I cannot remember the gentleman's
precise language; but I do remember he put Van Buren down, down, till he
got him where he was finally to "stink" and "rot."
Mr. Speaker, it is no business or inclination of mine to defend Martin
Van Buren in the war of extermination now waging between him and his old
admirers. I say, "Devil take the hindmost"--and the foremost. But there
is no mistaking the origin of the breach; and if the curse of "stinking"
and "rotting" is to fall on the first and greatest violators of principle
in the matter, I disinterestedly suggest that the gentleman from Georgia
and his present co-workers are bound to take it upon themselves. But the
gentleman from Georgia further says we have deserted all our principles,
and taken shelter under General Taylor's military coat-tail, and he seems
to think this is exceedingly degrading. Well, as his faith is, so be it
unto him. But can he remember no other military coat-tail under which a
certain other party have been sheltering for near a quarter of a century?
Has he no acquaintance with the ample military coat tail of General
Jackson? Does he not know that his own party have run the five last
Presidential races under that coat-tail, and that they are now running
the sixth under the same cover? Yes, sir, that coat-tail was used not
only for General Jackson himself, but has been clung to, with the grip of
death, by every Democratic candidate since.
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