Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1855-12-29

\ a minority, we hold it TO be highest duty 70
preserve our Organization and continue our efforts
in the maintenance and defense of those principles
and the constitutional rights Of every section aud
every class OF citizens against their opponents Of
I every description, whether the so~caed Repubh
cans, Know Nolhings, FusouistS; and to this end
/ We look with confidence TO the support aud appr0
baton Of all good aud true men-irierds Of the
Constitution aud the Union throughout tbs coun-
! try"
The imputa.on here embraced had been some
tElrS made against upon the hastings We re
PEELED it there, ard every where when made While
It may be deemed legitimate for gentlemen, in ii
heated canvass, to make such imputtJjOn, i:
thought pTomOtive of success in the coaricr and
while dbl not, aud do not now, complain Of r. yet
here sir in this deiibeTatve body, when gentlemen
who profess to stand with the in the m1iut,nancc
Of the UniGu and the Constitutional the rights Of
the people North and South, deliberately undertake
to Stigiuatiza me in their party Platform with OcCu
pying position OF autagOnSm TO the civil and rc.
sIous liberty Of the people, they erect barrier be-
tween Us which it IS difficult TO pass WHAT FL
lowed next? When gentleman with whom have
had the honor to act Mr. Walker, Of Alabama, 7
looking to the probability OF majority Ct members
standing upon middle ground-one conservative
OF the Union, the Constitution aad the rights Of all
our pcOpe-dd suggest that he thought il time Tor
national men to have a conference, what was the
response? When Mr. walker sad,
81 am anxious to see this House organized
am anxious That this House shall not pass under the
control Of the Republican party | shall feel it my
duty to every possible effort to prevent such
contamination as that. And for the purpose OF in
dicating, here and elsewhere, my readiness to
act with all men who are cCnservative-to act with
men who opposed to further disturbance on
this exciting subject of savery-to act with men
who still acknowledge their obligations TO the
Federal CONSTITUTIONAL act with men who are pre-
pared TO abide the existing laws the subj ct Of
slavery; Isay here--aud if | am not mistaken,
| think that in this | an speaking for almost the
whole Of the with whom have thus far acted
Il am willing to 90 into conference with all men
who are prepared TO stand that BASH to confer
together, and see if they cannot devise some plan
by which there may be a safe, heaIthful, and con
servalive organization of this House.
what was the answer given by the author Of the
De mOcratic PLATFORM Mr. Jones, OF Pcansy lvaui4,
apparently the leader of the Democratic party in
the House? He spurned &C. He stated that the
Democratic party could compromise with no per
sons unless they came upon the Democratic plat
form. II said:
"The Democratic party viii meet in no caucus,
except in a caucus called by that party it.elf, and
on its well settled principles That Is the only DO.
Htcai caucus that We will attend [Crie5 Of Good,
good and laughter /"
Now, Mr.. Clerk, Is It not manifest to every gen
tleInan upon this floor, that as an honorable man.
who has respect for the trust reposed in
him by his constituents | cannot 20 over " the
Democratic nominee, though a national man. while
| am thus repealed and VI Justly stgmatiz.d-I will
not say falsely stiSmatzed for it is lot my habit to
use expressions that may be regarded as discourte
oGs-Gut u justly say, for | repcl the imputa;iou
that We would deprive any portion of the AmeGi>
can people OF their civil and religious liberties.
4 FoICE. did not Mr. MARSHALL, one Of your
party, repel this suggestion?
SIR ZoLLICoTFER II is true that the gentleman
from Kentucky SIR. Humphrey MARSHALL did say
that lie had 10 disposition to confer with such gen.
uemcn as had stgmatized him; but it was subse-
quent 10 the employment of the language | have
quoted from the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA Mr.
Jones; and besides my Democratic colleague Mr.
