Washington telegraph., 1855-07-25
Speech Of Hon. a. j. DOnelsOu.

We give below. in full. the speech of Hon
ASDKEw JACKSON Don ELsoN. the private
secretary and nephew of Gen. JACKSON. late
Minister to Berlin. and recently editor of
he Washington Union
The mention of my name on this impor
tsut occasion, in connection with the Her.
mitage and the hero and patriot that word
recalls to your memory, is sufficient indi-
cation of the thought that is uppermost in
vour minds, and to which | must address
myself You desire to hear how |. an old
friend aud relative of Andrew Jackson
MS private secretary during his Presidency,
and for more than thirty years, up to the
last bOurs of his life. enjoying the freest ac-
eess to all his papers. and maintaining the
most intimate and confidential relations with
bim-can defend the principles of the new
Iy-Organized American party Listen to
me. felIox-eitizens. and think l can satisfy
you. no: only that / am consistent. but that
every motive of patriotism and public duty
demanded of me the abandonment of par
ty which no longer practises the old-fashion-
ed democracy of Jefferson. Madison, and
jackson. but has done all tina: it could to
bring into discredit the most essential and
Characteristic features of that democracy.
Franklin Pierce came iUto power, to use a
sea-phrase in the wake of the compromise
Of 1850. That measure, carried through
by the united action of such men as Clay,
Webster. Cass and Houston, enlisted the
sympathies- of the American people, and
vas seleomed in every corner of our wide
spread Union as rebuke to those factions
which had labored. under the garb of State
rights. to bring the Federal and State au-
th0rities in open conflict with each other.
Al several places in New England Mr.
Pierce stigmatized the opponents of that
measure as moral traitors He went so far
as to compliment me for my services in what
be called battle for the Union. He de-
elared that in that battle he stood where
Gen Jackson did Now. call to mind what
Gen. Jackson did-what he said-and what
the Democratic party maintained when the
country vas in the crisis to which Mr.. Pierce
alluded Do you remember the ordinance
Of South Carolina. arming her citizens, es-
tablishing test oaths. and declaring her de-
termination to carry into execution her
threat OF notification The proclamation
of Gen Jackson; denouncing the whole pro-
ceeiing as unauthorized, rebellious, and
traitorOus-the force bill passed by Con-
gress with great promp,ness. enabling the
President to repel by force all opposition to
the execution of the laws? And then, gen.
tlemen. do you remember the unanimity
with which not only the Democratic party
applauded Its President, but how the great
body Of the American people. looking above
party, and surveying only the good of the
country. came forward BY thousands and
Thousands to testify their. respect for states
man Who faltered not in the performance of
high constitutional duty? Mr.. Jefferson
had said of Gen. jackson, after the victory
of New Orleans, that he had filled the mea-
sure Of his couutry's glory. but the patri-
otto American people proclaimed, when
the old hero carried the constitution un-
hurt through the struggles with nulliGca-
ton, that his name would hereafter stand
by the side of Washington as the pre-
server Of the Union Yes. gentlemen. it
was here in New York that countless thou
sands came forward to greet the old hero,
and New England not less than New York
saiuted with the acclamation of joy and love,
the man who, when the safety of the consti-
tuition was threatened. declared fearlessly
that he would not survive its fall, but would
uphold II, come what might.
Now, gentlemen, this was Democratic
practice in 1882 Let Us now see how
ten Pierce has acted in a crisis which be
mas admitted to be- full of similar perils to
US and to cur posterity When the compro
Mise was passed. YOU ali know that there
was party called at the North abolition.
's's and at the South nulliiers. who insist.
"a tha' that measure was a base surrende,
'' State rights and who set on foot mea
sures which. if carried out. would have
Produced immediate bloodShed and civi
var This party at the South had an orpar
whose columus teemeG with the direst abus.
every man who would not subscribe to IT.
Scheme If holding Southern Congress. will
POWers not only to declare the comnrom;s,
unconstitutional. but to prepare for its resist
ance. precisely as South Carolina had don,
IN lsS2. - >'>''
When the great and lamented Webste
uelivered his speech, on the occasion of Law
ing the corner stone of the new Capitol, tn
response Of this Southern-rights Democrat
Sheet, vas. that it was vain ceremony
.a' 'ne people of the South should be put
hr-H
,;s 'eae Ci lndulging hopes for the preserva
0u s " 'he Union Gentlemen. one of th
a.H sc,s OF Mr. Pierce was to give the edi
wi VI ina, dlSunion sheet an important con
sular and diplomatic Office. And if yo
oa aa.nlne the character of his appointment
sessny you will fiud that in every quar-
" 'he country they have been marke,
CPen contempt for his profession a
oi The doctrines of the Democrati