The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-06
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. ). v. RIGHT,
OF TENEEsskE,

b. iNNNA''hAJ
On the PTesidents message delivered in the House of
Representatives, February 4, 1857.
Mr.. WRIGHT of Tennessee. Mr.. Chairman certainly
have desire the time Of this committee which
ought TO be occupied in The consideration Of important
business, in useless discusson and think can very
safely say that my course since have had seat here has
not teen such justify the conclusion, in any
mind that have such desires have been content TO be
rather quiet listener an active participator in the
numerous debates which have occurred here because
unlike gentlemen have not been vain enough to
pose that postery would suffer from my silence have
however observed that those members who make the loud
preensons in favor of the promotion of public busi
ness the who expend the most gas" in windy
harangues and who always foremost in schemes OF
public pluDder. trust then, sir, that no member will at
tribute to any disposition whatever to obstruc neednl
legislation.
After the very able and eloquent arguments which
been made by gentlemen both sides Of the House with
regard the questions offoregu aud domestic policy
tanned in the late message Of the President Of the United
States it may appear unwarranted in humble as
myself ard mex perienced in parliamentary usaees ss
am further 10 weary the patience OF the committee by
continuation Of the debate and those considerations would
deter from the task did look only the probable e
fects which anything may say will have upon the opn-
OF members here But sir that portion of the people
of Tennessee whom have the honor to represent here in
with their felow-citizens of the whole country
feel and very justly feel deep interest in the questions
therein presented and discussed with 50 much ability and
with such patriotic spirit by the Chief Executive of tbe
government and desire TO add my humble tribute in the
of m5 constituents TO the business Of his motives
and the ability with which he has handled and mastered
his subject My constituents sir not deeply in
erested in slave property than in other species Of property
But the present condition of the black in their midst
and that condition In which great party in this country
desire them placed f to believe ntimations
which have been thrown out upon this foor)in other
words The question of the social and political equality Of
the two races-s which is repulsye and alarming to
the ireemen of the South and one which ought to command
the serious attention of every true friend Of bis country
and of humanity in the North before they take steps for It's
! Accomplishment. %1
10 speaking Ia deitucs af the President speak not as
the representative of slave ogafchy represent
slave ogarchy any other oligaTchy, the so-caiet
republican party hare been pleased denomnhte that
portion OF my constituents who slsve property
know Of such power that either In my own State or
in any other southern STATE member from NeH Hamp-
SHIRE Mr. TArPAs in speech delivered in this House
during the last session Of Congress in abiding to this
slave power said
"The despotsm exercised over all those who doubt the
divinity Of slavery and the entire portion Of non
ashodins whites that section complete as that of
the master over his siaFsf' @
do refer to the speech of the member from New
Hampshire because attach any importance TO his deciarai
ons here elsewhere hut do for the purpose ogivng
it my opnion that ii has been by the of ouch
misrepresentation us this ohe that the bitter waters OF pre-
udice in the minds OF the northern peops have been stir cd
up agar st The people and the institutions OF the Souh the
unhappy consequences Of which reaping. !
suppose sir that that member has been associated
with the southern people Sir if he visit that land
of slaveocracy be would nd quite enough instances of
the wealthy Shareholders taking by the hand the poor the
humble the mechanic and the day aborer and elevang
them TO places of honor and distinction And doubt not
that If he would be digent in the examination of the
condition OF society in the noble Granite State from which
he he is in abrcaing ISLANDERS against his breth
ren Of The South, he would find equally much want OF
charity, and as many OF oppression from power
wekedly welded be would among the people Of the
South Theu, sir, again repeat that represent such
oyarchy that member imagines to exist repr sent
constituency of free white men, WHO possess quite
much intelligence and patriotism as The constituency OF
: that member
has been boldly asserted and equally as boldly denied
that the bacrepUbrsu party desired to interfere with
the domestic institutions Of The southern States Nov,
althuupH bpleVn President
States that they named with that desire and that
their leaders Contemplate that result did the dis
tinguished gentleman from Mississippi, Iii uTraAs,
that entertain fears that point You dare not do
it, You will not do it; for when your madness shall
prompt you to line Of policy unconstitutional and OPP
pressve you will fad there spirit of rsssance which
will not submit to be oppressed
But sir when the President according to the require
mens OF The constitution undertook to recommend to the
consideration Of Congress such he judged
cessary and expedent and TO give information TO them
the state of the Union he made the subject OF the most
republican members with the member from Ohio lMr
CAMPBELL at their head Smarng under their late dis
rous defeat and writhng under the just and powerful
rebuke which given them By the people of the Uni
ted States late struggle they have found no words
OF condemnation sufficiently strong to express their ba
tired Of the President aud his party friends. And the
Americans too along with their little squad with
the member from Maryland [Mr DAvIs and you, sir tMr
III. MARSHALL in command, sud as they emerge from q
contest in which their shouts of Americans must rule
America too feeble to be heard by the contending
parties they too join in and aid in this crusade against
. a fearless and patriotic thief Magistrate
shall undertake. this OCCASION to comment upon
those portions of the message which refer The workings
Of the various departments of this government for they
have not been assailed II may not be out of place how
ever in order to meet insinuations which made al
the last session. with regard to the question of economy in
the expenditures TO refer 10 the fact that examining
the expenditures of the last FIVE years it will be that
the averaIe, deducng payments Of the public
debt, and S0000000 paid by treaty Mexico has been
but 4S o00 and il is believed that under
ical administration OF the government the average ex
lkura han tba
sum- uness extraordinary occasion for It's increase should
3 occur
We present to the world the remarkable spectacle of
whose for the last year
ed to niDey-two millions of dollars able to pay
every dollar owe and only prevented from doing
because is not yet due and only redeeabe the
option of holders and tannot be pressed payment by h
0 government
Bot si-, will proceed the discussion Of thos
questions which to have enlisted the attention of th
House Much has been said with regard to who respon
sble for the debate 1t matters not sir upon whom thu
responsibility rests whether upon the chairman of tb
Committee of Ways and Means Mr.. CANPBsLL of Ohio
OF upon the President as alleged by the gentleman from
Mary land, Mr. DAVIS 1t bas not been without benefit
far this House is concerned and it be otherws
than instructive to the country
The portion Of the message which members OF the
position to take the greatest exception and
which they to grow indignant that cause il
0 which it is charged that,
Under the shelter great liberty and protecte,
by the laws and OF the they assa
Citations have been formed indiydu
ais wbo pretending seek only prevent spread th
Institutions OF slavery the present jncboa
States OF the unon really inamed with desire Il
change the domestic institutions of existing States"
Il They seek object which they well know be
n hey hail