The Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1843-1852, 1844-07-17
Mn. McDUFFIE,s SPEECH.

III.
Benton's remarks on the second reading OF the
bill introduced by the latter for the annexnt;oo
of Texas to the United States. -
The bill having been taken up and read ,hro,,c}
at his request Mr.. McDuffie addressed the Sen
ate as follows. ~
Mr.. President: assure YOU sir, with great
sincerity, that never rose to address the S,pnte
with more reluctance thos now do. and tba, M
thing less than deep sense of the obligations of
private friendship and public duty could have in
duced mo, at this late hour of the session. To occu
Py another moment upon an exhausted subject.
which has been finally disposed of for the present
u nad consulted my own health and comfort,
should now have bccu in my bed instead of stand
ing IN my place to address the Senate
lhe course OF the senator from Missouri must
he permitted to say, has surprised me not a little
Inc treaty OF annexation having been rejected by
'he Senate all hope having been extiuguished Of
an immediate annexation Of Texas to the United
ota.es' tue honorable Senator Of Missouri submits
bill to the Senate, and instead Of making an ar
Sument to sustain that bill, any other bill to ef
feet the annexation Of Texas to the United Stutes
mas made the strongest and most uncompromising
argument that could possibly have beon made
against the annexation at any future time without
the consent OF Mexico. Indeed, the speech of the
honorable senator consorts very strangely with n
bill purporting TO be ga bill for the annexation Of
-a~Nus t,re Cmpeu CraIes. i snail not p,,rs,Ie ne
the honorable senator through the whole range Of
his topics; because | am not aware that an argu-
ment which has been repeated more than tbTe,
tirnes acquires any additional force by the reuet-
ton. The honorable senator has made the BODY
Oh ms speech at least two or three times over. I
propose, therefore, to confinc myself to the new
views presented by the senator in his speccb nc
yesterday, principally in reference to the MESSAGE
which the President of the United States sent TO
the o:ner Iiouse' and the suggestion of the Pres-
dent in that message.
understood the honorable senator to CHARGE
the President of the United States with perpe,ra-
ting gross and ndecorous violation of the dpni
ty and privileges Of the Senate in daring to make
an appeal from the Judgment of this BODY; and. in
oroer 10 EXHIBIT this outrage in still stronger col
ors the honorable senator has coupared i n ono
OF the most offensive appeals ever made to the
people OF the United States-tbat of an incendiarv
'ore,Sn minister against -Gvurrui washinpton:s
celebrated proclamation of neutrality am real
y at loss, SIR to comprehend the process bv
Whch the honorable senator has been able to trace
any analogy between these two cases The phre.
noogical bump, which is called the bump of COM
ParauVehess, must be most singularly developed
upon the head OF that honorable senator. A for
ciSn minister makes appeal to the people of
the United States to stir up an insurrecton against
their constituted authorities. The honorable SEN
ator regards this as perfectly analorous 70 nm m.
peal made by the President of the United States
(acung under his constitutional obligations) to the
popular branch OF this government, and to the
people OF the United States, upon a subject deem
~ and vitality affecting their interests.
NO man, Mr. President, would be more peril
haclous IN standing up to vindicate the dignity of
the oenate than myself; but think the dignity of
every branch OF the government consists in recoo-
hizlng the rights Of all other branches or depart
menfs; and that we shall preserve our own disni
eouitesy WHICH IS due The cfief eSec1fvs Officer
OF the government in our official proceedinos-
what has been the course Of the President Of the
United States upon this subject He submitted a
treaty OF annexation to the Senate of the United
otates' the proper authority to ratfy that treaty.
aware, as he was, that this was not the only mode
Sy "hich dexas could be annexed to the United
states. The ratification Of the treaty REQUIRED
two thirds of the Senate, and was rejected II ;s
known to the President, as it is known to the hon.
oraoie senator, that a more solenly form of rat6
cation, securing the sanction of the whole govern
ment, would be by joint resolution, passing both
houses, and signed by the President; and should
IKE to know what there IS disrespectful to the Sc.
nate, what there is inconsistent with the consti,u
tional duty o: the President, after he has ascer.
,ained that the treaty cannot pass the Senate but
mas actually been rejected in submitting the whole
quesuon to the popular branch OF the national le-
sisiature, to order that the people of the United
states through their immediate representatives
then,sevesl Sir, this is course in ali rnsn.cts p" n
perfectly respectful to the Senate lie awaited
our decision; and although, in the progress of the
debate here, documents which he deemed mater
nj to the enlightenment of the public were sup
pressed in the Senate, yet he never made anv
communication Of those documents until the fna
decision OF the Senate was made and published on
THIS question. 1t appears to me that it would be
assuming great deal on the part of the Senate to
say under these circumstances, that the President
OF the United States. had violated its privileges
an and dignity by an appeal to the popular branch of
the harional legislature, after the Senate had Civ
en- its disapprova Of the proposed measure. Has
the Senate OF the United States, sir, the prerosa
nve right OF the final decision of great national
questions and are we to regard the President us
mere suter at our bar, and unauthorized to com.
munlcate with the other House without obtaining
leave to appeal from our decisions2 am utterly
az az loss to conceive what view the Senator from
missouri takes Of the relations which exist be-
tween the President of the United States and the
oenatc. The Senate has adjudged the case, and
presented Its decision; and upon this the honora.
DIG senator concelves himself entitled, as repre-
sentlng the power and d;on;,,, % .L.