Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-05-10
Letter of Hon. Samr IL Caruthers of Missouri,
to his Constituents.

Letter of Hon. Samr Il Caruthers of Missouri,
to his Constituents.
Expsain;,sg his past action, defining his present po-
sition and the position Of parties
To NV CONSTITUENTS: During my short Congress
sional career have never before had occasion 10 es
specially address you by letter. | have hitherto
been content rest upon the reasons ior my accon
declared on the floor of the House, or stand silently
upon the record had made by my votes.
The reasons for doing so now arise from the orcak-
ing down of the old wall which divided parties-the
new clements which have been mingled into our ma
tional politics-thc alarming isms now distinctly
formed in the country-the' peril that threatens the
very existence of institutions, and that solemn
duty which rests upon every representative VINO
would deal fairly with his people 10 declare frankly
his present positions and his future intentions. 1
should be unworthy Of the high trusts you have con-
fided to my keepng-unworthy of the Kindness ana
confidence you have so generously laV'sn,o upon
me-unworthy Of my native State-unworthy OF the
REGARD Of good men-if | should shrink from the
performance of this duty now
We have had most exciting and protracted strug
gle in the organization Of the House. have voted
uniformly for the democratic nominees or tne speaA ~
ership. For this am charged with the betrayal OF
the whig party, and with an abandonment OF the
principles upon which was elected And who IS It
that makes these charges? Is it the odi wings!
have not heard of an old line wing, either IN my
district elsewhere, who docs not endorse NY
course. These charges are made by the Know 'h"'"'
ing press of my State, and by anonymous KNOW
nothing scribb!ers the latter of whom, never having
had an honest motive themselves, have no cenerp-
ton of the thing in others TnEr charge ME- with
betraying the whg party! TnEi, who deceyed II
into their councils and assassinaed it in the OARS
THEY who come forth from their concavcs WITH 'ne't
hands dripping with its blood-rHEi WHO met at
nj. u and anntlnUlV
claimed its death-w,th pharisaical atectaton OF
party declare that THEY not responsible ior us
obnoxious acts and violated pledges" that II mas
elevated sectional hostility into positive element
of political power and brought our institutions into
peril" Yes; while stand q mourner at the grave
of the wing party, THEY are reloicng at It's aeatn
and eliminating its life! Yet these men have the
unblushing hardihood to TwIT ME with abandonment
of that once noble party! Was ever lmpudence
more gigantic and more absurd?
But it is sometimes softly and gently whispered
that the American party is the Wing party IN ds-
guse. If this is so, they have solemnly declared
lie in their conventions, and it is cheat ana J'e"~
unon the Democrats in the Order. So they hare
either abandoned their party and have no right to
abuse me- or are engaged in fraud which makes
their abuse compliment. l tell these gentlemen
that they have slain my first t0re, and lett me po-
itical 1idoaccr and have perfect right to marry
another party if see proper!
l am charged with having abandoned the princl-
pies upon which was elected. Does not every man
in nv district know that the KansasNebraskaq ucs-
ton was the controlling issue in my last canvass
Does not every man know that it was my position
on this issue that gave me my large majority IN
Democratic district? Does not every man know
that obtained as many Democratic votes as did
Wing votes? Does not every man know that de,
cared my principles in a speech delivered IN sie
House of Representatives on the 18th OF April 1904!
To stop the mouths of my accusers, will give an
extract from that speech. | said then, speaking OF
the KansasNebraska bill, that
81 will not pause long to dwell upon its party eff
feet for, in my judgment, the questions involved
override all party considerations 1t is true this bill
is presented to us as administration measure. 1t
is true that am here as Wing; but am not here
to give this administration fact,ous opposition. l
am not here to oppose any broug MT forward
BY it. merely because it is brought forward by it
am here, uncommitted to blind opposition or
blind support, to follow to the end the dictates of
my own judgment and conscience, and the will OF
those who sent me.
In this instance 1 believe the administration has
taken high national ground that it has planted it.
self upon great American principle-the principle
of selfgovcrnment-a principle involved in none OF
our party issues-a principle dearer than any party
consderations-a principle upon which all sound
national men of all parties may meet and stand, as
upoa ground alike cherished and alike dear. 1t was
this principle engrated in the compromises OF 1850
that commended them so warmly TO the American
heart it was this principle which was ratified by
both parties in their conventions at Baltimore, and
it is for this principle speak to-day.
Sir, this is no war between the administration and
its opponents-no war between Wings and Demo-
Gratis as such but disguise it as you may, it is
war between free-soilisn on the one hand, and the
right of the people to scfgovernment on the other"
Upon these declarations | went into the canvass.
was elected then, declaring that the principles of
the Kansas-Nebraska bill "were dearer than any
party considerations 49, principle upon which all
good men of all parties might meet and stand, as
upon ground alike cherished and alike dear that
they override all party considerations" Being thus
elected, when came to cast my first vote for Speak
er, found that neither the "South- Americans
nor the black Republicans had laid down any plat
form-they were fighting shy, running with
gin. The Democrats had platform, and it was
this
"Resolred, That the Democratic members of the
House of Representatives, though in temporary
minority in this body, deem this fit occasion to
tender to their fellow-ctizcns Of the whole Union
their heartfelt congratulations the triumph in the
recent elections in several of the Northern Eastern
and Western as we'll as Southern States of the prn-
cples of the Kansas Nebaska BILL and the doctrines
OF civil and religious liberty, which have been so
violently assaed by secret political order known
as the Know Nothing party. And, though in mi
norty, we hold it to be highest duty to preserve
our organization, and continue our efforts in the
maintenance and defence of those principles, and
the constitutional rights of every section and every
class of citizens, against their opponents of every
description, whether so-caled Republicans or Know
Nothings, or fusionists; and, to this end, we look
with confidence to the support and appreciation of
all good and true men-friends of the constitution
and Union throughout the country"
IL Will be seen that there are only two panks in
this platforms the one, in favor of the principles of
the Kansas Nebraska bl-the very principles upon
which was re- elected; and the other against the
proscrptveness of Know Nothingsm. Bear in
mind the fact that, when was elected, there were
no Know Nothngs in my dstrict-that was not
one. And now may not ask if there ;s ;. s;na Is