The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-03-12
LETTER OF SAMUEL CARUTHERs TO HIS CON
..a"." ..E STlTUENfS,


> LETTER OF SAMUEL CARUTHERs TO HIS con
.. STlTUENfS,
Explaining his past action defining his present position ana
i MsP position of parties.
10 NY CONSTITUENTS; During my short congressional
career have before had occasion to especially ad-
dress by letter have hitherto been content to rest
upon the reasons for my action declared on the floor OF
h House. or stand silently upon the record had made by
4 my votes.
down OF the old wall which divided partiesthe new ee
menis which base been mingled into national politics
he alarming ,sms now distinctly formed in the country
tue peril hat threatens the very existence of instu-
uon ana that solemn duty which upon every
sentative who would deal fairly with bis people declare
frankly his present positions and his future Intentions
should be unworthy of the high trusts you have conhded
TO my keepngunworhy of the kindness aad confidence
you have 30 generously avshed upon me-unworthy of
my native State-unworhy of the regard of good menf
should shrink hom the performance this duty now
have had mort exciting and pro,racted struggle in
the organization of the House. have voted uniformly for
the democratic nominees for the speakership. For this
am charged with the betrayal of the whig party and with
an abandonment OF the principles upon which elect
ed And who Is it that makes these charges Ia il the
od-line wings? have not heard Of an old-ine whig
either In my district elsewhere who does endorse my
course These charges made by the know press
OF my State, and hy anonymous know-nohing scbblers
the latter of whom never having had honest motive
themselves have no conception of the thing in others
They charge NE wiM betraying the Whg party They who
decoyed IL into their councils and assasstnated IN the
ddrhey who forth from their concaves with their
hands dripping with its bood-ey who met at Phjad.l-
phia in convention and vauntngly proclaimed its dea--
with pharsaica afecaton of party declare that they
not irresponsible for its obnoxious acts aud goaea pledges
that it has etsoated sectional hostility positive
Of political pooer and brought uasttitns into peril"
Yes; while stand mourner at the grave Of the whg
party they are rejoicing at its death and calumnating its
life Yet these men have the unblushng hardhood to
t0n with abandonment Of that noble party Was
ever impudence more gigantic and absurd2
But il is sometimes softly and gently whispered that the
American party is the whg party in disguise If this
| thayh IL
and it is cheat and fraud upon the democrats in the
order So Msy haee either abandoned their party aud have
no right to abuse me, or engaged in fraud which
makes their abuse compliment. | tell these gentlemen
that they have slain my first ioce and left political
'doOer and have perfect right to marry a1otber party
| If see proper
am charged with having abandoned the principles
upon which | was elected Does every in my
district know that the Kansas Nebraska question the
controlling issue in my last canvass Does every
know that it was my position this issue that gave
my large majority in democratic district ? Does not
every man know that obtained many democratic votes
as did whg votes Does not every man know that
declared my principles In speech delivered in the
House Of Representatives the 7th of April 1854 To
stop the mouths OF my will give extract from
that speech said hen speaking OF the Kansas ebraska
bill, that
al will not pause long to dwell upon its party effect
for in my Judgment the questions involved override ali
party considerations 1t is true this bill is presented
as an administration measure 1t is true that am here
as whig but am not here to give this administration
factious opposition not here to oppose any
ure brought forward by IT. merely because it is brought
forward by it. am here uncommitted to blind opposi-
ton or blind support to follow to the end the dictates Of
my judgment and conscience and the will of those
who sent me.
ain this instance believe the administration has taken
high national ground that il has planted itself upon
great American prncp ple-the principle of sefgovern
ment-a principle involved in of party isues-a
principle dearer than party consderaonsa princi
pie upon which all sound national men Of all parties may
meet and stand upon ground alike cherished and alike
dear Ii this principle engrated In the compromises OF
1850 that commended them so warmly TO the american
heart it was this principle which was ratified by both
parties in their conventions at Baltimore and 1t is for this
principle speak to-day.
"Sr this Is between the administration and its
opponents-no between whgs and democrats such
but dgaiSe it you may beeea free-soiiisn
on the other
elected them declaring that the principles of the Kansas
Nebraska bill deorer than any party eonsidrations
"a principle upon Whieh all good e all parties might
med and stand a. upon ground alike ehehsd and ALIKE dear
that they "Operode all party considerations" Being thus
elected when came TO my first vote for Speaker
found that neither the "South Americans" the black
republicans had laid down any plaorm-hey were fight
ing shy ruHntng oh ndrg- The democrats had plat
form, and IL was this
" Resoired That the democratic members of the House
Of Representatives though in temporary minority in this
body deem this lit occasion 10 tender TO their ow-Ct
Of the whole Union their heartfelt congratulations
the triumph In the elections in several Of the north
eastern, and western well southern States OF the
principles Of the bi and the doctrines
of civil and religious liberty, which have been violently
assaed by secret political order known the know
nothing party Aud, though in minority hold IL 10
be our highest duty to preserve organization and con-
nue efforts ia the maintenance and defence Of those
principles and the constitutional rights Of every section
and every class OF citizens against their opponents Of every
description whether the socaled republicans know gnoth
ngs IgtoRtss and this end look with confidence
TO the support and appreciation Of all good and true
friends OF the constitution and Union throughout the
| try"
1t win be that there only pIanks in this
platform the one in favor Of the principles Of the Kan
zAHlr xpht1
reelected and the other against the proscrptveness Of
know nOtbngtsm Bear in mind the fact that when
elected there know-nothings In my dstricthat
was not And may not ask II there Is a sim
gle honest aud intelligent In my district who believes
that have abandoned the principles upon which was
but Intentional oalnTuHiaor who will again assert
u7
Again II Is said that should have voted for Henry NJ
Fuller for Speaker-tha he good enough prosavery
man for Kennett Lndey and Porter voted for him aud
therefore, some wise political teachers argue that he 10
sound enough for mel II is sufficient to this
gument (f argument 1t may be called) that Kenneth
Lndley aud Porter act upon their JndHsts, under
their rssponsbilHss act upon my judgment, under
| my responsibility.
Ia speech delivered by me- the 9th day of January
last in the House took the record OF this Mr. Fuller.
showed that he had voted for Mr. Pennington, who had
favored motion suspend the rules Of the House to al
low Mr. Elliott to introduce bill TO repeal the fugitive
slave law and who had voted for both Nc Campbell OF
Ohio and Mr. Banks of Massachusetts for Speaker OF the
present Congress called attention to the fact that he
had in reply to question put by Mr. Sage OF New York
said that III the Missouri Compromise he restored, |
WOULD MOST CERTAINLY IN FAVOR RESTORATION
but in view Of the dicueS Whtch Sr0nnd at question
aud must deat your ort say that am opposed TO the