The daily union., 1854-02-04
CONGRESSIONAL.
sPEEOh OF MIR. sMIris,
OF VIRGINIA,

Upon CODVUVFTey
the State OF New Yorx; delivered in the House Of
Representatives. Januasv 25, 1854
The House being in Commillse Of the Whole on the
state oil the Unicn,
Mr.. SMITH SAID
Mr. SprAxER; Al one time had the good fortune 10
obtain lhe foo aud ell very deslroas 10 subm. some
remarks. Subsequent events however, nave occurred
which have saddened my fpifiis that ieei le M
enalon 10 enter into the passing scenes OF lie But we
have listened TO remaks upon this floor, IN which those
whom al least Wiling 10 sustain have been strongly
caumniaed, and Yet we have heard not word IN their
behalf 80
With The permission of the committee, will present
VERY lew remarks and in so doing shall have TO ad'
vert 10 the New York controversy which has taken
place upon this floor In doing this beg say that
bal not indulge 10 any elimination whatever upon either
sle of that controversy. shall advert to il merely as
al niroduction TO the nam body oil The few remark
lake occasion TO say to This committee that this
royersy has been OF painful character presenting,
as it did large potion OF iha representatives OF hS
Wha, do we see One of The fret States in this Union
oru 10 neces by conflicting opinions and her dssensions
introduced into this hall WI mol undetaks % com
~ reyyet and beg her representatives to remember that
in thus presenting this dissens'on to The couny they are
impairng their just strength and ESTIMATION IN TINS land
nav York know. s OF the first States in The Union
She has pfodgious wealth and population. She has
very large political power, aud should have great in
ausnce In De councils ot the country; and by comfy,
mus, be. and how distaseful. then. 10 see this great
State introducing her private quaIrels here
shall not dwell upon this subject. but will take this
occasion TO advert TO few facts involved In this
lloyersy, and in reference 10 which. il mistake them.
shall be happy to have gentlemen correct me. shall
not 90 back 10 the conservative period 10 which some
gentlemen trasecd-a time when 1t IL said The hrs,
division in New York took place--but go back only TO
ls47 Then learn thar al thai period resolution was
introduced into The New York legislature approving oil
the Wilmot posso, and that was almost unanimously
passed Al that time, with very few exceptions there
was no division upon that questionable were iree-sol
ers-a bowed 10 political Tree solllsm Ia lS4s the rep
rcsentalves Of the State OF New YORK met the other
delegations Of the Union convention al BALTIMORE 10
make presidential nominston. They. by The appear
ance OF two Of delegates each claiming 10 represent
the democracy o that Sate carried their nlssensions into
that body and then. because one party coui not have
lef own way, separated from the convention, and
turned 10 their constituents That is another fact.
Then what dld we see ask the members OF this
Hoase TO contemplate this view OF the question tor mo-
ment These gentlemen were dissatisfied with the de-
cison Of the Baltimore Convention OF ls4s. when -
MIR. CUTTING, (in,errupung.) Dd understand the
gentleman IRON Virginia 70 desire as ne ssn.on 70 os
uui In with the recolleciions OF the members
from New York; Or did he prefer that those corrections
should take place after he should have concluded ns OBJ
Mr.. SMITH am etaing certain isc,s IN connexiol
with this controversy, aud they are stated eIroneously
desire that they should be corrected
Dir. CUTTING Does the gentleman desire that they
should be cofscted after be shall have concluded
his remarked ats slrs g
Mr.. SMITH. prefer that II should De done nov
briefly
MI CUTTING. When the gentleman from Virgins
Isl SMITH s,aiss 10 this commlt,ce that The New forh
democracy carried their controversy into the Baltimore
convention, aud when matters did not suit them there
both sets OF delegates left Tue, ,convenon-or remark,
TO ,ha elect deny that any OF lbe members OF tbs
Syracuse delegations who represented the New York De
moefacy let that convention Oa the contrary, asse
that aheu he convention admitted The delegates iron
botb seclon--l mean those who afterwards went u
Buffalo, az well as those sent by the democracy--tha
both delegates look their seats and alter those who sub
sequenty Buffalo failed 10 OBTAIN the nominaor
Of a candidate Who suited Them. aud alter they had u
struggled against the nomination OF General Cas-
ha then-sile having submitted themselves 10 tue Ju'
dicton oi the convention alter having participated ~
councils aud while every delegate appointed at Syracuse
and representing The De emocsuc party remained until tn
Convention adjoufned-tnose beaded by MI Camore
ling deserted upon that occasion, alter General Cass wa
nominated.
Mr SMITH am happy to have the correction
made. was mistaken As to The iact as apeais by ~
statement OF the gentleman IRON New fors. Mr.. Cur
INCL although another gentleman irom New York M
PEgKIks1 denies, expressly and uaequvOcaily that tb
participated In those rrocesdinss ask this committee
when upon question OF history of this sort genileme
differ. how outsiders be able TO appreciate The iact
Mt. CUTTING. By appealing to the truth Of history
Mr. SMITH. take IL that the statement of the gen
lemAn from New York Mr.. CurnNcl IS correct, al
though different statement is made By the yenerab!
gentleman on my left fMr PsRKIss.l That being To
slate oil lhngs, what do OF these delegation whe
hey were no, able 10 obtain nomination suitable I
thenselves9 They 10 home to New iofk aud gt, up
meeting al Buffalo, and call upon the country TO rus'a
a nomination made there upon The most exrsofdiDaF
principles say and speak IRON personal knowledge
that action OF public body could have possibly pro
duced proiounder sensation IN my own State ihan IN
aclion OF this body. When Mr. Van Buren, accepted lhs
domination, Deep in the South, the feeling OF ,ndis
nation and regret which 1t produced. II had been mi
good fortune, lei me say, IN the campaign OF 1Sa0 q
spend OF the bssl months OF my lde IN sustaining
his election to the presidency toled Tor him as lev me
dd and when that decision of his in reference to In
greet 10 hnd that he had assumed this pos'i,onso muc'
al with all the principles upon which had deiende
and sustained him. and much at with the prevlou
history OF his evsnuul lille.
Mr.. Chairman will not dwell longer upon that brancl
OF the subject We were told by the gentleman ffon
New York, (slr. HueHE.l wbo first addressed lhe com
mtes the part oil The sos upon this snbec,--snd !
he is present now hope be will take notice OF my state
nent-that they went into the nomination OF Mr.. Nai
Bufen because the hards then under another name, ba
sacrificed distinguished man in The State OF New York
tMr Wright who had occupied eminent place 10 thu
council cham Der adjoining this hall for many year.
Sir, that q reason that never heard 50 much ~
hn,ed q, until the gentleman announced II upon lh'
floor. | had always Understood ihst ii WAS 10 conse
queDoe OF the personal spite OF Mr. Van Baren sgans
General CAss 10 whom he imputed his disappointment
not receiving The Baltimore nomination IN 1914 and ths
~as the popular understanding thfoughou the country
Now, bowsvsr, we have another version OF the matter
But whether one version or the other be correct II u
nevertheless true that great and important proceeding
which resulted the defeat of the national democracy
took place IN consequence oi personal feelings.
| deeply regret that such unworthy consideration,
so great State a. New York deeply regret that gen.
lemea should have allowed themselves TO be Influenced
by their private feelings n the performance Of high pub
lie duties That division in the democracy OF New York