Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-25

SPEECH OF HON. JOHN v. WRIGHT,
o. TENNESSEE.

Remaining tlat would not have trespassed on the
House at this time bat for the remarkable speech
nesaee, Mr. StOkes,l delivered on Saturday last.
Sir when we assembled in this Hail. on the first
Monday II last month, what was the condition Of
parties here. The Democratic party, which had
been opposed By the Black Republicans in the North
and BY the Opposition party IL the South was rep
resented BY about ninety members, greatly in the
minority and incapable from its numbers Of or
ganizng the House. On the other side sat the Black
Republicans, numbering near one hundred and
twelve members, and near them sat the Represen-
tatiYcs Of the Southern Opposition. The country
was intensely excited account of recent occur
rences at Harpers Ferry aud the all absorbing cues
ton of abolition; the great question Of whether at
this dangerous iuncturc Of affairs, the Representa-
tive branch Of the American Congress was to be
presided over by Black Republican and Abolition
ist was the one upon which all attention was turn
cd. On the first day OF the meeting Of Congress,
the Democratic party though in feeble minority
led of in gallant charge against this dangerous
sectional Black Republican party, led on BY the
honorable gentleman from Missouri, fMr. Clark I
who offered in good faith resolution declaring that
any member of this body who had recommended
or indorsed the Helper book-a book which teaches
doctrines of murder, insurreeton, and treason
against the Southern Stateswas unfit to be Speak
er of this House.
Under these circumstances appeal to thewhoe coun
try 70 know if we Of the Democratic party did not
have right to expect the active sympathy of the
southern Opposition party, every member of which
save one is a southern man representing Southern
constituencies hereg do not mean that we had the
right TO expect their votes for our candidate Mr.
B0cOck for that leave to themselves to determine.
but, SIR IN this war for constitutional rights we
had right to expect that if members Of the South
ern Know Nothing party desired to hur their shafts
they would be directed against the Black Republi-
cans the common enemies Of us bO.h and not at the
Democratic party which stood here feeble though it
was, and waged battle in defense Of Southern hon
OF and Southern rights. But, sir, how were our
just expectations realized? In the very midst of
the battle, when the charge made by the Demoera-
cy was beng felt, when the advancing columns of
the Black Republicans had been checked, when they
were waving 70 and fro and preparing for a retreat
the honorable gentleman from North Carolina Mr.
Gilmerl boldly dashed in between the two contend
ing forces, and parried the blow which must have
hurled the enemies of the South to the earth Yes
SIR, the honorable gentleman from North Carolina
AIR Gilmer,l himself Southern man, the leader of
the Southern Know Nothing forces here offered
resolution q substitute. which. however Droper
in itself, and which, whether intended by him or
not and do not charge that he so Intended it. eec-
tually warded off blow from the Democracy winch
was net aimed at him his party. but which
was directed against the deadly enemies of the
South
Various gentlemen Of that party have made
| speeches, and among the rest my colleague T3lr.
StOkes;l and desire the country to bear in mind
that not one Of them, SO far as remember has d.
reeted his remarks against the Black Republicans.
Yes, sir the dominant party here the party which
seeks TO strike down the right of the Southern Know
Nothing, as well as the rights of the Southern DEM
Ocrat, goes UnwhIpped as far as the efforts Of NV
colleagues party are concerned and their blows are
all aimed at their Southern brethren of the Demo-
crazy who are here striving to protect common
South.
But, sir, desire to direct my remarks principally
to the speech of my colleague He declares that he
cannot unite with the Democratic party in this
struggle because, as he charges, the party Is not
united one that It is disOrganized and that its men,
bers do not agree among themselves For the sake
/ OF the argument might admit this proposition, and
| then show that in remaining in the organization
where he now is, he is in nowlse better off Sir.
| what principle IS there upon which his party
! all agree? Can he show from the record made
here, that on any question alluded to by him. his
4 party are more harmonious or better united than
| the Democracy How does your party stand on
the so called LecomptOn question? Are you all
agreed on that. Sir, your colleagues Mr.. Maynard
and Mr.. Hill of Georgia. were and are in voP of the
LecOmpton policy of the Administration whilst the
gentleman from North Carolina Mr.. Gilmerl and
your colleague Mr. ECheridge] are the bitter I'M
yielding enemies Of that party Nor are you better
agreed on the doctrines Of the Kansas-Neb bill
In our own State. my colleague well knows there is
wide gulf separating the two wings Of his own par
party understand that colleague from the Tren-
ton district Mr.. Etheridge1 places the same cOnstruc
/ ton on the kansas-Aebraska law that most North
cru men place on II, UO-WiL that IL cOnterS the right
to exclude slavery from the Territories on the peO-
pie while in a territorial condition: or in other
words that he places what is called the squatter-
sovereignty construction on it. In this know that
he does not lgree with many distinguished members
/ Of his own party in Tennessee
Mr.. STOKES. Ny impression is that there is no
difference among US as to the construction of the
Kansas-Nebraska bill I say my colleague voted
against the Kansas-Nebrasa bill for the reason that
he believed it did contain the doctrine Of squater
sovereignty popular sovereignty, it is called
| he did not advocate the doctrine of popular
sOveseignty IN his canvass; but did say that Mr.
