The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-09-03
CONGRESSIONAL.


ply 10 Messrs FosrER of Georgia and NORTON OF nli-
nos delivered in the HOuss Of Representatives August
3, 1856. N U a..I.t.. NJ .
The House being In Committee of the Whole on the
state Of the Union, Mr. HARRIS, of Illinois, said
Mr. CHAlKMAS: II has not been my purpose during the
present session TO occupy the attention OF the 0omme
or the House with any remarks upon the exciting ques-
tons which now disturb the country have been
70 listen TO others to give my attention to the personal
wants OF my constituents and vote deemed best calcu
lated TO promote their interests and the interests Of
common confederacy Nor would depart from that
line OF action were mot that my colleague Mr. NoRroS
has this evening made statements in regard the
democracy OF Illinois which think ought to be noticed
But before proceed TO consider his remarks think il
proper aude some observations made by the gentle
man from Georgia, Mr.. Fosr who has just taken his
seat and do this not only act of justice the great
national party to which | belong but duty to the
whole country. wish to notice them because he has
made aasen TO certain matters which lie at the founda
ton OF the existing state of things this House
The gentleman from Georgia. in his closing remarks ut
tered what seemed to be the democratic
party because has been stricken down severely in
North and because it has few upon th
oor Sir that gentleman stands Lere the representa-
tive and advocate OF certain party and of certain of
principles and measures 10 which the democratic of
the country are sterniy opposed; and his language
was understood by me- it in effect declares that he would
prefer TO democrats this floor from the State Of Ohio
and from the North than to those who here
from those sections of the country advocating they do
doctrines which the gentleman strenuousy condemns
MIR. FOSTER (nterrogating.) VIII the gentleman al
low TO correct hm2 simply stated that show that
the charge made of the roennes of the whg party of
North and the soundness of the democratic party not
true in fact -.s...
Mr. HARRIS The gentleman says that he made the state
ment to show that the charge that the whg party rotten
and the democra: party sound true in fact Sir
make such charge do alege that the whg party n
rotten that ii rotten the nothing
party atsuppanted and killed of the whig party and
after having done that deed this knownohing party 10
which the gentleman belongs and Of which he is dstin
guished advocate met in national convention at Phade
phia and proclaimed with air of triumph to the world
that their party had arisen upon the ruins OF the whg
party Now, the proclamation of the gentlemans party
is true that the wing party is in ruinss dead and
defunc is not going far beyond him to say that it is
rotten But make such charge-t was left for Sena
tor WADE the New York Tribune the Courier and Enqu
and other old whg newspapers to make that decara
on and to add that it was not only dead and rotten but
that stinks These papers support the black
publican Indian beef nominee So that these charges
alone from the nothing national convention and Fre
mont press The whig party, as party was upon this
slavery question national party and for one regret 10
see suppanted by any party standing on less national
ground.
But he will find If he examine the records of the election
Of 1854 when these members from Ohio and the North
were sent here, that there was not q there
whg-ha his own party the secret party the party Of
the dark lantern combined with the republican party and
struck down every democrat in that State and in the
North The men who would support the constitution OF
the country the who had steadily supported that
tenn OF legislation which the gentleman himself MIR Fes
TER has claimed here TO support-the Nebraska b-the
sound democrats OF the North every occasion when
these men candidates nearly his party stabbed in the
dark murdered by their midnight assasinaons and in
their places were put those who designated here
repubcans; and whose ascendency ana power ths
House give the gentleman such fearful orbodings And
yet the gentleman the democratic party with the
paucity OF their numbers this floor His friends have
been the assassins who have butchered them; and il
comes with i'll grace from him. from any other OF
those who act have acted with him to the demo-
cratic party because they not more numerous here
Now sir had ii not been for the aiation Of his own
party commenced in 1854 and continuing this hour
except here and ihere-with the republican party the
democratic party would have been as powerful In this
House as it was last Congress defy that gentleman TO
lsho In he
crat running a candidate for seat this floor
but be met the steadst and persistent opposition Of the
party winch the gentleman belongs
Mr. FOSTER | viii answer the gentleman that in the
State of Ohio Mr. NICHOLS Mr. MorT Mr. DAY, Mr.. BLIss
Mr. WATSON, Mr.. GIDpnGs, Mr. WADE, and Mr.. SrAxrox,
none Of whom were Americans, but all ant-Americsns,
were elected
Mr.. HARRIS. That is dodging the question Mr. Chair
man. Did the gentleman's party any in op
position these Not in single instance Did
his party vote for any in opposition 10 these
Not In single instance But in every district in the
whole North these men, Who though not members Of his
own party could lie in the same uuce bed with them,
and lie there together and propagate their infamous party
power, supported by the American party and in
every instance where regular democrats supporting the
Nebraska BILL and supporting national principles
opposing then. they bitterly assaled TO advance
the interests of such GDDSGs WADE and the Others
whom the gentleman has named who he says not
This statement instead Of helping the gentleman only
makes the times because shows that his
darklsnten friends not much intent in advancing
4
black republicans and in striking down the national men
Of The North
Mr. MOORE The only why in 1854 the demo-
cratic party did not receive the support Of the Amer
can party wss that The democratic candidates fought
the American party and leh this solitary question enre
ly out Of issue ~
Mr. HARRIS Worse and worsel The gentleman from
Ohio fMr MoopE who IL Of the party Of the gen
tlerusn from Georgia mr. FosrrR does not deny that the
question which has in its solution very existence Of
the government and yet upon his petty ephemer oath
sustained policy be willing TO slaughter these nAous
democat and send parcel Of abolitionists and reso
here In preference TO such because these abol
florists and oesoilers did oppose did In fact
favor bis kno--nothing doctrines.
Mr.. FOSTER Does the gentleman hold that Congress
has power tologslae upon the suht Of slavery In the
Terrtories7
Mr.. HARRIS. The gentleman jumps from point TO
another rapidly that II s difficult follow him, and
these questions put constantly TO every member who
riaes 70 the floor remind Of old sphorsmtbat EEK
amnations always dangerous for the greatest fool xy
ask question that the wsest cannot answer Bnt
viii him openly and deny the existence of
that power and expect to- and deny also that the
people Of Territory have any olegisae upon that
subject any other except in conformity with the
sttution Of the United Sates To this extent they have IL
and further and there the Kansas Nebraska bin lets II
rest as Il should do
Individual opinions the power Of the people Of the
Territories 10 leriate upon the Of slavery of
very little consequence OF what importance is II that
outside Of the Territory entertain view the
other7 Democrats wings, Americans-men Of all par
tiesfer In opinion upon this question Of power men
in the North differ and do men In the South. II the
people Of the Territory have the power under the constu
ton they exercise il independent Of their organic law
Ian Il