The Van Buren press., 1860-02-17

| . Hon. T. c. HispMAx
. SIR From examination of the Journal of
the House of Representatives. made at your request
1t appears that you were present on Monday, De-
cember >, keo9, the first day of the Session that
you are ct reported as absent that or any sub
sequent day, and that your name is recorded as
present and voting ON each and every ballot from
the hrst day of the Session to the present date.
| In Testimony of the foregoing facts
]. JAMES q. ALLEN, Clerk of the
| House of Representatives, of the
! SEAL United States. have hereunto set
! my hand and affixed the seal of the
! House of Representatives this
| fourth day of January, A D., eight
| cen hundred and sixty
JAMES G. ALLEN"
] 1t is gratifying. in no small degree, that
in the difficult aud trying position in which
bhave h-ea placed s,nce enterisy .,n LIE dis !.
charge oil my duties here, evei tl; blood
hound malice of my enemieshas enabled them
to prefer but one charge against me, and that
is completely overthrown by the highest Off
cial testimony. III the same men could apprc-
ciate the injustice of that attack. perhaps a
correct knowledge of the cordial reception
have met with from Democratic Congress
men of both Houses. and from members of
our Democratic Administration, including
! even Its illustrious national head, would
tend to lessen somewhat the ovcrweening
eSotism that prompted them to threaten me
with the total lack of all influence and
}, standing, because of the withdrawal of their
all-potent friendshp'from me- Neither they
nor their likes or dislikes, make the small
est ripple on the surface of federal politics
: They can give no strength to member of
Congress, nor take any from him. They
are absolutely unknown and uncared for,
outside of the small circle of pretentious
vanity in which they exist.
Reaching Washington city on December
4, the day before Congress assembled,
found that the Democratic members of the
House of Representatives had met, the pre-.
cccdlng day, in caucus, and nominated for
Speaker, Hon. Thomas ). Bocock, of Vir-
ginia--a man eminently qualified for the
high pooition. True to the pledges / had
!, made to my Democratic constituents, and
faithful to the principles and usages of the
Democratic party, ! gave that nomination
} the most earnest and cordial support. At
every ballot, while he was candidate | vo-
ted for him. When it was suggested that
he should withdraw, | opposed the PROPOSE
ton, believing them as now, that it was a
grave error SO to disband our party organi.
ton
Subsequently continued to vote for Col
Bocoek. notwithstanding his declcnsion,
until the name Of one Of his Democratic
, colleagues, Gen Milsoa. was proposed.-
: For this gentleman voted on three ballots
and afterwards voted in company with the
great body Of Democrats, for other distin-
, guishcd members Of the party, irrespective
of locality
On more than one occasion, publicly, ant!
times almost without number privately,
have appealed to my fellow Democrats of
the House to rcconcentratc their strength,
and vote Unitctly to the end, for their orig
inal nominec Col. Bococl1. The failure to
do that has. to some extent. shorn our par
ty of its moral force cand rcspcctability be-
fore the country | have reason to believe
that this impression is deepening and
!, Strengthening, and look forward confident
ly TO the time As near at hand, when the De-
mocracy will once more be united in a pha-
!any not to be again thrown into disorder
{ Such consummation is devoutly to b.
wished.
In the hope Of cflccting an anti Rapubli-
can Organization of the House, my colleague
Col Rust, proposed that the entire anti
Republican vote should be concentrated
) either on Democrat to be selected by the
southern OppositioniSts, or on southern
!, Oppositionist to be selected by the Demo
Gratis. 1t was with diflidencc and regret
that disscn:ed from this proposition, ,nadc
by man towards whom my feelings are
SO kind and for whom my respect is so
great, but could not consistently approve
it. My position on the subject is set forth
with sufficient clearnesss, in the remarks |
made at the time. When asked by my col
league il l would not so into Democratic
caucus and abide by its action, said:
:" My colleague presupposes that l will
do what has been the habit of my past life,
and that is go into Democratic caucus with
my fellow Democrats and abide by their ac-
, ton. | will, sir; but with this express
reservation, which applies to the action OF
every Democrat Whenever a convention of
the party is held that whenever the De-
mocracy will act as, liz my judgment Dem
ocrats ought to act whenever they will con-
form to the established usages of the Dem
ocratic party in nominating one who ap-
: proves the principles and who abides by
the usages of Democracy, then l will be
found adhering untlinchingly to that nomi-
, nee under all circumstances and against ev-
cry opposition. But say distinctly that |
will not be transferred by the voice of the
Democratic majority on this floor, nor any
other power under heaven, in any case what
f ever, to the support of a man who does not
endorse and approve Democratic principles
and usages. There is but one state OF facts
} that can be supposed, under which / will
!, vote for member of the so called South
ern Opposition, or, rs | term it, the Know
Nothing party, and that is in the event a
choice is forcel upon IN, between Black
Republican and Know Nothing then as
a choice of evils, reluctantly, and under the
pressure of circumstances, | will be con
strained, perhaps, to vote for the Know
Nothing. But repeat that will give him
my vote reluctantly.
'' / may say that know, SO far as my
observation in my own State goes. that aid
and comfort-not by design, but in fact
has been given to the Black Republican
movement by the unfortunate attitude which
the southern Opposition assumed in refer
ence to the Kansas Nebraska act Whilst
that act has been denounced in the North
as breach of faith, it was execrated as Il
! breach of faith in the South and. sir IL