The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-01-26
CONGRESS-.
TH1RTY-THIRD CoNGREss-FIRsT SESSION
Senate, Friday, Jan. 90, 1854.
The Senate was not in session to day.
House of Representatives. jan 90 1854

Senate, Friday, Jan. 90, 1854.
The Senate was not in session to day.
House Of Representatives., jan 90 1854.
This being Private B II DAY." number of
such bills, heretofore passed by the Senate,
were taken up read twice by their titles, and
appropriately referred
On motion, the House resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole on the state Of the
Union.
Mr.. Cutting arose, and said that it was net
unusual for persons on whom the burden of
proof rested, to seek to promote collateral
issues. MIR. Hughes had yesterday acted upon
this principle. No defence had been made Of
the coalition he had denounced. The State of
New York had been disgraced, and republi-
canism had been discredited, by the proceed
ings in that State. Yet his adversary had seen
no subject worthy of debate, but those personal
to the speaker
He had been charged with having been
prominently instrumental in promoting the
cause Of the union of the Buffalo Free Sellers
with the Democracy.
Mr.. Cutting gave a history Of the coalition
in New York, and proved that his influence
had ever been against such a coalition. He
showed that, in consequence of his opposition
to Free oilism in 1913, he had been denounc-
ed as slave owner and slave breeder Mr..
G. read extracts from the Albany Argus of
this tenor. He denounced those who had as
sailed him, as men capable of assuming any
attitude or position that could secure to them
the favor and patronage Of the present Ad-
ministration.
Mr.. c. also explained how he and Others had
been "entrapped at Syracuse by the leaders
of the Van Buren, party, into seeming acqui-
escence in the coalition; and he denounced
coalitions as ever fatal to any party.
In reply to question by Mr.. Hughes, as to
how he had voted, he declared on his honor
and conscience he had no remembrance
Laughter
Mr.. Cutting spoke of Silas Wright, and said
that had he died before his opposition to the
Mexican War and to the Wilmot Proviso was
revealed, bis name would have been unsullied
upon the scroll of Democratic fame.
At the Presidents selection Of Mr. Cushing,
who had 80 long warred against the Democra-
tic party, and his intended or reported nomina-
ton of Mr.. DIX, the opponent of great Demo-
cratic measures, and the friend of Abolitionism,
together with his prescription of Mr.. Bronson
and others. the Democrats were amazed. He
spoke of the intrigue by which Jacob was
blessed, and Esau defrauded and be declared
that the Democrats were forced to exclaim
that the voice was that of General Pierce, but
the hasd was that of Caleb Cushing.
He said that it was mistake that this was
a local question. The Union had not so re-
garded it, nor had Mr.. Gushing so regarded it
in his attempts at crushing outn the spirit of
political independence. He commended that the
war Of the Hards and Softs was national He
acquitted Mr.. Guthrie of the design TO pro-
scribe He was hut the instrument of mon
more artful and more cunning. Mr.. Guthrie
was gentleman of ability, but not of artifce.
Mr.. Westbrook, of New York, as Soft,
would have preferred not to trouble the House
with discussion of New York politics. He
would not widen the ripples of New York
troubles. The Softs here act in self defence
but may be compelled to carry the war into
Africa. He said many of the "secret circular
men" Of 1914 were now Hards. He might
name come of them, especially one now loud
mouthed in opposition to such measures
In l848, the editor of the National Democrat
of New York, was in favor of Van Buren, One
half of the Softs in the House now were Cas-
men in 1848. He hence inferred a refutaton
of the charge made by Mr.. Cutting, that the
Soft' of '54 were the Free-Soiers of '48
Mr.. w. traced the history of New York since
'48. The party was then divided between
Cas- and Van Buren,. The Cass wing, with
which Mr. w. was connected had taken the
initiative in effecting reunion. He reviewed
the conduct of Mr.. Cutting, and quoted from
his speech on taking the chair az temporary
President of the Syracuse Convention, in which
Mr.. Cutting expressed himself ready 70 60 as
far as the foremost man may go in an effort
to heal all party divisions.
He could not have been opposed to the
reconciliation if he was then in earnest. Mr.
Cutting was member Of the committee which
framed the basis Of the coalition.
Mr.. w. read from the resolutions of that
convention to show that it was as strongly
Anti-Slsvery as the Van Buren, Convention.
The only difference was, that the latter wished
to make the question test. He quoted from
MIR. Dickinson's speech, to prove the purpose
of the Convention, wherein Mr. Dickinson de-
clared himself opposed to the extension of SIa-
very
The union of the party had been brought
about as he had said by the Cas- wing and
in $780, broad and national platform had
been adopted, and again in 1852
1t had been asserted that Mr.. Marcys ap- |
pointment in 1853 had led the Softs away from |
their party, but Mr. Cutting was then in favor |
of that appointment.
In 1853 the leading members in each of the |
two conventions were persons who had been |
Cass men in 1848. The chairmen of both had |
been such 1t was the Hards who tn n de- |
parted from the convention and from the par
ty. ne RESOLUTIONS tnen auOpteO were nation
al they sanctioned the Baltimore platform in
full-the Fugitive Slave Law and all.
The separation had been made, Mr. West
brook said, because Mr.. Marcy, and not MIR
Dickinson, had b0en called to the Cabinet of
General Pierce.
He read from speech of Mr.. Cooley, of New
York, and from the editorial columns of the
Albany ArguS to prove the determination of
the Hards to oppose the Democratic President,
and to elevated Office Abolition, w DOLLY headed,
Seward Wings; while the Softs were the truly
National Democrats, opposed TO Slavery agita-
ton, and acting in good faith with their brother
Democrats throughout the Union. They were
the Union Democrats of the State.
Mr.. Walbridge, of New York, said that, as
a new member, he would prefer to keep out of
the debate but he felt called upon to speak,
and to speak with freedom, of public measures
and of public men.
But be would speak of National affairs. He
would remember who sent him here, for what
purpose, and what they would expect of him.
He would leave the questions of New York
where the- were, and would take
up the National question on the 4th of March,
1853, when President Pierce bad uttered as
by inspiration, the words of his inaugural
MIR. Walbridge skstched briefly the early
hirtory of the country, and the principles by
which it, was then guided. On the 4ih Of [