The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-04


that they do not TO justify the repeal Of the Missouri
Compromise. My colleague and myself differ on tha'
question. have sought TO make an issue WIN
with any OF my colleagues in the House. who dnerea
with that occasion believing them 10 be as hones
knew mysefto be butt proclaim here and 70 tne world
that II is to be made upon me by lndeeu9l mere
or elsewhere consequence of support Of the Kansas
Nebraska bill ready TO meet H. here or elsewhere now
and forever Mr. Fillmore had no right TO say this he
was not called bear his share In that battle he chooses
IN nronounoe senenoe of condemnation me, who have
shed more drops sweat for him than did for him
self be charges one OF the authors OF the evils which
now act the country 1t is unjust 1t cruel IL Is I'M
generous But sir, am held up TO the Clay doctrine
wish everybody could stand by It as firmly as DO
maintain the doctrine of the KansasNebraska bill that
Congress has power the subject of slavery in the
Territories, in the District Of Columbia or anywhere
else What did Mr. Clay think about 1t lie sleeps the
long last quiet sleep orepose in his own beloved State but
yet his burning words live to speak for him. What does
he say
al deny that the general government has any authority
whatever the constitution abolish what is called the
slaves from slave State to another slave State"
No power whatever granted to the general govern
taxation and representation and the power to restore ug
tive slaves to their lawful owners"
Mr. CIays Speech Of February 7, 1889.
Let the voice of the sage of Ashland rise and rest upon
the hearts of those who constantly invoke his name he
says the constitution gives no power over the SUBJECT OF
slavery except upon the three isolated points to which ne
aude Then he says Congress has power TO prohibit
slavery in the Territories Now you are the friends oil
Henry Clay and his words have any force and meaning
with stand OF seeA
to invoke his NAME
Mr. President have gone through with these prefer
missions and to another question and as 1t
personal to myself regret exceedingly to trouble the
Senate with i'll personal far my own rea-
tons concerned The question s constantly PROFOUND
cd to me why cannot support the American partyf
given but would like to ask the ques
ton why | should do so? | have often answered my
friends in that way When you ask why cannot sup
port Mr.. Fillmore and the American party ask you why
Ishould do it2 What claims have they me as wing
You tell you are still wings. You have abandoned
that party and gone into new organization
There is not only reason why should support you
but there is insuperable objection to my doing
when find that inyour own declaration Of principles you
say:
he American party having arisen upon the ruins, and in
be held In any manner responsible obnoxious
acts and violated pledges of either"
How in the of departed and sacred memory, can
you call upon whig to stand by you, when you
have already proclaimed to the world that you have risen
upon the ruins of the only party that knew to love
never fought under any other banner And sir next to
the starspanged banner of my country the old wing IAN
endeared to my heart You have torn down that
banner you have torn it from the head where was
nailed by Henry Clay and Daniel Webster you have rod
den it under FOOT and then turn and to Come
over and join u.s. No. sir Let other rude hands
do the deed but may God palsy this arm before it ever
tears down that flag You have torn down, and the
black republicans of the North have stolen it, and of
with il; and now in the South called to bury IL
and you and ask me to join you. IL you have
risen the ruins OF the wing party stand on those ruins
but you will get to stand with you: II you have
risen those ruins and despite their efforts go on with
your riumphs they have any Joy for you They have
none for
But the cruelty does not end there. Was not enough
though suppose large majority of you were once mem
beers of the old whig paryLo go oil in peace with the
conviction that you doing your duty without send
ing in the bosoms and hearts Of those who re-
manned true to their fath2 Why inhict still deeper
wounds on when already bleeding at every
more? why taunt us with saying, 1--WE have risen on
your rnins and despite your efforts But the cruelty ID
not yet refined
awe cannot be held in responsible for the OBJ
noxious acts violated pledges of either
not only standing upon our ruins but writing the eptaph
maintain that Henry Clay never Violated pledge
maintain that the old whg party in Us Pnri.y and IN It's
honesty, violated any pledge Yet SIR these are
your denunciations. We who stand by ne integrity OF
that old wing party called upon the pains and by
the penalties of denuncaton and prescription go
and join the party that thus wrote epitaph never
can do 1t.
No man living feels more deeply more acutey,
painfully than do the separation from friends who have
stood by in the hour of darkness when the shafts of
calumny hurled from thousand sources-who when
all the batteries of democracy with their envenomed darts
hurled at me, ready to throw themselves into
the breach protect Would that could sacrifice my
self TO save them but cannot do violence TO my
conscience by concurrng in the doctrines that they preach
the American people would go 10 any length Of per-
sonal sacrifice would give up everything but my
vctions Of honor and public duty with them If
could. can with them in this crisis il is
impossible that wish TO God that could! know
my own comfort my political safety, If sought it
everything of requires it. But Mr. President have
spent anxious hours, and, IT, unworthy myself
may be permitted to say prayerfu hours in trying TO
TO the point Of with those old friends
whom love and mean to love and honor but have no:
been able TO do it.
am willing to believe they honest know most of
them All ask is-and do not expect the poor
boon to be accorded to me-that may receive the
charity which extend to others but do hope
for that have made up my mind calmly have made
up my mind deliberately with my convictions of du-
ty would rather maintain my own self-respect by
faithful discharge Of duty in the retirement Of private
life, than stand in power and place am separating my
self from most of my fends rather they have separa
ted from l do not know but public man in the
State Of my old associates who with know
separating from those who have cherished me-whO
have loved me-who have delighted 10 honor me, and
have delighted return all their kindness have served
them honestly and faithfully and with all the ability pos
sessed lsoud more say 10 democratic senator's,
and TO democrats everywhere you me nothng-noth-
ing-nothing ask nothing in return expect nothing,
and want nothing am an old-line whg and in voting
with YOU Il s not because love democracy but because
hate black-republcanism love my country and be-
leve the safety OF the country depends the Of
the democratic party at this time. have made up my
mind say to this course know that IL be the end
of my political existence Be the world W i'll
be the loser and all that ask is the poor privilege Of
gathering around fall my old mantle Of the Clay
wing party and die in peace and when they come 10
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 in
justice to Mr. Fillmore. | believe he would make a safe
and conservative President and should consider the
could Be elected-fI believed that he was stronger man
Mr. NV nf