Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-03-19
UNITED STATES SENATE.
EXTRA SESSION.
MONDAY, MARcH Is, lS4l.

/ MONDAY, MARCH 10, lsii.
soon AFTER the Senate came to order
Mr. fkESrON rose and addressed the Senate
rs ionows' IL IS, am sure, painfully within the
recollection OF the Senate that, few DAYS since a
very unpleasant collision occurred on this fooe be
tween the Senator from Kentucky and the Senator
,otn aiaoama. Any Interruption OF the ha6itual
anu Characteristic harmony of this body, or the par
hamentary deeorum offs proceedings, is, under any
circumstances, deeply TO be regretted; but especial
" IN the present case, inasmueh as the manifesto.
uon OF heat occurred between Senators Of such
| long and distinguished standing. IL might we'll be
supposed that nothing but mistake or accident could
nave led 10 such result and thoroughly conyinc-
co OF this, rise. MIR. President, to state my con-
veton OF the existence OF mis'pprehension, and to
/ state succinctly the mode in which il occurred.
on the occasion alluded to, the Senator from
kentucky, conceiving that the remarks of the Sena
| zoe from Alabama were calculated and intended 10
oe injurious TO his character, and personally often
sNe, retorted IN language ofdrect Acknowledgement
Whifh am convinced he could not have employ.
ca out under deep sense OF injury. In this view
oil the remarks OF the Senator from Alab,m,. |
oeheVe he was mistaken. Indeed am convinced
from Information which has casually come IN p,y
possession, that the Senator from Alabama did no,
intend to be personally offensive. At the bottom of
TINS affair, therefore, there is n misapprebepsion.
which announce with pleasure and in the conf '
dent belief that, being announced, the honorable and
distinguished Senators will permit no formal diff .
Su'y 10 arrest an adjustment which is earnestly
tne senate and the country
Mr. CLAY said he shared with the Senator from
South Carolina (Mr. Preston) in the regret which
ne mad manifested. on account of the occurrence dis
turons the usual harmony and good feeling which
prevail IN the Senate, TO which he had alluded, and
ne pore with pleasure testimony TO the honors bic
ana hish-mlnded feelings which had prompted that
scented. JN'' P'e-
Before he (Mr. CO. proceeded to respond n,,,;c,.
larry TO that appeal, he wished to submit few GEN.
eraI observations TO the Senate in regard to the
privileges OF Congressional or Parliamentary de-
bate. Wv
Every Senator had the most perfect rich, 70
speak win he utmost freedom of those who wero in
power; he might denounce them as arbitrary VIII
co, and incompetent, and their measures as tvran
hca, corrupi, and runous TO the hest interests of
the country. SO II was equally the right of CIV.
cry member TO deliver his sentiments withou, re-
serve on the Character OF all persons not members of
the body, but whose names or characters were con
nected with the subject under debate and nil
brought before the Senate as candidates for annor,
ment 10 once. All this a member has right 10 do
under no other responsibility than that which hi,
own conscience and public opinion impose. But
while tins right was clear and undeniabe was es
Sen'a 10 the due discharge of official duty and was
W no G'se 10 nc reStrainet the same liberty did not
extend 10 the language of Senators towards each
DINER, or IN reference TO their motives In sneakins
10 or oil each Other the utmost respect and decorum
ought ever TO be preserved all personality avoided
and especially al. imputation of improper mo,ives
Under these impressions as TO the PRIVILEGES nj de-
bate, and guided by these rules, Mr. c. had spoken
lew days since, OF the elder editor of the q obe
newspaper, whom II was then proposed 10 dismiss
IRON the office OF printer TO the Senate Had NO,
mat Individual been thus egitimatey and directly
before the body, be should have forborne as he had
always hitherto, IN his public station Corborne 40
say word IN regard TO him or the paper which hs
cuts. Notwithstanding ten years Of the most un
paralleled abuse and wantou and unscrupulous NJ
lacks OF himself, Mr. Q. had remained silent. and 81
ne should sui have remained; but when the nam.
