The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1841-04-01
SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES.
EXTRA SESSION.
Monn.r. Mach is. ls4l.


Senate as fellows: IL is, am sure, painful.
ly within The recollection Of The Senate
that, few days since, very unpleasant
collision occurred on this floor between the
Senator from Kentucky and the Senator
from Alabama. Any interruption of the
habilual and Characteristic harmony of this
body, or the parliamentary Gecorum of lis
proceedings, Is, under any circumstances,
deeply 10 be regretted; but especially IN
the present case, inasmuch as the NANTES.
tation Of heat occurred between Senators OF
such long and distinguished standing. 1t
might well be supposed tina, nothing but
mistake or accident could have led TO such
a result and thoroughly convinced Of this,
rise, MIR. President, 10 state my convic.
ton OF the existence of misapprehenslon,
and to state succincily the mode 10 which
Il occurred.
On the occasion alluded to, the Senator
from Kentucky, concerning that the re-
marks of the Senator from Alabama were
calculated aud intended to be injurious 10
his character, aud personally offensive, re-
torled an language OF direct affront-lan
guage which am convinced he could not
have employed but under deep sense OF
injury. 10 this view OF the remarks Of the
Senator from Alabama, | believe he was
mistaken. Indeed ! am convinced, from
information which has casually come 10 my
possession, that the Senator from Alabama
did 10, intend TO be personally offensive
A. the bottom of this affair, therefore, there
IS q missapprehensioo, which | apnoauce
SNh pleasure, and IN tho confident belief
that, being announced, the honorable and
distinguished Senators will permit no for.
NAL difficulty to arres, an adjustment which
Is earnestly demanded-by the Senate and
me country.
Mr.. CLAY said he shared with the Sen
aior from South Carolina AR. Preslon) 10
the regret which be had manifested, on &C.
count Of the occurrence, disturbing the US
lal harmony and good feeling which pre-.
val IL the Senate, TO which be had alu,
ded and he bore with pleasure testimony
10 the honorable aud high minded feelings
which had prompted that Senator TO make
the appeal which he had just presented.
Before Mr.. c. proceeded to respond
particularly 70 that appeal, be wished, to
submit a few general observations 10 the
Senate n regard TO the privileges Of Con.
sresslonal or Parliamentary debate.
Every Senator had he most perfect
ugLi to speak With the utmost freedom Of
Hose who were 10 power; he might de
noUuce them as arbitrary, wicked, and IN
competent, and their measures as tyrannic
al, corrupt, and rl.Dous 10 lAe best interest
OF the country. So il vas equally The
right OF every member 10 deliver hss senti
nients without reserve on the character Of
al persons not members OF the body, bu;
whose names or characters we're connected
with the subject under debate, and all
brought before the Senate as candidates
T for appointment TO office. A this mem
Der has a right 10 do under no other re
sponslbllty lhan that which his own con-
science aad public OPINION impose. Blu,
while this right vas clear and undenable,
vas essential TO the due discharges of ofic.
al duty, aud was IN no case TO be restrain.
81, the same liberty did no, extend to the
language Of Senators towards each other,
OF 10 reference TO their motives. In speak.
lng 10 OF OF each other, the utmost respect
aud decorun ought ever 10 be preserved, all
personality avoided, and especially all i'm.
pgtaiion 81 improper motives. Under these
Impressions as 10 the privileges OF debate,
AM guided b, these rules, Mr.. c. had spo
ken, lev days since, OF the elder editor Of
Ito Globe newspaper whom II was then
proposed 10 dismiss from tho sfIice Of prin
Ter TO the Senate. Had not that individual
been thus IeguImaiely and directly before
the body, be should have forborne, as he
had always hitherto, IN bis public station,
iorboTne, 10 say a word IN regard to him or
the paper which be edits. Not.iths,and.
ing len years Of the most unparalleled
abuse and walton aRa INSCRIPTIONS attacks
Of himself, Mr.. &. had remained sien, !;
aud SO he should still have remained bu,
when the name Of that person was directly
before the Senate, and his character and
conduc. Of public journal became a leg
tlil2hS SIOiELt iOI us CutIeiuSEdtiOU, We U1U
felt !, 10 be hrs right to speak Of him ia the
terms he had done. When, on the next
day, the Senator from Alabama, Mr.. King
addressed tho Senate, he must say tina;
sbllo Ina! gentleman was speaking, he had
thought that there was, on bis part, stud
led, premed.iaieJ, and, as he then believ.
ed, a precoacencd design 10 make an as
ssut upon bin and bis character. And
when the Senator concluded by lnsiiiuiing
a comparison Of Sir. {. to a man whom he
had, but day before, declared to be inia.
nous, and Of whom he had spoken az
common libei!er, and If his paper as libel
lous, be did 10, doubt tia, has object was a
pers9nal on.nce to Mr.. G.. II was under
lhis impression that Mr.. &. had addressed 10
The Char some remarks which he intend
ed as a deliberate of-nce 10 that Senator.
Bat It WAS due to the Senator from Ala
bama, as well as 10 himself to state that he
had since received satisfactory information,
on which he placed implicit reliance. thai
there had been no purpose or intention on
The pari Of that Senator to offer any per.
zoo.I .C,opt - a., 4 n. - ,,-, -. 1T,