Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1857-02-21
SPEECH OF HON. J.v. WRIGHT,
Ga he Presidents Message, asliUsrsd an the Hou
Of Representatives., February 4, 1857.

Mr. Wright, Of Tennessee. Mr.. Chairman, !
certainly have no desire to waste the time of this
committee, which ought TO be occupied in the con-
siderstion Of important business, in useless discus
sion; and think that 1 can very safely say that
my course, since / have had a seat here, has not
been such one as to Justify the conclusion, in
any mind, that have such desires. have been
coEteat 10 be rather quiet listener than an active
psrticjpator in the numerous debates which have
occurred here; because /, unlike some gentlemen,
have not been vain enough TO suppose that pos
terity would suffer by my silence. / have, how.
ever observed that those members who make the
loulest professions in favor Of "the promotion OF
public business" ere the ones who expend the
most "gas" in windy harsngues, and who are al
ways foremost in schemes of public plumber. 1
trust, then, sir that no member will attribute to
me any disposition whatever to obsiruct needfdl
legislation.
After the very able and eloquent arguments
which have been made by gentlemen on both
sicss of the House with regard to the questions
of foreign and domestic policy contained in the
late message Of the President OF the United States
it may appear unWsrrsnted Ia one so humble IS
myself and so inexperienced in parliamentary
ussges as 1 am, further to weary the patience Of
the committee by continuation of the debate;
and those considerations would deter me from the
task did lock only to the probable effects which
any thing may say will have upon the opinions
OF members here. But, sir, that portion OF the
people Of Tennessee whom l have the honor TO
represent here, in common with their fellow eii-
zens Of the whole country, feel, and very justly
feel deep interest in the questions therein pre-
scented, and discussed with so much ability, and
with such a patriotic spirit, BY the Chief EXsCu'
tive Of the government aud l desire to sod my
humble tribute, in the name Of my constituents,
to tie justness OF his motives and the ability with
which be has handled and mastered bis subject
NY constituents, sir, are not more deeply inter-
ested IN slave property than IN other species Of
property. But the present condition Of the black
race in their midst and that condition in which
great party in this country desire to see them
! placed, Ct we are to believe intimauOns which
nave been thrown out upon this f0or)-in other
! words, the question of the social aud political
equality of the two rsces-ls one which is repul-
| slVe and alarming TO the freemen of the South,
| Rud one which ought to com nsnd the serious at
tention OF every true friend Of his country and Of
humanity il the North before they take steps for
! its accomplishment
IL s-eakIDg II defence of the President, speak
not as the representative Of q slave ohgsrchy. l
represent 10 "slave oligsrchy,' or any other oh
| gaTChy, as the so-Caed republican party have
| been pleased to denomnste that portion of my
| constituents who own slave property. l know Of
no such property as that, either in my own State
/ or IN any Otner sJusheru SIsIe. A member from
| New Hampshire, Mr.. TsppaD IN a speech de-
| iVeFed IN this House during the last session Of
! Congress, in slludiDg to this slave power, said:
"Ine despJtism exercised over all tho.e who
doubt the drVInuy of slavery, AMI over the entire
| portion OF nOn-sisVeholdIng whites in that sec
uOD, IS a. complete IS that Of tbe master over his
! slave"
do 10. refer to the speech OF the member from
| New Hampshire beCsuss l attach any importance
to bis declarations her5 or elsewhere, but I do it
tor the purpose Ct giving it as my opinion that it
has been Dy the means Of such mIsTep. e5entauons
as this one that the bitter waters of prejudice in
the minds OF the northern people have been stir
red Up against he peOple sud the institutions Of tle
SOuJB, tee unhappy Consequences OF winch we are
| nov Iespng. | suppose, sir, that that memJ CT
hiss never been associated with the southern people.