ei mat person was directly before the SENATE and
his character and conduct ola public ioutn, became
legitimate SUBJECT for Its conSi leraon he had fell
u 10 be his night TO speak of him in the terms he had
done. When, on the next day, the Senator from,
A'aoama (hr hing) addressed the Senate, he must
say that while that gentleman was speaking he baJ
thought that there was on his part. n stndIsd =
premeditaied, and, as he then believed preconeer
ted design TO make an assault upon him and his
Character. And when the Senator concluded bv
INSULTING comparison of MIR G. to a man whom
he mao out day before, declared to be infamous,
and OF whom he had spoken as a common lbeller
and OF MS paper as libelous, he did not doubt Thai
his obJec: was personal offence to MIR c. |, was
under this impression that MIR c. had addressed to
the Chair some remarks which he intended asa de-
Eberate offence 10 that Senator.
But It due TO the Senator from, Al,b,r,, =,
well 10 himself TO state that he had since rers,J
satisfactory information, which he placed implicit
reliance that there had been no purpose or inentnn
on the part OF that Senator to offer any personal
ahront 10 Mr. Z. or to cast TIE slightest imputaton
on.his character honor. MIR. C. had tbercf;,,c |
been mistaken as TO the design which he had snn.
posed that Senator to entertain; and ho must have
entirely miSapprehended the language emnoved I
Ready, therefore, at ali times promptly to repar an
injury as he hoped he should be TO repei an in
diSnity and always taxing more pleasure to repair
than 10 repeI, and without any regard 10 the nie.,v
OF mere technical forms, to which those aeou,in,sd
with him well knew he never attached great impor-
tance-under the circumstances as thus eHplained |
and with the understanding which he now had OF
the real Intentions OF that Senator, II was with inf
mite pleasure he now declared every epithet in Th.
least derogatory to him. to his honor or TO his char
acter, TO be Withdrawn.
This declarauon elected a spontaneous burs, Of
applause from the surrounding audience who had
listened with eager attention all that had passed
The Chair however, interfered, and the nbnl,,,se
was Immediately suppressed
Mr.. KING said, concur with the Senator from
Kentucky as TO the duty which every Senator owes
10 himself and to the body of which he is mem.
Der. lie should stndiously AVOID oil personalities
and Keep himself strictly within the rules Of order,
and never depart from decOrum in debate I have
long been a member Of this Senate and can fear
lessiy appea 10 my brother Senators TO say wheth-
er on any occasion have violated prescribed ruIes |
or been guilty ofindecorum in debate.
Inc Senator from Kentucky, from whoever he /
That Senator having, with Characteristic frank
ness explicitly Withdrawn the injurious expressions
used by him, now feel myself at liberty TO state.
and do It in the same spirit Of frankness. that no.
thing which was said by me was intended 10 lac |
per ona'iy offensive 10 that Senator; nor was IL nv
design IN any manner to derogate rom his charac |
ter as gentleman OF man OF honor make this !
statement with pleasure; for, while am AWAY,
prepared to defend my honor when assailed care.
fully avoid attacking othsrs.
Mr. PRESTON stated that he co1ld not renress
the ieelnss which prompted him to congratulate the
Senate and the country upon The honorable adjust
meni Of this painful controversy. The gentlemen
had acted as became their high character and dis
unguIshed poslton-aifordng an examine for tho /
future, OF fearless and candid course under cir
eumsianees OF apparent difficulty; while the pain-
iuI suspense IN which the Senate has been invoved
Tor some days would be, he trusted, a guaranty for
the Cautious maintenance OF a scrupulous f,rbea.
rance in debate hereafter.
Again he congratulated the gentlemen. the Senate.
and the country.
ION the conclusion orthese remarks. MIR Cl,v
rose and advanced TO Mr. King, and shook hands
with him. amidst loud appl1us,s from Senators and
audlIoryI