The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-15

lbeer in his house and is for the very
that would acuae the conduct of the honorable gentle
man himself in such that the present resolution
has been offered Ii is for that very that one
of the senators of the United States stand here in my
place and say that will consent to the admission OF
man on this floor with my brother members and myself
be he wing democrat, who has disgraced, attempt
ed to disgrace the body of which am a member
Never A business Transaction Is il necessary that
these printers should have 10 the floor in order to
carry their business The honorable senator is
rely mistaken, If he supposes that resolution to de-
prve them OF this privilege can IN any manner trench on
their rights printers They will carry their business
Just fully after before its adoption: Their reporter
will be suffered to enter the gallery and if they choose to
witness the proceedings they enter the gallery the same
other citizens All that propose to do is to with
draw the courtesy or privilege, right, or whatever you
may choose to call it, which has been heretofore extend
ed to these printers All that propose to do is to say
cannot associate with you hereafter You cannot APP
pear the same floor on which we Sit Trenching on
the freedom of the press The honorable senator has
told us that there autocrat to arrive and trampe
on the liberties OF the country, II would not be until the
liberty OF the press had been first Frustrated and mana
ced, he said Now, will venture make predic-
lion of somewhat different character say that if that
auocrat will ever come, he will come with trained band
of mercenary lbeers He will not with one, two,
or dozen OF them, but with battaons of them to
throw and PROSTATE the Liberties of the people, and, in
cdental TO that the dignity and rights of representatives
OF the people in the other House and of the States here
he honorable gentleman danger to public
liberty from the bribery of the press He danger
IN curbng it, say there is greater TO fear the
destruction of that garrison whose sentinel on the watch
tower has been brbed by the enemy, than of that whose
sentinel has received the bayone OF the foe There
occasion whatever IN my humble judgment, Qhere has
been from the beginning OF this controversy for
those oratons with which have been entertained by
honorable gentlemen the other side OF the house in ia
of the freedom OF the press. Gentlemen this side
of the house Just ready to recognise and vndcate
that great right OF freedom OF the press those the OPP
site side possibly be- We are warm and ardent ad
vocates trust as they of the real freedom of the press
We do, however, make distinction between licen-
tousness and liberty, and all men who overlook that dis
tncton are in my humble judgment, in great danger OF
doing reparable wrong to the country and essentially
lmparing the value and usefulness OF the press itself
Will any gentleman tell me that the liberty OF the press
requires mpuny for such gross and scandaous abuse
Is contained in that article VII not every man admit m
press And this be remembered, comes from the organ
OF the government 1t from the press OF the adj
mnsration party power 1t is understood by every
body-no pretends to deny it-that it is the press
which enjoys the whole patronage of the government; it
Is emphacally the press OF the government 1t ispre
cisey the very description of press which of
the most distinguished members of the democratic party
some years ago, in the other house of Congress, pro-
nounced to be more dangerous to the liberties OF the peo
pie than palace guard of six thousand men, II is from
this source, then, that the attack comes and whether
be designed to assa has been said the honorable
ator from South Carolina and his friends, the gentle
men on this side OF the chamber, care not and in any
controversy of this description which shall be heard
or hereafter, shall always be found standing the
side OF the body OF which am member no matter from
what quarter the attempt to disgrace 1t may Some
alsion made III this debate, not upon the resolution
itself but IN consequence of remarks by the honorable gen.
eman from Tennessee which demands ofme apassing no
tce The honorable gentleman from South Carolina being
driven to that of discussion by remarks of others
spoke of the of the with Mexico. He alluded
to events which preceded the He indicated himself
from the accusation of having been in any acces
sorry TO that war, and in the of his observations
ne alluded to a circumstance with regard to which IN
appeal was made to my recollection. On that point Mr.
President, desire to say word During the debate on
the Oregon question: it is commonly called, 1916,
and some time, think, in the month OF February of
that year. received from sources which is not ne
advert but which felt that cOuld
Iely that our government had given orders to General
Taylor to break up his encanpmen at Corpus Christi and
march the Rio Grande. The instant heard that, and
was satisfied of its ruth-the public at the time having
no means of knowing the factI alarmed at the APP
Prehension Of war with Mexico and it true, as the
the honorable senator from South Carolina has said that
did meet him here the Senate chamber and the
of confidential private conversation, did give him the
information which then possessed told him, sir that
believed, unless speedy action were taken either
by himself other distinguished gentleman
who could arrest the downward tendency of things
Before ew e eau Sd aesSy Ss BE plunged into
time. all men who were acquainted with passing events
and the position OF public affairs alike anxious
to avoid with England, if ii could be avoided con-
sstently with the honor and interests of the country
ALI efforts devoted to the consideration of the
best by which could in the exercise of all the
prudence and judgment which God had given us,
from our country so great calamity as with Eng
land upon the question OF boundary 1t was in these cir
cumstances that received the information and commu-
nicated to the honorable from South Carolina
His first exclamation was, s cannot be so! 1t is i'm
possible precisely he has related it in the course Of
this debate. | assured him it beyond all doubt
sc Then" said he when | urged that some measure be
taken, "what can be donew |, wing, could not
move in the matter, and urged that unless the honora-
bic senator from South Carolina and his friends,
other strong division Of the gentlemen the other side
OF the chamber would move in the matter, on the
wing side should be utterly poweress The honorable
gentleman was at that time, he has very properly
stated devoted to the same great object which confess
absorbed my mind and the minds of those around
me-the prevention OF with England and he de-
cned to move lest his usefulness that great question
should be in any degree contracted In the course of
short time after that
Mr. CALHOUN The first conversation was in Janu-
ary when you announced the fact and the second con-
versaton was in February.
Mr. CLAYTON. Yes, the senator is right Thus
Mr. President feel eXonerated from all responsibility in
the matter, and think the honorable gentlemans state
ment ought to be entirely satisfactory with regard the
proprety OF hrs 1t not our power to move
We were shackled and feered by considerations con-
nected with another matter of overwhelming importance,
and In regard to which all energies were invoked
STILL sir though then, now but rarely broke the ST.
ence OF the chamber with my voice, daily impress
very singular circumstance occurred TO which have
other witness now the floor of the Senate On the
21h of April and between the hours of twelve and one
O'Clock on that day. was talking with my friend from
Kentucky behind me, MIR MoREHEAD,] and said had
no doubt that then at war with Mexico and |
added, al believe have had fight" Sportively we
laid small wager that matter and turned after
wards for made minute of it, that won the bet by
about four hours for Thornons dragons were cut up
about four o'clock III the morning of that same day Well
these events recalled and impressed upon the mind this
- fact that while the houses of Congress remained
in ignorance and those wno 49, 'oou hol "iose' ule
President OF the United States was ordering me al.
nI y1oI Tp.taI St,fa1 III i