Washington telegraph., 1856-05-28
VOL. XVI.
SPEECH OF HON. FIX ZOLLICOFFER
Of Tennessee, In the House of Rep
resentatives, April 8, 1856.

SPEECH OF HON. FIX. ZOLLICOFFER
Of Tennessee, in the House of Rep
resentatives, April 8, 1856.
The House being in the Committee of th,
Whole on the state of the Union
Mr.. Zollicoffer said
Mr.. Chairman When my colleague Mr.
Smith had concluded his remarks on Fri
day. in which he appropriated so large q
share of his time to an examination of my
personal politics. Immediately sought the
floor for reply; but, under usage which
has grown up here, and of which do ro
complain. by pre-arrangement the floor had
been assigned to other gentlemen and this
therefore. is the first opportunity l have had
to respond.
My colleague brings my political action
more prominently before the House than
any merit in it deserves, and he has been
pleased to attribute to me position of inAu-
ence in Tennessee such as do not claim,
and to which have no just title. But am
pleased that. in the searching examination
he has made, he has been able to make only
such points upon my political record as were
founded In misapprehension of the facts
and l feel obliged to him for thus giving me
an opportunity to correct the misapprehen-
siOns which have to some extent gone out to
the country through the newspapers.
My colleague is mistaken In supposing
that ever called the platform of the Amer
lean party the ''verbiage platform or that
| used the word ''verbiage'' in reference to
that platform al ALL l did address the
National Council Of the American party
when the platform was under consideration,
and did use the word ''verbiage" in refer
ence to the twelfth section of the platform
adopted in June, 1855. 1 stated that was
for the substance of that twelfth section !;
that warmly approved of the principles it
embodied; that the people Of the Territories.
in framing their State Constitutions. had
and ought to have the right to determine
the character of their own local institutions;
and that States thus framed should have the
privilege of admission into the Union, with
or without slavery, as they might determine
for themselves.
But I said there was good deal of vcr-
biage in the section which 1 did not think
at all necessary; and having passed my
pencil over the words did not deem essen
tial, gentlemen who we're present will re-
member that presented what l designated
the ''pith and marrow" of the section. |
said further. that was very willing to adopt
the seventh section of what is now called
the new platform. In lieu of the twelfth
section of the old. because it embodied the
same principle-wbich is the principle as
serted in the Nebraska act. as understand
it-tho1gh it is but frank to say. that among
the supporters Of that measure there is a
variety of interpretations. among which. is
one. assuming that it recognizes the right of
Territorial Legislature toprohibit slavery,
which have always denied.
Mr.. Smith, of Tennessee. I do not wish
10 consume any of my colleagues time 1
only ask question. that he may explain in
regard TO the point suggested. If the sew
enth section of the new platform embraced
the same principles of the twelfth section of
the old one. why was the old one abolished,
and the new one adopted?
Mr.. Zollicoffer. 1t may have been be-
cause my colleague and the political orators
and editors of his party had so 6ercely as
sailed the twelfth section They professed
then however much they are aao10 In love
with it,) to regard it as a miserably 'un-
sound" section. The official organ of the
Administration, the Washington Union.
even as late as the 18th of February last.
denounced it as embodying "a discreditable
nd 1Io 60 ho1r
The organ of Democracy at Nashville, called
it a "wishy-washy'' concern, which refused
to sanction the principle of the Nebraska
BILL" These are but samples of thousand
similar assaults throughout the lines Of
Southern Democracy-while at the North
twas actively assailed as surrender to
the Stare poloer." say it mag be that
these things had their influence But l
speak alone for myself-not undertaking to
state the position of otLer members of the
Council-while approved the ''pith and
marrow" of the twelfth section, was willing
to accept the section of the present platform
in lieu, because it embodied the same prin-
eple
My colleague makes the point against
iut, tudb suc tuiItccutu ccCtlOu em DIdCSS q
specification against the Administration fol
''re-opening sectional agitation by repeal
Of tie Missouri Compromise" will in.
form my colleague that l proposed to strike
out that specification. and every specification
in the thirteenth section but. there being
much disorder at the time, failed to sue
eeed. did not think the Administration
had brought about repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise 1 knew that when Senator
Dixon first proposed that repeal. the organ
OF the Administration at Washington as
sailed him promptly and long afterward
declared that support of the Nebraska bill
ought not to be regarded as Democratic
test.
The question was subsequently about be
ing put in the American Council Shall th.
new platform be adopted in lieu of the oil
one! when some member proposed a divi
SION Of the question which was agreed to
and the vote was first taken upon strikin.
out the old platform. voted against stri
KING out, but the proposition carried. Thel
the question reeurred upou the adoution q