Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-04-28
Communicated for the National Intelligencerl
THE VICE PRESIDENT.

L HE VIE PkESlDENl
An incident which lately tyanspred in the
Senate, has, in papers Of certain description,
been so perverted, that an explanation OF 1t be-
comes necessary. In prints OF certain COM
plexion, and with view to particular effect,
wide spread, and at the same TIME perverted
circulation, has been given to it, The design
as to impress on the people belief, that the
Vice President in the discharge of his official
duties, had forgotten The exercise Of that strict
mpartiality which it became his duty to OBJ
serve. l am neither the personal nor particu
lar friend Of Mr. CALHOUN; but, being present,
and witness to the transaction adverted to,
conceive it an act of justice 10 present this high
" distorted matter in the view that fact and
truth demand.
1t is charged that the Vice President had
called Mr.. Dickinson to order, and arrested
him in his course Of debate, Immediately after
having permitted Mr.. RANDOLPH TO take one OF
his most exclusive ranges. The inference ne
cessarily drawn is, that privileges are conceded
to the Senator from Virginia, which are denied
to others; and the emphatic inquiry made Is,
Wherefore is this done? The circumstance
here alluded to, took place on the third reading
of the resolution presented by Mr.. Dickerson,
so 10 amend the Constitution as to prohibit the
President of the United States from being elect
ed but for two terms. Mr.. Randolph had mo-
we'd 10 Law the resolution on the table and, UNI
der this state OF things, MIR. Dickerson rose and
addressed the Chair.
1t will be borne in mind, that, on motion
submitted to lay any proposition on the table,
debate is precluded altogether, until the ques-
ton be voted on. No one is in order to. pre-
sent remarks of any kind MIR. Randolph then
had moved 10 lay the resolution on the table,
when Mr. Dickerson rising to speak, was re-
minded by the President that the motion did
not admit Of debate; but, on his indicating a
desire to be heard, and no objection being made
from any quarter, he was permitted to proceed
This indulgence being extended, Of course a
reply on The part Of Mr.. Randolph, who had
submitted the motion, could not, and ought
not, 10 have been refused The privilege hay
ing been conceded to one, there would have
been manifest improperly in Withholding it
from the other; accordingly, and rightfully,
reply from the mover was permitted. MIR.
Randolph having concluded his remarks, Mr..
Dickerson again rose; it was at this moment,
that the President, deeming the debate out OF
order, as by the rules of the Senate, il evidently
was, again suggested his objections. to the ir-
regularity and Improperly OF the discussion;
in which objection Mr.. D. readily acquiesced,
knowing, as he well did, the propriety * force
of the suggestion.
The particulars of this circumstance have
been carefully concealed from the public eye,
and the insulated charge presented, that the
President had conceded to MIR. Randolph that
which he subsequently denied to Mr. Dicker-
son; the public now will be able to decide how
far those imputations have been cause!essly and
falsely made.
The truth is, the indulgence was, in the first
place, altogether to the Senator from New Jer-
sey; and being given, it was not proper to ar
rest the indulgence until the mover Of the mo-
ton, Mr.. Randolph, had been heard in reply;
this being done, an entire equality existed with
the gentlemen, and the question Of order again
with much propriety required. The reply of
the mover, rightfully secured by the first indul-
gence, could not authorize Mr.. Dickerson again
10 go into an examination Of that reply; for
otherwise, the debate must thenceforward have
become general Thus is it evident, that the
President, instead Of conceding 10 Mr.. Ran
loph any undue privilege, yielded him that
only which it would have been uncourteous-
nav, improper, under all the circumstances, to
refuse On the other hand, Mr.. Dlckerson did
not complain: but with cheerlulness acquies-
:ed, knowing, as he well did, that the debate
was out of order, and that the extension given
70 il, was mere conceSsion--not matter OF right
lnder the rules Of the Senate. To us it appears
, little strange, that Mr.. Dickerson should not
nave excepted, if he had conceived himself ag
srieved, or that no other Senator in his place
has urged any exception to the conduct and
course of the Vice President; this has been ex
:lusively asserted by the enemies Of the Vice
President out Of the walls of the Senate.
While upon the subject Of Misrepresentation
IF the press, it may not be amiss TO notice auo-
her. II is matter of regret that perversions
ire becoming SO frequent. Editors may mis-
lake, but to misrepresenr, is matter quite in
excusable.
1t has been stated in Baltimore paper, that