Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-04-12
Domestic News.
DEBATE I'm SENATE.
g SArURDAY March Il 1888

the. Senator from kentucky farthest from
me (MFs E}ay) 10 my remarks, wiienI first
addressed the Senate on the subject now
under discussion.
On comparing with care the reply with
the remarks, ama at loss 10 determine
whether il is tho most remarkable for its
omissions or mis- statements. Instead of
leaving not hair in the head Of my argu-
lnents, as the Senator threatened ito use
his not very dignified cxpression,) he has
not even attempted TO answer large, and
not the least weiehty portions; and Of that
which he has, there is not one fairly stated,
or fairly answered., lspeak literally. and
without cxagseration, nor would il be diff.
cult to establish TO The letter what assert,
if II could reconcile il TO myselfto consume
the time ofthe Senate in establishing long
series of negative propositions, in which
they could take but little interest, however
importan, they may be regarded by the
Senator nnd myself. To avoid so idle
consumption Of the time, propose TO pre-
sent few instances Of his mis- statements,
from which the rest may be inferred; and,
that may not be suspected of having Sc
lectcd them, shall take them in the order
in which they stand in his reply.
The Senate will recollcct that when the
Senator from Virginia Ear,hest from me
(Mr. Rives) introduced his substitute, he
accompanied it with the remark, thar it was
his first choice, and the second choice of
those who are allied with. him OIL this oc-
casion. In noticing this remark, stated.
that if might judge from appearances,
which could scarcely deceive one, the SEN
ator might have said, not only the second,
but under existing circumstances, it was
their frs, choice, and that, despairing of a
bank Tor the present, they would support
his substitute. Assuming this inference to
be correct, stated that the question was
narrowed down, in fact, to the bill and sub
stitute, OF which one or the other must be
selected. F
The Senator from Kentucky, in his reply,
omitted nll these qualifications, and repre-
scnted me rs making the absolute assertion
that, in the nature of the case, there was no
other alternative but the bill or the substi-
tu,e, and then gravely pointed out two o,h-
ers; 10 do nothing. or adopt a national bank,
as if could possibly be ignorant of what
was 50 obvious. After he had thus replied
not to what l really said, but his own mis-
statement Of il, as il 10 make compensation.
he proceeded in the same breath to confirm
the truth of what did say by giving his
support to the substitute, which he called a
halfway house, where hc could spend some
pleasant hours. Nothing is more easy than
to win such Victories
Having injured, rs has turned out TO be
the fact. that there wasno other alternative
al present bul the bill and substitute, next
showes! the en,hat rasseeentsao which the
f5erfc'', ',r.tr'I iS!:i; ioine would bc involv.
"a rom having, ionryears ago, ON the:qucs-
IN NJ sne renewal OF ,hc deposiies, de-
nounced league oi otatu banks, similar 10
that S0l l,<,~ L..
tu'c. After cHlarGing OH this point, re-
marked that, if might be permitted to state
my opinion, the gentlemen had taken a
/. course unfortunate for themselves and the
country; unfortunate for them. for let what
would come they would be responsible. IF
the bill was lost, theirs would be the rcspon-
sbility; if tho substitute was carried, on
them the responsibility would fall; and, if
nothing was done, they would be held re-
sponsible; and unfortunate for tho country,
because it had prevented the decision of the
question al the extra session. which could
not have failed tosput all early termination
To the present commercial and pecuniary
embarrassment. This tho Senator, i'm his
reply, met by stating that 1 had called on
him and his friends to follow nv lead, and
thus regarding il, lie made it the prclcxt of
some ill-natured personal remarks, which I
shall notice hereafter. l never dreamed of
making such call; and what said canno,
be tortured, by the force of construction, to
bear u meaning having the least scmblancc
toit.
After making these preliminary remarks,
took up the substitute, and showed that il
proposed to make a bargain with the banks.
then stated the particulars and the condi-
tions of the proposed bargain; that its OBJ
ject was 10 cnable the banks to pay their
debts, and for that purpose it proposed to
confer important privileges; to give them
the use of the public funds from The time of
,cposi,c to disbursement, and to have their
notes received as cash in the dues Of Go
vernment. / then asked, il we had right
TO make such. n bargain? The Senator,
leaving out ali these particulars, represent
ed me as saying that the Government had
no right to make n bargain with the banks;
and then undcrtake kes TO involve me in an in
consistency, in supporting the bill because
it proposes to bargain with the banks for
the use of their vaults, rs place of safe
keeping for The public money. as if there
was possible analogy between the two
cases. Nothing is'morc easy than to refnlc
the most deinOnsra,ivc argument in this
way. Drop an essential part Of the pre-
misses, and the most irresistible conclusion
Of course fails.
In the same summary md easy mode of
replying to my arguments, The Senator per-
verted my denial that the government, had
right TO receive bank notes as cash ;n,o
the assertion that it had no right to receive
any thing hut cash; and then accused mc
with inconsistency, because voted at tho
extra session, for the bill authorizing the re-
ccipt of Treasury notes in the dues of the
Government; as if any one ever doubted