Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-17
From the Correspondent Of The .Ne,o York CONNER
ciai Advertiser.
WASHINGTON, March

WASHINGTON, March 9, 1880.
Mr.. Livingston has occupied the Senate to-day
for about two hours-I about to say OH the sub
ect of Mr. Foots resolutions but this would be an err
ror that resolution has been long lost sight Of
that it is considered to be out of order advert
to it in the debate to which it has given Some
expectation had been excited, on account of Mr..
Livingstons just reputation for legal knowledge;
but that expectation was doomed to n dsap-
poihtment. He began with apparent confidence soon
taltered into puerilty, and if he did not actually fall
into absurdity 1t is because minds Ola certain struct-
and endowment, find less difficult to keep with
in the line of reason, than to surpass it. He spoke
for some two hours nj the close of which, his voice
seemed to fail and the Senate, in consequence adj
journed, in order to give him time to recruit his bod
lily strength and to replenish the exhausted stock of
his ideas There was entire absence of power'in
his argument. All his energies seemed to be exerted
and directed to his defence, against charges
which had been made against him, OF inconsistency
in his political courses and in the paucty Of facts, he
was constrained to draw largely on his imagination,
and to tax his ingenuity to the utmost lt was
general impression among the auditors, that he had
entirely failed, far he had gone when the Sen
ate rose, excupate himself from the charges which
he had attempted to disprovc His closing effort
a defence of his vote when he stood in n small min
orty, of which General Jackson was one, on the
ton approving of the wisdom, firmness and patriot
ism of General Washingon's administration. On
this point, he had felt himself assailed by~Ar Web
ster and he appeared to be astonsbed that the Sen
ator from Massachusetts either ignorant that the
cause Of that minority had been successfully advo-
Gated by the defenders of General Jackson during
the late election, else that he should have been
sceptica the subject Of the efficiency of that de-
fence. This defence along the verge of absur-
dty, if it does not absolutely fall over The amount
Of it is this that the minority desired to strike the
words which imputed frmness, wisdom, and patriot
ism, to the administration of General Washington,
because, assuming that every must be satisfied
that they considered General Washington to be wise,
firm, and patriotic they desired to mark the absence
of these attributes in his Ministers, by striking out
the words in question; and this they considered as
complimentary, rather than dcrogatory. to General
Washington himself Such is the weakness into
which argument dcgeneratos, when it surrenders it
self into the hands of faction.
The administration members could with difficulty
conceal their chagrin at the mbecilty of some parts
of Mr.. Livngson's remarks. Mr.. White of Ten
nessee busily engaged himscfin wiring letter. and
others oftho Jackson members crimnally mat
tentive: Mr. Webster wac taking notes, which seems
TO warrant the expectation that he will speak again on
the resolution, since the discussion has been allowed
10 exhibit another ramfcation, and to touch the ap
pointing power of the President