The daily union., 1854-02-23
SPEECH OF HON. r.. E. FENToN,
pT NEW YORK

/. hun. rs II. EN IONs
YORK, saN /,
Oa Democratic Tests. delivered in the House OF Repre-
ssatatives, February Is, 1854
The House being in the Committee OF The Whole on
the state Of The Union
Mr.. FENTON said;
Mi CHAIRMAN desire TO submit few remarks upon
Inc Nebraska question Before do 40, however, per-
m me 10 correct msapprehenson into which the gen.
tleman from Virginia M SMITH fell the other day, in
discussing The question concerning the hads and sofs OF
New YORK desire not 10 enter into the discussion of
he New York question, Tor would not ask the attention
OF ine committee upon Topics not germane to the pur-
poses for which we were sent here.
but as 10 the connexon. The gentleman [MT. SMITH,
oil Vgna said that he always understood that the free
soil orsanizallon-lhe movement OF 1s4s-was mainly
70 be ascribed 10 the rejection overthrow OF Martin
Van Bufen at the Baltimore Convention in 1874, and
which latter event 10 be ascrbed to the rivalry OF
General Cass until that he heard my colleague from the
fifteenth district OF New York ar. HuGHss say that it
was owing 10 INJURIES dc 10 another dstg shed cit
lzen, The lamened Sas Wright He Mr. SMiTH has
been long lime IN error, and II Id but propeI lat he
should be corrected now.
That organization and movement, sir, was not owing
to the rejection or overthrow OF Mafln Van sea At
the Baltimore Convention OF 1914 Neither did UNDER
stand my colleague 10 say that it exclusively or
mainly owing 10 injuries done to another disling
clzea-lhough dark and damnng WAS ine deed OF those
VINO carried The kniie and who shed the political hearts
ood OF thai citzen these Incidents tributaries 10
tue stream that rising, with swelling Tide, over
how aud wash away the dykes OF democratic orgxnixa-
lion. n 1864 NO
Yet, SIR, desIous the gentleman [Mr SMurH]
himself has been TO deiesd the honor and the char.
acer OF Virginia dsting sons, how can he
think II unjust or wrong in to defend the disiin-
guished sons OF New York in the manner We did
Ba; say his was not the origin OF il, the
OF that movement. The eliminating point OF organ
zaon may be found in the rejection OF the delegates
from New York IRON the convention which in ls4S
al Baltimore, or, not Their rejection the requirement of
them 10 submit 10 conditions al Illuminating and
neuraIzngo conditions neutrazing, and by which The
great Stale Of New York, which gentlemen have 30
ondy and frequently defended would have been power
pGa IL. Tho of t.. &ha has
been powerless, say, IN the convention oil the nation
unless she submitted TO esl al humiang ynobe.
and aeutrazlng. f,sasss
Their oranzaon, sir. in Isis, far resistance 10
slavery extension was concerned, but the echo
OF The sentmenls oil The fathers OF the republics il
bat the echo OF the sentiments OF those men who. fresh
ia the spirit OF the constitution established the ordinance
OF 1857, aud bat counieTpau oil the action OF those
patriotic men who, 40 ls2o, formed the celebrated Mis-
sour COMPROMISE And, sir. II bat The reflection OF
The whole northern sentiment in ls47--'or you will
member that the northern mind had become stored with
the principles OF tue Wilmot prosso And in this
ion would not iah 10 mention the action OF my distin-
gulshrd Trend aud colleague IRON New York, (Mr.
WasHl and who had the honor, 10 the New York legs.
a'ufe not ony 10 vote ior the instructions 10 our ssna
oss IN Congress in favor OF the Wlmot proyso Tho
doctrines assumed ~ the WlmOt proviso, but, be-
eve, lie delivered the first speech made The New York
legislature 10 It's favor. And you will recoect, sir that
that distinguished individual Of New York, who
then 10 the Senate, Daniel 3 Dickinson. although be
eyaded the instructions BY species OF special pleading.
SAID on that occasion that he prepared, when the
lime should arrive, to sustain The doctrines OF the Will
mot pIoys3 iosusted or unrestricted. need not
ton the Hon. Greene e. Bfonson Hon X. H. Walworh,
Governor Wood, o ONO, and the hosts of dsns uIshed
men all the Norh, who either warmly espoused the
Wllmot pfovlso, or maniuly resisted by writing and
speaking, the extension oil slavery over coil then free
The whole northern mind was saturated, 40 10 speak,
with iree-soil sentiment. In proof OF this position.
might quote, almost without lnit, from the speeches and
writings OF eminent men, and men. ioo, who now boast
of the adananne purity and hardness oil their political
nationality will, however, only refer 10 the opinions
pabhcly expressed Of one whom hrs friend. would lam
invest wh martyrs glory, for what Is called his 6del-
NV 10 the constitutional rights OF the Souh. alude of
course the late collector Tor tho port oil New York In
leller written By hm ~ lsi7, which have not now
hand, he declared himself hostile TO the extension OF
slavery territory then free, bu, opposed legislative
restriction, simply because unnecessary In his opinion,
slavery could hot exist IN such territory unless BY posi-
tive enactment and II attempt should be made % To
introduce II, he expressed the hope and belief that
the attempt would be resisted by the political strength OF
lhe whole North division had taken place. In is4s
Chairman and gentlemen OF the committee. how easy il
was tor those gentlemen who had differed simply IN the
organization OF lsiS, 10 come together IN 1S4e. They
did moi really dile the non.extenson OF slavery.
Although they heftd as to the means OF accomplishing
results whIeD both poiessed 70 desIte the difference was
not IA yAcr, but ~ tofn. tats.a
They "a ne ozether and as basis OF that union. it
was agreed IN tie State OF New York tbsl the sentiment
enteta0ed by any individual democrat upon The subject
Of slavery should not be regarded tenet oil political
faith, or rule OF party acuon--- rs
MIR. PECkHAM, Qnteuupliog) wisb.to ask one
question. Why did not they uaile u 1919 al Rome. II
Sete not simply The fact that the irse-soiles resolved
that the Wlmot provso Indispensable and the DEM
ocrats refused to accept ii1 H.EMt
Mr. FENruN, The basis OF union was altemp ed 10
be made al Rome in lsla. lev days subsequent the
two wings oi the democratic party met ~ Convention
again-0ne al Syracuse and The other al Utica Tie Sy-
faeuse convention (hunke) then and there proposed
mole liberal basis ot sgfeeneni which secepsd BY
he Van Baren and ifeeeoI sechon Of the patty "a con-
venuon lew days subsequent al Uuca A. The prin-
cpies and gouna. work OF that union spoke lew mo.
menis ago, embracing, as II did, only non -Inerfe-
renee IN The peculiar notions Of democrats apoa lh>
slavery question, but division Of The elective 01eee IA
the State OF New York. That was agreed upon. Updn
The basis o thai UNION several conventions ia the Saie AZ