Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-08-16

citizens of this country into two classes, un
equal in their rights-a project as hostile to
the true theory and principle of the Constitu-
ton as is the present project of dividing the
States into unequal classes.
There sir, this party, miscalled national,
after long, and angry, and violent debate,
finally succeeded in adopting into the platform
its celebrated twelfth section-a meagre recog-
milton of Southern rights, adopted almost ex-
clusively by Southern votes-scarcely adopted
before it was repudiated by the protest of the
Northern delegates, followed by reputation
of majority of the Northern lodges who, in
the stupid insolence of their temporary success,
boasted that they did not want the South.
They want it now, sir.
No sooner had the views and purposes Of
this party become displayed by the action of
the Philadelphia Convention, than my path of
duty was clear In an address to my consttu.
ents / informed them Of what had heard
before leaving Washington. / stated my be-
lief that the machinery of the party would be
used for the purpose Of eevating to power the
worst enemies of the South. | pointed out
the hostility Of the organization to Southern
rights its hostility to freedom of conscience
and religious belief went further, and ex-
pressed the conviction that the Northern
Know-nothngs would coalesce with the North
ern Abolitionists, and that by their united &C
ton they would force on crisis, on the re-
suit of which would depend the destiny of
this country | predicted that they would
tack to the appropriation bills some Adolf
ton proviso, which could not become a law
without the instant disruption of the Union.
Several thousand Wings in my State took
the same view of the condition of public
affairs that / did. Some refrained from vo-
ting others attended Democratic meetings,
advocated openly the success of the Demo
cratic ticket, and the result was decisive
Democratic victory in the State of Louisiana.
Time has yet to test the accuracy Of my pre-
dictons about the appropriation bills. / may,
however, be permitted to say that speech has
been publicly circulated, attributed to the
honorable senator from New York, said to
have been delivered by him in meeting of
his party, in which he threatens Withholding
supplies. / have upon my table speech de-
livered in the other branch of Congress, by
another leader of the same party, in which
find this passage:
81 hope, for the ends of justice, and for the
promotion of that peace which is the great de-
sire of every patriot in the land, if the object
cannot be otherwise secured, that we shall have
a proviso appropriately placed on some of our
appropriation bills, at the right time, restor
ing freedom to Kansas and Nebraska; and
that there will be found nerve enough on the
part of those gentlemen who talk loudly about
freedom to stand by their colors. / fear, when
the dollars and cents come in con- lict with this
hp-loue Of liberty, of which we have heard and
read so much, there will be some yielding, be-
cause appropriations for some cherished OBJ
ject-some lighthouse or breakwater, of salt
al. L. Ill.
carry. b. if there be that nerve which there
ought to b. we shall move the Executive and
the Senate TO concurrence with the popular
stop the supplies. There is a constitutional
remedy; no man can Justly say that is revolu-
tionary."
Mr.. BUTLER. Whose speech was that?
Mr. BENJAMIN. Mr.. Dunn's, of Indiana Mr.
President, if further proof we're wanting that
had not misconceived nor misstated the objects
and purposes of the northern Know-nothings,
recent events again at Philadelphia afford the
plest justification for what said to my peo
pie at home. Why, sir, they held a national
council, and then they abolished the twelfth Sec
ton, and the southern delegates retired then
they held national convention, and nominated
a candidate suited to the South, and the north
ern delegates retired.
In the earlier history of this Congress, dur
ing the Unprecedented struggle for the organiza-
ton of the other house, when every demo
cratic vote, North and South was given in
solid column in support of the Democratic NOM
iuee, not one Northern Know-nothing could be
found ready to support distinguished gentle
man OF their o,nl party from the State of Ken
lucky of unquestioned ability to fulfil the du-
ties of the Office. Finally, on the last vote,
which carried to the Speakers chair gen.
tleman whose political principles are par
ticuarly obnoxious TO the Southern States, the
Northern and Southern wings of this new
party were as sharply divided, and as hostile
TO each other as were ever two antagonistc
parties in the history of the republic.
Mr. President, with what justice, with what
proprety, can party thus divided on sectional
principles claim for itsefthe title of "national2
The continuance of its organization can do no
good. 1t is powerless for aught but mischief
It may succeed now in subscribing the pur
poses Of promoting the interests of that party
whose acknowledged leaders on this floor are
the honorable senator from New York and the
two honorable senators from Massachusetts,
il can subserve no other purpose.
And now sir, when the struggle is narrowed
Republican parties, should be recreant to
my trust-recreant to every principle of duty
and feeling of patriotism-if | slowed my
conduct to be influenced by the memory Of
past party ties or past party prejudices. On that
question, whose paramount importance over.
shadows all other, the Democratic platform is
identical with that of the old Wing party and
in declaring my adhesion to the former, but
change name, not principle. ], sir, therefore,
declare my purposs TO join the Democratic
party. / declare my intention to use the ut
most efforts of my feeble abilities to insure
its success In its triumph-as triumph it
assuredly will-the Constitution Of my coun
try will be secured from the dangers with
which it is menaced kind and brotherly feel
pgs amongst the people of all sections of the
confederacy will be restored religious intol-
erance will be rebuked; the equality Of the
States the keystone Of the arch Of the govern
mental fabric will be preserved intact; and
peace, prosperity, and happiness will smile upon
the land.
.Altboupb in coming TO this determination,