Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-01-28
THE spEAKERsHrp-MR. e1LMER.

Extracts from some remarks of Mr. Smith of
Virginia; delivered in the House on ths 18th JAN
uary.
Mr.. Clerk, viii touch another subject in this
connection which has created good deal of diff
Guilty After this resolution had been introduced for
short time, the honorable member from North
Carolina Mr.. Gilmerl introduced an amendment I
was grieved to see it. The mover of that amend
ment could not have dsapproyed of this resolution
tie Will not stand in his place upon this floor and
say that this resolution did not embody his senti-
ments. l say, was grieved that he should have
offered such sn amendment as he did, because It
placed him IN the position Of seeming to break the
force of the blow upon the Republican side IF the
House. The gentleman may not have intended to do
do so, but that is the effect r has that appearance
and that is one of the difficulties perhaps the gentle
man has in combining the votes of this side Of the
House. But the gentleman did more when the
resolution was offered, affirming distinct PROPOSE
tons which he will not gainsay, he sought to break
their dstinctness and their force by the intro
duction of his amendment | think be did not SO.
intend but that is the appearance of it to another
and it has hurt him.
| mention this view of the subject because I de-
sire to have another thing understood; and shall
go rapidly over it in order to give way to the gen.
tleman from Tennessee. Mr. Hatton And what
is that? The gentleman from h-Carolina mr.
Gimer, or at least his friends, complain that the
Democratic side of this House did not go to his sup
port. | say the gentlemen may complain of that,
and even complain with some show of reason /; but
we have evinced at least much liberality of dis
position upon our side they have upon their side;
and we do think it is little hard that we should be
required to 60 in solid column to the support of
the minority side of this House. and that the minori-
ty side at the same time should claim the right to
select the person for whom we should all vote. We
are not only required to go for that side of the
House, but for man who never has eyinced liber-
aty which would Justify this call upon our side 1t
seems to us perfectly PLAIN matter if they ask US
TO support them that they should allow us to select
among them the candidate we would be willing to
support. II they will allow us to select the man
among them, the probability is very great that we
would present an unbroken column. But the gen.
tleman knows, and the other side of the House
knows, that there are some of our northern friends
who cannot vote for an American. 1t would be
their death at home and the idea of bringing US to
the support of a man who cannot command our
tire vote, and who cannot by any possibility be
elected, is simply out of the question. l would
have no difficulty say here, if we could cOncen-
trate our votes upon him, under existing circunl-
stances, in giving my support to the gentleman
from North Carolina. But it is most unreasonable
demand in the first place, that we should be requir-
ed to go over to him solid column; and second
ly, that they should select among then the man for
whom we should 20. And that gentleman, too, a
man who has never evinced the slightest hberality
towards side of the House. by ever throwing
his vote for us.
present these views as practical views. But |
repeat, that American command the united
vote of this side of the House-not that he cannot
get my vote, for | do not occupy the position of
some of our northern friends who must be sustain
ed by the action of their brethren here. They rep
resent section of country where the real fighting
is to be done, where the great struggle is TO take
place. where the impending crisis of the country is
to be decided We have TO difficulty in the South
We can work along together. But in the North it
is desperate hand-to-hand struggle; and it is our
bounden duty, by every obligation that can rccog-
nize to lend them all the aid and strength and as
sstance in our power We cannot ask them to DO
what would be selEimmolaton-no only sefnmo-
latiOn to them, but the destruction of the Demo-
cratic party at home. | cannot ask it | will not
ask it; and no gentleman should ask it. But there
various gentlemen the other side-if the
Americans would join us-whom can elect. We
can elect the gentleman from Indiana, Mr. John G..
Davis if the Americans would support him. He
is an Opposition man, God knows, to this Admin
istration | will nominate him, will go for him.
Then, there is the gentleman from NOrthCarolina,
who bears the honored name that have borne from
the CRADLE and would most cheerfuly go for him
old line Wing. He never has spoken on the is
sues that divide us here. He never an Ameri-
honorable gentleman. repeat, that it is unreason-
able for American friends to expect to go in
solid column to their support, to let them select
candidate from among themselves; and him, too, q
man who never gave US single vote.