The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-08
POLITICS OF THE COUNTRY.
SPEECH OF HON. WILL. CUMBACK,
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
December IL, 1856,
of Indiana.


December IL, 1856,
On the question of referring the Presidents Message
the Committee of the Whole the of the Union
and the printing of ten thousand copies thereof
Mr.. CUMBACK said:
Mr.. SPEAKER l do not propose to occupy all
the time that is allowed me by the rules of the
House. in presenting what desire to say in rela-
ton to this most extraordinary message, and the
not less remarkable manner in which the friends
| of the Administration have attempted to defend
it. am not one of those who think this dis
cusson Improbable. 1t certainly has already
| disclosed the fact that the Presidential canvass
has settled no great principles-that on the great
| living question of the times, we are as much at
sea as before. The election of the successful can
| didates has been advocated in one section of the
Union by claiming for them that Slavery would
be extended into Kansas while in the other sec
! ton, on the banners of the party, were
emblazoned, Buchanan and Breckenridge, and
Free Kansas" and already we find that there is
want of harmony among the victors. 1t cannot
| be said that this discussion was brought on by
the act of those on this side of the House. The
| President, who has become the arch-agitator of
this question, is responsible for this renewed de-
bate for we are not of that craven spirit that we
will sit silently by, and have our motives i'm
pugned, and our objects wifully misrepresented.
| For his assault upon the motives the integrity,
| the patriotism of those who cast their votes
| against the extension of slave labor, and in
favor of protecting free labor we have arraigned
| 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 Constitu-
tion and desire to overturn the Union of these
| States.
That charge on his part is entirely gratuitous,
and without the shadow of foundation in truth.
l ask his friends for the proof2 We have inter-
posed our --LATEST denial Do they find it in the
Republican press2 Do they find it in the avow-
ed platform Of principles of the party? Do they
| find it in the speeches of the acknowledged lead
ers and expounders Of our political faith No,
sir, they find it nowhere; and their attempts to
| adduce the proof has been most total hilure,
and the defence of that part of the message has
been entirely abandoned. On the contrary when
| the members of that party met to announces their
purposes and select their candidates for the con-
test they unanimously promulgated this resolu-
| ton as one of their patriotic purposes:
| Resotped, That the maintenance of the princi-
pies promulgated in the Declaration of Independ-
ence, and embodied in the Federal Constitution,
are essential to the preservation of our lepubli-
can institutions; and that the Federal Constitu-
ton, the rights of the States, and the Union Of
| the States, shall be preserved"
Now, sir, undertake to say, fearless tOf sue
cessful contradiction, resolution so explifit in
favor of the Union the one have just read,
could not have passed the Convention at Clcin-
natl 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 1t is with them the Union with provsoes
and conditions. The Republicans intend, not
withstandng that the Union shall be preserved !;
and they will not suffer the fanaticism o. the
., - IL
! of American Liberty. | commend the President,
then, when he proposes to read lectures to those
| unfaithful in profession 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 openly disunion in their pro-
| fessons that he admonish sharply that lass of
politicians who make the threadbare threat, that
| when the Government shall pass out of the hands
! of the slaveocracy, into the hands of the free
laboring masses, that they will not submit.
physician, heal myself" is a religious ad-
monition that the President would do wdl to re-
member.
But, again, the President charges that he mil
| lion and half of the best and purest mel of the
country, who have banded themselves t,gether
| for the good and peace Of the Union, for he in
terest of the free white aborer for the pro ecton
of the dignity, responsibility, and value # free
labor, are observation-disclosures men; thai they
pretend to be in favor of one purpose, whils in
fact and in truth they are laboring for totally
different object He says, that while we ire
" pretending" to be in favor Of the non-extens on
of Slavery, we really desire to interfere with tin
the States where it exists.
This Misrepresentation is willful, and we have
arraigned him for it and gentlemen on the otter
side of the House have entered their appearance
| in his defence. What, sir, are the means used
to rescue the President from the dilemma into
which he has deliberately placed himself? What
is the proof adduced in support of the message :?
1t is of that character that only serves to convince
the world of the falsty of the Presidents position
| and the feebleness Of the defence They cone
and produce as proof, not the platform of pin
| ciples of the Republicans-not the speeches of
avowed leaders, or the statements of the Replb-
lican press-but the opinions of few individuals
and charge that to the Republican party, snd
urge it defence of the President. l hold this
failure their part to sustain the President, as
well the misstatements and falsity of this mes
sage to be the highest possible commendation of
the principles of the Republican party. The Prs
ident dare not attempt to base his charges upon
the avowed principles of the party, nor dare lis
defenders attempt his justification in the same
honest and manly way.
But, on the contrary, he erects his man of
straw, makes out platform of principles fr5m
his own imagination, and then, with an air of
triumph, proceeds to destroy his own creation.
| Feeble would he be, indeed, if he were not able
| for such effort. Laughter.
Suppose we were to hold the so-called Demsc-
racy responsible for the individual sentiments of
men prominent in their councils, land certaiily
| they will accord to us the same right thus to
reason and conclude that they have adopted them
| selves,) we could prove that their party was rank
with disunon. We could show that the slave
| trade was cardinal doctrine of that party we
could establish beyond doubt that they were in
favor of Polygamy Slavery, and Murder. All,
| indeed, sir, what in the dark catalogue of human
folly and wckedness could we not fasten upon
| them2 But, sir, scorn to resort to such loric
| regret that such tone of argument has been
introduced here-it is unworthy the American
| statesman.
| Sir, these special pleas, this feeble defence for
the President will not save him from the verdict
that will be rendered against him by honest, in
telligent in all sections of the country for
| his willful misrepresentation OF q great, wise,
patriotic, and growing party in this country.
| Mr. Speaker, the honorable gentleman from
Georgia Mr.. CRAWFORD made an able defence
| for the President on this floor yesterday. 1t was
calm it was eloquent it was dispassionate But,
sir, he seems to have fallen into the same error
that has found its way into the Presidents mes
| sage. He charges that we desire to attack the
outposts of Slavery" If, indeed, Slavery has
.outposts beyond the limits of the slave States, |
| know not where they are, or how they consitu-
| tionally exist; but if the gentleman means that
it is our purpose to prevent Slavery from planting
| its outposts upon soil consecrated to Freedom
| then, indeed, he comprehends our purpose. We
have no attack to make upon Slavery, but will
defend and maintain the outposts of Freedom
wherever they are, and at whatever cost That,
sir is our whole purpose, and that, by the help
of God, we will accomplish. "But," saws the
| &C hat