Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-17

we're his penalty, who could venture to call to
order certain speaker during the last session.
and thus oblige himself TO the more than nen;.
Tertiary labor Of transcrbing rawlings, which.
We nave been lately told, fill nearly four hundred
large and closely written Ms. pages! Painful
would have bean the task Of the innocent clerk:
thankless the diligence Of the printer, and deep
the shame Of an extensive, an enlightened and
generous body Of constituents! The mind
dwelis with mingled emotions on the fall of a
man, whom nature designed for better things
than to be the unconscious implement of par
ty. Alter exha listing brilliant genius in the
service OF mortified aspirations, and malignant
passions, and after prolaning, with every SOUR
rility, that the vocabulary of SANDER could fur.
nish, the place which the Constitution had
made the Temple of Dignity, he has left it
with no consolation 10 himself, except the me-
Iancholy regret, "non cram qualis sum-" and
has suffered the world to perceive in him, with
pity and scorn, new illustration of Johnson's
remark, that Shakespeare "wan,ing buffoon.
went into the Senate house for that which the
Senate-house would certainly have afforded
him."
am deGed to protluce single instance in
ment, or Of the American Congress, in which
member of either of those bodies has been
pronounced out of order, even for the most d.
rect and unqualified charge of corruption a
gainst the executive government, or any Of its
Departments" "ls there indeed" asks Ons-
low, "any American, so ignoran, CT the rights
and privileges of the Legislative branch in q
free government, as to maintain that the pre-
siding officer Of either House of Congress,
could rightfuly call member 10 order, for
charging The President and Secretary of State.
with having formed corrupt coalition"
shall not coIdescend TO answer defiance
which is at once, bold evasion Of the question
in controversy, and an awkward article TO rep.
resent me as an enemy TO the freedom Of de.
bate. never commended that representative
Of the people acted disorder!y in charging its
Government with corruption: never contend
ed, that faction might not, without being dis.
orderly, ring the changes OH her magical word
however the matter were against
truth, or the manner against taste. Let such
accusations be made;-et them be investigat-
edit they be sustained, the people will avenge
themselves; and if they fail, the accuser can
find safety in the Legislative privilege Of SIAN
der. But have contended and demonstrated,
that when a member Of deliberative body
violates order, it is the duty of the presiding
officer Of that body to call him TO order. Eve
ry man knows that speeches "impertinent be-
"side the question, superfluous, or tedious"
have been pronounced, and gross personalities
in the strict meaning Of Tie ,Cord uttered during
the last session of the Senate: Every man
knows TOO that such occurrences were viola
tons Of order. | have moreover shown, and
shall hereafter show, still more conclusiveiy, If
inductve reasoning can be con6ded in, that the
omission on the part Of the President Of the
Senate, to check these violations, originated 10
improper motives. In the same unworthy spi-
rt which dictated the defauce have despised,
sOnslow" has permitted his readers to infer,
that "most wantonly and gratuitously assail
sed the Vice President as the ins,igator of the
"duel between Mr.. Randolph and Mr.. Clay"
Though never made this charge, do not de.
nv, that "OnsIow" may be more familiar with
the motives Of the ice President, than am;
and Mr.. Calhoun's friends have perhaps the
liberty Of sspposing those motives to be as cri-
minal as they please BIT If the charge is i'm.
Duted TO me, in accordance with that shallow
sophistry, which augments the accusations Of
an opponent, in order by confuting some Of
them, to render the res, irvidious, | would
suggest, very respectfully, TO the advocates Of
he Vice President, whether there is not more
;hlvaIry than prudence, in accommodating sus-
Dcions on character which already s,aggers
under proofs.
The public will hope do me the justice Of
that cited in support Of my argu-
ment, the Vice Presidents own practice, not
through any particular respect for his authori-
ty, but because its repugnancy 10 his doctrine
illustrated the motives Of that doctrine. II
'my powers Of Discrimination are too feeble TO
perceive the difference, the manifest and Stri-
king difference" Between the question arising
in Mr. Dickerson's case, and "a question al
fecting the latitude Or freedom Of debate" claim,
though rot in the spirit Of the "malm errars
cum ptatone,") the authority Of the Vice Pres-
dent for this stoldi,y. On question which,
according to his ,un showing, admitted Of no
debate, he allowed Mr.. Randolph to speak at
considerable length: Now, if the Vice Presi-
dent did not consider this question as "atfecting
the latitude or freedom Of debate" Mr.. Ran.
dolph must have been suffered, through the
Vice Presidents partiaIities or fears, TO speak
where the rules of the house prohibited discus
sion. And Mr.. Calhoun may select between
character for "ieeble powers DISCRIMINATION,
and character for official ,urpitude; question
which confess myself inadequate to decide
But the distinction taken by "Onslow" is 10
truth wretched bubble, aud intended merely
to keep out of view the bearing of Mr. Dicker'