Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1856-09-12
Extract of a Speech of Hon. James G. ZONES, OF
Tenn

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Tennessee.
,vrRrp IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE g. 1856
MIR. President, pending the question as TO who
should be the candidate of the Democratic party l
expressed my opinions freely, and said to some gen.
tIemen now in my presence, that; had understood
n had not investigated IT'D Mr.. Buchanan had failed
70 do Mr. CLAW Justice, and, unless that question
were cleared mp, would never vote tor Mr. James
Buchanan though he might be nominated by a
thousand conventions. repeat to-day. that II ! be-
lieved Mr. Buchanan had originated, or even circu-
lated or given countenance that old vile calumny,
| would not vote for him, 1t was on that account,
not having investigated it, that SAID to the friends
of Mr. Buchanan, If you nominate him, Go not
think can vote for him. ! will certainly not vote
for him unless I can be satisfied on that question"
1t was on that ground, in part, that preferred the
Senator from Illinois. am glad he is not in his
seat preferred that he should be nominated.
Why, sir, did l prefer him Because | had seen
him here standing up, day and night, indicating The
righs Of my constituents had seen INN standing
here. as Leondas at 1hermopy!e, to vindicate and
maintain the interests and honor of the people of the
South | had seen the arrows in showers hurled at
him, and had him bare his proud bosom TO the
storm in vin6catiOn of our rights. | now predict
that the time will come when passion and prejudice
shall Sleep when the South will do honor to Stephen
A. Douglas Applause in the gallerles.l iedict
that the time will come when returning sense OF
Justice i'll rally around his standard, or if not
around bis standard, at least around his name and
memory, 10 say. g There a man who dared to
die Tor others" Vino has received SO much of slam
der and caIumny, and detraction, as Stephen A.
Douglas ? And for what In the name of all that
is grateful the part of the South, coDjure them
hate him, despise him you may for other things
do him Justice for the noble manly gallant fearless
undyng devotion which he has manifested in defence
of the rights and honor of the South. preferred
him on that account
But, sir, to return to Mr.. Buchanan and this charge
of bargain and corruption. | repeat have examined
this question faithfully, thoroughly and honestly and
say here that will make the record so plain in my
Judgment that no fair will controVert it.
repeat, that if believe he guilty Of any partic
patton in that caiumny, would never never support
him. | have seen it said in newspaper that the
very bones of the sage of Ashland would move in
their dull cold resting place at the idea of Wings like
me voting for Mr. Buchanan. Well, sir, if all that
ever was said by Andrew jackson Donelson con-
rasCed with what Mr.. Buchanan said against Mr..
CLAY, and il the boes would move ut the name of
Buchanan, the spirit itself would burst its ceremens
and rise in judgment against those who are ready to
elevate to power and place Andrew Jackson Donel-
son. have the records here about that bargain, in
rgue, and corruption charge.
Mr.. Clay voted for Mr.. Adams 10 1924 for the
Presidency, and thereupon Mr., George Kremer pub
lshed a communication in some Pennsylvania news
paper saving that there had been corrupt bargain
then member of the House of Representatives.
With his woned bodness, gailantry and integrity,
he at once demanded investigation, and commit
tee was appointed. Mr.. Kremer was summoned 10
present his proofs and Mr.. Kremer retired to his
dark chamber of caIumny, like Judas Iscariot and
never attempted to make good his charge.
But afterwards it was renewed by General jack
son. or intimation made, that the bargain bad
been proposed to him by distinguished member OF
Congress. and it said that Mr.. Buchanan was
that member of Congress. AS soon as the charge was
made Mr. Buchanan published letter in reply to
General jackson, in which he says: 1t is not so
never approached you to make any corrupt bargain
never was authorized by MIR. Clay or his friends to
approach you" There was the result Of that publ
cation
ant book. written in 1881, few years after these
things uanspired And by whom was it written By
one of the most gifted and talented men in this nation
GEORGE D. Prentice, of the Louisville Journal. Mr.
Prentice the confidential friend of Mr. Clay, and
lis bIograpner When The facts were fresh before
the country-When they were fresh in the public
mind-what did Mr.. Prentice say in his biography
4 thing that is 10 live after Mr. Clay, and Mr.. Prem
tce and ALL all OF are consigned to the final rest
ing-place of our fathers as the solemn record-the
history of the lille and character of the most illus
trous statesman that ever lived What does he say
| Let us read. MIR. Prentice says: -
" Not satisfied with private hints and declarations
Mr. Clay s distinguished accuser General Jackson
finally stated, in public letter, that oveitures of
bargain had been made to him, during the peLdency
of the Presidential election in the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes By the friends of Mr.. Clay. With hi:
usual promptitIde OF character, Mr. Clay demanded
through whom those oyertures had been made
In reply, General jackson soon gave up the name o.
| MIR. James Buchanan, of his own personal and
political friends. MIR Buchanan, however was ar
honorable man, ard hesilated not to say, publicly
that he had never made to General Jackson the over
lures in question OF any that bore the least resem
blance to them" ~
Now, if You are tying Mr.. Buchanan before az
impartial tribunal, ask you, would you not hold
that to be testmOny-a least prina tacie Z! Here is
! Mr.. Prentice, eminent man, Of superior
talents, the warm personal and political friend Of
Mr.. Clay, his biographer who few years after thu
transaction says Mr.. Buchanan, like an honorable
man as he was came out promptly and denied tht
whole thing. Yet you tell me ought not to yot
am rot done, sir with this charge. Allow m,
to read you a letter, dated Lancaster, August 27
1927, only two years after his charge.
"MY DEAR SIR Yours of the 9th instant came t.
hand last night. The one by Mr.. A. | received
few days since by private hand, from the county o
Harlan. With your letter of the 9th, Mr.. Buchan
ans response to the hero was received This an
swe is well put together. AS they say in Connect
cut, there is great deal of good reading in Buck
reply. 1t is modest and genteel. yet strong and con
classive. am truly delighted with the manner il
which B. has acquitted himself. | really feared AM
believed he placed in such dilemma by tn
General that he could not extrcate himself witt
any sort of credit. But he has come forth vctori
ously. | am greatly gratied with the result am
must believe it will have happy effect upon tn
presidential election. 1t is impossible it should tur
out otherwise. Virginia, after this, will not--can
not support the General. | never had the least hop