Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-20

probable any candidate Of either party will be elected by the
people The election will probably go to the House of Re
representatives. "A Wing Senator behind Mr.. w here OBJ
served We will save all difficulty by electng Wing Pesi
dent No, sir, said Mr. w. You much distracted
as to your choice among yourselves opponents
you not, the country is against the Wing party When
the election to be decided by the House IN February
lS49 what spectacle will be witnessed The partlsans OF
at least three of the competitors will congegae here by thou
sands the hopes OF each for office depending the favorable
success of his fayorite G
These holding. under the present Administration will be
anxousy exerng themselves to procure their own contnu-
ace and the with Mexico should be closed before that
me shall assembled here applicants upon the ground
of military services by companies battalons, regiments and
brgades Every sort OF bargain intrigue and management
may be anticipated and will not be surprising disorders
uus should be the consequence and the floors OF
Capitol and of Washington may be stained with blood
trust all this may be averted have confidence in the
teigence and virtue of the of the people hut if
should not be- shall have the consolation of having at least
performed the duty Of warning and admonlton.
Mr. President, intended to have said little, very little,
about the annexation of Texas with which had nothing
to do And had intended, also, to make few observa
tons about the primary and the immediate causes OF the
Mexican war and how precpltated and who is most
blame for that precipitation But have not time The
censure bestowed the honorable Senator from South
Carolina on this app TO border the ludic
rous nor do blame the Administration to the degree that
do others for what occurred in May last voted for the act
declaring the by the act OF Mexico but should
have preferred the sake of TRUTH have had that phra
may hereafter take occasion to explain myself NOSE fully on
this point. S,s @
shall vote for the first resolution Of my colleague had
determined ask be excused from voting, nasmuch as
had before noticed the similar previous publications IN The
paper such manner and to avoid the inference lnu
ous those assed in previous publications which might
drawn from such discrimination but reflection, have
thought such would be unjust to the Senators beled
in this last publication As the second resolution OF my
colleague trust he will withdraw it. The letter of the re
porter of the Union, my own knowledge OF the difficulties that
in making entirely accurate reports the absence OF al
motive the part Of the reporters to misrepesen any Sena
tor and my confidence in their fidelity and mpartaly, in
duces withhold my aid to any action which will deprive
them opportunity Of useful employment in their profession
far regards the editor of the paper will also thai
am better satisfied for the resolution affecting him,
from the conviction that those who really most censurabe
will feel that most severely.
have to tender my acknowledgements to the Senate for
the patient attention with which they have listened to the OBJ
servations have deemed it my duty to make.
Mr. MASON next addressed the Senate. He contended
that as the editors of the Union had the floor
solely of their business relation to the Senate it,
printers their exclusion would be in the light OF ntee-
with their and opportunities OF fument OF Their
with the body and therefore would be the infection
of punishment beyond the power and jurisdiction Of the
Senate He spoke some length and in eloquent manner
defence of the freedom OF the press referring to the famous
declaration in the Virginia bill of rights The freedom Of the
press of the great buwaks of liberty which never
be restrained but by despoic Government Amy abuse Of
that could be safely left to the judgment Of public opinion
Mr.. JOHN NJ. CLAYTON then and said regret,
Mr. President that the honorable gentleman who has just sat
down has thought proper make his maiden speech
question Of this character especially when he has taken the
ground that the expression OF dsappobaon of the conduct OF
the Executive organ which the resolution before the Senate
proposes, is attack upon the liberty Of the press
ess sir, that surprised hear such doctrine from
his lips An attack upon the freedom of the press Why
the honorable Senator from Florida in introducing the
uton distinctly dsavowed such intention, and, in m,
Judgment showed very concusivey that the resolution was
g
the Senate of those who had in the publication referred to-
grossly outraged the body The resolution does not deny
these printers the exercise of Of their rights citizens Of
the United States The exclusion entirely confined to the
floor of the Senate and proposes only to their appear
ance amongst US in the Immediately around Be
privileges this right which the rest of their countrymen do
enjoy, the honorable member from Virginia
attack upon the freedom Of the PRESS and he bottoms the
opinion thus expressed upon the ground that these persons
connected with this body by certain business
He contends that their business requires that they should
into this house and enjoy the privilege of appearing the
floor with the members of the body and those other persons
privileged to what is called the floor of the Senate
The given by the honorable gentleman very strang
Let ask him, if he had business transactions witt
printer private gentleman, and if that printer shou
grossly libel SANDER him. would ne, the ground of hi
business connexon suffer that printer enter his household
IN the full enjoyment OF all the private relations which had
formerly subssed between them Would he really consider
attack upon the liberty of the press exclude that pr
ter who had dsgraced him before the world from entering
bis house Would he permit libeer who had denounced
him traitor fellowsolder with Ampuda and SAINT
Anna, because he had business transaction with him. h
enter into his paor the presence of his wife and children
and meet him the before the injury had beer
inflicted entertain too great respect for the honorable
gentleman from Virginia believe for that
would tolerate the appearance OF any such lbeef in h
house and Is for the very that would
the conduct OF the honorable gentleman himself such
that the present resolution has been offered. II is fo
that very that Of the Senators of the United
States stand here IN my place and say that wconsen tn,
admission OF this floor with my brother members
and myself, be he Wing Democrat who has disgaced
attempted disgrace the body of which am member. Never
business transaction Is necessary that these printers
should have the floor order carry their
The honorable Senator entirely mistaken il he suppose,
that resolution deprive them Of this privilege in any
manner trench on their rights printers. They will carry
their business just fully after before its adoption Then
reporter will be suffered the gallery and if they choose
TO witness the proceedings they the gallery the
as other citizens All that propose do withdraw the
courtesy privilege right whatever may choose cali
IL which has been heretofore extended these printers All that
we propose to do is to cannot associate with you here
alter You cannot appear the floor which sit
Ienchng on the freedom Of the press The honorable Sena
tor has told that II there arrive and
ampe on the liberties Of the country, it would not be until
the liberty OF the press had been first Frustrated and manace
as he said Now, will venture TO make prediction of
somewhat different character say that if that will
ever come, he will come with traned-band Of mercenary
lbeers He will come with one, two a dozen Of hem
but with battaons Of them overthrow and PROSTATE thu
liberties Of the people, and that dignity and
rights Representatives of the people the other House
the States here The honorable gentleman danger
public liberty Of He