Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-04-30

y" Tue gentleman from Pcnnayyana that uOOf.
Tho SPEAKER called Mr.. A. to order.
MIR. AsHMuN said that he presumed held perfect.
IN order that the gentleman from Pennsylvania should
employ !ne most abusive epithe when speaking. in
papet OF an absent gentleman. aud that gentleman
senator OF the United States but Of Of
Order ior HIM 20 ENJOY any latitude In reply.
Inc STEAMER said was not in the power Of the Char
W as !" te question oi order 10 personalities be-
tween gentlemen present and smother who absent
but as between gentlemen both IL whom were present
was his duty to preserve the decorum OF debate, and he
should discharge IL.
Mr.. ASHMuN resumed. lie had been saying that
after the repeated the deliberate aud prceditaied
Sups made oy tho gentleman from Pennsy, ania against
senator rOm Massachusetts, he had felt confident that
the House would be 50 unjust or uncenerous as %
refuse liberty Of reply. He thought that that House
aud the nation had been both surprised and mortified
the scenes which had recently taken place that floor
The House had been denounced in various quart,rs 70,
Its violations OF good and good manners in the
course OF debate; but offence had been com.
mit'ed against higher obligations than those either
good taste or OF good manners. Was II not mourniu
spectacle TO behold this IIouse converted into theatre
Tor these repeated and gross yitupcatons Of some
he most distinguished and most meritorious of pub
NC men One might have supposed that the gentleman
from pennsylvania had been long enough in public life
to Know the value of reputation public man. Aud
was not astonishing that he should make such repeat
cd dehbefsie persevering attempts, not in the warmth
OF debate, but in writing. with reconciliation. destroy
the fame OF men who had long served their county in
the most distinguished and arduous public statons-a
lame that was the common property and the common
pnde OF their countymenl Had such attack been
made by young ambitious member who sought dstinc.
ton Tor himself by assalng those who far above
INN, there might have been ssmblance OF excuse
or paliaion for the But what palation could be
pleaded Tor gentleman long IN public hfei The
gentleman had tod the House that thirty years
ago that he had htst met MIR. Webster. From thst day
10 this had he received from him the slightest personal
oleneei When, wherei Mr.. A. might appeal to
that House not merely, but TO the aud the world
whether Mr.. Webscr's speeches-a his speeches-wero
not wholly free from personales Tie had been guilty Of
no offence whatever the gentcman unless there
might be that ranking deep in his breast and
was the objectionable sin OF having let him alcne OF hsv
inc taken the least notice OF him. Probably he knew
enough OF the genucmans character induce him de-
sire to have as little 10 do with him as possible.
Why then, was IL that on the 9th OF February last when
the attention Of the House engroSsd with great aud
weghiy questions involving the prospecso and peace
and when, by the courtesy OF the House. this gentleman
as chairman OF the Committee Foreign Affairs, per-
united to Close the debate-why did he such time,
stead OF mixing and statssmanlkc rspy those
who had opposed the resolution he had reported from the
committee, volunteer 60 of his make n per-
sonal attack absent man-an attack wholly
neeed with the subject in hand and which he had gra.
nousy put forth the most injurious assertions PROV
ed utterly false What could have been his motive for
such procedure
The gentleman had known Mr.. Webster personally for
thirty during OF which he had been himself
in public life Had no, the gentleman recalled TO memory
certain Congress where he met with what might,
would Think have admOnshed him again assail
high and honorable with malignant SANDERS Had
no not associated with the remembrance Of that Congress
the gentleman OF the highest talent and iniel
gence, the exalted standing and the
chyarous honor and the principles from the State
OF New Jersey Need he remind the gentleman Of the
name OF SToCKr1N That noble minded man was sland-
cred TO his fece-opeuly iasied in this Hall and could
the gentleman soon forget the reIbuuon that followed
the scanyihg process mcmoraby inflicted the !and
errr Tradition told 10 this day OF the whitening scath
ing blasting .loquenco poured forth by injured and ndg
nant virtue in the presence OF the House continued
tell thai who had uttered the base libel, unable to
endure the agony that consumed him. and left the
Hall, crying like whipped -schoolboy Mr.. A. should
hSY thought that this might proved sufficient
ing 10 repeat the commission Of the The
le "A, however seemed TO have been wholly thrown
await had least served teach this gentleman
agaH make andeTous attack Of that description 10 the
presence OF the individual slsndeed and Mr. A. agreed
with hs friend and colleague MIR. ADGN.) that the gentle
man from Pennsylvania would have bitten off his
tongue than haze dared what he had done had
Mr.. Webster been present hear aud reply. But Mr..
