The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-25

rogatoes 10 be put had no connexon with any subject
now before the Senate and The practice had never
been introduced into our American Halls of legisa-
ton To put inerrogatoies 10 Minister'S custo-
mary In England But ii the Senator from Massa-
chuses had recently minated any change Of opinion
in reference 10 the subjects 10 which the member from
Georgia, alluded, why should that gentleman doubt
his sincerity On what subject had he these doubts
MIR. O. standing in his place, could be witness Tor
his friend from Massachusetts that from his first aP
pearance in the Senate down TO this day OF his regret
ted reslg nation, sentiment had ever been advanced
by him which was not perfectly catholic, and which
did not regard much the rights OF the South anu me
great interests of the West those OF any other por
ton of the Union on the contrary he had ever reeh
ready alike to defend and maintain IN the most deter
mined the rights Of every quarter OF the coun
try. He had all occasions declared II as his sent
ment that the Constitution OF the United States con-
ferred upon Congress no power directly or Indirectly
10 touch the subject to which he presumed the Sena
tor alluded certainly beyond the limits of the Dis
,rict and even within the District although he might
be of opinion that the abstract power did exist
yet be believed strongly that il would be inexpeden
TO exercise it, On what subject, then, did the South
want guarantees to his in a higher and more
extended sphere of action His elevation TO that sta
ton homage richly due TO him for services and
talents unreservedy devoted the service OF the
try for twenty or twenty five years past And the
present the first aud only proof which he had ever
received of the due estimation of those services by the
offer Of any office under the Federal Government; and
Mr. c. would here publicly express his full and entire
conviction that there was subject in regard when
the South need indulge apprehension in consequence
OF his elevation
Mr. CUTHBERT said that the Senator from
Kentucky had made great deal out OF his briei adj
dress TO the Senate having spoken Of Il as though ne
had pursued which subject oil poignant
rcgrctas ii he had been guilty of gross violation
of decorum objectionable outrage ON pubic feel
ing; but MIR. G. not to be imposed upon by any
such ahectation.
Mr.. CLAY. call that Senator to order he
not be permitted to such language in application
to me.
Mr.. CUTHBERT here made some explanation,
unntelligble to the reporter but which ended with
the expression Well, them we now understand each
other. The Senator says that his friend from Massa-
chusetts is Senator of dstingu shed abilities ac-
knowledge it. That those abilities have long and Of
tel, been exerted here. | acknowledge 1t. That his
option is of high authority. acknowledge It But
if he entertains the most hereiical and sbomnable
opinion in relation TO subject which OF the deepest
interest TO large portion of this country am not to
dare To demand from hun an explanation That
must not dare To speak Of subject of this Importance,
because it does not comport with that Senator'S no
tons of decorum, Can any man listen to this with
patiencel That the rights of whole people are to
be put the scales with that Senator's ideas of deca
| cy and dccoruml laugh at it. spurn at it. The
interests OF my constituents shall he defended by
on all occasionally Cd they shall The gentle
man does understand to scruple or drachm the
heresie. which have been maintained by his friend;
not always, by the bye his friend, If rightly remem-
lucky were by his gaan, support of the late war
Il was the glory of his eloquence the fire and spendor
of his genius which inspired the hearts OF his country
men with an undying determination to resist oppres-
sion. For that he was honored then-tor that he is
honored now-and for that he ever will be honored
Where his friend stood on that OCCASION need not
say But what Is this doctrine put forth by the Sena
tor from Massachusetts,, and in regard to which wish
to intcrrogae hint 1t proved by document OF the
very highest authority. | regret have it not TO
produce, but shall have it, and will produce it, He
there it indsputabe that Congress may pass
laws to prevent the transfer Of slaves from State
or Territory TO another,
MIR. PRESTON after some remarks which, from
his position, in great degree inaudible at the
rery announcement seats assigned to the reporters, was
understood to say that withou recognising the right
OF Senator TO nterrogate HIM as TO the sentiments
Of absent friend, and dsciaim ng any intention 10
make answer for ahundantlr capable OF an
swering for himself as was the honorable Senator from
Massachusetts, he would say that the circumstance
which he understood to be alluded to by the Senator
i from Georgia one in which he had himself had
participation He had been present at the time
when that honorable Senator made the declarations
having relation to the interests Of the South of which
were to Mr. s %a ses lS"~ he
doctrines then advanced were such as he as South
ern man. felt authorized to sanction approve and
In some Sort to endorse He did approve and did en-
dorse them. The explanations OF the Senator from
Massachusetts were made at Alexandra, in the pre-
4 sence of many thousands Of Southern gentlemen and
they were entirely satisfied His opinions were there
avowed openly, and he told the assembly that they
should hear OF them again and these very SEN
timenis, ipsiSsimis rerbs, echoed amongs, the
mountains OF New Hampshire, were reverberaed
along the ndencd shores of Massachusetts, pro-
claimed on the banks of the Hudson, and again put
nth in the clearest and most decisive language from
1 the Capitol at Richmond As patriot and a South
ern man, Mr. Z. had heard them with great pleasure.
Whether they the result of any change in sent
ment-whether they were the product of any new
ght, Mr. 4. neither asked nor cared, hut hailed them
with delight proceeding from such man. Wbe-
Their new old, if they were Mr., WEbsTER's senli
mens now, as he could not doubt they were he was
sure the Senator from Georgia must rejoice with him,
both that they were entertained and had been thus
pressed
Mr.. RIVES obtained the floor, but yielded il al the,
earnest request of
Mr., CUTHBERT, who said that he had charged
these sentiments, of which he complained openly on
this floor upon the Senator from Massachuse some
years ago, when the position of that gentleman was
not SO Important as ii had now become and the Sc
nator from Virginia had at that time Joined him in
pressing for an explanation from the Senator from
! Massachusetts,.
The purpose of the Senator from Georgia thus press
ing this subject OF inquiry What was his object
| Mr. CUTHBERI said he would explain. He
then repeated the declaration that when pressing the
charge OF these opinions the Senator from Massa-
chusets, the Senator from Virginia had united with
nm, and had expressed TO the Senator from Massa-
chusets his strong disapprobaion Of those opinions
Mr. RlVES SAID that the gentleman from Georgia
was certainly mistaken. Mr.. II had a perfect recoi-
lection OF the leading circumstances and i'd no, Join
The gentleman from Georgia, on that occasion in
charging the Senator from Massachusetts with hav-
ing promulgated the obnoxious opinion that il was
i competent for Congress 10 prohibit the transporta n
OF slaves from one State to another for sale He had
had Information on the subject Ali he had heard
was from the gentleman from George himself That
Senator had asserted that the Senator from Massa-
chusctts had, in some document adopted by public
meeting in Boston, advanced such sentiments and
this was all that Mr.. r knew about it. When that
/ gentleman charged the fact on MIR. Webster, and