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


opinion was coming about-that the action OF that
which Martin Van Buren, called "the sober second
thought OF the peopeF-and IL is the only SEN
tence that Martin Van Buren, ever uttered that
Will bear repetition much laughterl-and that
:. sober second thought of the people has con-
signed him and his associate traitors TO an igno-
minious oblivion, from which even the archangels
trumpet will never awaken them Renewed
laughierl Sir, through that sober second thought
the determined sense and patriotism OF this people
had stricken treason 10 the dust, and the result
was, that any man whose past history showed a
fair record--if he had received the nomination at
Baltimore-wouId have been elected just as easily
as President Pierce was. These men, finding
that the overwhelming tide of popular sentiment
was about 10 sweep them into obllyion--GndiDg
that a storm coming which they had neither
The manhood 10 meet nor the ability TO resist
inding that they stood in the position in which
they now stand, like raltlesnakes with their poi
sonous fangs extracted-with the same disposition
TO strike, but without the power 10 harm--they
pretended 10 get upon platform which the Uni0R
says was delusion aud cheat. but which the
administration in its practice says was wiping
out of all past sins.
II is, as we all know well-established rule, at
least among the truly orthodox and faithful in the
church, that whenever a man deserts the church,
he must, before he can come back into full com
munion, do penance for his crimes, and show
signs OF sincere contriiion and know of no good
reason why the same principle should not be APP
piled 10 political backsliders. A taught
Now sir, in 1852, the democracy OF the coun-
try met in the Baltimore conventions and a plat
form was there laid down. upon which General
Pierce was nominated II he received that nom-
nation without pledge, he did not receive the
votes of the people of the United States without
pledge; because, in his letter of acceptance, he
said, distinctly and emphnticaly, that he accepted
the nomination with the accompanying resolu-
tons, not because those resolutions were con-
dition of the nomination, but because they were
in strict keeping with every act of his past pot-
cal life. How has that pledge been carried out
IN his appointments 10 office!
And here let me tell gentlemen that if they sup
pose that the opposition TO the administration
comes from men who have been disappointed Of
ice-seekers, they sadly underrate the character of
the men with whom they have TO deal If they
suppose there is any disposition upon the part Of
the democracy of the State of New York to make
war upon The administration, they are wrong
But when the administration undertook to inter-
iere in our local eiections-when they sent forth
the mandate that Greene G. Bronson must do their
dirty work-and if they were deceived in Mr..
Bronson's character il was their own fault--if
they expected to find poor, serve tool in Judge
Bronson, and found honorable, hgh-minded
man, it was their fault, not ours when they
uttered threat 10 interfere in elections under
the miserable expectation that we were weak, and
our adversaries were strong-we heard the man
date in sorrow--we hurled back the threat with
contempuous Indignation we defcd its power,
and ultimately triumphed TO our hearts content.
We triumphed, sir, against all the power and all
the appliances of the administrations
And let me tell the friends Of the administration
in this House now, that when the next election
comes they will find that triumph ten times more
! signal than II was before Those who were barn
burners in 1915 are now what called "softs."
(Laughter.l Well what is soft 90 We are
! called hards." The best illustration of anything
hard is a diamond. 1t is fair representation OF
our purity and our hardness. [Laughter.l We
| all know what soft means in morals. A man soft
| in morals is open 10 any rascality. Laughter.
a :" soft in politics is pretty much the same
| thing. We all know what is meant by man
with soft head. Such one is intellectually
| soft. soft is simply individual whose
morals and politics of the putty character and
who is ready TO accommodate himself to any form
which promises profit Laughter.l
/ once told one Of our State officers outside of
the capitol in Albany, as follows; Said he Mike
what reason have you TO question the sincerity of
men who were true in 1S4S?n, II asked him,
"Wereyou true in 1915 ~ t@Was'nt, Y he replied
81 did not hear" said |, 'sof your doing anything
negatively. do not know whether you had the
power, if you would TO do So" "What do you
mean ?' he asked. Provided you Were, as Red
field is said TO have been, square in 1913, does
that go to show that you are square now % "Yes,n
he said Not unless have read history but 10
little profit, sir. Benedict Arnold was as sincere
and as gallant patriot before there was suffi-
son. Not unless my theological knowledge is
| equally deficient. Judas Iscariot was an humble
and true follower of our Saviour before those
! thirty pieces of silver were showed al him. "
! lLaughter.l can readily understand, Mr. Chair
man, how corrupt and mercenary man, when he
is offered TO be helped into position far beyound
the measure of his merits, by those who are for
mally arrayed against him, can play the part of
Benedict Arnold or Judas Iscariot. The only DIFF
ference between s'soft and an actual abolitionis
Ia hot fhn ts yA..l
tLaughterl
Now, sir, / wish, so far as am concerned, TO
be distinctly understood in his committee and I
believe what say will not conflict at all with the
opinions of our friends. We do not propose 10
array ourselves against anything democratic which
may come through the administration, no more
than we would be governed in our action pro-
vided the administration were opposed TO il. The
democratic party, as il formerly existed was a
party of wel-defned and universally understood
principles; but the course which has been pursued
lattery, of recognizing the claim of factiopists 10
the smiles and favor OF the administration is DEF
grading declaration sent forth 10 the world tina.
hereafter we are to come together, not upon COM
mon ground of principle, but that we are 10 come
1 together like a band of bandits, amalgamated for
the sake OF common plunder; and then, after we
have gained our purpose, like John Van Buren, 10
stand upon the platform, true 10 General Pierce
administration-or. in other words, as long as we
hold ofice-and afterwards TO be at liberty 10 re.
turn TO our old sins.
| Now, Mr.. Chairman. previous 10 closing, want
TO refer 10 one point, and that is the various votes
which have been taken in this House land where
those who have voted have denied that their votes
were 10 be taken any test question: have all
been claimed as administration ,riumphs as soon
az they were effected. have been told by gen.
tlemen upon this floor, and by gentlemen occupy.
ing high-positons in the government-and wish
TO be distinctly understood on this subject have
been told, say, that their sympathies are with us
but that they did not regard the casting Of their
votes on certain questions as arrayng them against
the action, indorsng the action of the admin
istration.
Let me repeat here, sir, what have told those
gentlemen, that we are not objects of sympathy
we despise sympathy. Sympathy may be fit for
sick cripples or old ladies, but not for men who
have calamity stood up against the power and pa
,ronage of State and general administrations
We are objects Of admiration and respect, but we
are not objects Of sympathy. We despise sym.
patty. ff
Mr. SMITH, Of Alabama Mr.. Speaker pro-
pose TO say very few words. A very important
question has arisen in the country, which is not
understood; and as the ball has been started here
to-day, shall ask the honorable gentleman from
New York Mr. WALsH,lt to give an explanation,
which may 60 out 10 the country with his