Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 182?-183?, 1832-07-27
From the United States Gazette.

tics at w ashington-beside that Of at
lacking with sword and pistol any of
those who doubt the party and suprema-
cy Of the "Hero"--is to aggravate re-
spectacle members, by insulting language,
and especially to take advantage of the
peculiar situation of Mr. Clay, and pro-
woke him to wrath. This Benton is
the fellow that wrote the handful about
MIR. Jacksons attack upon him and his
brother Jesse Benton observed, that if
he Senator Benton) had not been an ar
rant coward, he would have settled the
dispute in different way.
Mr.. Clay said that he had stated the
fact that the resolutions, introduced at
an early period of the session on the sub
ject of the Tariff, were in the hand
writing of the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry. That fact had now been admitted
by the Senator from Missouri. He had
scarcely expected such an admission,
Ifthe Senator from Missouri believed
that his explanation had placed the Sec
rotary rectuS in curie, he was very will
ing to let him rest there.
But the Senator from Missouri had
charged him with treating the Presi
dent with indecorum. He begged leave
to deny the charge. Whatever reasons
he might have had some years since for
entertaining feelings of an uniriendly
character towards that officer, arising out
of circ umstances which had now gone
by, ever since his election, in all his Off
cial course towards the President, he =
had avoided every thing like indecorum. !
He did not therefore feel himself open to
the charge which the Senator from Mis-
souri, had now preferred against him
nying the Bill, he had in1ulged that
freedom which should always character
ize the discussion ofimportant questions
in this body. He had commented upon
il as a sense of duty required him to
comment upon the various views and
important principles which it embodi ed. .
But there was no indecorum in his OBJ
servations, or in the tone in which they
were delivered. But if he were even
to be satisfied that he was ignorant of
the rules of indecorum, the Senator from
Missouri was the last source to which he
would apply for lessons. He would ne
yer 90 to the Senator 81 ask him to throw
off his Indian blanket, and take HIM
with him to Boon's Lick to give him in
structions on points of decorum, good
breeding and etiquette. He could not
Danish from his memory certain recOllec-
tons which assured him, that, in refer
ence to want of decorum to the Presi-
dent, that Senator was at least as vulner-
able as himself. He could not forget
the circumstances of a certain fray in
which the Senator took part against
General Jackson neither could he for
get the bulletin which the Senator had
subsequently published descriptive of
the fray. As related to himself, he had
never had any personal encounter with
General Jackson he had never COM
planned of any outrage offered to him by
the President, because none such had ev-
er been perpetrated. Never had he
seen a brother streached on the earth,
wounded and nearly dying by the hand
Of Gen. Jackson, and that hand raised to
give another blow. No outrage had he
ofthis character to complain Of. The
Senator from Missouri must have lost
sight of his own rule of decorum, also,
when he proclaimed a certain prophecy
which had been generally circulated,
and which the Senator would recollect
without further designation.
Mr.. Benton rose in reply. He admit
ted that there had been fray between
him and Gen. Jackson, and that the de-
scriptiou of this fray was written by him
self. They had fought. They fought
like men; and they did not afterwards
behave towards each other like black
guards. But there was also a placard.
A placard had been published, charging
him with having in an election speech
in Missouri, prophecied that if General
Jackson should be elected it would be
necessary for members to legislate with
arms in their hands This placard had
been sent into every part OF the country.
Very lately, he had seen this picard
published in paper in Missouri.
1t had already been testified by the
certificate Of Colonel Lawless, who was
sufficiently known here, that this was a
mere caIumny. No man, not a friend or
foe, had ever been found who would
assert shat he had heard him use any
such language. But he would tell the
Senator from Kentucky, that there was
no adjourned question of veracity be-
tween him and Gen. Jackson. No adj
iourned question ofveraci.y. Had there
been such adjourned question o. yeraci-
Z ~ Standing over for settlement between