The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-01-31
CONGRESSIONAL.
spEECn CT HON. A. E. MAXWELL
OF FLORIDA.

OF FLORIDA rs
On the Presidents essage-pary uniythe South on The
defensive delivered in the House Of Representatives Jan
uary n, 1867.
Mr.. MAXWELL. Mr. Chaifnany dislike, at this stage
Of the session. interrupt the legitimate Suspsss heioe
and perhaps do wrong TO continue the discussion OF
general subjects would risk this were II at all propr
able that such discussion would If Ereained it
is not and hare been unfortunate In my efforts to obtain
the ioor and the example has been set me by others
may well say what could not getn opportunity
to say at the proper time. >J's ~
have wished to notice some comments upon the Pesi-
dent and his message though will not follow the gentle
from Maryland, Mr. DAVIS or oherss in Disgusting
at large the proprieties of the message its
ing conclusions sst
So these relate to the agitation which has recently
convused the country am satisfied with 1t IN every par
been shaken The admirable exposition he has given OF
the state of the Union could not have been but incomplete
he bad ignored the controversy which has filed the
minds OF all the people for the last few months and which
elfull of threatening against the peace and security
Of the country He forbid, by every sign around h
to regard II mere party controversy with which
President should not deal IL had risen to awful mag
nitude Of danger alarming every patriot in the land That
he should have touched it, therefore, set il forth before u.s.
explained his policy in regard to it, was most natural
and scarcely be avoided That he should have done this
other spirit than those characerzng the mes
sage could have been expected by any familiar with
his political opinions and previous public action He had
need sugar his words TO suit the tastes OF those
whose taking offence was predetermined, inevitable
thing grave subject was before him. and 1T imposed
duty than riAng ncees Of speech in Difference
to the tender feelings of opposing partisans That duty he
performed and in this as ever before he has been
alike to himself and TO his countryconsisten right
minded honestly patriotic Undauntcd by difficulties un-
dissolved by the pretended commseraon Of his enemies
unshaken by the loss of favor by the aunts of those
who preyed upon his supposed morune5 TO saate their
vengeul appettes he has steadily pursued bis course
sometimes 1t may be- mistaken to the right path at
Others mised but always going on determined to reach
at proper destination 1t is not only as southern
representative 1t is having an equal regard far
every portion of the Union and every interest in IL that
honor him. and thank him for his firm adhe1nce to the
cause of the constitution and for his tedious advocacy OF
the rights it secures and his bold defence of those rights
against powerful assaults
It may be well enough for sSe gentlemen to express
indifference as TO his views even pity for his
fallen man but it cannot have escaped observation
that while they do this they exhibit sensveness under
his expose Quite incompatible with either five may judge
from the many efforts we have Witnessed o that Of the
chairman of your leading committee, Mr. CAMPBELL of
Ohio, and that Of the gentleman from Maryland Mr. Dh-
down that Of the gentleman from Ohio who last
addressed you Mr. BLIsB to parry the force Of his mes
sage not permitted to regard ii as the weak wad
die of dishonored dying There must be some.
thing in il of life of ygor of powersomehing to alarm
and stir the energy of opposition else il would have
gofe unuesioed TO conmittees apd our printer But
that would notdo thad TO be arrested until his opponents
could exhaust their wrath in its denuncationuntl they
could hack and batter its acqut their fears They
engaged am glad to believe, in vain labor. 1t has
its place the record and will tell its story of justice to
all men, of athulfess to all the couhtty uho the people
everywhere That he correctly apprehends and sets forth
the meaning Of the recent election hold to be most evil
dentbs main deduction being that the geographical or
sectional party Of the country condemned This is
unquestonaby true; and believe II to be also true that
the party which upheld in the possession of the gov
ernment and authorized to continue It's control was the
which most fully recognises the equality of the States
and the equal rights of their respective crtizens. poll
cy which suit every portion Of the Union opposed
TO that which advances one portion at the expense of the
othera policy not much of action as OF abstinence
from aclion and which cannot provoke complaint
aggression from either side because it holds itself denied
the exercise of any power to favor or to interfere with
either was sanctioned and dnnounced" as the right
| policy. ID. s. a e ,
But is not my purpose 70 undertake detailed defence
either of the President or his message am willing, and
sure he may well te willing, that through any the
present ordeal both may to their proper places
in the history Of the country As yet the message has
counered little than the broadest contradiction with
only the idest hypercritcsm and must say that that OF
the gentleman from Maryland Mr. DAvls of kind
better suited other forum than to this body
which 1T is his fortune TO be foremost member.
He exult in the idea that the complacency
the President in his references to the result of the
election is not warranted by the majority of the popular
vote Can it be that my friend objects to the congrat
ulatory strain in which the President speaks of the
defeat of sectionass Or does he permit passing al
fusion to the defeat Of his party to check the
of his satisfaction at the overthrow of the greatly
stronger party whose narrow organization he himself SC
sernly condemned? Sir, ask him what he has gained
when he has shown that the fact disclosed by the
election is that the majority of the people of the United
States opposed to the present in power opposed
the present administration, opposed to continuing its pol
ICY opposed TO the Kansas opposed diver
oter things said to be held in favor by the democratic
party, of which he made mention The process by
which he arrives at this conclusion certainly shows tina
overwhelming majority Of the people opposed to th
and the OF the republican party and proba
bly, he will admit that it also shows the majority jus
disposed to trust the the of Amer
lean party. What then, has he gained2 Why, simply
that the majority OF the intelligent selgovernng Ameri
can people opposed to all men and to any policy ant
that this glorious country Of is brought to stand
STILL think Mr.. Chairman, that my reasoning is goot
his and equally suits the gravity of statesman wheI
it brings the conclusion that led of the diff
Guilty in which he thus places by the constitutions and
therefore, through that the democratic party continued
in power, the constitution really elected candidate
With such endorsement and warrant he should not com
plain that party thinks itself still empowered to carr,
on the government after it's old habit. l. r
Ia right view of the nature Of government tn
popular will-the only popular will permitted Il
choice of Mr. Buchanan and through him. the contnuauc
of democratic policy 1t is not simply that he receives
votes than either of the other candidates or tina
he received majority Of the States 1t is that major
Of the people OF the United States through the on
mode by which constitutionally ascertain thei
i will, is committed to preference for him over al
others Does the gentleman ask how / reach this re
sut2 answer him by regarding this not as q consoli
dated, but as federal government There is such will
to be recognised that of majority of the whole peo
pie We must go to the States in search of the true pop
uar will for is only through them each expressing tn
will of her people, separate and independent of al
the Others that correctly arrive at it. Maryland
in casting her vote FIR Mr. Fillmore informs us that th
will of her people would make him President; and tina
must be taken not merely what the majority would
but as the will of all And of the other States Now
taking the rule thus indicated guide our calculations
summing up the aggregate vote of the States which pre-
erred Mr. Buchanan and giving all the others bis oppo
nents he Will be elected by some two hundred and m