Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-02-03

In fhe House of Representatives, jan +. 1854
Mr.. SMITH Of Virginia. At time had the good i'r'
tune 10 obtain the loo and fc very deSirous 10 submit
remarks Subsequent events however have occurred
which have so saddened my sprte that ieel ue ncna'
on 10 enter Into the passing scenes o le. bu we nave
listened 10 remarks upon this floor, In wh en- losc %hon
laast willing sustain have been strongly caumnla
ted, aud yet we have heard word in their behalf
With the permission of the committee, Will present
very few remarks and in s0 doing shall havn to advert 10
the New York controversy which has taken place upon hs
floor In doing this beg say that shal not Indulge in
any crimlnatoa whatever upon either side o that conlr0
resy shall advert to II merely as an Introduction to Inc
main body Of the few remarks which propose 10 submit
take occasion TO say to thi' committee mat ihs con-
troversy has been OF painful characte-preenting 1t
did large portion of the representatives Of this country In
very unpeasan, and dsaereeabe light What do we sect
One of The first States in this Union torn TO pieces by con
ctne opinions and her desensions introduced into this
Hail. | will not undertake to comment at length upon this
but revert It with feelings Of regret; and beg her Re-
representatives. remember that In thus presenting this dis
sensou the country they hei! Just strength
and estimation in this land. New York. know, is one of
tho first States 10 the Union. She has prodgous wealth
and population She has very large political power and
should have great Influence in the councils OF the coun
ry and by comfy, has been called the "Empre Sa,o-
How painful It be- and how dstaslcfu then 10 see
this great Sl4o Introducing her private quarrels here
shall dwell upon this subject but will take this occa
sion advert few facts involved In this controversy
and In reference 10 which, II mistake them, shall DC nap
py 10 have gentlemen correct shall not go back to
the conservative period TO which some gentlemen have
ravellcda time when it is said the first division In New
York took pacebut 60 back only 10 lel7 then learn
that al that period resolution was introduced Into The
New York Legislature. approving of the Wlmot provlso
and that almost unanimously passed AT that tlmc
with very few exceptions there was division upon
that quesou-al Free Soilersa bowed 10 political
Free Sosm. In lS45 the representatives of the State OF
New York the other delegations Of the Union In con-
venon Baltimore to make Presidential nomination.
They by the appearance OF of delegates each claim
represent the Democracy OF that Stale carried their
dssensions into that body and then, because one party
could not have their way separated from the conVen-
zion, aud returned 10 their constituents That is another
fact
Then what did we sect ask the members Of this House
to contemplate this view Of the question for moment
These gentlemen dissatisfied with the decision OF The
| Baltimore convention of lS4S when -
/ Mr. CUTTING tnterupting) Did understand the gen.
eman from Virginia DESIRE he went no. 10 be correct
ed in the facts which he might state were not in accor
dance with the recoections of the members from New
York Or did he prefer that those corrections should take
place after he should have concluded his observa'ions7
| Mr. SMITH. l Stating certain facts in connection
with the controversy and II they are stated erroncousy
| desire that they should be corrected.
Mr. CUTTING. Does the gentleman desire that hey shout
corrected now or after he shall have concuaeo MS re-
marks?
MR. SmlrH prefer that It should be done now briefly
u Mr.. CUTTING When the gentleman from Virginia, Mr.
Smith states 10 this committee that the New fork Democ
racy carried their controversy into the Baltimore Conven
ton and when matters did not suit them there ootn ees o
deesaes left the Conventionor remarks to that elect-I
epy that any of the members of the Syracuse delegation
who represented the New FORK Democracy left that Con-
vention. On the contrary, assert that when the Conven
on admitted the delegates from both sections mean those
who afterwards Buffalo, well as those sent by the
Democacythat both delegations took their seats and al
ter those who subsequently went to Buffalo oed 10 obtain
the nomination of candidate who suited them, and alter
they had In vain struggled against the nomination OF Gene.
raj Cass that then after having submitted themselves 10
the Jurisdiction of the Convention after having participated
in its councils and while every delegate appointed Syra
cuse and representing the Democratic party remained until
the Convention adourned-those headed by Mr. Camore.
ng deserted upon that OCCASION after General Cass was
nominated
MIR. SMITH. lam happy TO have the correction made. !
