Star of the Kanawha Valley. [volume] (Buffalo, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1856, 1856-04-23

al party SoHslueratlpns. IL is true.
| this bill is presented to us as an Ad.
ministration measure. tits tru E that
am here as a Wing; but | ain not
here to give this Administration a
factious opposition. l am not here
to oppose any measure brought for
ward by it, merely because tits brought
forward by it. an here. uncom-
mitted to q blind opposition or a blind
support, I'd follow TO- the end the die
tates Of my own Judgment and con-
science, and the will Of those WHO
sent me. ,>.-" III .....<.
'In this instance ! believe the Ad-
mistration has taken high national
ground;:: that it has planted itself upon
great American pr nciple-the prin:
tteiple Of selfgovernlnent; a illciple
involved in none of our party Issues;
Ia principle dearer' than any party con-
fsiderations; a princi pie upon which
all sound, national men of all parties
may meet and stand, as upon ground
alike cherished and alike dear. 1t
was this principle migrated jpn the
compromises of 1850. that con men
I ded them 90 warmly tp the Anne rican
heart; it was this princ ipIe which was
ratified By both parties in their con
/ ventions at Baltim orc, and it lis for
this principle kspeaE to-day. r. +:
''Sr, tn is is no Vi r between the
Administrat Jon and its oppone nts-
! no war betwe EN- Wings and demo crats
\ as such; bpt, disguise it as You may
! tits a acaf bet,reen 4 ree-Soilism on
one hand, aad the right. of the pre-
pile to se.fgorermment on the other."
Upon these declarations went into
the canvass. | was elected then. de
claring that the principles OF the
Kansas Nebraska bill were Iearer
than any party CONS derations''-"a
principle upon which all good men OF
all parties might meet and stand, as
upon ground alike cherished and
alike dears" that they ''overro,le all
party cons iderations. Being thus
elected, when l came to cast my first
Yfvote for speaker, found that neither
jlhe South Americans, "nor the Black
Republicans, had laid down any plat
form--they were .fghtiag shy, run
lining NTH b naargiH.' The Democrats
had q PLATFORM, and il was this:
!" Resoiped, That the Democratic mem
bers Of the House Of Representatives,
though in ! temporal minority in this
body, deem this q fit OCCASION to tender
to their Eellow.citizens ofthe whole Union
their heartfelt congIntul ations on the tri-
Imph in the recent elections in several Of
The northern, eastern, and western, rs well
As southern States, Of the principles of
the. Kansas Nebraska bill, and the doe
trinestQf civil and religious liberty, which
have been sd violently assailed by n secret
political order known al the Know Moth
ing party. And, though in a minority,
We bold it to be our highest duty 70 pre-:
serve our organizatinon, and continue our
efforts in the maintenance and defense Of
+ those principles, and the constitutional
rights of every section and every class of
citizens, against their Opponents of every
description, whether the so-ealled Repub.
Leans, Know N6things, or FusionistS,
aud to this end we look with confidence
to the support and appreciation ofal good
and true men friends Of the Constitution
and Union throughoutthe country"
twill be seen that there are only
two planks in, this platform. The
one, In favor Of the principles Of the
| Kansas Nebraska bill-the very prin-
eiples upon which ! W as reelected =
and the other against the proscrI-
tiyeness Of Know Mott ingism. Bear
Fin mind the fact that, when ! was
| elected, there were NO Know Moth
| ings in my district that was not
one. And now, may not ask, il
there is a single honest and. intelligent
man in my district who believes that
Il have abandoned the principles
Iupon which | was electedP Or if.
| in view Of these facts there is any
one. but an Intentional ca'umnia-
tor. who will ever again assert it'
"A gain: Il is said that should have
voted for Henry NJ. Fuller for Speaker
that he was good enough pro-
slavery man; for Kennett, Lin Hey
and Porter voted for him; and, there