Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-04

ency to the Senator nom Michigan tr CAssJ ~ io-o,
but which triumphed in 1850 although he had been
martyr in the cause, that principle to which the Demo
racy are pledged, mot merely by the Baltimore pla.
(orm but by q higher and more solemn opngauon, 70
hich thew are pledged by the love and affection which
have for that great fundamental principle Of Demo-
racy and free institutions which lies at the OASIS OF our
creed and gives every political community the rignt 70
govern itself in obedience to the Consutution OF tne
country ~
M CHASE Mr. President i had some intimation,
coming 10 the Senate chamber this morning, of the da
tribe which the Senator from Illinois Mr. DoUGLAs has
now pronounce aware that an assault was to be
made upon Wen, SIR the assault mas oeen inaae.
runs. we have heard the noise; in the midst of
the smoke but nobody is hurt We are still here; We
vet survive aud doubt not shall long survive oil
such attacks as that which he has been pleased to
make
Mr. President the Senator from Illinois charges that
the address upon which he has been pleased to comment
in terms which beft any other place than the Senate
chamber however low that place may be- concocted
in what he chooses to call Abolition held upon
Sunday. Aye, sir with peculiar generosity, peculiarly
his own he has ayaied himself of of date,
and piousy holds up to public depreciation the gentlemen
who have signed that address violating the sacredness
of the Sabbath day. that day for which he chershes
doubtless peculiar reverence. Aud yet at the very
moment Of making this charge he refutes it by another
asserting that this very appeal printed in the New
York Times and other New York papers on the Monday
morning following that very Sunday Did he not know that
it impossible that the document could have been pre-
York on Monday morning?
Well sir the Senator further charges that false state
ment has been put forth in connexon with this address
That false statement he alleges this: that the
appeal was signed by majority of the members from the
State Of Ohio He thinks that the design to catch
some tsoft, footed Democrats" :. Softfooted Demo-
Gratis Aye that is the phrase by which he chooses to
mark all Democrats who will vote against this bill.
trust he viii find that such Democrats little more
numerous than he seems now to Imagine do not know
how many there may be. pass that What Il have now
to deal with is the Senator's charge and that pronounce
utterly groundless
The simple facts are these The appeal prepared
upon consultation among the independent Democrats who
signed it. 1t afterwards suggested that 1t should be
signed by the Senators and number of the Representa-
tves from Ohio and sent forth address to the peo
pie of that State. 1t signed by my colleague anu
myself with that views but some alterations being re-
4uired by certain Representatives which could not be
made without nconvenient delay it determined to is
the document with the signatures only of the gentle
by whom it was originated and in the form original
y proposed appeal to the whole country This is
the plain story The address bears signatures other
than those of the Independent Democrats whom the Sem
ator chooses to style the abolition conederates By
of them was it represented to be otherwise sign
cd. Some gentlemen connected with the press, however,
hearing of the purpose that it should be signed by more
less of the delegation from Ohio have sent it abroad
with statement that it thus signed in fact have
in my hand which the corresponding editor in this
city Of the New York Times has just sent from the re-
porters gallery in which he states how the mistaken
statement into that paper. will not trouble the
Senate with the reading of it, but will send it to the
porter to be printed with these remarks My colleague
is in his seat, and knows the truth Of what speak
Mr.. WADE. Mr.. President, heard the address half
read and Judging of its quality by its sample, signed
it. Judging it by that sample and by what has been
made known by the Senator from Illinois, now endorse
every word of it, for believe it is perfectly true and
1t issued without my signature for the
sons assigned by my colleague.
Mr.. CHASE Not only, Mr.. President, were none of
who connected with this address responsible in any
degree for any Of those newspaper statements but it is
also true that the moment learned that statement
atributing the address the Ohio delegation likely
to appear in the New York Times requested the CORE
spondent Of that paper to telegraph the actual names Of
the sgners for the purpose of preventing mis-
apprehension; and yet the Senator represents me as
having sent this document the State of Ohio with this
Misrepresentation The very reverse Of this is true.
When found how it appeared in the New York papers,
teegraphed to friends in Ohio not to publish
the address with any such statements do not know
how has appeared there know only that have sent
OF these documents any where to be published with
any other signatures than those actually appended to
them And yet the Senator here into this chamber
and charges Senators with false statements intended for
special effect in Ohio in relation to the signatures to this
appeal There is not particle of foundation for the
charge Sir, do not envy him either the spirit which
prompted it, or the position which he occupies having
made it.
Well sir the Senator proceeded to take exception to
the character and scope of the whole document He
that wc orsooh have held him the country in this
address guilty Of certain great and enormous crimes
Why, sir, any who reads the address will see that
in no part it, from first to last except in brief note
appended, is the Senator mentioned at all So far MS
am responsible for the document either by signature or
authorship, tell the Senator he was not in all my
thoughts He exaggerates his Importance when he sup
poses that had him. rather than other member Of
the committee specially in view. Sir know the gigantic
stature of the Senator; know the weight and impor
lance which he possesses in the country know that
he has great and powerful party surrounding him and
know also the great disadvantages under which enter
into any controversy which he proyokes. am in mi
nority. know that full WELL 1t is no very pleasant
position. But dare do that which should like to see
the Senator also do. dare adhere to principle, even
though that adherence must carry me into minority
It is very true Mr.. President that the Senator from
Massachusetts, (Mr. SUMNER) and myself but two in
body Of sixytwo. We know that upon the great ques
ton which feel ourselves bound press upon the
consideration of the American people have not the
sympathies of this body with us; but proudly
challenge scrutiny of action and defy the production
of instance in which have been iberal to those
from whom differ. When have stopped to inquire
whether the interests to be affected by votes
those of the North the South When did fail to
give any proper for the benefit Of any South
ern State or citizen prompt earnest and cordial
support? When did offer sectional opposition
to any nomination sent here Upon what occasion did
discriminate by sectional lines between interest
men? Why then, we to be thus assailed?
Sir offence is thatwe deny the nationality Of slave
~. No man show that we have sought to in
terere with the legislation of any State of the Union
upon that subject All that have insisted upon
is that the Territories of this Union shall be preserved
from slavery and that where the General Government
exercises exclusive jurisdiction its legislation shall be
the side Of liberty 1t is because defend these posi-
tons that the Senator from Illinois attacks He thinks
that he take advantage of his position in the
tythat he take advantage of his connexion with
great and powerful political organization and assa us