Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-04-26
From Me Correspondence c)a,he Charleston Me-.

in favor Of the Expedition, and Mr.. Wise |
spoke In opposition to it. II appears to he
very certain that we have already spent Sc
ven or eight hundred thousand dollars in
the enterprise; aud that, If we prosecute
it, we must spend as much more, and with
out any good results Our navy is too
small and too factiOus, and too badly man.
aged by Government 10 be efficiently or
! useful in any undertaking. Were we again
10 be involved in war, the Navy would, it
is feared, lose some Of the laurels which il
formerly acquired.
APRIL ii.
In the Senate, to-day, Mr.. Walker ma,lc
some enquiries Of the Chairman of the
committee of foreign relations. (Mr. Buch-
| anan,) as to the course Of the Government
in regard TO the outrage OH an American
vessel by Mexico.
MIR. Buchanan replied, that the relations
OF this Government towards Mexico were
Of such a nature, that they admitted Of but
one step, aud that was n declaration Of war,
or some measure akin to it. Such a step,
however, must be proposed only by the
House of Representatives, and hc presum-
cd that the Committee Of the House would
make an carly report in regard to il.
MIR. Clay Of Ky, accused the Admins
trat'on OF some precipitancyi in regard to its
ueInunOS on MEXICO, ana
Mr.. Benton defended the course of the
Administration by reference to the nature
Of our demands on Mexico. The CONVEX
satIon, which " rs altogether informal, here
dropped.
The bill to reduce and graduate the price
Of the publicrlands was taken up, and Mr..
Clay, Of KY, spoke At length in opposition
toit.
In the House, the motion to discharge the
committee on the District of Columbia,
from the further consideration If the resolu-
tion to re-cede the District Of Columbia 10
the States of Maryland and Virginia, was
taken up, and on motion of MIR. Bouldin,
The whole subject was laid on the table.
But MIR. Wise earnestly protested against
this course, and appealed TO the Southern
members particularly to support motion
to reconsider. for the purpose Of referring
tho subject 10 the Committee of the Whole
on the Union. He said the subject oueb,
TO DC fully discussed, and that il should be
decided whet' or the Abolition excitement
should be in this way put TO rest or not
AS long as The District remained in its pre-
sent political condition, SD long would Con
grcss he harrassed with abolition memo
rials, &c.
MIR. Boultlin remarked, that the question
would open the whole Abolition subject.
MIR. Adams said II would not only involve
the question of Abolition, hut the prophet,
OF the removal Of the scat Of the Federal
Government.
MIR. Harlin moved to reconsider the vote
laying the subject on the table, and
Mr. Mason Of Ohio, moved to Law this
motion on the table, which was agreed TO.
Yeas 81, Nays 62.
CHALLENGES DUELs.-The Senate took
up. on s,hirdyreading. the bin To prohibit
the giving and accepting of challenges to
ducls in the District Of Columbia, for the
punishment thereof.
MIR. Clay. Of Kentucky, said that he had
taken no part heretofore in the debate to
which this bill had given rise; but his silence
did not proceed from any indifference which
he felt to the laudable object which the
Senator from Vermont, (NIr. Prentiss) pro
posed to accomplish by its introduction.-
No man would rejoice more sincerely than
he should, in witnessing the absolute sup
preston, forever, ofthe unjustiiabe practice
which the bill denounces and seeks to dis
countenance. But (Mr. C.) thought tina,
the object Of legislation, OH this subject.
should be dcrected to the correction and
publication Of public opinion. In sections of
the Union, where the practice was not toll
Grated, it was public opinion that kent i,
down bp discouragins resort to combat to
avcnge or settle personal injuries. There
1t was no disgrace TO decline such COM
bat. The man who should decline it was
moro, certainly not less, respected than ifhc
had engaged in it. But il was otherwise
IN those sections where the practice pre-
vailed. In these, the man fights n duel, acts
under tie constrain, Of public opinion,
which brands him with cowardicc and dis
honor If he does not resent. with spirit.
insult or wrong. There the alter.
native presented TO a person of honor and
of nice sensibility is whether he shall live.
covered with disgrace. an object ofreproach,
'corn ana contempt, or encounter the haZ-
ard OF death, without dishonor. But few
honorable and high spirited men were reso-
ute enough TO avoid the contest. Public
opinion. which exacts the sacrifice. is nc
:ensurable as those who fall victims in con-
ormity to its stern commands. 1t was when
public opinion should be rectified in This
aspect, that we might expect to see the
abandonment OF practice which was con-
rary to humanity, abhorrent to reason, and
condemned by our religion. In the mean
inc, 1t is the duty of the legislator TO exert
III his authority to bring about this dcsira-
lie state of things. And he (Mr. C.) should
'ote with pleasure. the passage Of tho bill
'cfore the Senate. under the anxious hone
hat being the deliberate expression of The
Judgment Of Congress, it may contribute IN
nlighten the public mind; and that. ifi,
hould not totally eradicate. it NAV tend
materially to diminish, a practice which ali {
'nght to unite in completely destroying.
The bill was then passed by the follow.
ng vote, aud sent 10 the other House for