Webster here and for any immediate reply
marks, however GurOus, he rely few friends in
thus Hall. The which this gentleman had pursued
toward Mr.. Stockton too~e again in the Of the
pure, the rrcproachabe. the Incouupne Chief Justice
Marshall whom, her with Other Judges Vt the Su-
Court he had made the charge OF direct personal
corruption in the OF the Bank OF the United States
And That same love tor tupeauon and Slanderous abuse
seemed have burned within his breast this late
day; when without shame, repentance, remorse, he
could repeat the dsgraeelu in his Old age.
The gentleman, with bOldness and spParen not 10
say Sudacious. simplicity which Mr.. A. had
equaed, had remarked the House that, among all the
hard things that had been said OF him. he had
his Truth TO be called IN question. The gentleman must
have besa very deaf very blind BOTH have spoken
this sincerely Did he not know, did not the House know
did all the world know. that his truth, IN preienF
these charges, the very thing called in question:
When the gentleman breaihed his tuperlions
the greatest and best the county very question
which every that loved the reputation Of his country
Immediately put his "ls itrpel" II the gentleman
had heard his truth called in question before he
prepare himself to bear II now
in what chs Tacier dad the gentleman hero appear lie
both accusSr and witness. And, be had taken up
on himself TO prefer charges against Mr. Webster, and
then TO refer himself for the proof Of hem did
become important the House who this accuser
and who this witness was The gentlemen had brought
here from the State Department of doc
which, he said, existed there which account the
House to take his personal veracity. That
the evidence, md all tho evidence which the House had
support Of the charge. As the geneman's proof Of
his own accusations he gave the House his
Of what he said nc had found the secret records OF
the Department OF State What had the House on tho
other eide Ii had official communication from the
President Of the United States, m reply solemn call
from the House for these very records in which
he declared that they kept under seal Of
sacred for him break the solemn rcqsi
ton Of the House Of Representatives Meantime, here
stood gentleman from Pcnnsyvanil who rose there in
his place. and did not blush that House that though
his secrecy sacred be invaded by the PfesI-
dent he had found out get these archi
YES and, making statement TO the House OF WIN, they
contained he asked the House this prosf
Was then aside from the purpose inquire what this
wiinessi and who Is hel
On the 9th Of February tho gentle had brought for
ward several specific charges against Mr. Webster
Ills manner in doing had been imposing and ominous
he had uttered them with shake Of the finger signil-
nod Of the head aud solemn gravity well calculated
10 produce the impression that he knew well what he
saying and perfectly ready any responsibility
it might impose upon him According this solemn accu
Mr.. Webster, when Secretary Of State had written
letter marked private and dispatched by express the
Governor Il New York. with view TO interfere with the
administration Of justice in that State flo had also paid
the sum Of $4,000 fee 10 the District Attorney Of New
York in the Of Mcleod. Those we're specific charges
sod they oil false-utery fase II true thtt
private letter had been written the Governor Of the State
Of New York; but that this atompt
to interfere with The course Of justice the Of law
IN that State. Nor had II been by express. Why
then, did the gentleman say sol
ar INGERSOJL. Did say sol
Mr. ASHMUE. You DID. Pfes1minR that there night
be some such Of recollection on the part Of the gen
temln, Mr. A. had referred TO the report Of his speech
tho Union, in which the expression would DO found e
presumed the reporters had told the ruth.
Mr. INGERSOLL was hTo understood 10 soy that the
repoftin the Union correct that he did moi remem-
Der using any such expression.
Mr.. ASHMUN. Was 10 be supposed that the FepOS-