New-York daily tribune., 1858-10-15
TIE HON HORACE F. CLARK.
HIS POSITION AND VIEWS.
IcoRREsPospEScr.l

das A. Wei 10 the subject itself e. 20 the
49,, character of the gentlemen from VIII ON the IN
,,,aton emana.es. II is especially gratifying 70 me
- be thus informed tina. my course in Congress has met
xnb ,he appreciation Of intelligent portion Of my
constituency.
Pubic life has, find, hnt sew alurng features; bu'
tAc mos grateful of them all is the approval by free
and independcn. men, Of the conduct Of their rapre
sentative.
Twas elected a. the representative OF the With
e,.,cress;onsl D;s.ric. si the same time that Mr..
Buchanan was elected 70 bis high office, and was
le.b.l.ss the expectation OF the great majority Of
thoee who gave me their sufrages, trei should, by
nv votes in Congress sustain his Administration.
III. foupd Il Impossible 10 do without the betrayal
~ tbnse obligations which assumed when accepted
nv trust. When elected TO Congress, l became
charged with duty To my constituency ana the "hos
Of ito the country, and the whole Of II. was no
thereby constituted the mere instrument o' party
10 take part in the contrivances necessary W ''n
tain il in power, Still less was bound 70 take m
s.rpctions from clique of feiera oiice-hoiders, VINO
naturally mold their expressed opinions ID the forIas
cart by the appointing power: .,,
] derived my authority directly rom tne peopis'
aud became responsible 10 them alone. ~
IA. President Of the United States was entitled tn
tb consideration due TO the efeXecuye officer o the
Government; but his opinions upon my measure of
national policy did not become the law OF my acton
Nor Il in my Judgment consistent with our repab
E1sn syst. a government that the President OF the
Uuited States, by whatsoever party Elected shall he
permitted 10 control, 70 attempt to CONTROL the ac-
pon of the representatives Of the people.
The idea of late 10 have been put ah0at, that
the Representative in Congress OF Northern con-
s,ituency sustans 10 the President relation some
-hst analogous To that Of the menials of his hcnse-
hold lie must comply with his wishes, or l0se his
confidence and vscste his place. have no sympathy
with this new party dogma and my experience IN
Congress having strengthened my convictions oi the
absolute necessity Of preserving the independence Of
the RepTeeeI tatiyc. shall never embrace II.
IL not improper That | should say that mp IN the
patyes OF Southern constituencies this cond
on Of servile aud degraded subserviency is not i'm
posed. And it s my belief that if it were attempted
% be imposed, the imposition wonld not be borne.
This constantly evidenced blythe record of the votes
of the Representatives Of the South.
Entertaining such sentiments, AMI having attained
that period of life when opinions are not changed with
ue facility incident to earlier and later years. il viii
not occasion surprise that upon every subec-matter
Of governmental policy which was presented in Con
gress my action, felt at liberty to exercise all the
Intelligence which could command.
Ii never even occurred to me that shonld subject
myself to the accusation OF treason TO the Democratic
party while remained steadlast and true TO its
rieut faith. Much less did imagine that my fidelity |
70 Democratic principles was to be measured by the
extent OF my submission 10 the opinions of the resi-
dent I entered Congress with the expectation Of sus
taining the President when, in my judgment, he was
night and without being in any way committed to his |
support when, in my Judgment be was wrong. |
would not have taken. will now take office upon |
any other terms.
Nor has il surprised me that the 0tficeholiers and
seekers who have taken possession of the Iammany
Hall organization, should seek To prevent my reeec-
ton. They undoubtedly regard il as sound personal
policy to do what they perhaps Justly conceive to be
In accordance with the desire OF the Executive; ana
;ast go long as the Democratic party permits us |
machinery to be- managed 10y lew pensioners OF t'e
Government, just long vii their nominations for
Congress reflect the commands Oi the Executive M
stead of the wishes Of the party The political prin
epes of the organization viii undergo changes with
every variation Of opinion policy on the part Of the
President and much time viii not el6pse before ts
nominations will be treated with that disregard 20
which they are really entitled. The good result
NAV perhaps follow, that hitle o that spiit oi inoe-
pcndence which is onr tradouar Nierage, may be in
fused INTO party organizations AMI the masses c the
people, freed from the ty.auny o se''-constltuted
regency shall have az least aunc fugi voice III INC
selection of candidates "r Office. ,
Men who nov lend thcnsclves 20 carry ont the
.chcIoes of corrnpt and nnlrmCpiei leaders VIII
earn that thc,r political rights aud dates extend be
yopd the wretcbed privilege oi dcpositing IN the
balot-box votes which others place in their hands
You have expressed confidence that the great mass
of our people will sustain ther representative N the
fearless and conscientious discharge OF his pubic
duties This is problem which remains to be- solved
In respect 10 your request that should consent 70
become candidate Tor reelection have to say that
recognize among the slgners ui your eiteT very many
active poi,ical parisaus well known to bc firmly de-
voted 10 Democratic principles, and long attached to
Democratic organ2atious and have felt apprehen-
Awe lest some may have concuI1ed ID your request
from considerations Of personal kindness, resulting
from the association of former years
Ina,much az in this matter am Inclined To- waive all
mere personal considerations, 1 have determined
briefly 10 state my views upon the slnge ana only
question of national importance which came before
Congress AT ts last session and submit Il to yonr DIS
erection whether they such cntitle me TO your
support refer la the Kansas question. Is am0stcer'
tan that the Of Kansas viii, IN some form arse
again and as il will probably awaken public interest
anew IL is but inst to every Congressional eonstu-
~pcy and Ia every Congressional candidate, that the
spnions Of the latter should be distinctly aud publicly
known.
Inion under the iccomp,on Constitution, pressed
rpen Congress with the full frce of the Administ-s.
zion and inasmuch the President gave his assent
70 The bill providing for her admission, as i hnay
nsss@d / eoncede that the scheme embodied In the
b, shonld be regarded measure to which the Ad-
nnistreton is iITevocsbiy committed.
TvAs opposed 10 the admission of Kansas upon the
application for admission preferred IN the name OF her
people by John Calhoun, the President OF one OF The
Constitutional Conventions held under her Territorial
hws and voted against IT, Ii is hardly possible that
admission under that Constitution Will be again a.
tempted. II is now universally acknowledged that ,he
whole TRANSACTION Of the lecompton Constitution was
gross and unmiticated fraud upon the people o.
Eansss. think man VIII be mad as 10 suggest
again, and hope need not say. that If the effort
should be renewed, would resis, il.
The bill which finally passed commonly called the
English compromise, remains unropeaied, and woud
be apphcsbk should Kansas apply for sdmsson under
any other than the Lecompion Constitution. The
people Of Kaosss have repndiaed that Constitution
and by 90 dong have relieved themselves from the in
eubus of its conception and its history. most sin
serely rejoice at this result. II creates confidence In
the integrity Of her people and gives promise that her
future career shall be bright as her past has been
hideous IL rcvives the hopes of those VINO foresaw
m the success Of the LecomptOn scheme national
Endorsement OF election frauds u. the most starting
description. II jasi;ies those who conroverted the
assertion that the Icompton Constitution the act