Douglass construction of that bill was the true and
proper construction.
Mr. WRIGHT. Passing from this. let us examine
and see whether you are agreed on another cues
ton. refer to the question Of protecting slave
property in the Territories. The distinguished gen
tleman from Georgia, Mr. HILL if l understood
him correctly the other day, declared himself
friend to that doctrine; and all the members of the
Knew Nothing party from Kentucky also favor it.
Are you agreed upon that? Sir, the distinguished
gentleman from Georgia Mr.. Hill went so far as
to declare that IT, in certain contingencies Congress
shall refuse to give legal protection to slave prop
erty in the Territories, he will unite with the ex-
IRENE men Of the South in breaking up the Union.
And this brings to the question of the Union it
self. My colleague has said that the Democratic
party South has disuniOnists in its ranks. Has his
party none; and do they all agree on this question?
have just shown that Of his party this floor
blc Stlttcllldu from OeOfBla mas an
nounced his determination in certain contingency,
which think very likely to occur, to resiSt-yes.
sir, resist injustice. In the same spirit suppose
though not discussing the same point my distinguish
ed colleague from the first district MR. Nesonl
boldly and elOquently declared here, that if the
Black Republicans shall obtain the control Of this
Government and commit overt act Of injustice
against, leading to the peril Of, the South, he is
willing to link his shield to the shield even of the
seccesSi0nists, to repel wrong Here is what he
saId':
Mr Pryor The question propounded has been
only in general sense repeat the Inquiry whether that gen
emsn upon his responsibility, and the representa-
tive Of anybody else would be willing that WILLIAM H. SEWARD
should take possession Army the Navy aud all the
'Nr. NEIsos. or not would deplo.e such
thing.
constitutional powers Of the President OF the United States
allow WILLIAM H possession
powers would he resist to the extent Of going out Of
Mr NELSON In answer to that question: let me say that do
believe, from the in which Mr. SEWARD has express
himself there danger that such contingency
happen But he should be elected President Of the
United according the Constitution and the forms Of
the view enertanand speak for but myse-s that
that Of Itself for dissolution Of the Unon unless he
act leading the peril Of the South. The
moment he did commit such overt act why, sir, would be
willing humble as am to link my shield to the shield evea Of
these secesnist to ree the rong just as soon as IL would
repel wrong from any quarter
Again, l call the attention of my colleague to
declaration made in 1856, at Albany. b. Mr.. Fill
more your candidate for the Presidency which was
date for President himself My colleague voted for
him. and believe, was on his electoral ticket; and
that too after Mr. Fillmore had made this ceclara-
ton. and had it published to the world. He was
portraying the dangers which then threatened the
Union and alluding to the probable election Of
Colonel Fremont, the Black Republican candidate.
Sir in that speech he declares and argues that the
election Of a Black Republican would justify the
South in resisting. even to the dissolution Of the
Union
Here are some extracts from that speech. | refer
my colleague to them:
Can they have the madness the folly believe that
Southern brethren would submit to e governed BY such Chief
Suppose that the South having majority OF the electoral
votes should declare that they would only have slaveholde for
President Pedent,and should elect such by their
elusive SURFACES rule az the North. Do think
would submit 70 i'll Nc, not for And do you believe
nt your Southern hethren sensitive this subject
than you are jealous Of their rights II do, let
tell you that you mistaken "
Ana therefore you that il this sectional party
succeeds il leads eUitG5ly the destruction Of this beautiful
c reared by foreahers cemented By their blood, and
booueathed % priceless inheritance"
Now Mr. Clerk, does harmony exist IN the ranks
of nv colleagues party, even the question Of the
Iniong I show that distinguished member Of his
marty here Mr.. Hill is for uniting with extreme
men and resisting even for cause which is likely
TO occur and that Mr. Fillmore thinks the election
of a Black Republican President a sufficient cause