Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-09-24

my lifetime to let the last drop of democratic oooa
out of the body polite and it is no on]ect'on WIN
me to Mr. Buchanan that he said if he had any demo-
cratic blood i'm his veins he would let it out. 1t Is
rather q recommendation to me- because 1t proves
to my mind that he once right. You had bet.
ter make that argument to somebody else; make 1t
to democrats, to whom have made it several tlmes
and have asked some democrats, How can you
vote for him, as he is not democraticY Laughter
But you say if he not democratic, he was fed
eralist.
Then am obliged to take him either as a feder-
alist or democrat. If were forced to the issue
between the two, should be in close place l
have to such objection to federalism some. am
not q federalist myself; do not believe in the.r
doctrines think they were extreme in some things
but do say and am ready to say here and every
where, that believe the old federal party was as
honest party as ever lived. I believe that WASH
ington himself was called federalist, and know
that Hamilton was and l should not be ashamed
| to be cassed with such men. Hamilton was fed
eralist; he at least honest and the government
of the United States have paid deserved coinpl-
ment to Alexander Hamilton, to his patriotism, and
virtues and acknowledged ability, by publishing his
works and distributing them in the country.
! This is no objection to Mr.. Buchanan. | do not
care whether he was fcderalist not But then
you say-and this is the point to which wish to
direct tie attention of the Senatc-Mr. Buchanan
ought not to be voted for by me- profess to have
been friend of Mr.. Clay during his lifetime, and to
,
They say that Buchanan, if not the author, was the
propagation of the vile caumny, in 1924 of bargain
| and intrigue
| Mr.. President, pending the question to who
should be the candidate of the Democratic party, l
expressed my opinions freely and said to some gen.
tlemen now in my presence, that had understood
q had not investigated it) Mr.. Buchanan had failed
to do Mr. Clay justice and, unless that question
cleared up, would never vote for Mr.. James Bu-
! chanan, though he might be nominated by thou
sand conventions. lrepcat to- day that if believed
MIR. Buchanan had originated, even circula ed or
| given countcnance to that old vile calumny, would
not vote for him. TWAS on that account, not hav
ing investigated it, that said to the friends of Mr..
! Buchanan, "If you nominate him l do not think
! vote for him. l will certainly not vote for him
! unless l can be satisfied that question" 1t was
on that ground, in part, that preferred the Sena-
J tor from Illinois. l am glad he is not in his seat
| preferred that he should be nominated. Why, sir,
! did prefer him? Because had him here
standing up, day and night indicating the rights of
! my constituents had seen him standing here, as
! Leondas at Thermopylae, to vndicate and maintain
tho interests and honor Of the people Of the South
had the arrows in showers hurled at him, and
! had him bare his proud bosom to the storm
in vindcation of our rights. now predict that the
time will come when passion and prejudice shall
| Sleep when the South will do honor to Stephen A.
Douglas. Applause in the galleries 1predict the
time will come when returning of justice
! will rally around his standard, or, if not around his
Standard at least around his name and memory, to
Say, "There was man who dared to die for others"
! Who has received so much of SANDER and calumny,
! and detraction as Stephen A Douga And for
what? In the name of all that is grateful the
! part of the South, conjure them-hate him, des-
t pise him as you may for other things-do him JUS
tice for the noble, manly, gallant fearless, undying
devotion which he has manifested in defence OF the
! that account.
| But, sir, to return to Mr.. Buchanan and this
charge of bargain and corruption. l repeat, have
examined this question faithfully. thoroughly, and
honestly, and say here that will make the record
so plain, in my Judgment that no fair man will ever
controvert it. repeat, that if believed ne was
guilty of any participation in that calumny, would
never never support him. have seen 1t said IN
some newspaper that the very bones OF the Sage OF
Ashland would move in their dull cold resting place
at the idea of wings like voting for Mr.. Buchan-
an. Well, sir, if all that ever said by Andrew
jackson DOnelson contrasted with what Mr..
Buchanan said against Mr.. Clay, and if the bones
would move at the of Buchanan, the spirit it.
Self would burst its cerements and rise in Judgment
against those who ready to elevate to power and
place Andrew jackson Donelson l have the re-
cords here about that bargain, intrigue and corrup
ton charge.
Mr.. Clay voted for Mr.. Adams in 1924 for the
Presidency, and, thereupon, Mr.. George kremer
published a communication in some Pennsylvania
newspaper saying that there had been corrupt bar
gain between Mr.. Clay and Mr. Adams. Mr.. Clay
was then member of the House of Representatives
With his wonted boldxess, galantry, and integrity
he at once demanded al investigation, and
mi,tee was appointed. Mr.. Kremer was summoned
to present his proofs; and Mr. Kremer retired to his
dark chamber Of calumny, like Judas Iscariot, and
never attempted to make good his charge.
| But afterwards it was renewed by Gen. jackson,
or an intimation made, that the bargain had been
| proposed to him by distinguished member of Con-
gress, and it was said that Mr.. Buchanan was that
member of Congress. As soon the charge
made, Mr.. Buchanan published letter in reply to
| Gen. Jackson, in which he says: 1T is no: so
never approached you to make any corrupt bargain.
never was authorized by Mr. Clay his friends to
approach you" There the result of that publ
cation
| hold in my hand book, and it is a very impor-
tant book, written in 1881, few years after these
things transpred. And by whom was it written
BY one of the most gifted and talented men of this
naton-George D. Prentice. of the Louisville Jour-
nal. Mr. Prentice the confidential friend of Mr..
| Clay, and his biographer. When the facts
! fresh before the country-when they were fresh in
the public mind-what did Mr. Prentice say in his
biography "a thing that is to live after Mr.. Clay,
and Mr.. Prentice and ALL all of us, consigned to
the final resting place of fathers as the solemn
record-the history of the life and character of the
most lllustriouS statesman that ever lived. What
does he say9 Let us read. Mr. Prentice says:
Not satisfied with private hints and declarations,
Mr.. Clay's distinguished accuser [Gen. Jackson]
finally stated, in public letter. that overtures of
bargain had been made to him, during the penden-
cy of the Presidential election in the House of Rep
resentatves, by the friends of Mr.. Clay. With his
usual promptitude of character, Mr.. Clay demanded
through whom those overtures had been made. In
reply, Gen. jackson gave up the name of Mr.. James
Buchanan, one of his own personal and political
| friends. Mr. Buchanan, however, was an honor
able man, and hesitated not to say, publicly that he
had never made to Gen. Jackson the overtures in