The daily union., 1856-12-11
Speech OF hon. ). A. SMITH,
or TEsREssKK,


ply 70 Messrs CASPHELL and SHERMAN Of oho delivered
Ia the House Of Representatives December 9, 1855
Mr. SMITH, OF Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, l wish this
morning % reply briefly to the remarks made yesterday
by two gentlemen from Ohio AMessTs. CAMPBELL and
SRRMAE) the motion 10 refer and print the message
OF the President Of tie United States.
This debate ID extraordinary one but as the guaR
let bas been thrown down by the republicans it be
taken up 5y the democrats as they seem 70 be the eha
Ienged party.
On ali occasions il s allowable to those defeated in any
CONTEST whether personal physical political 10 make
FOR their defeat and most occasions those who
have taken the lead in unsuccessful contest Of any kind
prepared TO furnish their friends with
plausible in its character for their defeat; and more
particularly after IL has occurred under like
those given by the republican party in the late presden
ti IL nothing had been said in reference to the
of defeat should not have considered my duty
20 say thing upon this occasion have always found
in travelling from court TO court with gentlemen who
had fayorite horses that when their horses sd they
would complain of the blacksmith whe shbed them OF
would say that the horse he'd been shoed long Even
the Mexican General Santa Auna furnished
bis people and made hca believe that they trumphed in
the great battles OF uena Vista and Cerro Gordo Ma
poleon the First furnished for his defeat Wa
teroo but he gave AS reason that his expected reinforce
mens did not arrive the ed of battle in time to take
part 10 the conflict which determined the fate of France.
No such excuse that has been furnished by
the republican party in the remarks made by either
OF the gentlemen from Ohio yesterday The re-
pubicans, with their forces all ia the field well dis
ciplined and ready for the contest before il
meneed, have been yanquished and they attempt to
democratic party an avowal of different sentiments in the
different secns Of the Union. II this had been all that
was said yesterday should not have felt II my duty to
say wfJrd upon this occasion The excuse was silly,
Uay be allowed the expression, and calculated TO have
such little influence upon the public mind that should not
replied to it had the gentlemen been
lined to those for defeat to which have referred
But saw in the speech OF the gentlemen from Ohio yes
eerday different purpose from what disclosed in their
words saw in the speech of the gentleman who last ad
dressed the House Mr.. SHERMAN effort at union be-
tween that element which had fought the democratic party
at the North and that which had opposed it at the South
in oraer to unite all in the presidential contest which
will come off in 1860. The gentleman from Ohio has
backed down from the position taken by the republican
party in the last canvass in this House and in the country
in reference to the question of slavery 1t said to
As came to Washington, by distinguished man who
occupies seat upon this oo that there would be eff
fort 10 unite all the elements Of opposition to the demo-
cratic party in body carry the next election and
accomplish their object nominate a southern their
candidate for the presidency The first step towards the
accomplishment of that object was in my Judgment taken
yesterday in this House. 1t will cannot succeed
but the effort viii be made and should be surprised
from what has occurred in the southern States in the
presidential Canvass to see that party successful far
the leading Of the republican party, and of those
opposed to the democratic party in the South
ceIned.
But the gentleman from Ohio said that the great issue
In the last the restoration of the Missouri Conn
promise line and the policy of administration and
that that policy had been condemned by than three
hundred thousand majority Of the popular vote. take
issue with the gentleman in that assertion and am pre-
pared to show that far from that being true the policy
of President Pierce has been approved and that
ton of the Missouri Compromise line has been condemned
by 900 votes The position of the various candidates
An that contest well known That of Mr.. Bun
in favor of the repeal and against the o
tue Missouri restriction That OF Mr. Filore was against
the restoration of that line. Mr. Fillmore took ground
against its repeal and also ag,rst its restoration Now
sir the number OF votes cast for those two candidates owe,
tnose cast ior Fremot is than all those which wers
election. - N NUN
But suppose am wrong in the idea that the votes cast
ior Fillmore in the northern States opposed
restoration Of the yet those who
voed for him in the southern States openly ayowed thai
shey were opposed to its restoration Ii SO proclaimed
ey all their speakers the stump. Now take the votes
which Mr.. Buchanan received and the given to Mr.
Fillmore In the southern States and there is clear maor
" or more than against the restoration of the Mis-
very extraordinary manner asserted that the policy
President Pierce upon that has been condemned
majority of 100000 votes
Mr.. SHERMAN. desire to PROFOUND question to tn,
gentleman.
Mr.. SMITH yield for nterrogatory but for nothing
else.
Mr.. SHERMAN. Does not the gentleman know tba
thousands of in the northern States who were op
posed to the repeal of the Missouri Compromise voted
Mr.. Buchanan
Mr.. SMITH do but they were utterly opposed to IL
restoration.
Mr.. SHERMAN. Does he not know that the candidate
OF the democratic party in the Lancaster district Of PENN
syyanla In which Mr. Buchanan resides was one of tbos
here who voted against the repeal of the Missouri Compro
mise who condemned upon the floor Of this House anc
MIR. SMITH. | know that sir. Hester, who ran in th
Lancaster district took open and bold ground in the lat
presidential camngn against the restoration Of the Mis-
sour romse He said that he had voted against tn
of that compromise but be unequivocally opposed
lu restoration.
Mr.. SHERMAN. Was that gentleman who thus opposed
the restoration of the Missouri Compromise elected in m
Wheatand district
Mr.. SMITH He was not; he was defeated Perhaps
be had veted for the repeal he might have been elected
AZ the time of the repeal Of the Missouri Compromise
belonged 70 the whig Tarty, every northern member
which Voted against that repeal
kr. DAVIDSON Mr.. Speaker, is this discussion in or
der7
The SPEAKER. The Chair thinks the discussion is ii
order on motion to pint and refer the message Of th
President
MIR. SMITH II has been asserted In the South in amos
every presidential and in every State canvass hs
the democratic party OF the northern States
on the question of the constitutional rights OF the South
We have denied this We have held that the democratic
party North and the democratic party South occupied
and the ground We took the same position in th,
late The gentleman furnishes he supposes ma
tefal TO the opposition 70 the democratic party in th
South wits which 10 fight in future presidential ant
State canvasses But his attempt will be fruitess. Th
people of the South understand the position Of all th
parties in the northern States and they look 20 the de
mocracy the only national in its principles and jus
In Its action TO all sections of the Union.
II was boldly proclaimed yesterday that Mr. Buchanan
was minority President and that the administration
President Pierce condemned by the people II nj
legged that Mr. Buchanan elected under false preencts
little investigation would have satisfied the gentleman
from Ohio Mr. CAnrBEL that neither Of these PROPOSE
tons is true in fact prepared to refte oil Of them
Mr. Buchanan has clear msores all others in enough
States TO make him President without single electora
vote from any State which he only carried by plurality
OF votes. lie has carried by clear maiortes sixeer