Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-02-06

Mr. Ewing, Gnterrupting. Have YOU
read Mr. Foote's speech vet?
Mr.. Smith. have not. | leave that.
and all such growing, disappointed polit,-
clans as the late Governor of Missis-
sippi, to comfort the Wings. Laugh
ter.
Twas stating to this House, that in the
performance of this duty, which was be-
fore the President, he may have, through
his advisers, attempted to exercise an infiu.
enee for the purpose Of healing diyisiou
among his friends. Now, ask the ques-
ton, was that wrong' 1 put it to this
House, was it wrong. I would be will
ling to stand upon this question before the
Democracy of the Union. And ask the
Whigs-who never hesitate at appian.
ces-if it is wrong for one friend to en-
deavor to heal differences among friends
II. then, this be plain, if the proposition
be as evident as the first Of Euclid, ask
in what respect has he erred1 Not in an
attempt to adjust the difficulty not in an
attempt to bring different friends together;
not that. not that. Under high sense Of
duty to his country he has resorted to tho
means necessary, in his Judgment, to eff
feet that object; but those means, to very
large extent, the Democracy thought were
unhappy, injudicious. and unwise. Ger
tain 1t is, they faied in accomplishing their
object, and instead Of bringing the parties
together in one harmonious action, they
unhappily lead to violent arrangements,
Of which we have had illustrations in this
Hall. Would itnct have been cheering
fact if this policy of the Administration
had been carried out If he could have
brought those gentlemen together if he
could have harmonized them eli; il he
could have brought the fragments into one
homogeneous whole, | ask one and all, il
it would not have been a glorious consum-
nation devoutly to be Wished But hs
failed in this object. And why, ask,
did he fal' The gentleman from New
York upon the "Hard" side felt that those
on the Soft" side were not as old, il as
good soldiers as themselves. They felt
that they, the Softs. had no right to march
up aud receive an equal share Of the spoils
Of the enemy. Yes | use the phrase
spoils. That is the grief.
Now, gentlemen, there is no question
whatever as to the Democracy Of both
those parties at the present moment. I'm.
happily the sections in New York have
taught US to lack much confidence in any
division among them. 1t is SO. The
"Softs" are under general distrust. ard the
"Hards' are in the general confidence Of
large portion Of the people.
1t is believed that the Sotts are placed
in position in which they must renounce
their Buffalo platform, and all their form
er affiliations. The hards are comforted
with the thought that they-the Softs-
will be soon brought to testify to the faith
that is in them. 1t is expected that GER
.ain interesting bill will soon be brought
into this Hail. and be presented as q test Of
the new opinions OF the New York De-
mocracy. The Hards. exasperated a.
they are, will come to the test like men.
and support It fully. Under the deep. sol.
emn, moral necessity in which they arc
placed must meet the crisis firmly; fear.
essy discharge their duty to themselves
and the country. If they shrink upon
this occasion, let me say that they will
shrink so low that the hand Of resurrection
cannot drag them from the profound depths
into which they will have fallen. Itell
them, as men. that the slow finger Of scorn
will be pointed at them from every part
Of the country. Thus this quarrel will
have the good effect Of bringing these par
ties together in the common support Of
that approximately, which will soon be b..
fore us. and which win furnish an unmis.
takeable TEST Of their devotion to the
Constitution. its compromises, and prinei,
pies Of the Democratic party.