Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-04-25

in their conventions at Baltimore and it is
Tor this principle speak to-day.
Sir, this is no war between the ADJ
ministration and its ,opponents-no war
between Wings and Democrats as such /;
but. disguise as you may, it is war be-
tween Free Soilism on the one hand, and
the right Of the people to self-goyernment
on the Other"
Upon these declarations went into the
canvass. was elected then, declaring
that the principles of the Kansas Nebras>
la bill :: were dearer than any paaty con-
siderations''-" a prinple upon which all
good men of all parties might meet and
stand. as upon ground alike cherished and
and alike dear ;" that they oYerrode all
party considerations" Being thus cleo
ted, when came to cast uny 6rst vote tor
Speaker, / found that neither The "Soulh
Americans. nor the Black Republicans.
had laid down any pia.form-they were
fighting shy, running with a margin
The Democrats had platform, and it
was this:
ReSolVed, That the Democratic mem
of the House of Representatives, though
in temporary minority in this body,
fellow citizens of the whole Union their
heartfelt cOugratulation on the triumph
in the recent elections in several OF the
northern, eastern. and western, as
well as southern States. of the principles
Of the Kansns- Nebraska bill, aud the
doctrines of civil and religious liberty,
which have been so violently assailed by
secret political order known as the
Know Nothing party. And though in a
minority, we hold it to be our highest du.
ty to preserve our organization, and con-
tInue our efforts in the maintenance and
defense of those principles, and the con-
stitutiOnal rights of every section and eve-
ry class Of citizens, against their oppo>
nents of every desert ption, whether the
so-called Republicans, Know~Nothings,
or Fusionists aud TO this end we look
with confidence to the support and ap-
probation of all good and true men,
friends Of the Constitution and Union
throughout the country"
1t will be seen that there are only two
Planks in this platform. The one, in IA
vor of the principles Of the Kansas Ne
bras ka bill-the very principles upon
which l was reelected and the other
against. the proscrip riptiveness Of Know
Nothing ism. Bear in mind the fac: that,
when was elected. there were no Know
NOthtngs in my district-that was not
one. And now. may | not ask, if there
is single honest and intelligent man in
my district who believes that I have
" abandoned the principles upon which l
was elected % Or if, in view Of these
facts, there is any one, but an intentional
caIuminator, who will ever again assert
it ?
Again 1t is said that should have vo-
ted Ior Henry M. Fuller for Speuker-that
he was good enough proslavery
man for Kennett, LindIey and Porter
voted for him; and therefore. some
wise political teachers" argue that lie is
sound enough for me 1t is sufficient
answer to this argument, (if argument it
may be may called, that Kennett. Lin
dey, and Porter act upon their own judg
ments, under their own responsibilities.
l act upon my own judgment under my
responsibility.
In a speech delivered by me, on the
9th day of January last, in the House,
took up the record of this Mr.. Fuller.
showed that he had voted for Mr.. Pen
nington, who had favored motion to
suspend the rules Of the House, to allow
Mr.. Elliot to Introduce bill to repeal the
fugitive slave law. and who had voted
both for Mr.. 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 ques-
ton put by Mr.. Sage, of New York, said
l,ok ~ Ho
restored, | would most certainly be in IA.
vor of its restoration but, in view Of the
difficulties which surround that question
and must defeat your efforts. | say, that
am opposed to the agitation of that
question:
1t was upon this declaration he stood
when l made that speech. l give you
the extract, in his own words. to show
that did him no injustice. On the 18th
day of January, he had occasion to define
his position again and. in the meantime,
his back, bone" having been strengthen.
ed by the influence Of some Of his south>
ern supporters. he was worked up to the
point of declaring. that " Congress has
no constitutional power either TO legislate
slavery into, or exclude it from, Terri
torv."
On one day during the present session.
he tells us, I" if the Missouri compromise
line can be restored, he would most GERS
tainly be in favor of its restoration )" and
on another day, during the same session.
he tells us that the whole thing is uncon-
stitutionaI THAT Congress has " no pow
er to exclude slavery !'' Sill. if he
could he would restore this unconstiution
al restriction ! leave it to his admirers
and supporters to reconcile and harmo-
nize these declarations l freely admit
my incapacity.
But he gets further down South than I