Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1830-03-16


suggested that the impressions which it had
produced were too charming and delightful
to be disturbed by other sentiments or other
sounds, and proposed that the Senate should
adjourn. Would ithave been quite amlable,
in me, sir, to interrupt this excellent good
feeling? Must not have been absolutely
malicious, if could have thrust myself for
ward, to destroy sensations thus pleasing!
Was it not much better and kinder, both to
sleep upon them myself, and to allow others,
also, the pleasure of sleeping upon them.
But if it be meant, by sleeping upon his
speech, that took time to prepare reply
to it, it is quite mistake; owing to other
engagements, / could not employ even the
interval between the adjournment of the
Senate and its meeting the next morning,
in attention to the subject of this debate.
Nevertheless, sir, the mere matter OF fact Is
undoubtedly true-I did sleep on the gentle
nuns speech: and slept soundly. And 1
slept equally well on his speech of yesterday,
to which am now replying. 1t is quite
possible that, in this respect, also, possess
some advantage over the honorable mem
Der, attributable, doubtless, to cooler tenn
permanent on my part; for, in truth, l slept
upon his speeches remarkably WELL But
the gentleman inquiries, why he was made
the object Of such a reply? Why was ne
singled out If an attack had been made
on the East, he, he assures US, did not begin
lit was the gentleman from Missouri.
Sir, answered the gentleman's speech,
because happened to hear it: and because,
also. chose to give an answer to that
spesch, which, if unanswered, thought
most likely to produc injurious impressions.
Ibid not stop to inquire who was the origin
al drawer of the bill. found responsible
endorser before me, and it was my purpose
to hold him liable, and to bring him to his
lust responsibility, without delay. But, sir.
this interrogatory ofthe honorable member,
was only Introductory to another. He pro-
ceeded to ask me, whether had turned
upon him, in this. debate, from the conscious
ness that should find an over-match, if ]
yentured on contest with his friend from
Missouri. II, sir, the honorable member
er gratia MODESTO had chosen thus to refer
to his friend, and to pay him complainant
without intentional disparagement to others
it would have been quite according to the
friendly courtesies Of the debate, and not al
all ungrateful to my own feelings. lam moi
one of those, sir, who esteem any tribute
of regard, whether light and occasional, OF
more serious and deliberate, which may be
bestowed on others, as so much unjustly
withholden from themselves. But the tone
and manner of the gentleman's question
forbid me that thus interpret it. lam moi
at liberty to consider it as nothing more
than civility to his friend, 1t had an all
of taunt and disparagement, little OF the
holiness of asserted superiority, which doe:
not allow me to pass it over without notice
Ii was put as question for me to answer
and so put, as fit were difficult for me tt
answer, whether deemed the member from
Missouri an over-match for myselfin debate
here. 1t seems, to me, sir, that this IS ex
traordinary language, and an extraordinary
tone, for the discussions OF this body.
Matches and over matches! Those term:
are more applicable elsewhere than here
and filter for other assemblies than this
Sir, the gentleman seems to forget where
and what we are. This is Senate
Senate of equals of men Of individual honour
and personal character, and of absolute
independence. We know no masters: We
acknowledge no dictators. This is a Hal
for mutual consultation and discussion: no
an arena for the exhibition eff champions
| offer myself, sir, as match for no man
throw the challenge of debate at no man,
feet. But, then, sir, since the honorable
member has put the question, in name
that calls for an answer, will give him al
answer; and tell him that holding mysel
to be the humblest of the members here,
yet know nothing in the arm of his frien'
from Missouri, either alone, or when aide'
BY the arm of his friend from South Carolina
that need deter, even me, from espousins
whatever opinions may choose to esponse
from debating whenever may choose tt
debate, or from speaking whatever MAJ
see fit to say, on the floor of the Senate
Sir, when uttered as matter of commenda
ton or compliment, should dissent from
nothing which the honorable member nigh
say of his frind. Still less do put fortl
any pretensions of my own. But, when pu
to me as matter of taunt, throw it back
and say to the gentleman that he could pos
sibly say nothing less likely than such {
comparison to wound my pride of persona
character. The anger of the tone rescued
the remark frnm Intentional irony, which
otherwise, probably, would have been it:
kChCi al CPtutiOns Out, St1 IA ~ w ina
gined that by this mutual quotation anc
Commentator if it be supposed that, BY
casting the characters of the drama, assign
ing to each his part to one the attack t.
another the cry Of onset; or, if it be though
that BY loud and empty vaunt of anticipa
ted victory, any laurels are to be won here
if be imagined, especially, that any, Oh
all these things, will shake any purpose o.
mine, 1 can tell the honorable member
once for all, that he is greatly mistaken
and that he is dealing with one of whose
temper and character he has yet much t.
learn. Sir, l shall not allow myself, on thi.
occasion, hope on no occasion, to be be.
trayed into any loss Of temper but, if pro
voked, and trust never shall allow mysel
to be, into elimination and recrimination
the honorable member may perhaps fint
that there will be blows to take as we'll a.
blows to give; that others can state com
parsons as significant, at least, as his own
and that his hmm Ditv NAV nerhans dema M