Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-01-19

Mr, SMllH. mean that the gentleman is
orisi, olnnl, aud not always satisfactory. meant
Mr. CUTTING. II the gentleman from Ala
bana Will allow me, will say that if no other
gentleman does IL, will seek the opportunity to
| explain the difference between the !" hardsn and
4 the soits" OF the State of New York, aud in so
| dong II VIII be necessary simply 10 trace the
| history OF the party in New York. That history
wii furnish the gentleman with the information
which he desires
| Mr. SMITH. | yield to the gentleman 10 do II
| now.
| Mr.. CUTTING. Not at this time.
| Mr. SMITH. ] expected 10 hear from the gen.
tlcman from New York Mr.. WALsHl an explana-
| ton of what the difference is.
MIR. WALSH. will tell the gentleman what
i is in few words. The difference between a
barnburner and an abolitionist IN disguise-that
| is, softh-is, that g soft" is man who has
never done anything for the democratic party ex-
cept for his own personal advancement and ag-
| grandizement; bearing the name of democrat
/ merely for the purpose of benefting himself
" Mr. SMITH. In responding TO the gentleman
| from New York, must confess that for one
when this controversy first broke out, my sympa-
! thies were with the hards,n as unde estood the
! subject but, upon a close examination of this
whole matter, confess that | do believe that the
whole controversy is too SECTIONAL may say too
| factiona-to disturb the harmony of the demo-
cratic party throughout this country.
| Now, sir, to be little playful, propose 10 refer
WALsHl to part of the history Of Guivers adj
ventures in Llliput, 10 show the smallness Of the
political quarrel-ihe absurdiiy of the political
quarrel and TO show that, however much il may
distract the party within the borders of the Stale
| of New York, il ought not TO extend beyond it.
Mr.. CUTTING, Qnierrup,ing) Even though
| nssaiisd beyond IL.
| Mr. SMITH. Many gentlemen will remember
that when CULVER went into Lilliput he found
! that government in state of great turmoil and
II he naturally rel nj n he, Gar of
have the history of the matter here before me, and
propose TO read il. in order that we may be en-
| lightened as TO the extent of the words I" hard
and soft" The history of the subject, after some
preliminary matter, runs thus: tIE ,
I" Which two mighty powers have, as was CO.
ing 10 tell you, been engaged in most obstinate
war for six-and-thirty moons past Il began upon
the following occasion: Il is allowed on all hands,
that the primitive way OF breaking eggs, before we
eat them, was upon the larger end but his present
majesty's grandfather, while he was boy, going
TO eat an egg, and breaking il according the an
Gent practice, happened to cut of his fingers.
| Whereupon the emperor's father published an
edict, commanding all his subjects, upon great
penalties, TO break the smaller ends of their eggs.
| The people SO highly resented this law that, our
histories tell us, there have been six rebelons
| raised on that account wherein enc emperor lost
his life, and another his crown. These civil COM
motions were constantly fomented by the mon
archs of Blefuscu; and when they were queled
| the exes always fled for refuge to that empire.
! II is computed that slsUsn thousand persons have,
at several times, suffered death, rather than sub
init TO break their eggs at the smaller end. Many
1 hundred large volumes have been published upon
this controversy but the books OF the Big Endans
have been long for6iddea and the whole party rem
dered incapable by law Of holding employment.
During the course of these troubles, the emperors
OF Bleiuscu did frequently oxposu by their en-
! bassadors, accusing us of making schism in re-
| ligion by offending against fundamental doctrine
| OF our great prophet Lustrog, in the fifty fourth
chapter of the Bundecral, (Which is their Acoran.)
This, however, is thought TO bea mere strain upon
the text for the words are these that all true be-
levers break their6ggs at the Convenient end And
which is the convenient end, seems, in my hum
bic opinion, TO be left 10 every mans conscience,
or, at least in the power of the chief magistrate to
! determine. Now, the Big Endian eriLs have
found so much credit in the emperor of Blefuscu's
court, and 80 much private assistance and encour-
! agement from their party here at home, that
bloody war has been carried on between the two
empires for six and thirty moons with various
success during which time we have lost forty
| capital ships, and much greater number Of
smaller vessels, together with thirty thousand Of
our best seamen and soldiers and the damage re-
ceived by the enemy is reckoned 10 be somewhat
greater than ours. However, they have now
| equipped numerous feet, and are just preparing
| 10 make descent upon us; and his imperial ma
jesty, placing great confidence in your valor and
strength, has commanded me to lay this account
| of his affairs before YOU"
From this history il will be seen that the State
was in great turmoil upon this question One
party commended that, according to an old and an
Client edict OF the government, the people were
/ bound to break their eggs upon the small end. A
party, however, rose up on the other side, and de-
clared that, upon more ancient law still-the law
OF custom-the people had the right TO break their
eggs upon the big end. The controversy was
called the Big Endian, and the Little Endian con-
troversy. 1t is said in this history, that eleven
thousand persons fell, because they would not re-
linquish the right of breaking the egg upon the
| small end. Z. s.
| It strikes me that the difference between the
"hards" and the "softs" is simply this-they want
| TO stone the President 10 death, and the question
is, is he hard egg or soft egg.
| Mr. WHEELER, dnterruptingD In your opn
| ion.
Mr.. SMITH. 1t is so in my opinion, and hope
that the gentleman who promised to make the dis
tinction between the lizards and the softs will
take this opportunity TO dot, suppose the peo-
/ pie of the country are interested TO know the real
| distinction, and 10 know who are upon the right
| side.
Mr.. CUTTING obtained the floor.
Mr.. PERKINS. Will the gentleman yield me
/ the floor?
1 Mr.. CUTTING. For what purpose
Mr.. PERKINS,. In order 10 make motion
that the committee rise, and the gentleman can
| take the floor tomorrow.
i Mr.. CUTTING. / have now risen Mr. Chair.
man, SIMPLY for the purpose of responding to the
| Alabama, Mr.. SMiTu,l who has Just read us
passage from Gulivers Travels from which he
infers that the sos," well as the hards, are
now endeavorng to stone the President and de-
clares that he cannot distinguish between them.
There was period, very recent in the history Of
this country, when gentlemen from the south did
| not need TO inquire who, at the north, were the
hards" that stood by them, through good and
| evil repor., at time when a hurricane OF free
soilism was sweeping over the land, such as had
never been seen before, profess to be ignorant
who they were who showed themselves, at that
critical period, true to the constitutional rights Of
the States true TO the SOUTH as tn. south was true
10 itself Great applause.l | ask, was there any
gentleman from southern State who then rose
in his place for the purpose OF reading Gullyer's
i Travels as a lecture and sheer at the north for
the purpose of dsparagng those true and faithful
| men who, under circumstances that were enough
TO quail the stontest heart stood by the equal
rights Of the States, ard insisted that the people
ofeach State and each Territory should do what we
do at the north-govern themselves. and regulate
their own domestic affairs, in their own way, and,
according to their best judgments
In the brief space Of time which has eIapsed
| since then, has the south forgotten now that the
| danger is over, what that party was and wba,
A