6 Carolina,] in answering the argument that Congress was bound to be guided by the decrees of that convention, said in his place that “the Baltimore convention was organized by faction and controlled by demagogues.” Was not that a graphic description? Our countryman Healy, the productions of whose genius now adorn the rotunda of this Capitol, cannot, paint a truer portrait. Congress seems to have adopted the sentiment. By its action on the Oregon question it has nullified the decree of the Baltimore convention, and determined that our title to the whole of Oregon is not clear and unquestionable and by (hat decision, happily for our country, peace has been preserved, and a war has been avoided, which would have been most disastrous to all our national interests. A similar disregard of the decrees of that convention, on the subject of the tariff, will, I believe,, likewise shield our country from evils, not equal in degree to those which at one time were likely to result from the Oregon difficulty, but evils of such magnitude as that their probable occurrence will, I hope, wake into activity, and bring to the rescue, the patriotism of Congress. But I waive aJI these minor facts and considerations, and, for the support of the position ■which I have assumed, throw myself upon facts which are unanswerably conclusive upon this question. I affirm it to be true that the political issues presented by the Baltimore convention to the American people were modified, after the adjournment of that convention, by the pleading men of the Democratic party, and that the parly throughout the Union, with but a few exceptions in South Carolina, tacitly acquiesced in that modification; and that to this fact Mr. Polk owes his election to the Presidency. This fact being established, I deduce the conclusion that the friends of the President have no right to urge the resolutions of the Baltimore convention in support of the bill now before this committee. The resolution relating to the re-occm- pation of the whole of Oregon, and the repeal of the tariff of 1842, were not the only resolu ^ns adopted by that notorious assembly. It adopted a resolution declaring the re-annexation of Texas to be a democratic measure. After its adjournment, it was very soon discovered that the great States of New York and Pennsylvania would not co-operate in the election of Mr, Polk without a change of the political issues, as presented by that convention ; and it was obvious to all that, without the co-operation of those States,, it was idle to hope for a democratic triumph. It was, therefore, necessary that something should be done to make these two great States wheel into line. It was perceived that the Democracy of New York was not a little restive on the subject of re-annexing Texas,, and upon the subject of repealing the tariff act of 1842. What remedy was- resorted to for the cure of this disease, which threatened the death of De^ mocracy by the defeat of the Baltimore nominations? The Democracy of New York met together, and solemnly declared that the re-annexation of Texas was not an issue involved in the pending election .’!! But, to make assurance doubly sure, they nominated as a candidate for Governor of that State Silas Wright, whose opinions on the subject of re-annexing Texas- were known to be identical with those of Mr. Van Buren, and who had voted in the Senate of the United States for the tariff of 1842. Thus the politicians of the State of New York went before the people of that State,, claiming for Mr. Wright the merit of having passed, by his vote, the tariff ; and declaring that the re-annexation of Texas was not an issue in.-
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