Smith had on Monday, used similar language 10
that employed 10y Ar. Jones and the Washington
UniOn-sayiug, in behalf o! the Administration
Democracy" We receive no propositions, and W.
make uoue on this side OF the House" Now, sir
while it is confessed that they could elect Nj
Fuller, national, Constitution abiding man, if they
would, We not, under such circumstance able
to elect Mr. Richardson il we would Let the
country bear this in mind.
Aud nov let Us examine that other powerful or
ganization in this House, the success Of which is
daily threatening with a northern sectional
organization. What is their precise position The
senior gentleman from Ohio Mr. Gidipcs con
tessess upon this floor that he drew up a resolu-
ton which was presented to a caucus OF gentle.
men OF that organization, at which think lie said
there were twenty or thirty members present
which pledged every man to vote for no man for
Speaker unless he stood pledged TO organize the
committees of this House in such a way as to
give to Free SOiism the control OF the committees
Here is the language of the resolution:
ResoLyed, That Si.l support no man for
Speaker who is not pledged to carry out the par
Iamentry law, by giving 20 each proposed measure
ordered by the House to be committed, a majority
OF such special committee and to Organi-s the
standing committees Of the Houss By placing o7, cach
a majority Of tie friends Of freedom cLo are Janor
able 10 making reports on all petitons committed 10
hean
Mr.. JONES of Pennsylvania WEI the gentleman
allow M to ask him question
Mr.. ZoLLICOFFER. Permit me first to complete
my answer to the question Of the gentleman from
Virginia, and then | will, with pleasure answer
any interogatores which you may choose to pro.
pound to me.
Mr. jos s. Very well, sir
Mr.. LOLLlC)FFER. | have now presented the two
platforms upon which the two bodies Of our antago
niSts are arrayed. Some things have TRANSFERRED
here which have arrested nv attention very sharp
~ A'S AN0pHLOil ddbpltu Dl ltdl HlcttlU, pltI--
ed twenty or thirty gentlemen who are now voting
for Mr. Banks, to vote for man for Speaker IN.
less he ia p{gd to organize the committees Of this
House with majOrities in favor OF " he friends Of
jreea1H.' And yet, sir, notwithstanding the AN
nOuncemeut of that pledge, heard the gentleman
from Massachusetts Mr. Banks utter upon this
floor the day before yesterday, these words
q" have Herer have made any pledges, aud stand
uncommitted and prepared to do what is ri. ht aud
~h,g... a.. II.
my own convictions"
Gentlemen, is there not a remarkable conflict Of
statement here? IL was announced upon this
floor that the twenty or thirty gentlemen who at.
tended this meeung-men who are now voting for
Mr. BankS-adopted resolution pied ing then
SetrCS 10 yOts for ohO W1s not Bieiy.d ia this
tCIy; and vet the gentleman VINO is receiring their
coies has diScldiHfd upon THIS floor that he has nude
sysach pledges! Bat this is only side issue
he striking state OF things before the House 70
which wish to direct attention is, that here are
two plaulOrms-the Administration Democratic plat
form, taking party position upon one Of the most
exciting sectional questions nov before the Amer-
can people, Threatening perhaps the very stability
OF the mon ITSELF and throwing the gauntlet Of
opposition rudrly down 10 All Others aud the plat
form OF the Aboltionists, or Republicans, as they
call themselves, embodied in the resolution OF the
member from Ohio, Mr.. Giddings, pledging It's
supporters TO vote Tor no man Who VII not thus
sect!onally org Hize the committees OF the House
Ga the other hand, those with whom | act have
stood upon the compromises Of the Constitution
making no partisan sectional issues calculated 10
agiate and iniitme the country TO sectional hu. Ill
lty. Although a southern man, aud as true 70 the
constitutional rights and interests of ne South as
any mau that ever breathed the breath Of lie, vet,
when saw public events tending SO il miacutly 70
tac organization Of two great geographical and sec
nonal parties, determined that would plant my.
self upon the Constitution and stand Tor the Union
upon that middle ground upon which rational aud
patriotic u3en, both at the North and the SlEth IA