Indiana American., 1857-01-09
PoLrrrcs or rssE oouNTnY.
SPEECH OF HON Will GUN

NE iHniHtHf
In THE HousE or REPRESENTATIVE,
Decembcri7, 1856,
On the question Of referring. the Presi- |
dents Message 10 the Committee OF the
Whole on the state Of the Union, and
the printing Of ten thousands copies
thereof.
Mr.. Cumbaek said
Mr.. Speaker; do not propose 10 occu-
by all the time that Il allowed me by tho
rules Of the House In presenting what ]
desire 10 say In relation 10 this most ex-
traordinary message, and the not less re-
maakably manner inNwhich the friends Of
the Administration have attempted 70 de-
fcnd H. am not one Of those who think
this discussion Improbable. Il certainly
has already disclosed the fact that tho
presidential canvass has settled no great
principles--that on the great living ques-
ton Of the times, We are as much at sea a.
before. The election Of tho successful
candidates has been advocated In one sec
ton Of the Union by claiming for them
that slavery would be extended into Kan
sas; while In the other section, on tho ban
nem Of the same party, were omblazoned
buchanan and Brcckinridge and free
Kansas;"' and already We find that there
Is want Of harmony among tho victor.
II cannot bc said that this discussion was
brought on by the act OF those on this
side Of tho House. The President who
has become the arch-agltator Of this ques-
ton, Is responsible for this renewed do
bate. for we are not OF that craven spirit
that We will sit silently by, and have our
motives impungcd, and our objects will
fully misrepresented. For his assaultup-
ON the motives. the integrity, the patriot
ism Of those who cast their votes against
the extension of slave labor and in favor
Of protecting free labor. we have arranged
him.
He charges that the Republican party,
now numbering near a million and half
Of the most patriotic and intelligent sons
of our common country, are wanting In
fidelity TO the Constitution, and desire TO
overturn the Union Of these States.
That charge on his part is entirely gra-
tuitous, and without the shadow Of foun.
dation in truth. l ask his friends for the
proof. We have intorposed our flattest
denial. Do they find II In the Republi-
can press Do they find 1t in the avow-
cd platform Of principles Of the party?--
Do they find 1t in the speeches Of the ac-
knowledged leaders and expoundes Of
our political faith ? No. sir. they find 1t
nowhere; and their attempts TO adducc
the proof has been most total failure,
and the defense Of that part Of the
message has been entirely abandoned.
On the contrary, when the members
Of that party met to announce their
purposes, and select their candidates for
the contest, they unanimously promulga-
ted this resolution as one Of their patriot
ic purposes
Resolved, That the maintenance Of the
principles promulgated in the Declaration
of Independence and embodied in the
Federal Constitution, are essential 10 the
preservation Of our republican institutions,
and that the Federal Constitutions, the
rights Of the States, and the Union Of the
States, shall be preserved.
Now. sir, l undertake to say, fearless Of
successful contradiction, resolution so
explicit in favor of the Union as the one /
have just read, could not have passed the
convention at Cincinnati unanimously
The Union at all hazards and under all
circumstances, is not the sentiment Of a
large portion of the Democratic party in
the South. II Is with them the Union
with provisions and conditions. The Re-
lpublicans intend, notwithstanding, that
the Union shall be preserved; and thcy
will not suffer the fanaticism of the South
to remove single pillar from the temple
of American liberty. commend the
President then, when he proposes to read
lectures to those unfaithful in profession
or practice to the Union of these States,
that he turn his face to the South, that
he rebuke the Democratic journals in the
South, that are openly disunion in their
professions; that he admonish sharply
that class of politicians who make the
threadbare threat, that when the govern
mont shall pass out Of the hands of the
slaveocracy into the hands Of the free Ia
boring Masses, that they will not submit.
physician. heal thyself" is religious ad-
monition that the President would do
well TO remember
But again, the President charges that
the million and half Of the best and pu-
rest mon Of the country who have banded
themselves together for tho good and
peace Of the Union, for the interest Of the
free white laborer, for the protection of
the dignity, respcctability, and value of
free labor, are hypocrites-dishonest men;
that they pretend to bo in favor of one
purpose, while in fact and in truth they
are laboring for a totally different object
He says that while we are "pretondings
to be in favor Of the non-e extension Of sla-
very, we really desire to interfere with y,
In the States where II exists.
This misrepresentation Is wipe and
we have arraignod him for il; and gen,l..
men on the other side Of T.. % House have
entered their appearance in his defsn.e :
What. sir, are the w,sans used to re.cue
the President fr,m the dilemma into
which he has deliberately placed himself ?
wna' 'ss--.e proof adduced in support of
tho msssage? It's Of that character that
OILY serves to convince the world of the
falsity Of the Presidents position aud the
feebleness Of the defense. They come
and produce as proof, not the platfrom of