Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-01-10
TWENTY.SEVENTH CONGRESS-.
THURSDAY JANUARY 5, lS43.
~ ..n.~. st.r
THIRD SESSION

There another OF considerable excitement in
the Senate today, which grew the personal question
between MIR. RyEs and Mr.. BENTON reference TO the
purpose OF the latter when he Introduced the French map
from Mr.. Jefesons collection during the debate on the
Washington treaty in secret session.
Mr.. WALKER called the attention Of the Senate TO the
alusion Mr. RTES made yesterday him, having con-
CURED with Mr. X. in that genteman's understanding of
! Mr. BENroS's object He detailed conversation which
had passed between Mr.. RTEs and himself the subject
whence certainly appeared that had conceded with Mr.
k. He understood that Mr.. BENTON had introduced the
map for the purpose OF ebuttng the
from the map which Nh SFAREs had discovered the For
eign Office Paris. He thought too, that Mr. BENTON
had not succeeded in rebuiing by that map proved
nothing, in his opinion but if any iding, rather u
| favorable to the claim OF the United States.
Mr. WALKER then proceeded TO declare his firm con-
vcton that the spoken by Mr. Sparks had
seen OF marked by Dr. Franklin. There circumstan
known To the Senate, which caused him feel deep
interest in whatever concerned the conduct and
OF Dr. franklin Ii understood that Mr. w. il connected
with the family OF that lustous man, He had therefore
listened with attention the speech with which Mr.
RvEs had accompanied the introduction of the letter and
Of Mr. Sparks the last session; soon ss Mr.
r. sat down, he Mr. WALKER) had arisen in his place and
soemny protested against the map being regarded Dr.
Frankns and declared that that gentleman had never seen
It, He then into number Of details prove that the
treaty drawn with DR.. Frankins own pen few DAYS pre
yous TO the letter quoted BY Mr. Sparks decidedly contra
detory OF this line on Sparks map. That line docs not
run one solitary inch due North prescribed by Dr. Frank
lin That ilusrious person had been seduousy oc
cupled IN strenuous cIeTOns his country the
Of territory, the most favourable boundary
and not possible, when he engaged in drawing
up treaty Of recognition ofboundarie he would make
contradictory line appeared the map produced by
Mr. Sparks.
Mr. Sparks had spoken of thi. line As correspondng
with the description Of DR.. Franklin What description
The DIR. had given description. He had merely said in
the quoted letter that he had marked a rain map with
red line There no evidence show that the map pro-
duced was the identical the Count Vergen
mes There was ground of identity Besides the map
forty years old the time DR.. Franklin wrote. Now
likely he would have the Minister for Foreign
Affairs 80 old mapl He sincerely hoped that great man
would not be held chargcobc with gross crimnay or
gross negligence in giving the proper boundaries of his
country on the mere evidence Of an old French map
Mr. TAPPAN and stated that hs recollectons
Of what Mr.. Benton had said correspondent with what that
Senator declared his purpose-nsmey, that he intro
duced the map with the view Of showing that the man dis
covered by Mr.. Sparks secret.
Mr.. RlVES followed and in reference the elaborate
argument of Mr. Walker said he had never commended that
the map produced by Mr. Sparks really marked by Dr.
Franklin The real question the purpose Of Mr.
Benton IN presenting It, That Senator's rccolectOns diff
fered from his this questions
Mr. b. said las purpose show that Sparks map was
no secret But Mr.. Walker concuned with him Mr. Rives)
in the impression that Was intended rebut the inference
from Sparks map. Mr.. Rves declared that he was aston
scd when he the representation Of the matter which
was contained in Mr. Bentons published speech II he
had been in error that shared by the minority of
tc Senators present And indeed what necessity could
there have been for the introduction Of the map Mr. Ben
ton did not intend destroy the argument founded on the
otherl Mr.. Benton had said contemptuousy that any
school miss mghhave marked the red lines; and
to confirm him Mr. RI that his understanding that Sen
was not his faults but owing to the haste and pecpitancy Of
/ the transactions at the time.
Mr. Rves then proceeded to remind the Senate Of the
scene that occurred when Mr.. BEroy first brought in tho
map III question Senators crowded around him; and he
remembers the astonsucni painted every counenance
when they found that instead Of contrad ting II confirmed
IN the most remarkable manner the map Of Mr. Sparks
lie reas-erted that his impression Of the purposes Mr. B.
had ~ view were those Of the whole body-Mr TAPPAs
and Mr.. Benton excepted.
Mr. BENTON rose immediately after Mr. RIyys sat
down. and under considerable excitement aid he had no.
tlng to do with Impressions OF opinions but with facts
lie then quoted an extract from Mr. RvEs speech on the
Treaty.
He declared with great yehemence that the nctbere st,ed
oy W. kiyLs was not So lie could the red lines
the map. lie did seethem lie did not wait for ohereye
lie proclaimed the red lines from his place in the Senate
This was the question Of fact he wished 10 make before
the Senate lie hsd asserted that the allegation he had
read from the speech q the Sensor Of Virginia was not So
That Senator ought 10 have replied this assertion al the
time. Buiinstoad Of doing he had slept on his speech
and came now, after the lapse Of twenty four hours "a
an issue about opinions Nov, said Mr. BrNr,y with
great emphasis have nothing to do with THAT issue. ad.
here 10 the facfs
Mr.. RGVHS replied also with warmth II TO- said no 3,
question Of fact, md he insisted tst his impression was
borne out by the impressions Of the majority Of the Sonatc
and he cared not for the special pleading Of the Senator
from Missouri That Senator sticking the dark; and
diregarding the substantial question what his purposes
were IN introducing the map On this point said Mr. r.
put my assertion ia opposition 10 that OF the Missouri ns
tor before the House and the country.
Mr. BENTON. 81 will bring this affair 20 a point
proclaimed There are your red ncs-your bloody red lines
a % seer ret.
! complain not Of impressions opinions complain Of
facts"
Hero Mr.. BrNrov read the above mentioned
again-and said be adhered 10 the facts.
Mr.. RlVES replied that twelve Senators had conceded
with him IN his opinion and he believed the majority would
" appealed to.
Mr.. BENTON. "If any Senator will repeat tbi. A.
seron contained in the speech Of the gentleman from Vir.
ginia---n
Here he was interrupted by cries of order ?" order"
Inc Chair said the conversation could not be continued
IN this tone
Mr.. BENTON, amidst loud cnes Of order order -
exclaimed nngny 10 NJ Rvs, " deny your assertion
] deny your assertion"
Here the matter ended.
! During the morning hour, number Of memorials were
presented by MI IAldNADE and Others demonstrating
against the repeal Of the Bankrupt law referred TO the ia
dietary committee.
Me-. BUCHANAN presented petition from the Phia.
depha board o. trade, IN favor Of the establishment Of
Warehouse Svsiem; referred n the commune az
Mr' MeRoBERTs presented memorial from 81. Louis,