The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-10
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF non. A. q. WATKINS

i .#. oP TENSEssEE
Defining his position the political issues Of the times
delivered IN the House OF Representatives May O. lsb6
Mr.. WATKINS. have not before asked personal fa-
OF this House and do not expect in all probability,
10 ask similar favor again and personal explanations
be the order of the day. trust that the same
tesy which has been extended TO other gentlemen will also
be extended TO me- s@a" .lE. + rFEHGHf Ia1 g
The SPEAKER By unanimous consent only can the
gentleman proceed. e.aa.....Y ....... .........
i No objection made
| Mr. WATKINS. hold In my hand, Mr. Speaker copy
OF know-nothing paper published in the city OF Knox
which find the following paragraph under the caption
in capital letters of Hon. A. G. WATKs" The editor
whom do not know personally for he has been only
short time at the editorial head of that paperpreces the
| publication with these remarks;
"t is always best to know exactly where man stands
and for this rsason We make the olSwng extract from the
h instant IN the House OF Representatives OF course sam
SMITH speaks er-cathetra" ... ~. H.s N|A@a
The editor then proceeds to give what purpors be
dialogue between two OF my colleagues this floor during
the delivery of that speech while absent only
from the House of Representatives but from the city Of
Washington, attending TO some Indispensable private bus
ness and short visit 10 my family-some six hundred
miles from the seat of That dialogue is pub
lished as follows; .s... ~.
"Mr. SEEEp. desire to know by what authority the
has left out of his list one Of his own colleagues
Mr.. SMITH. DO you mean the gentleman from the
Knoxville district His name is here ,
"Mr. SNEEo. No, sir; the gentleman from the
district above Knoxvie-one of the immortal 7aMr. War
KiNs; s;, G.,
Mr.. He have belonged to the order at the
time of his election, but he elected by the anti know
nothngs and in opposition to the nominee of that party in
the first district, and openly doing noble in the
"Mr. ssEEp. In two OF largest counties in the DIS
trict he received the know nothing vote.
"Mr. SsnTH. Well will put him down as democrat"
regret exceedingly, Mr. Speaker that my colleague
from the Knoxville district Mr.. SSEED for whom have
high respect personally deemed 1t necessary in my abb
sence call in question my political position in the
vassa most exciting canvass-thFough which passed
during the last summer
Sir il has been my habit ever since have first occupied
seat this floor, question the political consis
tency or conduct integrity any of colleagues OF
any party whether they present absent and
especially sir when had known that they not pres
this floor There are, Mr. Speaker three imputatons
accusations insnuatons in this article One is that
elected seat this floor by party and have
acted and co-operaed and voted with, and sustained,
another and different party this foor One is that
could not have occupied seat this floor at this time
but for the support of the knownohing party of the first
congressional district Of Tennessee.
The other is made by the editor and my honorable col
league, Mr. SSEED, when II is said that received the
know.nohing vote OF the two strongest
Mr. Speaker take this occasion to say the House and
country with all due Difference and respect for the
opinions and the information of my colleague from the
Knoxville district, that neither Of these imputations
of these nmaons Of these insinuatons is true in point
of fact in point of argument in point OF inference
Sir repeat that regret that Ii has become necessary
to call in question the political consistency political in
tegrity of colleague by another this floor regret
this the exceedingly for the that il drags into
discussion IN the House the excitement and the issues OF
canvass which, in my Judgment have place in and do
properly pertain the legislation of the Congress Of the
United States II brings upon sir the dsagreeable neces
sity the agreeabe duty OF referring TO these is
sues order sustain myself before this House. and be-
fore the country in relation 10 these Indirect charges
nsnuaons Sir this matter rested only with my
sttuents should not have asked the indulgence Of this
House for moment 10 reply to this publication OF the
Knoxville Register; for had occasion the 26th OF last
December pending the dsorganization Of this House. to
lah
ing them fully fairly frankly honestly and uhfuy, the
reasons which induced TO support the democratic nom
nees for Speaker and other officers In the organization OF
this House Three four thousand Of these addresses
have circulated among my constituents and they under
stand perfectly my position on this question handed a
copy OF that address my colleague from the Knoxville
district and also ranked Of the pamphlets 10 the
editor Of the Knoxville Register who makes these mpnta
ons and indirect charges against me The editor may
not have conescended TO read that address for II he did Il
impossible ths, he could have been under the necessity
of stating he does in that paragraph that Ii Is always
best to know exactly where man stands"
Now air tins publication brings up the facts In relation
10 my political position II directly involves the suppos
ton that have abandoned my former political principles
in attaching myself as have done-and as stated in that
address on the 26h OF ast Deoembero the present great
national democratic party Of this country
Sir have abandoned no principle which have hereto
fore ppoessed. have discarded no doctrine upon which
stood during the four years 10 which held seat upon
this floor commencing with the memorable contest Of
1850 came INTO this House VIXEN Grst elected to
upon this floor In lsi9 upon the very question upon
i
standing upon the great cardinal principles upon which
have united myself to the party organization with which
| am now cpnneced-upon which the democratic party
Rand to-day ANNOUNCED Ia the resolutions adopted at
the held by that party at the Of the
present session. ... ... ... ....
come here advocating the doctrine Of non-inter-
Vention aud popular sovereignty. The first time ever
came 10 the Congress Of the United States advo
eating the doctrine Of non-nteryenton and popular sove
regnty in reference TO the Territories During the
memorable contest Of 84950 had the honor Of acting
with some gentlemen who now here, and with other
more distinguished statesmen passed from the stage Of
action in maturing the doctrine Of non-nteryention and
popular sovereignty In the Territories Of the United States
as couched 10 the language OF the Utah and New Mexico
bills the compromise measures OF 1850. then for the
first time took part Ia the political events of this House
and "a parties 10 he eetng interest at the
present time and an important election a approaching
which Is exciting good deal Of feeling throughout the
country 1t perhaps just here wol enough that should
state the position with which started In the first contest
irhich was actively engaged. II will be remembered
that the contest Of ls4i between distinguished
statesman Of my Stae--now morewho was elect
Ell President and distinguished statesman from sister
State II the last national contest which
was fought between the whg and democratic parties upon
questions Of principle purely.
feel ID due 10 myself that should make these remarks
for the reason that once beosged the great whg party
Of the country, am proud to have been an humble mem
that great party. have had the honor TO take an
active part in all the prominent political contests, both
State and national in the State Of Tennessee from the
time when became legal voter down 10 the present mo-
ment served twice upon the electoral ticket OF that
State have served in the legislature OF my States have
served four years in Congress; and my life Is spared
until the close Of the present Congress- shall then have
served six in the Congress Of the United States
And sir claim to understand well the political history Of
that State and the history Of the political parties Of That