Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-04
IN SENATE FEBRUARY 2.

which he sent to the table. Inc oeCTetdiy ueh
read from the Globe OF Saturday the following
"Whether Lawrence has caught,in his visits to
the Capitol, and mania which has prevailed DUR
ing the two last sessions in the Senate-whether
he has become infatuated with the chmeras
which have troubled the brains OF the disappoln-
ted and ambitious orators who have depicted
the President as a Cesar Who ought to have
Brutus-as a Cromwell-a Nero-a Tlberlus,
we know not If no secret conspiracy has
prompted the preparation OF the horrid oeeo,
we think it not improbable that some deluslon
of intellect has grown out OF his visits 70 the "a
pitol, and that hearing despotism and every nor
rible mischief threatened to the Republic, ana
revolution and all its train of calamites lmput-
ed as the necessary consequences OF the Presl.
dents measures it may be that the infatuated
man fanced he had reasons to become his coun-
travis ayenger If he had heard and 6etieced
Mr.. Calhoun's speech the day before yesterday.
he would have found in it ample Justlhcatlon OF
his attempt en- one, who was represented as
the cause of the most deadful calamiteS TO the
nationals one who made perfect rottenness and
corruption to pervade the vtals OF the Govern
ment-insomuch that ii was scarcely worm pre-
serving, if it were possible"
MIR. Calhoun rose to make few remarks, not
so much reference 10 himself, for that was OF Ill
tie Importance, as on the political bearing OF Inc
which had lust been read to the Senate. There
we're some things which, taken in themselves,
were of so little Importance as not to be entitled
TO notice. but which, standing in connection with
other matters, were frequently of great import
ance and demanded attention. Whatever
might be the character of the paper (he Globe)
from which the paragraph just read had been
taken; however low, however degraded its cha
racter might be, it was yet known to be the or
gan of the Executive will; and that it was sus-
tanned, pampered by, and dependent upon, that
branch of the Government; and in comment
ing on u paragraph like the present, in which
the Executive was personally concerned, 1t was
not all unfair presumption to conclude that II
had had his sanction; had been authorized by
him. To pass over the personal insnu tons,
which, as he had observed, were unworthy OF
notice, he (Mr c. would say few words on
the new polite al principle set forth in the para
graph 1t Was impossible to read the article:
and not see that it went on the ground, that
whatsoever condemns what he believes consci-
entiousy to be the abuses and corruDtons Of
| this Government, was to be held up in the light
of an instigator Of assassination; and that no
uncertainty on this point might be left on the
miad Of the reader, the article referred to d
particular transaction in which he (Mr. c. was
| per Sonally concerned. He would not Conde-
scend to defend himself in relation to the mat
tiers contained i'll the paragraph that had been
| facts? The Senate were in debate on the Post
| Office reports. The Post Office, it was ack
nowledged, on all hands, stood convicted of
enormous abuses, not to say corruptons. He
had risen, in his place, to comment generally
on the abuses illus exhibited; he had made no
! personal illusions whatsoever. He spoke OF
! the CorruptonS of times and OF them mainly;
though this he Till say that evil was not so much
! to be attributed TO any defect in the working of
the machinery as in the administration ITSELF
| Yet these general denunCiatiOns, IN these broad
! terms, are asserted by the Government Official
here, of warranting an individual to make this
attempt at assassination. Could he have wanton-
ly said that which would have authorized assassi-
nation, he would be little better than an assassin
| What! to hold up abuses to instigate assasslna-
! ton! To what was the authority Of this body
reduced? or attempted to be reduced? Accord
ing to the new doctrines, the Senate was to look
silently on when these corruptions and abuses
| were passing beneath their eyes because, for
sooth, they might ultimately be called on to ex-
press their opinions in their judicial character.
This body, then, dare not express opinions,
and, if they do express them, they must be cal
led on to eXpunge their recorded sentiments
from the Journal of the Senate. Then, what
neXt2 No individual Senator is to be permitted
to express any opinion as to particular indivl-
dual less he be held up TO the world as the instiga-
tor of assassination! General denunciatons OF
held up as indicating ASSASSINATION! Could they
mistake the tendency Of this2 Did they not see
clearly as the light of Heaven. the march of ir-
responsible power? Did it not confirm what he
(Mr. c. observed but the other day, that stage
had been reached in our political affairs that
must result in reformation or revolution? He
saw around him, in the ranks of the Admins
tration, many old friends and acquaintances
whose patriotism and whose attachment to
the institutions Of their country, could not be
mistaken. He asked them to look, to see what
was the melancholy result of this state OF things.
The degradation of parties and the consequent
growth of an irresponsible power. He under
stood the crisis to which the country had arriv
ed He knew the danger TO be incurred by ex
posing abuses existing in the Executive branch
of the Government. He asked no favors-.he
was no candidate. He desired no office He
would say, as an honest conscientious man,
who loved the institutions of his country, that |
he would do his duty in spite of menace, come !
from what quarter it would, or in spite of fate.
nSWe are requested to announce Colonel
SPENCER NJ. BALL as a candidate to represent the
I,,;r f,y in no 10 General Assembly |