ST., ii he were to visit that land Of 'slsyeCcracy
| he wou and quite enough iustsnc, CT the wesl-
ting Shareholders taking 0y the hs Id the poor, the
| humo.e, the mechanic and tie Gay lsbO7er, and
| eieystug them to places Of honor ard dIstiLC ION
Aod / doubt not ,hat 1t he Culd De as di.geut in
The examination Of the condition of sc ely il the
nozzle Granite 5 q from hCl he come, as be is
IN trabUCatIlg suders aiHsL lis brethren OF the
South, he w~ud had ,qIHiy IS MICA want Vi
Charity, sIc bs many cases Ci oppression ioE
power wICAeIly wl5iued, as he would sluyag tie
pie ol tie Souh. Thea, sir, l again repeat
tDs. l represent no suCl O0hgsTchy a5 tuat ne HOer
Imsgines 10 exist. l represent constituency Of
| te5 white Iu6U, WHO possess qlle as mG-E intel.
hgence AID patriotism as tie constituency Of that
| member.
1t bBs been boldly asserted ald equally as bold-
ly denit d. that the back republican party desired
to interfere with the Gumes &c Institutions Cf the
| southern States Now, cir, allaGuSl / believe
with the President Of the United S.aLes, that they
were iDdamed with tnst desire an that their lead
ers contemplate that result, ! "a, IS did the dis.
| unsushed gentleman from Mississippi [ Mr. Q lit
/ mas. that We entertain 10 ieSTs on tlsC point
| You dare not d. It Y-u will not do il for when
! your madLts, s0aii prompt you to q Inc o. policy
| So unconstitutional and oppressive, you VIII iud
! there a spirit OF res.s,aLc5 wnC4 W not submit
10 be oppressed"
Bot, Sir when the President, according to the
requirements OF the Constitution undertook 10 re
! commend to the consideration OF Congress such
| measures SIS he jagged necessary and expedslt
aud to give Information 10 them Of b state OF the
Union, ne was made the sIbjeCtOf the most bite:
| deIuGCiatiUn AMI uDprovOked abuse by the black.
! republican men bsrs, with the member from ONO,
! Az. Campbell at their head. Smarting under
! InelT late disastrous defeat, and writing under
| the just AID powerful reouke when was given TO
them Uy tie people Of the Unuei StsJes, IN the
/ late struggle, they have found No words Of con-
| demnadyu sufficiently strong to express their la
tired q the President AID his party friends. And
the "Amerlcsn8, too, come slOUg with their lItte
| squad, with tie member from Maryland Mr. Da-
| wa aud you, Sir, Mr. H Marshal n command,
sud as they emerge from contest In which Iher
! SHOUTS II Americans must rule America were
| too feeble TO be heard by the cJnteudUg psrtie ,
they, too, IN in sud AID in this crusade agsnst q
| fearless ALL patriotic Cniei Magistrate
l shall not undertake, en- this occasion, to c-m-
ment upon Hose portions OF tie message which re-
| er To the workings of the various dsUar. ments Of
/ thus govCrlmenf, Tor they have not been ssssIed.
! l. may not We cut OF pl4Cs, however IL order 10
! Neutrality-suspicious. which were made st tue last ses-
/ siOD, wiki regard to the qIestOl OF economy in
tie eKpeL dtuIes, TO refer u the fact, that On eX
aiming the expenditures Of the last five years, it
! vii, % seen that the average deducung payments
| on account OF the pubic debt, and SO 200 0O9
paid by treaty to Mexico has been but S4S 900 OU0
and Il IL believed that, under an economical admin
/ IrsuOu OF the government, the average txpeudi-
lure Tor the ensuing FIVE years will Lot exceed that
SUN, unless extraordinary occasion for its increase
/ should occur"
We present to the world the remarkable spec
/ tEcle OF great government whose resource Tor
! the last year amounted 10 over ne-tWo muhOn
! OF dollars, able to pay every dollar we now owe,
and Only prevented from dyiog 60 because 1t is not
| yet due, and IS only redeemable at the optiJn Of
/ holders and cannot be pressed to payment By the
| government,
But, 81, / will now proceed to the q cussion Of
| those questions which seem to have enlisted the
at-nuOn Of the House. Much has been said with
regard 10 who is res gonslble for the deOste. 1t