious issue in
the last election may be justly said TO have regu-
larly commenced in the early part Of 1914. Those
who were particularly conspicuous in their base
and traitorous efforts 10 defeat General Cass, BY
the support Of Van Buren, and the Buffalo platform
in lSlS, had then arrayed themselves with equal
bitterness, though with less boldness and more
secrecy, against the annexation of Texas. They
are the same individuals who got up ard con-
Quoted the great anti-annexation meeting in the
Tabernacle in 1874, and who in the same year
sent their secret circulars throughout the whole
State calling upon their fellow-traitors. while
voting for Silas Wright (who voted against annex
alton in the United States Senate) for governor
10 use their best exertons defeat Polk for Pre-
sdent The result this, as must readily be re-
membered, was that the vote for the latter fell
several thousand behind the former and had their
treacherous organization been as thoroughly ma
tured then as it was subsequently in 1s4S the re-
suit of their Infamous ingratitude and reasonable
malice, towards party whose only crime had
been that of having been too profusely liberal in
bestowing unnierlted favors on them, would have
proved quite disastrous to our cause.
But il is unnecessary 10 trace them through all
the subsequent snuosites Of their reasonable cru
sade, and il would at present be but an unpar-
donable waste of time to descant on the several
disguises which they have assumed, with such
cool etrontery, with the view of successfully con
cealins their real purpose from the people Their
course is now known TO all The world never
beheld more sublime spectacle than that pre-
senied by the democracy in lSiS, when, casting
patronage to- the wind they stood boldly forth, de-
tending the integrity OF the Constitution against
Ieckless and unprincipled demagogues, who, taking
advantage of the feverish excitement of a popular
ala Vpr q In
tonal feeling in the north, rapidly alternating our
people, and arraying one portion Of our people in
hostility against the other threatening 10 subvert
the Constitution, and entail rretrievable ruin on
the whole country. Sir, after The result Of that
as l promised not 10 detain the
House long, shall very briefly touch upon the
few points TO which | am about 10 refer-they
found that the people whom they had been leading
blindly asiray, began to discover the cheat which
had been SO shamefnlly practised on them that
a returning conciousness was fast awakening
them 10 a singing sense of the fatal error into
which they had been led This, sir, il was which
Martin Van Buren called the ssober second
thought Of the people; !" and it is the only SEN
tence he ever uttered which will bear repetition
(much laughter j and that " sober secondthought
of the people" has already consigned him and his
associate traitors 10 an ignominious oblivion from
which not even the archangel's trumpet shall
ever awaken them. (Renewed laughter.)
Sir, through that sober second-thought, the de-
termined good sense and returning patriotism of
the people had effectually, and as il seemed for
ever stricken treason 10 the dust. There il would
have quietly remained and rotted, had il not been
for the strange and stupid course pursued by this
administration in galvanizing it again into life and
active being by the warming influence Of its smiles
and patronage. The triumphant election OF whom
soever might be nominated by the convention
which was to assemble in June al Baltimore was
for long time previous freely admitted by all 10
have been ioregone conclusion. Any man, the
record of whose past history was sound on the
great and question of the contest, would If he
had received the nomination. have been elected
Just as easily and iriumphantly as was Franklin
Pierce No one knew this better than the Buf.
falo traitors of lS4S, and, plainly foreseeing that
the overw helming tide of indignant public senii-
ment was about 10 sweep them and all others who
should attempt 10 obstruct its onward progress
into hopeless obhvion--fnding that storm was
coming, which they had neither the manhood TO
brave nor the ability 10 successfully resist-ind-
ing that they stood in the position of SO many rat
tlesnakes. with their poisonous fangs extracted
with the same disposition 10 strike, but without
the power to harm-they base!y and sneakngly
crawled upon platform, which the administration
organ uhe U,io,) now says was only meant as a
delusion and cheat but (which the President and
his cabinet practically declares by their appoint.
ments, must be regarded as clean wiping out OF
| all past sins.
Now, sir, in 1852, the democracy of the country
i
was there laid down upon which General Pierce
| was nominated. If he received that nomination
as has been said, without pledge. he did not re-
ceive the votes Of the people Of the United States
without pledge; because, in his letter OF accept.
ance, he said, distinctly and emphaticalIy that he
| accepted the nomination with the accompany wing
resolutions, not because those resolutions were a
condition OF the nomination, but because they
were in strict keeping with every act OF his past
political life. How has that pledge been carried
out in his appointments TO Office? E
And had il not been for the position assumed
by General Cass and the patriotic men who stood
by him in defence Of the Constitution during the
memorable struggle Of 1S4S, there would have
been no triumphant democratic party in 1852 10
have elected Franklin Pierce or any other man
who might have received the nomination
And here let me tell gentlemen that if, they sup
pose that the opposition 10 the administration
comes from those who have been disappointed of
hce-seekers, they sadly underrate the character OF
the men with whom they have TO deal. If they
suppose there is any disposition upon the part Of
the democracy Of the State of New York 10 make
war upon the administration, they are wrong
But when the administration undertook to interfere
in cur local elections, when they sent forth the
mandate that Greene G. Bronson must do their
dirty work-and if they were deceived in Mr.
Bronson's character, IL was their own fault for
the democracy OF New York never asked that he
should be appointed--if they expected 10 find a
,la 10, I,Jr q. 4 =