The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-04-17
CONGRESSIONAL
SPEECH OF HON. y. A. SMITH


TENNESSEE, #4....
On the state Of political parties delivered in the House
Representatives. April A. 1856.
| The House being in Committee Of the Whole thu
state of the Union, ...
| Mr.. SMITH of Tennessee said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: yielded the floor the other day 10 thu
chairman OF the Committee of Ways aud Means with thu
expectation that should proceed with my remarks at th
time, do mot design addressing myself TO the subjec
directly under consideration but under the established
and uniform practice Of the committee, shall avail my
self OF the privilege of speaking to matters connected will
| the general politics OF the country.
We are approaching presidential canvass of more i'm
porance than any that has occurred since the adoption
the federal constitution Never has there been such conf
sion Of political parties in this country exists at this
time; and, IN my judgment, no member OF This House
whether OF the abolition know-nohing American OF
democratic party be better employed than in placing
before The people his views fully and fairly on the various
questions Of domestic policy which the fruitful
sources OF agitation in all sections of this country. W.
have now three parties striving for the mastery the
presidential election. Heretofore there were only two
One OF those three parties has recently assembled in
ea convention and nominated ts candidates for the pres
dency and the vice presidency of the United States and
for the first time in political history not word has
far been sad in this House with reference to those nom
nations or TO the action of the convention which made
thein 1t is not my purpose to conhne my remarks to the
proceedings of that yention to its nominations, but
to speak generally of the status Of the various political
parties of the country. ...-t ...s. II.
We have heard great deal since the meeting of this
Congress about Kansas and the prohibition of slavery
that Territory We have heard much about the election
of our presiding officer. differ from Of my south
friends in regard to the Importance of the creation OF
Kansas into slave State far the interest of the ns
tuition Of slavery is concerned but not to the admission
of General WHITFIELD of Governor Reeder delegate
from that Territory The last is matter about which
| have heard much am glad TO that this question
which has agated this Congress and the country has
dwinded down into nothing Never before in our annals
has important sectional question been suddenly de-
prived of its agatng elements Hitherto such questions
have grown in importance they progressed to final
conclusions but in this case it has been directly the
1t is fact be referred to with qualification by the friends
of the Union and the defenders of the constitution The
excitement the question have taken its depart
with the recently investigating committee
Whether it is destined have abiding place in Kansas
elsewhere, do not know. am inclined to believe that
will beyond the limits of the United States and will
be heard OF after the next presidential election
regard the admission OF Kansas into the Union
slave State important only point of view dis
agree before stated with many of my southern friends
in regard to the importance Of erecting the Territory OF
Kansas into slave State believe that the strength OF
the institution of slavery consists in its concentration and
not in its diffusion. ] believe the time will come
when the institution Of African slavery will successfully
vndcate itself before the world and destroy the camor
raised against 1t in the northern States | am
who can never agree that African slavery curse
lieve that il is right and that 1t must and will vndica,e
itself against all opposition speaking in reference to
the interests of this institution not only politically but
socially, and in domestic point Of view. Its strength
consists in its confinement to the States where
lists believe it is important to the existence of this
Union that us many slave States shall be added TO
practicable under the constitution and in this view alone
favor the creation of the Territory OF Kansas into
slave State, and its admission such into the Union
Every sectional question which has heretofore been set
tied by Congress shows that geographically the South
has always been the true conservative section OF
the conederacy. When say this do not mean to
throw dcredt northern members Of the democratic
party, who have stood by in efforts to maintain the
integrity of the Union Every compromise made for the
Of the Union since the organization of the gov
ernment has received majority of its supporters from the
southern States 1t is therefore important in political
point Of yiew that the power and influence of the southern
States should be maintained both here and in the other
branch of Congress- For this think the creation
Of Kansas into slave State Is important adding an
other binding link to the Union desire 10 keep up the
equilibrium Of power between the two sections in order to
preserve the union Of the States In my humble Judgment
should first look TO the preservation of the constitution
OF the United States secondly TO the protection of the
rights Of the States and thirdly 10 the preservation Of tue
federal Union All other questions subordinate tc
the Union is not reasonable to desire accession
slave States Of the most important elements to give
strength, and power and weight TO that section Of tn.
country which heretofore in all conflicts has stood fore
most 10 defence of the federal compact
| These sir are views which have occurred to upon
this question and pass from this subject with the single
remark that far as concerned, after the preserva
on Of the rights Of the States guaranteed by the cons
uton which rs an individual representative will
never agree innged the most important OBJ
ect which ought actuate every patriot Of this land is the
preservation of the Union and believing that the preva
ence Of the ideas which entertain will promote to
extent that end have taken the liberty to express then
on this occasion.
The political condition Of this House. which Is but typ,
Of the political condition Of the whole country, not only
novel one but is calculated 10 excite the deepc
soicude for the future We have heretofore had two po
tcal parties in all great presidential canvasses, with
small number in the North called abolidoniss 10 form
third party but in sufficient numbers power and in
lueuce to give them any chance Of success 70 create
any excitement in relation to the candidate they had nom
mated for the first Office in the g OF the people Now two
Of these parties In the North have gamaed and thu
present power and numerical strength which has hereto
| fore been unknown In this House.
The contest which Is 70 come of and which hai
already commenced is TO be fought upon different prnci
ples In the sections Of the Union Ii has been assert
ed By OF the leading organs Of the republican or abo
on party in the northern States that the nomination.
made at Philadelphia the 22d Of February would en-
able the American party Of the South 60 to divide th
South 20 enable the republican party TO carry the pres
idential election. The know-nohings having hope 0
carrying any State in the North the plan and programme
of the aboitonss Is to divide the South, and they
that by these nominations the candidates. Of th
know-nothng party will be enabled TO carry all the ole
wbg States In the South and thus give the field to th
army Of so-callcd black republicans Who In my Judgment
war upon the constitution Of the country. II Is wei
known sir that the gentleman nominated by the Phadel
pha convention (Mr Fillmore) one OF the most pop
ular in the southern States Of all in the old
whg party OF the knownothing party, that live nortt
Of Mason and Dixons line II is also we'll known that tht
only effect II any which his nomination can have upor
the next presidential election will be TO carry of enough
States from the democratic party TO throw the election
President into the House Of Representatives. doub
whether any OF this House who was in that
ton viii assert his belief before his constituents tha
that ticket viii succeed at the next presidential election
Whether he will not the facts the circumstances tho
condition OF political parties their strength here and the
strength exhibited at home, show that their nomne
viii stand chance Of election, and only have the ef
| feet, II any, to prevent election by the people
But sir before remarked, this battle Is to be Tough