Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-02-05

concerning Surveys of the Public Lands /;
but its interest arises from tic pa inful
turn that It has taken into comparison
OF the merits nj particular sections OF the
country IN relation to each other aud to. the
whole. Mr.. Benton, Mr.. Hayne, and Mr..
Webster. are the principal debaters. MIR.
Hayne yesterday occupied the floor, to
whom MIR. Webster is expected to reply
to-day. On no occasion whatever, that we
ieco!lect, have the walls of the Seuatc
Chamber been SO completely filed with
auditors Ot both sexes at which our rea-
ders Will hardly be surprised when they
come to read the Debate, which we shall
exert ourselves to lay at large before
them.-Nat. Int.
An incident which occurred, in the de-
bate to which the above extract refers, on
the "Sth OF January gives TO it very pc.
culiar interest. That the interest to which
we refer may be entirely understood, we
lay the inciden, in full before our readers
from the columns Of the National IntelE-
geacer.
MIR. FOOTS RESOLUTION.
The Senate resumed the consideration of
the resolution moved by Mr. Foot respecting
Surveys of: Public Lands.
Mr. Benton being entitled to the floor
MR. Clayton said, that he desired the permis-
sion of the Senator from Missouri, (Mr Ben.
TOM who was entitled TO the floor, to call the
nttentssn of the two honorable members of this
body, Mr. Smith of Maryland, and Mr.. Lvngs.
Ton OF Louisiana, to passage in a book which
had been cited in this debate by the Senator
from South Carolina (Mr. Hayne) as authority
on another subject. He did not rise for the pur.
pose of discussing the resolution itself In the
wide range Of the debate horc, tho northeast
ern sections OF the country had been srruyet n.
guinst each other He. listened to tho discus.
sion without any intention of participating in il,
while the State which Ire had the honor in part
70 represent, had escaped unscathed by the con.
troversy. Though favorable to tho resolution,
Us mere proposition to inquire, hc felt but lit.
tie interest in such contentious between the
North and South and his only desire in rela-
ton to that subject, was, that the warmth Of the
discussion might have no tendency to ALLEVIATE
one portion of our country from tile other. But
attention had been called by number of mem.
bers of this house, TO q passage in the same
book another part Of which had been referred
to by the Senator from South Carolina That
passage charged an illustrious statesman, who
formerly occupied the seat of a Senator here,
and whose memory and fame was dear to Him
self and to the people he represented, with afro.
cious corruption, of which he was convinced
that great and good man could sever have been
guilty; and the witnesses &rred to in the
book itself were present, and ready to give test-
nony to set the charge at rest, he hoped he
should be pardoned for referring to the OBJECTION
nblo passage in their presence. q
He then read, from the fourth volume of JEFF.
Persons Memoirs, page SIS, (tho same volume
which had been brought into the Senate by Cen
Hayno) the following passage:
"FEBRUAhy THE 12rB, l50l.-Edward Liv-
ingston tells me that Bayard applied to-day, or
last night, to General Samuel Smith, and rep.
resented 10 him the expediency of his coming
over to tho States who vote for Burr that there
was nothing in the way of appointment which
he might command, and particularly mentioned
the Secrctaryship of the Navy. Smith asked
him if he was authorised to make the offer. He
said he was authorised. Smith told this TO Liv-
ingston, and to, W. C, Nicholas, who confirms
it to me-" sc.
He thon called upen the Senators from Ma
ryland and Louisiana, referred to in this pas
sage, to disprovc the statement here made
Mr.. Smith of Md. rose and said, that he had
read the paragraph before he vane here to-day,
and was, therefore aware of its import He
had not the most distant recollection that Mr..
Bayard had ever made such proposition to him.
Mr.. Bayard, said no, and myself, though polit.
He
and he was honorable man. OF all men Mr.
Bayard would have been the last to make such
proposition to any man and ] am confident
that he had too much respect for me, to have
made it under aLy circumstances. 4 never
received from any man, any such proposition
MIR. Livingston, OF Louisiana, said, that, as to
the precise question which had been put to him
by the Senator from Delaware, he must saw,
that having taxed his recollection as far as il
could go remote transaction, he had no
remembrance of 1t.
MIR. Clayton said Ills purpose had been achev.
cd Ito thought it his duty, to vindicate the
honor and fame Of his predecessors against un.
justifiable imputations, matter to wbs, party
they may have belonged. The character of the
illustrious Bayard would. he trusted stand for.
ever untarnished by the charge OF corruption
He should have thought himself recreant in du.
ty to the people of the State he in part repre-
sented, and TO the memory of one who once il;-
led the same place which he now occupied, if he
had not seized tho first opportunity in hispower
after the public appearance of this volume on
the floor of the Senate, TO dsprove the charges
in that volume against other distinguished men
OF this country, equally unfounded, fsubse.
quently, upon some remarks from Mr.. Benton
he said, he wished i, to be distinctly understood
that IT was no part of his purpose to tarnist the
tame of Dir. Jefferson Hls sfrIrrt VIE r,r,t a e.