I now repeat, as I then said, bitter as is the
draught—much as I deprecate the element of
"federal numbers," yet I regarded it as less offen-
sive than the more nauseous dose of the gentle-
man from Queen Anne's, True, it came from
the other Shore, came from one of the large
counties, came not from one of the enumerated
slave counties, came from asource to which we
had no claim to look for favor or affection on this
particular subject; but with all this unpromising
prestige, it affected our interests less injuriously
than the boon proffered to us by our own familiar
friend; less fatal to the political power and influence
of the Eastern Shore, than the destiny imposed
upon us by the bill which has passed, and
which has for its author a delegate from our side
of the Chesapeake Bay.
But, sir, [said Mr. C.,] why expend more
words, or waste lime in vindicating myself from
the imputation of neglecting the interests of the
Eastern Shore? Have I not been twitted and
jeered, on every occasion, for an undue pertina-
city in advocating its peculiar interests? My only
apology for the trespass I have committed is, that
I desire to have my course so announced, that it
may be understood elsewhere as it is known here,
Mr. C. said he could not allow to pass unno-
ticed a remark of the gentleman, particularly as
he had heard from other gentlemen something of
the same character. The gentleman had said,
"the gentleman from Kent never rises without by
direct charge or insinuation impeaching the mo-
tives of others." This remark was gravely made,
and involves a very unkind imputation, and [said
Mr. C.] I must be permitted to say, I think one
not merited by any thing that has occurred on
this floor. My first answer to it is, that the gen-
tleman and myself differ as to the fact, both as to
my invariable practice, fur which I refer to the
knowledge and observation of members, as also
as to the particular instance which immediately
gave occasion to his remark. The gentleman
from Frederick (Mr. Thomas) had said "he would
strike out the county of Harford from the district,
called the Eastern Shore district, if the Eastern
Shore desired it." it put his action upon the wish
of our Shore; it was to he governed by these
wishes. Of course it appeared proper those
wishes should be expressed. The only mode of
communicating knowledge of the fact upon winch
the action of the gentleman was to depend, was
by an expression from members here. It was regarded
by me, as I said, as a quasi question—not
in form of words, but in substance, in the few
remarks made by me in answer to this question, I
said the gentlemen from the Eastern Shore had
differed so widely on many and important ques-
tions, that I could not venture to speak for mure
than a limited portion of it. But, sir, I did dis-
tinctly and directly state, and did so with sincer-
ity, that gentlemen from the Eastern Shore who
had pursued a course different from my own, were
doubtless actuated by motives as pure and patriotic
as our own. I am aware, that different gen-
tlemen have Imputed to me a caustic tone, and a
sharpness in debate here, until I fear it will beget
an opinion that I have really indulged in this way
quite too far. Now, sir, I challenge that gentle- |
man, (Mr. Grason,) or any one else, to lay his
finger upon a solitary instance in which I have
cast the first stone, in any one of these rencontres
to which these remarks allude, I have, on
various occasions, had cause to defend myself, and
have endeavored to make the best of my way out
of the difficulties into which opposing speakers
have used able efforts to place me. Surely there
is no censure due for that. Gentlemen choose to
promote me in their fancy, to a prominent posi-
tion, which I neither occupy in fact, or desire to
occupy, and then attack inc as the occupant.
May I not repel such assaults? I do, sir, seriously
and truly assert that I have not intentionally in-
dulged in any caustic expression, unless provoked
by an attack, though not always quite so plain,
direct and serious a charge as that acknowledged
now to be made by the gentleman from Queen
Anne's; and in no instance have I desired to im-
pute to any gentleman here, an impure motive,
or to inflict a permanent wound upon his feelings.
So far as regards personal considerations. And
now, [said Mr. C.] as to political motives and con-
siderations.
Gentlemen rise here and tell us they divest
themselves of political feeling, that they do not
act or vote under the influence of party. Now,
sir, I am willing to suppose these gentlemen really
entertain the opinion they express, that they are
quite insensible of the influence of party. But,
air, the heart of man is deceitful above all things,
and there is no one more frequently the victim of
this deception than its owner. Why, what do we
see here, before our eyes, day after day, vote
after vote—all pursuing the same current—all
tending to the same point? A man must be blind,
perfectly, absolutely blind, to every sort of obser-
vation, to every species of fair deduction, if what
we witness here could not convince him that po-
litical influences operate. Take the case on which
we voted yesterday, the day for the election of
Governor. The question was made, whether the
election should be on the same day when the elec-
tion of President of the United States was held,
or on a different day. It was asserted and not
denied, nor could it be, that a larger number of
voles were given at the Presidential election, and
that it would save the time and expense of a se-
cond election to have both on the same day. But
yet the same votes which had in other similar
cases governed this body, were united in favor of
a separate election. Did any one doubt that this
result was due to the fact, which it seems expe-
rience has proved, that while in every instance,
the electoral or Presidential vote of the State has
gone one way, the election for Governor has almost
uniformly, indeed, with but one exception,
gone the other way. Could any one doubt? I
will only say, sir, if such a man can be found, his
credulity would entitle him to a premium, whether
he were exhibited at a country cattle show
or at the "world's fair " Do I by this impute
impure inolive? No, sir; as far from it as any
man on this floor. But I would be equally un-
willing to use disguise or affect a belief which I
do not entertain. I should be uncandid and die-ingenuous
if I were to attempt to disguise my
belief, that the votes of Eastern Shore members |
