Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1856-09-24
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Extracts from a speech Of HoN. JAMES c. JONES,
Of Tennessee, dstioere, inst6s Senate Of the On''
xed States, AugGst 8, 1856. -
No man living feels moe deeply more acutely,
moro painfully than do the separation from irlenos
who have stood by me in the hour OF dars".Se'
when the shafts of calumny were hurled from q
thousand sources-who when all the batteries ~
democracy, with their envcnomed darts, were nali-
cd at me- were ready to throw themselves '"to o"e
breach to- protect me- Would that cou'a saci"'.e
myself to save the.l. but cannot DO violence 70
my own conscience by concurr1ng IN the d9c'r'"ss
that they preach to the American people l would
20 to any length of personal sacrifice would give
nm everything but my convictions Of honor and
nnblic duty to concur with them, If could can
never concur with them in this crisis 1t is lmPoss
bic that can. l wish to God that could
know my own comfort, my own political safety, II
sought t-everything OF ease requires IT, 5ut, MI,
President have spent anxious hours, and, II one
10 unworthy AZ myself may be permitted to say SO.
prayerful hours in trying to come to the point OF
concurrence with those old friends whom love and
mean to love and honor; but l have not been able
to do it.
l am willing to believe they are honest; know
most of them arc All ask is-and do expect
the POOR boon to be accorded to mc--that may re-
ceive the same charity which l extend to others;
but do not even hope for that. | have made up
nv mind calmly-I have made up my mind DELHI
erately with my convictions of dnty. would rain
err maintain my own seif-respect by faithful dis
charge of duty in the retirement of private life than
stand in power and place. l am separating myself
from most of my friends, or rather, they have sep
srated from me- l do not know but one public
man in the State of my old associates who concurs
with me. know l am separating from those who
have cherished me-who bave loved me-who have
delighted to honor me, and have delighted to re-
turn all their kindness. l have served them hon.
estly and faithfully, and with all the ability pos
sessed; could no more. say to democratic SEM
ators, and to democrats everywhere, you owe me
nothing -nothing-nothing; l ask nothing IN re-
turn expect nothing, and want nothing am
an old line whig and, in voting with you, it is not
because love democracy, but because hate black
repubcansm. love my country; and believe
the safety of the country depends on the success OF
the democratic party at this time. have made up
my mind, say, to this course. know that it may
be the end Of my political existence. Be it so; the
world will never be the loser; and all that ask is,
the poor privilege of gathering around me as fall
my old mantle of the Clay wing party, and die in
peace; and when they come to write an inscription
on my tomb, let them say, He lived true to his
principles, and died defending them"
But, Mr.. President, have said that intended no
injustice to Mr.. Fillmore. believe he would make
Q safe and conservative President and should con-
slider the country safe in his hands. Ii l believed
that Mr.. Fillmore could be electcd-if believed that
he was q stronger man than Mr.. Buchanan, with all
my conviction of the injustice he has heaped upon
us should not hesitate to vote for him but has he
any chance of success?
submit it to the calm deliberation Of the Senate,
has Mr.. Fillmore any chance of election? What
prospect has he? The most sanguinc friends Of his
with whom have talked claim the following States:
New York, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina,
Kentucky, Tennessee, and Missouri. Suppose he
should receive all Of them, what would they amount
to? Eighty nine electoral votes-sixty minus of an
election. But is there sane man in the world who
hoo thatA fall of thoSp
] am taking the most favorable view that can be
presented. In my judgment, l say honestly, there
is not certainty of his getting any one of them
Not single one of the States which have enumer-
ated is sure for Mr.. Fillmore. He may carry some
of them; he may carry all of them but if he should
carry all of them, that does not make his election.
If the signs of the times are to be credited, he
STANDS poor chance of carrying any of them. If
he cannot be elected by the people, what will be the
result thens- Will he fare any better in the House
of Representatives? Remember that the present
House of Representatives has to make the election.
How many States has Mr.. Fillmore in the present
Congress? Just three and no more: Delaware,
Maryland and Kentucky. These are the only States
Mr.. Fillmore has in the present House of Represen-
tatives and they to choose a President, if the
election goes before them. Now, in the name of
justice and common seLse, does anybody suppose
that these three States will be ablcto attract to them
States enough to make an election? No man can
think that Then, l argue that Mr. Fillmore has no
reasonable chance of success.
Hence, the question is whether Mr.. Fremont or
Mr.. Buchanan shall be elected? That is the issue;
and have conversed with my friends in regard to
it. Some of my interviews are very pleasant, and
some painful for whatever my faults may be-and
Heaven knows they are numerous-I believe mob ody
ever charged me with want of devotion to my
friends. They meet me, and ask the question, Is
it possible that you going to vote for Buchanan
and Brecknridge?" I have said to them, it is pos
sible. They ask me, How is it? Can it he posi-
BILE that who from my earliest political existence,
have been making war upon democracy, can vote
the democratic ticket? l have ever opposed the
democratic party. would not withdraw single
blow ever gave them; and if the old issues
ever revived and am living, shall be found main
tanning them. My friends say to me, How is it
possible you are going to vote for Buchanan ?"-
Now, Mr. President, will my friends permit me to
ask one question, or, in Yankee phrase, to answer
them by asking another? Inasmuch as l am in the
minority they ought to answer the question at once.
Tell me how you reconcile yourselves to vote for
Andrew Jackson Donelso? When you answer that,
l will answer yours You taking to your conf
dence a man born, reared, and educated in the de-
mocratic faith; raised at the feet of the political
Gamaliel; taught to despise and condemn Henry
Clay, and every wing in the nation. You find no
difficulty whatever; but with perfect complacency,
with perfect dissatisfaction, you can vote for An
drew jackson Donelson and when I talk about
voting for Buchanan and Breckenridge, you say,
In the name Of Heaven, how can you do it?" l
do it as choice of evils. do it, as l said before,
not because love them, but because believe the
interest and honor of the country now demand
their election; and YOU, who are swallowing Andrew
jackson Donelson, cannot say word to any man.
You are taking the medicine in broken doses; but
would rather take full dose at once prefer, if
have to take the medicine, to take it all at once
That is the difference If were talking to my
friends in Tennessee, would ask them how they
took great many men whom they took there last
year? Why, sir, many of them were conceived in
democratic sin, and brought forth in political I'M