Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-04-12
Domestic News.
DEBATE IN SENATE.
SATURDAY, March IL, 1888.
Extracts from the Speech Of Mr.. CAL


the Senator from kentucky far,hcst from
INC (Mr. Clay) TO my remarks, when first
addressed the Senate on tho subject now
under discussion.
On comparing with care The reply with
The remarks, am at Il loss To determine
whether !, Is tho most remarkable for its
omissions or mis- statements. Instead Of
leaving not 4 hair in tho head Of my argu-
lucnts, as the Senator threatened TO use
his not very dignilicd cxprcssion,) he has
not even attempted TO answer n large, and
not the least wci.hty portion; and of that
when he has, there is not one fairly stated,
or fairly answered. speak literally. and
without cXagScraIion, nor would il be diff
cult TO establish to ,hc letter what assert,
if could reconcile it to mysclfio consume
The time Of the 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 and myself. To avoid so idle a
consumption of the time, propose to pre-
sent few instances of his mis- statements,
from which the rest may he infcrrcil; and,
that l may not be suspected Of having Sc
lcctcd them, shall take them in the order
in which they stand in his reply.
The Senate will rccollcct that when the
Senator from Virginia far,l,es, from nc
(Mr. Rves) introduced his substitute, he
accompanied it with the remark, thar it was
his first choice, and the second clmicc of
those who are allied with him on this oc-
casion. In noticing this remark, l 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, il was
their first choice, and that, despairins of a
bank for tho present, they woull support
his substitute. Assuming this inference To
be correct, stated that the question was
narrowed down, in fact, to the bill and sub
siitutc, of which one or the other must be
selected.
The Senator from Kentucky, in his reply,
omitted all these qualifications, and repre-
scntrd nc as making the absolute assertion
that, III tho nature of the case, there was no
other alternative but the Till or the suhsti-
tutc, and then gravc'y pointed out two 9th
crs; to 90 nothing, or adopt national bank,
as if could possibly be ignorant of wl,at
was 50 obvious. After he had thus rcnlicd
not to wha, really said, but his own mis-
statement of it, as if To 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 n
halfway house, here lie could spcnd some
pleasant hours. Nothing is more easy than
to win such victories.
Having inferred, rs has turned out To he
'h" fact that there was no other alternative
. I''HHh' 3"' Ann destitute, next
sno"c'. 'hc .,,n ,Ssc,""y- 10 which the
80" ,ulti bc involv-
hal"G .a." &e"' 20, OH the oucs
IL "'''' depoSiics, de-
nnnnccd league III .o.".~ ..anks, similar To
that proposed to hc revived by the sul,sti
TUE. After cnlar"ing on this point, re-
'iarkcd 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
wou. come they would be responsible. If
the bill was lost, theirs would be the rcspon-
sibIiity; IT tho substitute was carried, on
them the responsibility would fall; and, if
noihln2 was done, they would he held re-
sponsibie; and unfortunate for the country.
because it had prevented the decision Of The
question N the extra session. which could
not lave failed losput an carly termination
To The present commercial aud pccuniarv
embarrassment. This tho Senator, in his
reply, met by stating that had called on
i,lIn ana his friends To fnllnw my lead, and
thus rcSardln" il, he made il the prctcxt of
some ili-nhurcd personal remarks, which |
shall notice hereafter. | never dreamed of
maxim" such call; and what said canno,
be tortured, by the force of construction, to
bear Il nlcanin9 having The lcas, scmbancc
10 it.
Alter E,nk'nc these preliminary remarks,
took up the substitute, and showed that il
proposed to make Il bargain with the banks.
! then stated the particulars and the condi-
lion, ol the proposed bargain; that it's OBJ
icct was 10 enable the banks 10 pav their
debts, and for that purpose il proposed to
confer important privileges; to give them
The use of tho public funds from The time of
dcposl'c 10 disbursement, and to have their
notes received as cash in the dues of Go.
Ncrnmcnt. then asked, il we had a right
TO make such Il bargain! The Senator.
leaving out all these particulars, represent
cd me as saying that the Government had
no right tn make bargain with the banks;
and then undertakes TO involve me in an in
consistency, III supporting The bill because
1t proposes to bargain with the banks for
the use OF their vaults, as place Of safe
Keeping Tor The public money. as if there
was possible analogy between the two
cases. Nothing i; more easy than 10 refntc
The most dcmons'ra'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 and easy mode of
replying to my arguments The Senator nor
verlcd my denial that the government, Ind
right to receive bank notes us cash. INTO
the assertion that il had no right to receive
any thing but cash; and then accuscJ m.
with inconsistency, because voted at ,hc
extra session, for the bill AUTHORIZING tho r,.
rcipi OF Treasury notes in the d,,cs nf ,h,
Government; az If any one ever doubted