The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1840-03-05
MEssRs. CLAY AND CALHOUN

"Ibe Honest NullIfler," with that NOR
bid sensiiiveness which IS an uaerriug ind
cation of a conscience Ill at ease, is constant,
" surprising that every word used by MIR.
Clay, IN the Senate, is applicable to him.
Conscious that there should be "whip OF
scorpions" placed in every honest mans
hand, to lash him naked through the land,
he frequently wiDces when no blow is aimed
a, HIM. How true is it that "the wicked
tleeth when no man pursueth." The follow
ing account Of sparring between him and
Mr.. Clay, is taken from the correspondence
OF the Baltimore American PET. Int.
PUBLIC LANDS.
Mr.. Dixon, of Rhode Island, presented
the Resolutions oflhe Legislature Of Rhode
Island, asking Congress to divide the pro
ceeds arising from the sales Of Public Lands
among the several States 10 the Union
Mr.. D. In presenting these Resolutions. re
marked that they were similar 10 the Res.
olutions which had been before offered, re.
ferrins to that subject. No State, MIR. ID.
remarked, had done more TO secure the pos
session of the public domain than Rhode Is.
land-the citizens of 10 State had done
more to achieye the Independence Of the
country 10 her Revolutionary Struggles
The Public Lands, Mr.. ID. commended, be
lonaed to the old States, and was their pro
per,y in common wilh the new States.
After the resolutions had been read, Mr..
Calhoun remarked Iha. he did not believe
that the respected State OF Rhode Island
had ever seen the bill of his which proposed
the cession Of the Public Lands among the
several States Of the Union in which the
lands were located. He believed that the
State Of Rhode Island had 90, their imfor.
nation from letter writers or newspapers
which presents fiction for TRUTH Be that
as II may, the resolutions said Mr.. Calhoun,
DO not fairly state the character Of my bill,
which proposes partial equlvaen, for the
lands ceded to the States, My bill also,
said Mr.. Calhoun, is designed 10 diminish
patroua e, which genllemen Gu the opposite
side 50 much desire,
Mr.. Gay said Rat in his humble opinion
the resolutions q. Rhode Island pretty near
Is, II not altogether, stated the effect Of the
character of the bill Of Mr.. Calhoun. The
bill proposed &c cede all the lands belonging
to the United States 10 the States wherein
the lands lie. 1t vas true that one half Of
The receipts were TO be- returned 10 the Gov
erumeut, bot the States were 10 be the col
.ectors Of thus one halt, and tho they might
not ike some Of our collectors, run away
with the Que half, vet it would doubtless be
very incouyenlent for them to meet the debt
required Of them by the Government. Ma
ny excuses would be made, aud much time
and accommodation asked. He doubted
even If some would bot ask 10 be relieved
rom their debts upon the ground that the
and belonged 10 them, or for some other
reason.
Nr. Calhoun said be was not 10 be pro
yoked INTO discussion at this ;ime. " hen
the Committee on Public Lands took up this
question, he should 90 into II, and be ready
no meet the Senator from Kentucky or auy
body else. Ile should show that his bal
vas 40 important measure Of public policy
and thai II would mol result as that Senator
supposed. +" As for toe opulons Of the Seq
ator from Kentucky" sand Mr.. Calhoun,
II have no confidence in them-none " hat.
ever"
Mr.. Clay am equally unwilling to
pro'raci debate or lh,oH hiudrances 10 the
say Of the Senaie--bul wish TO say TO the
Senator from South Carolina, that hearth
~ reciprocate all that be has said in regard
to the confidence he had 10 my opInious Or
remarks.
90 little further, said Mr.. Clay.
have no respect for his opinions, past, pres
en-, or to cone. Whenever the Senator
from South Carolina, rises IN his place and
with his usual egolIsn sends out a challenge
and one 10 ne, | shall my poor way maxi
as good defence as can. That S nator's
frequent descriptions Of his powers are no
doubt equal to his genus. grant that be
has that, but must say that am tired Of
hearing from him these continued exhlbi
lions Of hs personal powers, moral and 10
,elIeeiUaI strength.
Ma Calh0un sad-f shall not rise 10 no
iice the personalities Of the Senator. have
but risen 70 say that have 20, nlssta,ed
tie character If my own bill. scarcely
ever speak, continued Mr.. c., that he does
not rise 10 answer me. To day he has come
N between ne aud the Senator from Rhode
Island. ! consider tina; my proposition was
wrongly stated BY the Legislature Of Rhode
Island aud nave but corrected the mistake.
Mr.. Clay said appeal to the Senate as
to who be zan the personal alluslon complain.
ed Of lie commenced by stating in an un.
courteous, unusual, and unpariamenlary
way, that be had no confidence ia nv opin
IONS. He wishes to make an attack upon
me and thea assume the position Of one act.
lng 90 the defensive. This IS his usual aud
wiley course. " hat are the facts7 The
Senator from South Carolina rises 10 correct
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