Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1831-02-23
NO. ~.

uttefy mistaken. informed HIM OF his
error IN few minutes after he had taken
his seat. lie has, notwithstanding,
chosen to put this error in print. Suffer
me, sir, IN my place, and before this
House, to protest against this procedure.
The gentlemen who heard me then, and
who do Inc she honor to hear me now,
call TO witness, that said no such thing;
and | should have nothing to regret,
could my protestation bo made tho pI Iiu-
ted companion of the gentleman's allega-
ton against me, and travel side by side
with 1t under the eye ofthe nation. This,
l know, cannot be done; and must suf-
fer the imputation, wherever his speech
is read, without my correction Of its err
rors. BE it so-but | believe there is
too much good sense, and too much NOR
al sentiment in Virginia, to set down one
OF their fellow men as quite so stupid, or
quite so malevolent.
The gentleman alleges that consid-
cred this mission as a bribe offered to
Virginia. This might have been said bv
me, because ! believed it to be true. If
said,wa il said, or could it be intended,in
derogation Of Virginia. Is she dishonored
by this attempt ofthe willy Secretary? l
didnot, and no man will intimate that Fir-
gina had even looked with favorable
eye Oh this brlbe, this splendid bestow-
ment. Not those who hear, but those
who listen to the song of the syren, and
are allured by the enchantment, become
debased by the temptation. Sir, temp
tatlons are spiead over the whole path of
our lives, from the cradle to the grave.
The cnticements Of pleasure beset our
youth; the tolls of ambition are spread
for our vigorous manhood; and in old age,
the honest amor hobendi, when all other
loves are frozen in the heart, allures the
dim eye to gaze at, and the surd ear to
listen to, the glltterng beauties and gol-
den melodies of ayarice. Are we dis
honored, because, in the language OF
Sir William Jones, "yice is permitted to
spread her snares around US, that the
triumph of virtue may be more conspicu-
ous" The ermine of the Judge is not
tarliished because some unprinci pied lit
igant has craitily profered bribe to the
court. The name of the insulted Lucre-
tia has arrived to us after Journey Of
more than 1000 years Is it soiled by
time, or by the breath of any one of the
millions of millions who have pronoun-
ced it, That name, Sir, like the Alps
of her own Italy, whose tops nearest to
heaven, are covered with eternal snow,
is the monument of imperishabe purity
while the name of the treacherous &.
cowardly Tarquin, SCARED with infamy,
will be, as it has been, throughout all
time the name of whatever is most vile &
odious. Sir, Virginia is not dishonored;
the tempter, and not the tempted, will
suffer the infamy Of the deed.
The gentleman from Virginia Mr..
BARBOUR would overthrow our objec-
tons to this appropriation by enlogizing
the man sent on the Mission. He al
ludes to the monuments of Mr.. Randolp's
fame; and lest men mil ght call on him to
shew where they are, he has placed
them in the hearts Of his countrymen,
where no being but "the searcher OF
hearts," could discover their existence.
What indications has Virginia given
that those monuments are where the
gentleman has located them? He has
long been a Representative in Congress
from that State. This is something in
his favor; but from State so long sepa-
rated into districts, II is not conclusive.
1t is confined to his constituents, and on
ly proves, what the gentleman himself
has often asserted on this floor, "ihat
never had man such constituents" He
the whole State in the SEN
but this was for the fragment
only of a term-Why was he not reap
pointed; The interests, the honor, and
high dignity of Virginia had been plac-
ed under his guardianship. How did he
perform the Offices created by these
trusts! His conduct as Senator from
Virginia was brought before the Legis-
ature of that State, on question con-
cerning his disappointment. In this great
than which none is more
lignifed, each Judge, if he had monu-
nent of this man in his heart or his house
cad the inscription upon it. On what was
le tried! Not on his political creed
le did not suffer, ,asthe best ofnen have for
leresy His faith was, for every purpose be-
lcficial to himself, sound; his works alone
we're brought INTO question. On this
question a deep and interesting debate
rose. The gentlemen may have been
resent & heard it; or if not, as it was pub
lshed, he must have read it. 1t belonged
0 Virginia, and was part of her great
concern: nor would
ave brought his wholesome example Of
nmlly discipline before the nation, had
lot the eulogst OF this froward son of
Virginia told US, that the monuments Of