The gentleman from New York MI Cutting although ano-
lher gentleman from New YORK Mr.. Petklns denies, ex
preesiy and unequvocay that they participated In those
Of history this sor differ how can outsiders
be able to appreciate the facts In The case ,,,,
Mr. ssI5a gentle
dieren, statement is made by the venerable gentleman on
my left Mr.. Perkins, That being the state OF things VIVA
do OF tese delegations when they were not aoe 10 oo
tain nomination suitable Themselves They 60 nome
to New York and get meeting at Buffalo, and call upon
the couutry 10 sustain nomination made there upon the
most extraordinary principles. say and speak from per.
sona knowledge that action of public body could have
possibly produced pofoundeI sensation In my own State
Than the action of lhs body When Mr. Van buren accsr
ed that nomination. Deep in the South, was the feeling o
indignation and regret which 1t produced II had been my
good fortune let say in the campaign OF S4U TO apenc
some CT the best mon'hs OF nay me M III S f nn 0 did
and when decision Of his In reference 10 the Buffalo no
mination to the country deep was my regret 10 hnS
he had assumed this poson-so much at war WIN al
the principles upon which had defended and sustained him
and much with the previous history OF his event
| full life.
Mr. Chairman will not dwell longer upon that branch
of The subject We told by The gentleman from Ne"
York. Mr. Hughes who first addressed the committee on
the part OF the Sos upon this sutJectand he presen
now hope he will take notice OF my satement-ihat they
went into nomination of 1lr. Van Buren, because The
eushed man 10 the State Of New York. Mr.. Wrght] who
had occupied eminent place in Tho Council Chamber ed
, joining this Hall, for many year.
Sir that that never heard 80 much ns hint
cd until the gentleman announced it upon this h1or
had always understood that was In consequence OF The
personal spite of Mr. Van Buren, agains. General Cass
irhO he
Baltimore nomination in l644i and that was the popular
understanding throughout the country Now however, we
have another version Of The matter But whether one yer
sion the other be correct is nevertheless true that
great and important proceeding which resulted In the detea
of the National Democracy, took place in consequence
5 personal feelings.
deeply regret that such unworthy considerations should
have Influenced the result of Federal election in 30 great
State New York. deeply regret that gentlemen should
have allowed hemseve, be influenced BY their private
feelings in the performance OF high public dues That div
sion 10 The Democracy of New York resulted in the defeat
Gen Cas the surrender Of Federal Government into
the hands OF the Wings for season. from which, however
has since been gloousy redeemed by the country.
But SIR l have alluded 10 this state OF parties in New
York for the purpose of showing how lille application II
can have that existing. The same division OF par
.ies persons, rarely continues two years together
Like the shifting sands Of the desert they ever chang
ing In 647 they were all Free Soil; in l945 they
divided in the manner have stated
In lS49, as understand, another party was formed
Then was charged, that the present distinguished
Secretary of State with large number of his friends fell
into the ranks of the Softs. Sir have heard, with The
been INDUCED In by gentlemen from the State Of New York
towards that distinguished man. am one Of those WHO de-
light above oil things in sustaining The character OF ou,
public men. In Virginia, here take occasion TO say.
never heard the character Of any Of her sons vhsd Il
could avoid i without defending them, though they
might have differed with in espoc public questions
would no less hesitate TO uphold the character Of public
man from any other State uDustly assaiIed and regret
that The same feelings do not manifest themselves the
part OF other gentlemen.
remember that Mr. J. W. Taylor, distinguished son Of
New York when he Speaker of the House OF Repro.
think it In 1923 or 4-on one occasion
when the House in COMMITTEES Of the Whole on the
state of tho Union reply complaints then very common
on tho eubec of Virginia influence said, In just and e'o.
quent language tina. as long as Virginia continued 10 up.
hold and magnify her distinguished sons as she had always
DONE she &oud. have influence, however much others
might complain of it. He said that when her sons altered
sustained them when they fell she raised he she puo
lished their virtues and threw the mantle Of charity over
their faults Sir would commend this example to New
York. deee tnat New York shall act 10 reference 10 her
distinguished in the elevated and magnanmous
waY
New York. of the great States Of This Union bound
hu horn and hu hor