Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-08-20

dea; all motions of postponement were discar-
ded, and the bill was passed in the Senate bv !,
vote of 90 to 6.
My ailusion TO the recommendation of tbe
executive upon his responsibility and to my con-
nuehce IN H. was purposely made in general
terms; but 1T had reference to the reasons which
had been assigned TO me in the committee, bv
the chairman. l deemed il less necessary to
specify them, because as L have observed the
opposition to the bill upon its merits was exceed
lngly feeble; scarcely calling for an answer.
About two months after the embargo h ad been
enacted, and while it was bearing with severe
pressure upon the commercial, navigating and
lishing interests OF the north, Mr.. Pickering
wrote letter TO the governor ofAIassachusetts
Tor communication to the legislature, denounc-
ing the executive and congress of the United
states, Tor passing the embargo; and calling for
the interpretation of the commercial states 10 save
the country from ruin. The governor sent !,
back to him, with letter of rebuke for ex.
pectng him to make such communication to
the legislature. MIR. Pickering, apprehensive
as ne says, that he should not obtain his object
through the governor, sent a copy To his excel
lent friend. George Cabot, (sINcE PREs,pE,r
OF THE HARTFORD CoNvENroN,) who after
waiting few days, finding that the original was
not communicated to the legislature, sent a. COM
to the printer. ~
The governor of Massachusetts, i'm his answer
to Mr. Pickering, had stated that my opinion
had been and still was in favor of the embargo.
MIR. Pickering replied, and in terms supplied bv
ms feelings at the time charged me with having
IN the debate on the embargo, expressed a SEN
tment which resolved the whole business of Ie-
gislation into the will of the executive Tosup-
port the charge, he quoted several words which
he said had used in the debate and which de-
tached from this context and from the cxpla-
nation have now given, might deserve all the
severity of his commentary.
In the same letter Mr.. Pickering explicitly
admitted that had never given him the slirbt
est cause of offence, and that in five wears of
service together as Senators from the same state,
" though often opposed in opinion, on nation
nj measures, there had never existed for a mo.
ment any personal difference between us.n
notice now this admission, merely to mark the
period and the manner in which this mutual
respect and forbearance between us ceased and
to whom it was justly imputable.
On my part it did not cease even then. If
was impossible to have framed a charge more
destitute OF foundation; more easily refuted or
more open to the chastisement of severe retalia-
ton. Yet took no public notice of il nor
shall now go further beyond the simple decla-
ration that necer expressed or feH The senti-
ment imputed to me by MIR. Pickering, than to
observe, that if had uttered it, and had been
uhoSiotocti III lS sSuSe WHICH ne mas plYen TO
my words, 1T was his duty, and the duty of every
Senator present, who so understood me, not only
| to have had my words taken down at the time
but Instantly to have called me to order for
using them. The words as Mr.. Pickering pro-
fesses to have understood them, were I'M
doubtedly in the highest degree disorderly-and
decisive proof that they were not generally So
understood Is found In the circumstance, that nc
exception was taken to them at the time. Ii is
| rule OF the Senate and n all faEl Jol;
alive assemblies, that eXceptionable words shall
not only be taken down at the time when spo-
ken, but that he who speaks them shall inme-
diately be called to account for to retract. or
to explain them. Had this rule been observed
by Mr.. Pickering, when called upon to explain
what meant by reference 10 the recommends
ton OF the executive, upon his responsibility
and TO the Other reasons, which he might have
and which had no doubt were satisfactory.
should have had the opportunity of giving the
explanation herein contained, and of showing
that my words imported no sentiment even of
improper Difference for the opinions or wishes
of the executive. But it is also breach of Or
der, to refer by way of oensure, at one time TO
words spoken at another; and rule equally
just that no member shall be caIlt . to ACCOUNT in
any other place, for words spoken in the Senate.
These rules are founded upon principles which
every man of a fair and honorable mind feels
himself bound TO observe and they apply with
peculiar force TO debate with closed doors
which IS In its nature secret and confidential.
| TIE error of Mr. chickering's charge consists
In his connecting my expression of confidence
| in the recommendation of the executive, which
| assigned as one of my reasons for agreeing to
| the act, with my argument for the necessity OF
despatch, which was founded in the nature OF
the act itself, and the portentous crisis of the
| times.
The reference TO the recommendation of the
| executive was made in answer to tue objection
| that the documents sent with the message did
not Justify the measure recommended i'm it,
| Knowing that there were other reasons and re.
ferrlng to themsfor the justification of my own
vote, both in committee and in the Senate IN
| favour of the bill, nothing could have been far.
Their from my thoughts, nothing would have
been more in conflict with the whole tenour OF
my conduct through five years of active service
as member of the Senate, than the utterance
of a sentiment of subseryiency to the ,oiU, or e.
ven to the tCiSheS of the executive.
| The confidence in the executive which 7 a
vowed, was applicable to the particular circurn-
stances of the time, and to the particular sub
ject in discussion. Nor was that confidence
misplaced. In the house of representatives the
embargo message was debated three DAYS ON
the merits-but after the three DAYS the house
came to the same conclusion at which the Sc
nate had arrived in four hours. Ii was a wise.
a proyident, and, above ALL purely patriotic
measure. The share that had in il, and the
| part that took in promoting it, remains among
the transactions of my public life to which nv
memory rccurs with the most gratifying recol-
| lectiOns. Many other events have been less
trying to the fortitude of adversely, and more ia
youred by the vicissitudeS of fortune; but on no