Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-03-29
FROM WASHINGTON.

Senators Clay and King wus happily settled, and
the Senate adjourned without day. We annex
the details of the reconciliation.
Soon after the Senate came to order
MIR. Preston rose and addressed The Senate NJ
follows;- is, | nm sure, painfully within the
recollection Of the Senate that, few days since,
very unpleasant collision occurred on this floor
between the Senator from Kentucky and the SEN
nor from Alabama. Any interruption of the ha-
bitual and characteristic harmony of this body, or
the parliamentary decorum Of its proceedings, is,
under any circumstances, deeply to be regretted
but especially in the present case, inasmuch us
the manifestations of heat occurred between SEN
aors Of such long and distinguished standing. 1t
might well be supposed that nothing but mistake
or accident could have led to such u result; und
thoroughly convinced Of this, | rise, Mr.. Presi-
dent, to state my conviction of the misopprelien-
sion, aud 10 state succinctly the mode in which il
occurred.
On tho occasion alluded 10, the Senator from
kentucky conceiving that the remarks of the SEN
ntOr from Alabama were calculated aud intended
to he injurious to his character and personally o.
fenslve, retorled in language of direct nffront -
language which | nm convinced he could not
bnvU employed but under deep sense of injury.
In This view Of The remarks OF the Senator from
Alabama, believe he WIS mistaken. Indeed
am convinced from the information which has
casually come to my possession, that the Senator
from Alabama did not intend to be personally of
icrsivc. AT the bottom of this affair, therefore,
there is n misrepresentation, which ! announce
with pleasure, md in The confident belief hai, he
ing announced the honorable AMI distinguished
Senators will permit 10 formal diacui,S-to arrest
an adjustment which is earnestly dcnanded by
the Senate and country. ~
MIR. Clay sud he shared with the Senator from
South Carolina Mr.. Prcsion) in the regret which
he had manifested, on account of the occurrence,
disturbing the usual harmony aud good feeling
which prevail IN the Senate to which he had nj
luded and he bore with Pleasure testimony to
the honorable and high.minded feelings which
had prompted the Senator TO make the appeal
which he had just presented.
Before he Nj CO. proceeded to respond parti-
cuarly to that appeal, he wished TO submit few
general observations to the Senate in regard TO
the privileges Of Congressiona. or Parliamentary
debate.
Every Senator had the most perfect right TO
speak with the utmost freedom Of those who were
in power; he might dcnounce them arbitrary
wlrked, and incompetent, and their inca ,nres n
tyrannical corrupt, and runous to the best infer
ests OF the country. So il was equally the right
Of every member to deliver his sentiments with
out reserve on the character OF all persons not
members OF the body, subjects under debate, and
ull brought before the Senate ms candidates for an
pOintnent to Office. All this member has n right
10 do, under 40 other responsibility than that
which his own conscience and public opinion inl-
pose. But while this right was clear aud undn
niable was essential to the du discharge of Off
clal duty, aud was ia no case 10 he restrained, the
same liberty did not extend To the language Oi
Senators towards each oher,-lhe utmost respect
and drcorun ought ever to he preserved, all per
sonnlhy avoided, and especially imputniors Of i'm
proper motives.
Under these impressions as 10 the privileges OF
dehnte, nnd guarded 10y these rules, Mr.. &. had
spoken, a lew days since Of the elder editor uf the
Globe newspaper, whom it was then proposed To
dismiss from the office Of PRINTER to the Senate
Had not that individual been tins legnately and
directly before that body, he should have forbornc
rs he had always hitherto, in his public station
lorborne, 10 say word in regard to him the
paper which he edits Notwithstanding ten year,
of the most unparalleled abuse and wanton and
INSCRIPTIONS attacks Of himself, Mr. G. had re.
mained SILENT and so he should still have remain
ed; but when the name oflha, person was direct
~ before the Senate, and is character and coiruc
OF public journal became y Legitimate suYject for
its consideration lie had felt il 10 bo hiss right &c
speak Of him in the terms he la done.
When on the next day, the Senator from Ala
bama, Nr. King,l addressed the Senate, he mus
say, that while that gentleman was speaking, ht
had thought there was on his part II studied,
premcditntad, and, MS he then believed, precon
ceried design TO make an assault upon him nnd
his character Aud when the Senator concluded
by instuing comparison ct Nc. Z. to mar
whom he had, n day before, declared TO he inia
nous, and of whom he had spoken as n common
libcef aud Of his paper as llhelloIIs, he did no
doubt that his object was n personal offence &c
MIR. &. Ii was under this Impression that Mr.. &
had addressed to the Chair remarks which
he intended as deliberate offence 10 that Senator
But it was due to tie Senator from Alabnha, II:
well us TO himself, 10 state that he had since re
,'eved satisfactory informal lion, on which he pa
ed implicit reliance, TINT there had been no pur
rose or intention on the part OF that senator, I,
fier any personal affront 10 Mr. C., or to cast tn,
,.;ghtest iinI,iiation on his character OF honor
ir. T.. had therefore been mistaken as 10 the tie
ign which he had supposed that Senator to en-
.rain !; and he must have entirely niisDpprehen
ed the language employed. Ready therefore, a
times promptly 10 repair an INJURY, as he hope,
ever should he to repel an lntligniiy, and al
Ways taking more pleasure 10 r''lar than 10 repel
nd without any regard To the nicely ofIilere tech
cal forms, TO which those acquainted with hin
veil knew he never attached great Importance
.nder the circumstances Ms thus explained, an,
With the understanding which he now had of th
cal intentions of that Senator, II was with nfnn
,easu.e he now declared every epllhet IN the eas
erogatory 10 him, 10 his honur, or 10 ms charac
,er, TO he withdrawn
Grhs declaration elected spontaneous hurst O
ppnuse from the surrounding audenre who ha,
lslened with eager attention 10 all that had passed
lhe Chair, however, iuleciered, and The applaus
was Immediately suppressed.
Mr. King said: | concur with the Senator from
kentucky no 10 the duly which every Senalo
yves TO himself aud TO the body of which he is
member. He should studIousy avoid ali person
lities, and keep himself strictly within the rule
{ order, and never depart from decoruM in lie
ate.-l have long been member Of This Senate
md cnn lrarlessly appeal To my hrolilexsSI4iaIor
% saw whethfr on any occasion huya violate
hal q NH
debate. -
The Senator from Kentucky, from whoever h
received the information, has not heen nisinfsnet
| That Senator, having with his CHARACTERISED
irankness, explicitly Withdrawn the injurious ex
preston used 10y him, now feel mysefu at bert