The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-16

so freely, 1t was no war upon Thomas RItch-
lie which he waged. Not at all. Not at all There
was no honor 10 be won--no triumph to be enjoyed
in strife against this venerable and distinguished ciil-
gen. no matter what might be the OF the resou
ton 1t 10 the editors OF the Union that the resolu-
ton pointed and an assault committed in its columns
that to be rebuked The editors of that pa
per had themselves provoked the proceeding by assa
ing the independence and dignity OF the leglsla-
ature through the columns of the Executive organ.
He must further say that he meant not to charge the Elk
ecuve with any design to encourage or authorize the
reference OF press with the free action OF members
here But whether occurring with or without his knowl-
edge sanction the effect was the and the evil as
necessary to be checked In this especial instance he un
dertook to assure his colleague that he erred IN his i'm
preston that the Executive accessory to this assault
He enabled confidently to vindcate the Executive
upon this head And in this connexon he felt mpelled
to say that he differed with his colleague to the est-
nation in which the administration was held by the
democracy of Florida 1t had faithfully and successfully
carried out the principles and measures upon which 1t
cy in danger of being marred by the misfortune OF
foreign but for this he for one did not blame
the Executive. The advance OF the army to the no
Grande was doubtless ordered with full cOnvicton OF
its necessity and he disposed to sustain IT. not only
for the generally assigned by his friends but for
another, which, if it formed any part OF the inducement
the movement, marked 1t master stroke OF policy
A grave question OF controversy was depending
between Great Britain and this country, which,
in the opinion of the wsest and graves OF our statesmen,
tended to an almost inevitable conflict OF arms. Had that
war come, with Mexico an ally and Mexican terri
tory surrounding southern and western borders upon
which to collect magazines and concentrate forces and
Mexican ports in which TO rendezvous her fleets, the
difficulties of the would have been vastly increased.
While the issue between Great Britain and tins govern
men was still within our CONTROL and we could deter
mastery policy to obge Mexico to declare herself
friend or our foe She had refused diplomatic in
ercourse and professed hostile purposes It was wise
BY determined movement force her to define her po
sition, and bring her to the issue of war peace
Mr.. MANGUM rose toa question OF order lie did
So he sd the readily from the fact that he was
sure the senator from Florida would perceive that ii was
done with the utmost respect towards him. II the sena-
tor would permit him he would make point of order;
The Senate had already listened patiently to long and
wandering debate which could scarcely be characterized
otherwise than as a family quarrel. They quite
ready vote upon the resolutions and he did hope that
great latitude and had been hitherto tolerated. would be
no further continued 1t he constrained to say
very much like
can ocean into tempest tost,
g To wait feather or to drown n fly.
If this thing was going to be magnied into matter OF
so much Importance, he would be compelled to vote
against the proposition out and out on the ground OF dc
minimum non curat, He was opposed to dignifying in
this way thing that was utterly beneath contempt
Mr.: SEWER suggested that the senator from North
Carolina had stated no point OF order and therefore II
was quite irregular for him to make speech.
Mr.. MANGUM said he intended to make no speech ;
all he desired that time should be thus use
essy consumed but that the Senate should come to
vote He intended to express his opinion by the vote
Mr. YULEE said that he thanked the senator for call
ing him to oder-the discussion had diverged too far
Before sitting down, he withdrew the second resolution
Mr.. HANNEGAN said before giving his vote he deem
ed il proper, in order to avoid all msconstrucon to lay
before the Senate the for the vote he was about
to give. He had seen with much indignation, he pre-
sumed felt by any member of the Senate the ar
tcle in the Union the signature OF :" Vlndcator
He had expressed at the time appeared his feelings con-
corning it, and at this moment he cherished as strong
feelings OF dsapprobaon in reference to as any men,
Der of the Senate could do He would. however, vote
al,,t,O
upon constitutional grounds ably assigned by the SEN
ator from Virginia Mr. Mason. because he regarded the
action of the Senate directed towards the senior editor OF
the Unon being action directed towards an officer OF
that body than toward individual being merely
the conductor apubc journal He placed on other
grounds which he believed to be as sacred as those con-
his vote the ground that the character OF the Senate
was high elevated to be injured by the attacks OF
too to Be h BY ne
bned He believed that the confidence of the people OF
this country in the character of this body was too great
to permit them for moment to attach any degree OF nm
this instance, for he saw around him men who had
grown gray in the councils Of their country, and had
proach-had esinced not only fidelity to their country in
its legislation but had exhibited their strong attachment
to it in the battle field When the hour should come
when the public mind should be prepared to tolerate in
the RIGHTEOUSNESS of the press what would strike at the
dignity reputation of the Senate the day would not be
distant when Syla Marius should be at hand to
put tne yoke OF tyranny upon ie meChs VI i,ee PooPo'
The liberty of the press, and the Liberties OF the people,
would be then mere song. He concurred with the
senator from Virginia the belief that neither of the ed
ors of the Union ever the article to which those
resolutions have reference until it in print Had
they done he entertained too high an opinion OF those
gentlemen TO believe it possible that they would have
permitted its publication but they had been aware
of the nature of the article and yet consented TO pub
sh it, the only course he would take would be to
turn them to the just Indignation OF the public.
As for the author of the article the who could de-
berately pen gross calumny, he would leave the
feon heart OF such to the public and ndgna-
ton, which must inevitably be the lot of him who avowed
himself to be the author OF gross libel upon this body
great deal has been said about the liberty OF The press
on the hand and RIGHTEOUSNESS the other act
pie that it is safest the side of the freedom Of the
press Just prefer to against the side OF executive
power, because in this government, believe them both
to be errors on the side of liberty know and we all
know that there is RIGHTEOUSNESS of tone in the public
press of this country almost ntolerabe do not utter
word in its defence Far be that from me. But can
sanction any such proceeding as that which is now
attempted | am that precedents may be sought
for this procedure Gentlemen may 90 back to last SEES
sion, and in the opposite end OF the Capitol and seek
precedent there regretted that occurrence and did not
participate in it. That was the expulsion OF the cores
pondent Of distant paper But what must be the conse
quence of the adoption Of the present resouon Any
member who finds himself aggrieved bya correspondent
of newspaper has but TO come forward and presenting
his grievance may demand his expulsion trust that
to be too elevated to fear any such assaults The poison
of that article is so malignant that destroys itself do
intend sir violate the order of the Senate, which
has been restored by the senator from North Carolina
mir MANGUMl But wish for moment TO refer to a
remark made by the senator nom South Carolina yeser
day, who told us-l only wish IT to be remembered as
word sacred 10 the memory of Oregon he told us
that he anxious to bring the Oregon question to