The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1857-01-24
From The Daily Globe.
SPEECH OF
HON. III. WINTER DAVIS,
OF MARYLAND,
liz THE House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
January 6, 1857.

VIZ MAN hAA>bs
liz THE House. OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
January 6, 1857.
The question of referring the Presidents
Message to the Committee of the Whole on
the state Of the Union being under considcra-
tlon=-=
Mr.. DAVIS. Of Maryland, said:
Mr.. SPEAKER: Grave pcrplcxitics have
ARISEN in interpreting the teachings of the late
election. A singular diversity Of views has
been revealed. Gentlemen of the same party
have differed as widely as those Of opposite
parties. The gradually widening circle of
debate has drawn in great numbers on every
side. As Democrat and Republican have
been crippled in the conflict fresh friends
have poured in to the rescue and the result
of every addition has been that doubt has
been piled upon doubt, confusion has become
worse COMPOUNDED, until he who attempts to
read the recent election by the recent debate
in this House will find himself with autholi
ties for any opinion with testimony for any
fact, with views COMPOUNDED and unntcllgi
bic. in endless mazcs lost.
The gentlemen of the Administration has
exhibited some sensitivencss on the question
who opened the debate. Wherever the res
possibility rests, the great differences Of pin
ion that it has elected more than Justify me-
now that the i, bate has ragel for weeks, in
reviewing the field, summing up the results
and pointing the attention Of the people to
the great diversity with which the question
they have decided. and the Judgment they
IRE supposed to have pronounced, has been
Interpreted. Sir, this discussion was not
opened either by the gentleman from Ohio,
] Nr | l,,,o tl,,,r Il, -,
the other wing OF the Capitol. now moi far
distant, Senator WILSON. 1t originated
neither in this House nor in the Senate. Its
first ,corI is found IN the Presidents message.
lie was justly fearful that the people might
mistake their approval fora rebuke, that their
nnaded vision might not discover the COM
fort under the castigation, nor be quite aware
that behind frowning Providence they hid
himself Of his constitutional privilege to lead
have them go. So witlcss is the fling, that
the vanquishcd have rcoptncd closed contro-
s,rsy
Fur he it from me TO initiate the spirit
which bl,athes through that extraordinary
document. They only can ti,ly apologize for
it who can estimate the bitterness of a spiri,
broken by such fall do not care to open
any controversy either with its statements.
lis reasonings or its seedlings: but may he
allowed to use it for instruction.. and the
c.untry to profit by its teachings. 1t reveals
come facts Of sinister import. The President
first teaches us:
''That as Senators represent their respec-
tire States. and members OF the House Of
Representatives their respcciire constituent
ciss IN each Of the States, 50 The President rep
rs'snfs The aggregate population Of the United
Siuies!"
Napoleon Bonapartc said to an insubo,di.
nate Assembly. You arc only the deputies
of single provnces-I Represent the nation :"
Thus, to compare small things with great,
Oh, President respectfully assigns us our low
sr sphere, wherein VIC should behave not un-
secmly. Be it SO. Mr.. Speaker. Amid al
the dvrrSilieS. there is one fact which no one
has controyerted. 1t was fairly stated by the
gentleman from Tennessee, and is apparent
on every return Of the aggregate vote. MI
buchanan sSccndS the chair Of State against
the will Of n majority Of about four hundred
thousand Of the people of the United States
IT, therefore. the President represents the ar
gr-gate population Of the Union, Mr.. Buch-
snan does not represent but misreprcscnts.
the people of the United States
The President further instructs us in what
the people have decided in the election of Mr.
Buchanan. They have asserted" he says.
the constitutional equality of each and all OF
the States Of the Union, us Staies.' Ilrmcans
that they who by Their votes elected Mr. Bu-
chanan, voted for That principle contested by
their opponents OIL he means nothing. If it
has settled that principle, it proves that ma
jor,'y Of The people Of The United States are
oppOscd 10 the eYnul'ty Of the States!
They have affirmed" says the President,
1.-The constitutional equality Of each and all of
the cilizcns Of the United States. as citizens,
whatever their religion, wherever their birth
or their residence. If 50, then it proves that
great majority of the people Of the United
States deny the equality Of the citizens Of the
United S'ates--deny their equality by reason Of
their rel,sion-d,ny their equality by reason
Of their resldence-dcny their equality by
reason Of their birth
They have asserted, says the President,
'tlic inviolabllity Of tie constitutional rights
of the different sections Of ,hc Union" Then
a msjoIity Of the people of the United States
have in the late contest been nimical to tho
constitutional rights Of the States. and have
been endcavoring to break them down!
The President further informs us that "they
have proclaimed their devoted and unaltera-
bic attachment TO the Union and to the Con-
s,itution. as objects Of interest superior to all
subjects Of local or sectional controversy, as
the safeguard of the rights of all, as the spirit
and The essence of the liberty, peace, and
greatness of the Republic"
If SO. then majority Of the people Of the
United States have declared against those
great principles; they are inincal to the ex-
iscncc Of this Constitution: they are inimical
to the rights of some great sections Of the
country; they are bent on war and not on
peace: for great majority Of the people have
voted against the man who, the President say S
is the symbol of this decision. Sir. if the
Presidents opinion is right, that those great
and vital principles were in contest, theu the
vote Of the people is more full Of awful ror.
tent than any they have ever cast; and the
day Of our dissolution draws nigh. II they
were not in contest, then that message is the
mort ungraciuus sarcasm ever flung by
President on the people who lifted him above
his fellows.
It is Of evil example for the President to
have departed. in tho language of his message
from the severe courtesy, the respectful reserve
the passionlcss dignity observed by hi, prede-
cessors in alIuiing to the conduct Of sover-
eign States, or the motives Of great bodies Of
the people in the highest function of their
sovereignty. isofal things most sisplora-
bic that, elevated above the turbulent atmos-