Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-04-22
STATE OF POLITICAL PARTIES.

OF TENNESSEE.
In the House Of RepresentatiUes. ApriI 6, 1856
The House being IN Committee of the Whole
on the State of the Union
Mr. ZoLuonFFER said:
Mr. Chairman: When nv colleague TMr
Smiti had concluded his remarks on Friday.
m which he appropriated SO large a share OF
hls time Ia an examination into my personal
politics, / Immediately soIght the floor for re-
ply; but, under Il usage which has grown ~
here, and of which do not complain, by pre-
arrangement the floor had been assigned to
other gentlemen; aud this therefore, is the
first opportunity have had TO respond
Ny colleague brings my political action more
prominently before the Hou g than any merit
in il deserves, and he has been pleased TO At.
tribute to me a position of influence in Tonnes
see snch as do not claim, and to which have
no just title. But | am pleased that. in the
searching examination lie has made he has
been able to make only such points upon nv
political record as were founded 10 a nisappre-
hension of the facts; and feel obliged to him
for thus giving me al opportunity to correct
the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. which Lave TO some ex
tent gone out 10 the country through the news
papers.
Ny Colleague is mistaken in surprising that
ever called the platform OF the American
party the "yerbiage platform, or that | used
the word "verbiage" in reference to that plat
form at all. addressed the National Coun-
Gil IF 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 oonsti-
tutons, had, and ought To have, the right Ia
determine the character of their own local
institutions; and that States TINS framed
should have the privilege of admission into
the Union, with or without slavery, as they
may determine for them-elves.
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 rs the "pith
aud marrow" of the section | said further,
that wa 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 il embodied the same prnciple-whiCh
is the principle asserted in the Nebraska act
rs understand it-thongh il is but frank to
say, that among the supporters of the meas
ure there is a variety of interpretations, among
which is one assuming that il recognises the
right Of Territorial Legislature to prohibit
slavery, which have always denied.
Mr.. SMITH, OF Tenn. | do nos wish TO con.
sumo any of my colleagues time. | 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
adopted7
Mr. ZoLuooFFRR. 1t may have been be-
cause my colleague and the political orators
aud editors of his party had SO tiercely assailed
the twelfth section. They profe>sed Men, CHOW
ever much they are noe in love with II, TO
regard it ~ rniserably "unsound" section
The official organ Of the Administration the
Washington Union, even ~ late AS the l6th OF
February last, denounced it as enbOdying "a
discredtable and ineXcusRble concession D.
AbOlitonisrn." The organ of Democracy at
Nashville called il q "wishy- washy" concern,
which refused 10 sanction the principle of
the Nebraska bill" These are but samples
of thousand similar assaults throughout the
lines of Southern Dsmocracy-whle At the
North it was actively assaulted n Il "surrender
to the Stare pOtoer" | say, il may be thai
there things had their influence. But / speak
alone for myself-not undertaking TO state the
posi- ion of other members of tue 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 il embodied the same principle
Ny colleague makes the point against me-
that the thirteenth section embraces a specih.
cation against the Administration for reopen
ing sectional agitation by repeal Of the Ms.
souri, Compromise" ] will inform my col
league that proposed To strike out hat speci-
fcation, and every specification In the thir-
teenth section; but, there being much disorder
at The time, | failed To succeed. DID not
think The Administration had brought about n
repeal at the Missouri Compromise. | knew
that when Senator DIXON first proposed that
repeal, the organ at the Administration 81
Washington as>alled him promptly, AM lug
afterwards declared that support OF the Me-
brasks bill ought not 10 be regarded as Dem
Ooratic test.
The question was subsequently about being
put IN the American Couacil, Shall the new
platform be adopted 10 lieu of the oldl when
some member proposed division OF the ques
ton, which WAS agreed Ia, aud the vote wAs
hrst taken upon striking out the old platform.
voted against striking out, but the PROPOSE
ton oAir lcd. Then the question REQUIRED upon
the adoption Of the H,p platform. | voted
for i1 adoption. did Il just Ne soted for
the kan-Hs- Nebraska bill, IN 1854, with some
minor objections, which | stated al the time.
When the Nebraska bill came from the Senate.
it embraced, for example, the Clayton ameud-
ment, restricting the elective franchise 10 oiti-
zens of the Uuited Statrs | preferred the
bill in that shape a. | explained. But sub.
stituts was offered IN the House, leaving OUT
the Clayton amendment, aud voted Tor that
substitute, believing that If those who thought
with me should make point upon that par
ticulsr amendmeuL harmony among the
friends of the bill might be 80 far disturbed
rs 10 sudonger the bill. was Tor the bill
earnestly a whole; and the positions taken
in m, Argument al the time, | have Al al
tIur- steadily maintained, before iuy cuustiiu-
cut. asse. siuce / retained 10 this Hall, nj
Z .i'ic. 'hia, every where, where have die
ru--o, lac question.
buI TO make the most OF that specification
Ia The 'lal form, lt ls but An expression ~ Ia
By gone issue, whils the seventh section OF
r.. platform VI dawn a vital principls Of
acton ioi ,s, present and tAs future, covering
the whole ground, and reasserting the leading
b ,di-i b a. N Tie IA IA SEQ
sr0fa-ka Act
49, i-HHv---e Win uy col
l.e ru ask rar Q8r-
st~rfu.t gvn tIn o.
bar Or 81 br lac
TIM d. olaiinvu ga sanv paeso, asd pAs tlcH.
lariy In oar own Sfaie thai thai twelfth sec