The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-05-10

Gently been acquired during Mexican war; elect
cd TO Congress aud under the leadership OF the distu
guished statesman then the bearer and mbod
ment Of the whg party, aided In carrying out the doc
rine OF non-ntervention and popular sovereignty ia the
Territories IN the consummaon of the compromise
sures Of 1860 Upon those Identical principles stand To-
dayhe principles involved in the Kansas and Nebraska
b and the identical principles couched In the resolutions
OF the democratic party adopted at the commencement Of
the present session OF Congress went before the people
OF my district upon that principle. discussed the doc
ne OF non-nteryenon and popular sovereignty before
hem and was returned by the unprecedented majority
OF seven thousand in that district Upon that principle
stand to-day before the House aud the country a
These are among the which make il necessary
for me TO make this personal explanation. II had regard
only TO my constituents should not have considered
1t necessary But sir have many friends whom cherish
and love dearly among my former constituents the
constituents OF my distinguished colleague from the Knox
vile district Mr., SsEED1 \, ~ I'll ~#g# NJ gt.a /.
Before the State Of Tennessee redstrced by which
was transferred TO the district which have the honor
now To represent was reelected have stated by the
unprecedented majority of thousand votes; and
while believe have very many frisnds In the district
which have the honor To represent have many
in the district represented by my distinguished col
league Mr. SaEEDl feel it, therefore, due to them that
read which crculates extensively in that district should
not be allowed to pass without notice and that state
ment made perhaps not by my colleague but by the ed
tor injurious 70 my reputation should not be allowed TO
Sir Iwoud to-day resign my seat on this floor
and return to my plantation in Tennessee the bosom
constituents of my honorable colleague should suppose
that had abandoned the doctrine upon which stood
the palladium of the constitution and the buwark that
should preserve the Union Of these States # .el I.
Now, sir, stand upon the principles upon which
have always stood have not changed single, solitary
sentiment have marched directly and unwayeringly
from the point at which started when first elected this
House to the position now occupy connected with the
democratic party of the House and the country. Sir the
parties change policy changes but principle is i'm
mutable principle never changes. l came TO Congress
upon the principle imbodied in the Kansas and Nebraska
bill stand upon that principle to-day. H. <.
am willing TO acknowledge that | received O portion
of the know-nobing vote in my district but sir,
elected the principles Of the bill
principles OF the resolution adopted by the democratic
of members Of this House the Of
this session. Those principles made the burden of the
contest and SO far from my being elected by the know
nothing party use the term because Ii is found in this
publication and prefer to reply to specifically far
from my being elected by that party in any county
was perhaps sterny and fercely opposed by it in
my district any man has been did receive portion
OF the know nothing vote of my district but only the
votes OF those who preferred settlement OF the veIed sa
very question the principles of the Kansas Nebraska
bill They preferred that issue to know-nothingism Ny
colleague then, is mistaken in the assumption that
ceved the know thing majority of that vote
in any county of my district He is equally mistaken in
the supposton that would not have been elected If had
not received know nothing vote Nor is he any
correct 10 his supposon that have abandoned any par
ty principle to which attached before here
TO act with the democratic party. - -. 4. +.
dislike exceedingly to refer to the difficulties Of the
canvass but it Is my duty to do duty which
TO my political integrity duty which owe to my rec
ord in this House--a duty which owe to my constu-
ents to my friends whether in my district in Tennes
see or anywhere inshe connry-a duty which owe to
my famiy-a duty which owe TO myself am not pre-
pared say what number Of know-nohng did
ceveI use the term knownothng with no feeling Of de-
rision or dsrespect Nor am prepared TO say whether
that party nominated not the gentleman who against
me- know nothing OF what occurred in the consulta
tions OF that organization As stated in the address To
my VIII haya Il had tke
fortune to have myself involved in difficulty with the know
nothing party Of my district As thousands Of Others
was induced by representations made me- allow myself
to be initiated into that organization when il was first made
in Tennessee From that simple circumstance alone the
roversy which district and beea brought
into this House. took its origin Bat repea, that knew
nothing of the doings Of that party. preserved every
obligation Of the initiation discussed the doctrines OF
the Tennessee platform They the matter Of contest
in Tennessee stood by them because they the prn
cpes Of the Compromise of 1880 for which had voted
They the principles of the Nebraska bill and
the resolutions passed in caucus by the democrats Of
this Congress True there great deal Of verbiage
about the resolutions Of that platform There
utons in favor OF the revolutionary of the Declaration
of Independence Of the constitution of the United Stas
and of the Bible. Resolutions there in favor OF what
everybody for-eyerybody this country and else
where, for aught know The only political resolutions
in the platform those which hr up TO the po
sition Of the democratic party the compromise
urea Of 1850 and the Kansas-Nebraska bill of 1854
| had been in the compromise Congress OF 1850; |
had voted for the admission Of California free
State for the organization OF territorial governments for
Utah and New Mexico-indeed for oil the compromise
OF 1850 voted for the Washington territorial
bill Though not In Congress when the Kansas bill was
introduced prepared for the principles 1t contains
bad watched the progress Of these principles day and
night In Congress saw the contamination of our en-
deavors in the compromise OF 1850 / felt that
no man who had been In favor Of those could
consistently withhold bis vote for the kansasNebraska
bill supported that bill fought the battle In my dis
trict on IL and elected. And far from my not
being able to TO Congress without know-nohing
vote would been elected by least fifteen hundred
into the contest II the contest had been the constu
tonal legal and political doctrines Of that bill alone my
majority would not have been less thau fifteen hundred
When my colleague refers to my having received know
nothing votes presume he refers 10 votes cast in jefferson
and Sewer counties. .G... RI.
Mr. SNEED. II my colleague will yield, will answer
his question.
Mr. WATKINS will give way for my colleague with
| great deal Of pleasure.
| Mr. SNEED. | do not intend 10 put myself do !
desire that my colleague shall be allowed TO put into
the ungacous position Of his prosecutor shall not en-
ter Into the political issues Of the contest in which he
elected bave inclination for the task In the FIRST
the remark that this publication not true in point OF
fact in argument inference to personally and in any
offensive sense -. ... .s.. al# #..es.
Mr. WATKINS. / stated that neither OF the positions
taken in the publication in fact argument or in
ference. stated with the qualification that had no
reference my colleagues veraciy though did not use
the word yeracity said that II my colleague had
opinion OF the kind stated the information upon which
| he based Il was incorrect .g #. a I
Mr. SNEED. That is perfectly satisfactory. have an
other remark reference what my colleague said OF
/ this matter being brought up in his absence.
/ Mr.. WATKINS. Do my colleagues remarks count in
/ Jt.. srr fruAo,k,,a1, ..H.# .".z