Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-03-25
Moxpar. alareh IS. IN.

M0SD8Y, March IS, 1871.
Soon after tie Senate came 10 order
Mr.. Preston rose and addressed tue Senate as
sfoiio~s: IL i, sure, painfully within the re-
collection Of The Senate. that few days since
yPrY unpleasant collision occurred on this ioot be-
tween the Senator from Kentucky and The Senster
from Alabama Any interruption Of the hebitaal
aud characteristic harmony Of this hsds, or The
parliamentary decoium d IL proceedings, Is, under
any circumstances to be regfetted-bul especially
IN ths present case inssmSeh as the manifestation
OF beat occurred between Senators Of suca long and
distinguished standing might weil be supposed,
that nothing but mistake or accident could have
ed 10 such result, and thoroughly convinced of
this, rise, Mr. President, 10 state my conystion
Of The existence of misspprehension and 10 state
saceiacrly the mode in ablch it occurred.
% tEe occasion alluded to, the Senator from
Kentucky eonceiying that the remarks Of the Sem
atoE from Alabama. we're calculated ard intended
70 be injurious to nis character and personally Of.
ten.iye, rsiorfed in language q direct sfron,-sn-
snage which am convinced he could not have { ~.
ployed but unier deep sense Of injury. In this
view q the remarks Of tie Senator from Alabama
believe he was mistaken indeed am convinced,
foal ini0rmarion which has casually come to my
POSSESSION that the Senator from Alabama did NOT
intend TO be personally offensive. Al tn, bottom Of
this HHair, therefore, there is misaPprehenslon
which announce with pleasure, and in the conf
dent belief that, being announced, the honorable
and distinguished Senators will permit no formal
difficulty 10 arrest adjustment which is earnestly
iemanded--by the Senate and the county.
Mr.. Clay said hs shared with the gentleman from
South Carolina Mr. Piesiou) in the regret which
he had manifested, on sccatni of the occurrence.
| disturbing the usual harmony and good feeling
which prevail in he Senate to which be had alIud.
ed; and he bore with pleasure, testimony 10 the
honorable and high minded feelings which bad
prompted that Senator 10 make The appeal which
he bad just presented,
Before he Nh. } proceeded to respond partic.
ulariy 10 that appeal he wished to submlt a few
general observations the Senate in regard to the
privileges OF Congressional or Parliamentary de.
bte.
Every Senator mad the most perfect right to
speak with the utmost freedom Of those who were
in power; he might denoanee them as arbitrary
wicked, and Incompetent, and their measures as ty-
sauics, corrupt and ruinousto the best interests OF
the couairy. Sot was eqaay The right of cvety
m su Der to deliver his sentiment without reserve on
the character fall persons 70 msmters of the
body. but whose names characters were counec
ted with the subject under debate, and all breugh,
before the Sensie as candidates IN appointment
TO office. All this member has a right 10 do uf-
der no other responsibility than that Mhich his own
conscience aud public opinion impose, But while
this right was clear and undeniabe, was essential
to the due discharge Of Official duty end was in no
case 10 be restrained, the same liberty did not cx.
tend TO the language Of Senators towards each
other, or in reference to their motives. 10 speak
nss to or Of each Other, thu utmost respect and de-
corum ought ever 10 DO preserved, all personalit,
avoided, and especially all imputaton Of improper
motives. Under these impressions 10 the piivi-
Ieges of debate and guided by these rules, Mr. c.
had spoken, few days since Of the elder editor Of
the Globe newspaper, whom it then proposed
to dismiss from the Office Of printer to the Senate
Had not thai individual been thus legtimBely and
directly before the body, he should have forbo,ne
he had always hitherto, his public station for
borne, TO say word in regard to him or the paper
which be edits. Notwithstanding ten wears Of the
most unparalleled abuse and wanton and unscrupu.
Ious attacks of himself Mr.. c. had renamed silent.
and so be should still have remained but when the
of that person directly before the Senate,
and his character and conduct Of public journal
became legitimate subject for consideration, he
had felt it to be his right speak of him in the
terms he had done. When, on the next day, the
Senator from Alabama (Mr. King) addressed the
81 nate, he nu4t say that while that gentleman was
speaking, he bad thought that there was, on his
Fart. studied, premediated, and, as he the n be-
,ed preconcerted design to make an assault
upon him and his character. And when the Sena-
tor concluded by insttuliug comparison of Mr.
c. to a man whom he had, but dsy before. de-
clsred TO be infamous, and Of whom he had spoken
as common libeller. and Of his par err as libenus
he did not donb. shat his object wa, personal Of
fence to Mr.. G. 1t was under this impression that
NJ. G. had addressed the Chair some remark.
which he had intended as deliberate offence to
shat Senator.
But 1t va. due to The Senator from Alabama ~
well as TO himself to state thai he had since recev
ed satisfactory information on which he placed i'm.
piicit reliance, that there had been no rurpose or
intention on tho part of that Senator to offer an,
aersonsl alront TO MIR. c., or to cas-, the sahies,
imputetion on his character or honor Mr. C had
therefore been mistaken as TO The design which he
had supposed that Senator 10 entertain; and hr
must have entirely misarprthended the language
employed Ready, therefore, at all times prompr.
~ TO repair an injury a. he hoped he ever should
be to repe an indigrity, and always taking more
pleasure t. repair than TO Iepel, aud without an,
regard to the nicely of mere technical forms, TO
shch those acquainted with him well knew IL,
never attached great importsnce--unde The cir
cufnstauces q. thas explained and with the under
standing which he nov bad of the real intentions
uf chat Senator il was with iuinjte pleasure he nov
declared every epihet in the least derogatory to
him, to his honor or 10 his Character TO be with
drawn
This declaration elected a spontaneous burst of
applause from the surrounding audience, who had
listened with eager attention 10 all that had passed
The Chair, however ipterfered, aud the applause
was immediately supprrssed.l
Mr.. King said concur with the Senator from
Kentucky a. to The daty which every Senator owes
to himself and to the body Of which he is a mem