Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-01-20
CONGRESS-.
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Senate, Friday, Jan. 90, 1854.
The Senate was not in session TO. day.

Senate, Friday Jan 20, 1854.
The Senate was not in session to- day.
House Of Representatives. Jan. 20, 1854.
This being Private Bill day. number Of
such bills, heretofore passed by the Senate,
were taken up, read twice by their titles, and
appropriately referred.
On motion the House resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union.
Mr.. Cutting arose and said that it was net
unusual for persons, on whom the burden Of
proof rested, to seek to promote collateral
issues Mr. Hughes had yesterday acted upon
this principle. No defence had been made Of
the coalition he had denounced The State of
New York had been disgraced, and republic
canism had been discredited, by the proceed
ings in that State Yet his adversary had seen
no subject worthy Of debate, but those personal
to the speaker.
He had been charged with having been
prominently instrumental in promoting the
cause of the union Of the Buffalo Free Sellers
with the Democracy.
Mr.. Cutting gave o history of the coalition
in New York, and proved that his influence
had ever been against such coalition. He
showed that in consequence of his opposition
to Free Soilism in 1848, he had been denounc-
ed as q slave owner and slave breeder Mr..
z. read extracts from the Albany argus Of
this tenor. He denounced those who had as
sailed him, as men capable Of assuming any
attitude or position that could secure to them
the favor and patronage Of the present Ad-
ministratiOn.
Mr.. G. also explained how he and others had
been "entrapped at Syracuse, by the leaders
of the Van Buren, party, into seeming acqni-
escence in the coalition; and he denounced
coalitions as ever fatal to any party.
!. In reply to question by Mr.. Hughes, as to
how he had voted, he declared on his honor
and conscience he had no remembrance.
Laughter
Mr.. Cutting spoke Of Silas Wright, and said
that had he died before his opposition to the
Mexican War and to the Wilmot Provieo was
revealed, his name would have been unsullied
upon the scroll Of Democratic fame
AT the Presidents selection Of Mr.. Gushing,
who had 30 long warred against the Democra-
tic party, and his intended or reported nomina-
ton Of Mr. Dix, the opponent Of great Demo
cratic measures, and the friend Of Abolitionism,
together with his prescription of Mr.. Bronson
and Others the Democrats were amazed. He
spoke of the intrigue by which Jacob was
blessed, and Esau defrsuded and he declared
that the Democrats were forced to exclaim
that the voice was that of General Pierce, but
the haad was that of Caleb Cushing
He said that it was a mistake that this was
q local question. The Union had not 80 re-
garded it, nor had Mr.. Cushing 80 regarded it
in his attempts at crushing outn the spirit Of
political Independence He commended that the
war of the Hards and Softs was national He
acquitted Mr.. Guthrie Of the design to pro-
scribe. He was but the instrument of men
more artful and more cunning Mr.. Guthrie
was gentleman of ability, but not Of artifice
Mr.. Westbrook, Of New York, as Soft
would have preferred not to trouble the House
with discussion Of New York politics He
would not widen the ripples Of New York
troubles. The Softs here act in elfdefence
but may be compelled to carry the war into
Africa. He said many Of the "secret circular
men, of 1914 were now Hards He might
name some Of them, especially one now loud
moutbed in opposition to such measures
In lS48, the editor Of the National Democrat
Of New York, was in favor of Van Buren,. One
half of the Softs in the House now were Cass
men in lS48. He hence inferred REPUTATION
of the charge made by Mr.. Cutting, that the
Softs Of "a were the Free-Soilers of '48
Mr.. w. traced the history of New York since
'4s The party was then divided between
Cass and Van Buren,. The Cass wing, with
which Mr.. w. was connected, had taken the
initiative in effecting a reunion. He reviewed
the conduct Of Mr. Cutting, and quoted from
his speech on taking the chair as temporary
President Of the Syracuse Convention, in which
Mr. Cutting expressed himself ready to 60 as
far as the foremost man may 90 in an effort
to heal all party divisions.
He could not have been /opposed to the
reconciliation, if he was therin earnest Mr.
Cutting was o member of the committee which
framed the basis of the coalition.
MIR. w. read from the resolutions of that
convention to show that it was as strongly
Anti. Slavery as the Van Buren, Convention
The only difference was, that the latter wished
to make the question test He quoted from
Mr.. Dickinson's speech to prove the purpose
Of the Convention, wherein Mr.. Dickinson de-
clared himself opposed to the extension Of Sla
very.
The union Of the party had been brought
about as he had said by the Cass wing and
in 1850, q broad and national platform had
been adopted, and again in 1852.
IL had been asserted that Mr.. Marcy's al
pointment in 1853 had led the Softs away from
their party, but Mr.. Cutting was then in favor
Of that appointment.
In 1853, the leading members in each of the
two conventions were persons who had been
Cass men in I84s The chairmcn Of both had
be-. n such. IL was the Hards who then dc.
parted from the convention and from the par
ty The resolutions then adopted were nation
al they sanctioned the Baltimore platform in
full-the Fugitive Slave Law and all.
The separation had been made, Mr. West
brook said, because Mr.. Marcy, and not Mr..
Dickinson, had been called TO the Cabinet Of
General Pierce.
He read from speech Of Mr.. Cooley, Of New
York, and from the editorial columns of the
Albany Argus, to prove the determination OF
the Hards TO oppose the Democratic President,
and TO elevate to Office BOLTON, Woolly headed,
Seward Wings; while the Softs we're the truly
National Democrats, opposed to Slavery agita.
ton, and acting in good faith with their brother
Democrats throughout the Union. They were
the Union Democrats Of the State
Mr.. Walbridgc, Of New York said that as