Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-02-07


vide for the collection of duties imports.
The most eminent men of the Senate are
expected to engage in this debate--which
will no doubt occupy the Senate for at
leat ten days to come.
We extract the following from the in
tercstng debate referred to-
Mr. Webster then obtained the floor .--
Nothing, he said, could have been more
irregular, than the whole of this debate,
and he could not avoid the expression of
his surprise that the Senators should have
gone so far from the question. he ques-
ton before the Senate was simply as to
the time to which the resolution should
be postponed, and on this unimportant
question, gentlemen had shown disPo-
sition to rush at once into the discussion
ofthe general subject. lfSenators were
disposed to act, as there seemed to be
some indications that they would, on
notion of policy, that the first and most
eifcctual mode of inlurlng measure was
to give it a bad name; that the first Prin-
ciple of attack was TO controvert before
hand, and to raise, previous to the dis
cussion of the bill, cry which might OPP
crate on its progress, and afterwards pro-
woke its echo throughout the country;
then they had right to pursue the course
which was thus indicated. But he, as
a member of the Committee on the Ju-
dietary, who had reported the bill which
was the special order for this day, could
not remain silent in his seat, while the
gentleman from South Carolina charged
him with having assisted, and been ant
and part in making bill, which he had
/ designated as worse than an abomnation;
a bill to create a dictator, to establish
military despotism, and the like. He
denied that such was the fact; and he
proposed, at proper time, to try con-
/ clusions with the gentleman on this point.
He wished, in no degree, to avoid such
a conflict. Nor did he intend to utter
any denunciations against opposition to
the bill. Whenever it should become
necessary, he would be ready 20 ass ign
the reasons which had induced him to
give his assent to the bill But he would
ask, why was this discussion to be pre-
cipitated2 Why was it not postponed
until the proper time for bringing it on
A bill to create a dictator, to establish a
military despotism, reported by one of the
Standing Committees OF the Senate, and
he a member of that Committee! He
called on the gentleman from South Car
, olina to prove the allegations he had
made. He called on him to sustain the
grave charge which he has thus thrown
out in the face of the country.
The gentleman from South Carolina
, had laid it down, and with an air of sim
cerity which he did not intend to depre-
ciate, that the resolutions which he had
offered contained indubitable facts. Now
he {Mr w y disputed these facts, and he
would take issue with the gentleman from
South Carolina on that point. MIR Cal
houn:-I will meet it. lie denied that
they were facts, and he should be happy
to meet the gentleman from South Car
DINA on that head But when that gen.
, tleman threw out the idea that no one
could deny his propositions, he took a
very bold ground, and narrowed down
the power of denial within very confined
limits To assert such position was in
e ia ct. declaration his own intallibility
: The author of Hudibras made his hero
: see truth. He (Mr W. did not pre-.
tend to have had this personal acquain
tance with truth; but, if to mind as
humble as his, the features of truth were
l.. ever exhibited, he was not able to iden.
tify them in the propositions OF the gen
:, tleman from South Carolina. But, there
= would be proper time to go into thl:
!. discussion. He wished to see that time
y arrive, and he was prepared to proceed
Immediately with the discussion of the
bill. Whenever the discussion shoulo
: come on, he should feel it incumbent or
n him to show that there was no provision
I no principle contained in this bill, which
was not in strict conformity with the
'. Constitution, and in harmony with othe
measures which had been adopted by the
k Government. And iii were proper OF
h this occasion to use what was called the
: argument nd hominem, he should also be
ready to show that there was not pro
/ vision contained in this bill, with the ex
c ception of part of the first section, which
IS had not, at some time, received the sane
: ton of South Carolina herself. But o
that he should have something to say a
proper time. lie had risen, intending
q only to say that these points ought not t
be discussed before hand, and that thi
\ bill ought not to be placed in worst
situation than common criminal. 1h'
+ right of the criminal it was, to be hear'
ID al. Il