The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1826-04-13
Sffmrs ut 9elasDtngt0n.
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.
WAsHiNGToN, April 1st.

ed in the Hall OF Representatives these last
| two days You know that the resolutions in
troduced by mr.. MoDufiie for the amendment
of the constitution, have been under discus
| sion for these many weeks past The House
has been a good deal weary of this discussion
of late: the speeches were very long, some of
| them very abstract and metaphysical, and all
that enlivened them was the occasional allu-
sions TO the late Presidential electionsand the
state party politics. Yesterday Mr., McDufhe
made his general reply; much expectation was
excited, and every body looked to this speech
as his great effort He was himself much ex-
cited and vehement as his manner always is
(and it is so to fault on this occasion il was
more so than usual Little argument at least
little new ground was advanced; but the lam
guage was empassioned, the illusions person
al, and towards the close, an assault was made
on the Administrations ofthe most violent kind
A supposed picture was presented, in which
the characters of the President and his Secre-
tary of State were drawn in manner that
could not be mistaken, and their coalition
painted in the blacklist colors. Buthe did not
stop here. After finishing these pictures, he
said he was poor painter, and lest the figure
he had drawn might be mistaken, he would
put the names under them. He then begana
direct personal attack on both, especially on
mr. Cay-whose conduct, he aaid, was
prompted by" ambition, corrupting ambition"
lie spoke Of his influence over his friends
and said, in terms, that lie had % made the
President. This was followed by an avow-
ed intention never to cease, ifit were till
death, his efforts to take the Presidential
election from the House Of Representa-
tives for which purpose, if his motion in the
House should fail, he would go TO the body
of the people and call convention.
When he closed mr.. Everett, on whose con-
sistency he had made an attack which he sup
portedby quotations from the North American
Review, made few observations explanatory
of hia meaning in the article alluded to; and
then ilr Trimble, of KY. intreated that the
debate should not be closed till he had an OPP
portunity to reply--be pleaded his seven years
service land his forbearance as to speech max
ing--the appeal was suceessful;- l;--and though
an earnest desire was felt to close the debate,
and many gentlemen had entered the house
with stern determination to sit it out till
midnight or morning, they yielded, and the
comriittec rose. No very high expectations
were entertained about the speech; but he dis
appointed every body, and came ont with by
far the best speech ! ever heard him deliver.
Il was not labored answer TO every part of
mr.. McDufhc $; but was directed mainly to the
defence OF mr. Clay and his friends. After
parrying the charge of political corruption
he turned the tables and attacked mr.. Nc
Dufiie as a calumpiator, who had advanced the
blackest charges OF mere suspicion. He said
there were different kinds of perjury. A man
who sware to what he knew was false, was
guilty of it in one form; but a man who swore
that a certain matter was true, without know
ing whether 1t was true or false, was no less
F" periured felon" ,than't the other. Advert
-. - l., ,,tt.,b h.an ,1,a, do.
the other side to q future world and coming
Judgment, he joined in that appeal: and in the
course of his remarks, said that the calumnia-
tor he had described would be " delivered over
to heavens hangman, to sconrge the rascal
naked round the horizon, Of heaven s cucum-
icrence?'--with some other expressions equal
ly extravagant and dexceptionable. Mr- frlm-
bic was followed be mr. Vance, fOhio. lhis
gentleman is one of .he instances (on which
/ love to ,hink) of the state of society and OF
feeling in this free republican country; where
no previous rank is requisite to advancement,
but where native talents, II allied to virtue a.
lone, has 4" conneyion, a family interest,"
sufficient to entitle II to look up to public hon
our Abiding in his speech to the present
Constitution, lie said he had reason, If any
man could have, to prize the existing mstitu.
tions OF the country, for they had enabled him
to poverty, might be denomlnated tie very
lowest grade Of society. lie then Odvorted
with much feeling and the tears flowed over
his cheeks to his only patrimony at twenty
two years, widowed mother and six orphan
children" lie considered himself attacked by
mr. McDuiiie, and dragged into the debate TO
wipe Oft the calumny fpoIn the name OF hrs ctnl-
dren. lie then went INTO erlmlnati,a of
the charge of Inconsistency political nargain-
iny. &c. lie had begun under great excite.
ment and in too hugh a pitch o. veice, and
spoke with so much vchomcncc as to break
himself down in about twenty mr";cs
Mr.. NJ Dule, during the delivery of these
speeches, had occupied a seat a little in adj
vance of the Spedksrs--Whcrc he sat. pale aul
restless; the features Of his eounteuance like
The face otthc sky, when 1t bodies whulwind.
| lie rose 10 reply, but stood more than miu-
ute siicnt--hIs eye alone tand lar has terri
bic one) ut,crlng the conflict within lam. Dur
ing that moment the hall and the galleries
were as still as the grave.-At length Inc sad
-" rise, mE Speaker, for the purpose OF en-
deavorlng as obyiate misunderstanding rs TO
the precise and specific meaning ot language
of debate used here in its application 10 gen
ilemen OF this Douse-and first turn 60 the
| gentleman from Kentucky. Aftcr stating, in
| a piGBRrr calculated to induce The majority
el any yin,eligcnt body to apply his rcn'arhs.o
! me that the man VINO swears here nc quoted
with accuracy iheexpfessions of Mr.. Tr,mble)
Now, sir. wish the gentleryan to say exph-
city whether he did not intend to apply these
terms To me" And then he took his seat.
Mr.. Trimble now rose, and has countenance
exhibited state of excitement scarcely less
than that of Nl'Dufiic. Tie waited much Ion.
! ger after he rose before he began TO speak, and
the interest excited increased intensity. Ma
nv members lett their seats in the more dis
tant parts Of the hall, aud came nearer to the
speakeTs;-,he ssiss were mostly occupied by