Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-04-25
LETTER OF THE HON. SAMUEL.
CAR UTHERS, OF MISSOURI, TO
HIS CONSTITUENTS.

CAR UTHERS, OF MISSOURI. TO
HIS CONSTITUENTS.
To MY CONSTITUENTS: Dutiug my short
Congressional career have never before
had occasion to especially address you by
letter. l have hitherto been content to
rest upon the reasons for my action, de-
claIed 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 breaking down of the old wall
which divided parties-the new elements
which had been mingled into our national
poIitics-the alarming iSms now distinct
ly formed in the counLry-the peril that
threatens the very existence Of our insti-
tutiOns. and that solemn duty which rests
upon every representative who would
deal fairly with his people, to declare,
frankly, his present positions and his fu
Uure intentions. l should be unworthy Of
the high trusts you have Contided to my
keeping-unworthy Of the kindness and
confidence you have SO generally lavish
ed upon me-unworthy Of my native
State-unworthy of the regard of good
men, if should shrink from the pcrfor-
nance OF thi. duty now.
We have had most exciting and pro-
tracted Struggle in the organic 1tion ot the
House. have voted uniformity for the
Democratic nominees for the speakership
For this | am charged with the betrayal
OF the Wing party. and with an abandon
ment Of the principles upon which was
elected. And who is it makes these
charges Isit the old-line Wings? l
have not heard Of an old line whig, either
in my district or elsewhere, who does not
endorse my course. These charges are
made by the Know Nothing press Of my
Ssae and by anonymous Know. Nothing
'cribblers. the latter of whom, never hav-
in5 had an honest motive themselves,
have no conception of the thing in others.
They charge me with betraying the Wing
party They who decoy it into their
councils, and assassinated it in the dark
they who come forth from their concIaVes
with their hands dripping with its bood-
they who met at Philadelphia in conVen~
tion, and vauntingIy proclaimed its death
with phaIiSaical affectatiOn of purity.
declare that they are not " responsible
for its obnoxious acts and violated
pledges ;" that has " elevated sectional
cal power. and brought our institutions
into peril" Yes, while | stand mourn
er at the grave of the Wing party. they
a'G rejoicing at its death and calumina-
ting its life Yet these men have the un-
blushing hardihood to twit me with aban-
dOnment of that once noble party Was
ever impudence more gigantic and more
absurd?
But it is sometimes softly and gently
whispered that the American party is the
Wing party in disguise. II this is so,
they have solemnly declared lie in their
conventions. and it is a cheat and fraud
upon the Democrats in the order. So
they have either abandoned their party
and have no right to abuse me. or are en-
gagged in a fraud which makes their abuse
compliment. Itell these gentlemen that
they have slain my first love, and left 4
political widOwer and | have a perfect
right to marry another party if | see pro-
per
am charged with having abandoned the
principles upon which was elected. Does
not every man in my district know that
the Kansas-NebraskH question was the
controlling issue in my last canvass p
position on this issue that gave me my
large majority in Democratic district I?
Does not every man know that l obtained
as many Democratic votes as did Wing
votes? Does not every man know that |
declared my principles, in a speech de.
:lvered in the House of Representatives.
IN the 7th O April. 1854? To stop the
mouths OF my accusers l will give an ex-
tract from that speech. I said then,
speaking of the Kansas. Nebraska bill
that
" will not pause long to dwell upon
Its party effect for in my judgment, the
questions involved override ali party con-
siderations. 1t is true, this bill is pres
sented to US an Administration measure.
1t is true that l am here as a whip: hut
L am not here to give this Administration
tactious opposition. am not here to
oppose any measure brought forward by
1t. l am here. uncommitted 10 blind
opposition or a blind support, to follow to
tue end the dictates of my own Judgment
ana conscience, and the will of those who
sent me.
In this instance believe the Admin.
lstratlon has taken high national ground :;
that it has planted itself upon a great
American prlnciple-the principle Of self
government principle involved in none
OF our party issues principle 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 ingrafted in the compromises of
65O, that cOoo1oaDJaJ +I,o,, = I :