Daily American organ., 1856-04-16
STATE OF POLITICAL PARTIES.
SPEECH OF HON. F. K. ZoLLICoFFER,
OF TENNESSEE,
In House Of Representatives. April g. 1856.

SPEECH OF HON. Il. X. Z0LLIC0FFER,
OF TENNESSEE
In House Of Representatives, April 8, 1856.
The House being in the Committee of the Whole
on the state of the Union
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN: When my colleague [Mr.
SMrHl had concluded his remarks on Friday,
in which he appropriated SO large a share Of
his time to an examination into my personal
politics, Immediately sought the floor for re-
ply; but, under usage which has grown up
here, and of which do not complain, by pre-
arrangement the floor had been assigned. to
other gentlemen; and this, therefore, is the
first opportunity 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 at
tribute to me position of influence in Tennes-
see such as do not claim, and to which have
90 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 misappre-
hension of the facts; and feel obliged to him
| for thus giving me an opportunity to correct
| the misapprehensions which have to some ex-
tent gone out to the country through the news
papers.
My colleague is mistaken in supposing that
| ever called the platform of the American
party the "verbiage platform" or that used
| the word "verbiage" in reference to that plat
form at all. did address the National Coun-
Gil OF the American party when the platform
was under consideration, and / did use the
word "verbiage" in reference to the twelfth
section of the platform adopted in June, 1855.
| 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 const-
tutions 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
may determine for themselves
But said that there was good deal of YER
biage in the section which did not think at
all necessary; and having passed my pencil
over the words did not deem essential, gen
tlemen who were present will remember that
presented what ! designated as 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, be-
cause it embodied the same principlc-which
is the principle asserted in the Nebraska act,
as understand it--though it is but frank to
say, that among the supporters of that mea-
sure there is q variety of interpretations,
among which is one assuming that it recog-
nises the right Of Territorial Legislature to
prohibit slavery, which have always denied
Mr.. SMITH, Of Tennessee. do not wish
to consume any of my colleagues time. i only
ask question, that he may explain in regard
to the point suggested. If the seventh section
of the new platform embraced the principle of
| the twelfth section of the old one, why was the
| old one abolished and the new one adoptedS
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER. It mag have been
because my colleague and the political orators
and editors of his party had so ferce3 assailed
the twelfth section. They professed then,
| (however much they are nOw in love with IT'D
to regard it as o miserably "unsound "sec-
ton. The official organ Of the Administration,
the Washington Union, even as late as the 10th
February last, denounced it as ernbodying ga
tliscreditable and inexcusable concession to
Abolitionism." The organ of Democracy at
Nashville called it wishy-washyn 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 at the North
it was actively assaied as surrender to
the Stare poscer." | say it may be that
these things had their influence. But speak
0SOhiO AoA oCiI--uOt ulucI W sJdtc Luc
position of other members of the Council.
while approved the " pith and marrow =, of
the twelfth section, was willing to accept the
seventh section of the present platform in lieu
because it embodied the same principle
My colleague makes the point against me,
that the thirteenth section embraces specif-
cation against the Administration for reopen
ing sectional agitation by a repeal Of the Mis-
souri, Compromise" will inform my colleague
that 1 proposed to strike out that specification,
and every specification in the thirteenth sec
ton; but, there being much disorder at the
time, failed to succeed. did not think the
Administration had brought about a repeal of
the Missouri Compromise. knew that when
Senator Dickson first proposed that repeal, the
organ of the Administration at Washington
assailed him promptly, and long afterwards
declared that support of the Nebraska bill
ought not to be regarded as Democratic test.
The question was subsequently about being
put in the American Council, Shall the new
platform be adopted in lieu Of the old when
some member proposed division Of the ques-
ton, which was agreed to, and the vote was
first taken upon striking out the old platform.
| voted against striking out, but the PROPOSE
ton carried. Then the question required upon
the adoption of the ns,o platform. | voted for
Sts adoption. / did it just as voted for the
Kansas Nebraska bill, in 1864, with some
minor objections, which l stated at the time.
When the Nebraska bill came from the Senate,
it embraced, for example, the Clayton amend
ment, restricting the elective franchise to citi-
zens of the United States. preferred the bill
in that shape, as explained. But a substi-
tute was offered in the House, leaving out the
Clayton amendment and voted for that sub
stitute, believing that If those who thought
with me should make point upon that par
ticular amendment harmony among the friends
of the bill might be so far disturbed as to en-
dan the hill uso Co.. tIa Iii 40 aoxIxv