The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-01
WASHINGTON CITY, TUESDAY, MARCH l. 1859.


does the gentleman really believe that il would invade
any OF the rights OF the Southi
| Mr.. JACKSON. ! HONESTLY and seriously do believe
that that result would be disastrous to the oonfeecy,
and would break up tile Union Of these States whether
! the gentleman desired IL or not
| Mr.. STANTON Does the gentleman regard the test
OF sectonalism being the locality In which party
ceivcs votes the principles which that party stands
Mr.. JACKSON. There Is no use in Disgusting the fact
that the people of this country divided into two great
sections There is every man feel distinct line
drawn between them. In one section the States hold
slaves in the other they do not From the assaults that
have been made that weaker section, and from the
fact that their institutions have been assailedas they
were assaed this floor this afternoon by the gentle
man from Illinois, MIR, LoyEJoY, the South Is scnsi-
tive, and justly sectional party is, from the very
nature OF the case geographical party. The republican
party is confined exclusively TO the North, not because Of
the climate, but because there slaves there do
not want the people of the North 20 have slaves against
their will would not interfere with any of their rights
but they distinct from in their social organization,
and we are from the attacks constantly made upon us,
suspicious about them For that reason, so long as the
gentleman party is confined to the North, and has no
strength at all among u.s. must regard IL, and think
every sensible Ipan must regard it, sectional party
| Mr. sT&Nray- Dill the gentlcrnn regard the whig
| party n national one?
| Mr.. JACKSON. / did.
Mr.. STANTON. Suppose that the republican party Of
to-day should adopt totes qoes the principles and plat
form of the wig party aud yet in consequence of the
changes in public sentiment for the last ten years could
get South is the republican party, therefore
any sectional party, with such PLATFORM than was
the old whig party?
| Mr. JACKSON. Romeo told us, great many years
ago. 'that which call by any other would
smell sweet and republican Is just as good so far as
| am concerned, whig. | nothing about the
II the party of the gentleman will bona fds adopt
principles that c'n receive southern votes, then OF
course his party to be sectional party, and be-
! comes national.
Mr.. STANTON / wish to say to the gentleman that
do understand that the republican party OF to-day
proclans processes, has in its platform solitary
principle tathas not been advocated by Mr. Clay aud the
whg party down to the year 1854. Now if the South has
abandoned the whig party and the principles ON which
u was organized aud existed as national party for
pllaer Of century and if II has organized itself into
tonal party does that make sectional partly We
have principles in Our platform for which we cannot
quote the authority OF Mr. Clay, aud of every leading
statesman of the South from the organization OF the gov
ernment down 10 thi time.
! Mr. JACKSON. II that great patriot who now sleeps
in his grave Henry Clay, uttered sentiment in
this country that all the States of this Union must BIC Tree
slave, am not OF il. never heard of IT, But
understand that sch sentiment has been uttered re-
Gently in the State Of New York by the great leader OF
the republican, patty, Mr.. SEWARD, the gentleman VINO,
in all probability, will be their candidate for lkesident
/ Mr. STANTON. do not intend that the republican
party shall be bound by the opinions of any man What
the gentleman refers to is merely the opinion OF the sena-
tor from Now York. that there Is antagansm between
the two systems About that there may be differences
of opinion North and South. What claim is, that tho
authoritative exposition of principles of the party, as au
thcnticy proclaimed by ts conventions and its reGu-
lary constituted authorities is to be taken as its basis
We do not hold ourselves responsible for the sentiments
that may be expressed by any or any newspaper;
What ask is that the republican party shall be judged
by the proclamation of principles made by those author
lied to proclaim them.
Mr. JACKSON am gratifed that this colloquy has
taken place light between the distinguished gentleman
from Ohio and myself am deeply graied that he, at
least leading republican, utterly repudiates the
Rochester platform of the distinguished senator from
New York The gentleman has step furtncr 10
take and that is to ally himself with the distinguished
gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. MARSHALL will meet
that party when thus organized, in Georg and night IL
TO the best of my ability; and if the old democratic flag
to go down. shall feel happy at least that our great
! country, which love, is safe.
Mr.. STANTON. / have no doubt the gentleman thinks
it very desirable That party should be organized in the
free States upon the principles set forth by the gentleman
from Kentucky for the gentlemans party would have
difficulty in beating such party. 1t would be the
easiest thing in the world do not wish to be under
stood having expressed any opinion pro or con as TO
the anagonis of interests between the two sections of
the confcdeacy but the gentleman suppoes that
to be any organization in the free States upon the prn
cipes proclaimed by the gentleman from Kentucky, OF
the Dred Scott decision and of the constitutional esab
lslmen of slavery in the Territories, why he Is labor
ing under great deluson No such party as that could
live any free State one hour.
! Mr.. JACKSON. Why, Bir, was rejoicing just now to
hear the gentleman as thought, repudiate the position
of the distinguished senator from New York II seems
mistaken; and very sorrow that have now TO
enroll him a disciple of this higher law because he
rcpuatcs the Dred Scott decision which is decision OF
the Supreme Court of this country which all law abiding
citizens should respect have, therefore, mingled feel
ings pleasure and of pain growing out of this cooqny
pleasure at moment, because thought he had re-
pudated the principle of his distinguished leader the
senator from New York pain now that lind that he
must be enrolled of the disciples of the higherl
/ doctrine of that senator.
But let me proceed from this digression, upon the
train of thought in which interrupted.
can conceive of nothing more to be desired by good
men-nothpg to be hailed with Joy by every pa
trio who loves his whole countrythan the organization
of party, differing, it must from the democratic par
ty in governmental detail yet like it in devotion to the
constitution love of the Union, and justice to all
tions If the country should be again divided into two
great and patriotic parties like the old whig and demo
cratic parties the return of those quatcrna elections
which separate the people into two opposing political
armies the good men, whether prefeng the one or the
other the night of the great contest may rest IN
peace assured that whatever may have been the result
the government organized by his fathers will be MAIN
tanned in its integrity and his rights of person and prop
erty secured to him and his children
But greatly fear sir, that the conservative element
in the republican ranks will be too weak to contend Tor
! the mastery with that 'higher-law principle, which
has been its life blood and without which, the gentle
correctly it will dwndlc aud die Should these fears be
realized, the principles of the gentleman from Kentucky,
aud all who think with him, North and South, will lead
them into party already organized devoted to our
| constitutional Union any that can be formed the
very party eloquenty described by himself aud which
ho fails to recognise only because of past associa
tions. Why should these associations deter him from
its embrace Democratic principle is moulded into the
very being OF his country. The proportions of that
l,ft tia ulyrnl