Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-02-13

the editor OF such OF justice towards the Senate
offensive article.
Mr. sent to the Secretary the paper containing the often
sive article, and il was read. !
appeared to him that the intention magn the Senate
was clearly Indicated nasmuch the very paper that
tanned the abusive article furnished of the pro-
ceedngs OF the Senate the information that would have shown
the editor he had desired to be informed and shape his
statements according the facts, that the allegation which
lay at the very foundation of charges brought against the
Senate unounded He held, therefore, that the editor
was very clearly responsible for having medated an assault
upon the Senate twas not his purpose to arragn the editor
oil the Union before the Senate in order to nc upon him
any punishment beyond that which would follow from the
that his longer to be regarded being
worthy of confidence
Mr.. BUTLER rose to give direction to this subject which
would be conformabe he sad his Wishes and
he Sped not inconsistent with the design Of the honorable
mover he was very glad that these resolutions had been
postponed, SO that their action might be Of that deliberate
character which consistent with the dignity Of that
body IN order to afford the editor Of the Union opportunity
OF showing why he should be excluded from the privilege
OF the floor lie suggested that committee be appointed
hear any reasons which might be offered by the editor before
coming to a final vote on the resolutions.
Mr. SEWER moved that the further consideration of the
resolutions be postponed until with Of taking
up the orders Of the day.
Mr. WEBSTER asked for the yeas and nays, and they
were ordered and being taken, follows:
YEAS-Messrs Allen. Ashley, Atchison, Atherton, Bag
by Bright, Butler, Cass Chalmers, Dickinson, Dix, Fair
held Houston Mason, Niles, Sewer, Soule Sturgeon Tur
NAYS-Messrs Archer Badger, Berien Calhoun, Clley,
Thomas Clayton, John NJ Clayton Corwn Crienden, Da
Of Louisiana Mangum, Miller, Morehead Pearce Simmons
upham, Webster, Woodbrdge--M .
Mr.. ALLEN then addressed the Senate ut much length.
He conended that the privilege of the Senate did extend
to taking cognlzance of and nhctng punishment for pubca
tons which might be deemed offensive contained in the pub
lie newspapers.
Mr. SEWER concured in the view expressed by the Sena
tor from Ohio If they attempted to visit with punishment
what they considered belous article published in this city,
It would be equally incumbent them punish the same
sort of offence committed in New Orleans any where else
Where they going to draw the line of distinction 1t
was assuming dangerous exercise of power and which
could lead to good results The proposition of the Senator
from South Carolina (Mr BUrLER) still objection
able than the resolutions themselves. If attempted
the punishment further than the deprivation Of the
privilege Of the floor would be very apt be regarded
matter OF oppression, II not supposed that they
aiming little beyond the organ of the Government
called, and striking at higher quarter. The editor of the
Union, possessing he believed he did, the Virginia
spirit if brought before committee of that body
matter of this Sort would refuse answer but would under
the punishment of imprisonment if they intended go
far for the very purpose of exciting public sympathy in his
favor Instead of asserting the dignity Of that body,
affair would end in making the Senate supremacy ridiculous
He hoped his FRIEND the Senator from South Carolina would
withdraw his proposition ...'.. @..... |
Mr.. TURNEY said we were indeed living in strange
times. Senators his side of the chamber told that
they having the majority responsible for what DONE
This was entirely error There party the Senate
which might be termed the baance0i
could shape every thing they pleased The country Che
thought ought distinctly to know the condition Of parties in
order that the responsibility might where it properly be-
longed He did approve Of the "Mexcan victory
that used by the correspondent of the Union though
point of fact the alluded by that correspondent
such emphaicay enured to the benefit of the Mexican
cause He stated what was substantially true. Where then
the SANDER He did think that the editor should be
hold responsible for the declarations of his correspondent
pecay the very paper containing them gave the facts which
justified him in calling it Mexican victory. He in
cned to the opinion that the publication of that article had
contributed TO the final passage Of the army bill If the
of proceeding proposed by these resolutions should be followed
would be (and the public ought understand
done by the Senate for which the Democratic party
responsible. If he allowed to make prediction he
would say that the three million bill would be lost He
indications enough to convince him that such would be the
fact and he supposed the Democratic party be held
responsible for this Also The responsibility for all these
things ought to be placed where il properly belonged
Mr.. GULEE inquired of the Senator from Tennessee what
he meant when he spoke of balance .o-power party
Mr.. TURNKEY replied that he simply say that
there certain number Of Senators in that body who
stuted balance -of-power party who could, by uniting
themselves, either with Senators the other side this
side, any they pleased and who, in
the aoy believed, during the present session.
had chosen TO vote with Senators the other side.
Mr. YULEE desired to be informed by the Senator if he
meant 10 that there organized party, segregated
and acting separately for the purpose of commanding
jory by attaching themselves to either of the political
divisions OF the Senate whether those divisions
nearly balanced that the majority by such
happened to differ certain questions from the party with
which they usually acted BECAUSE if the meant he
could only that the Senator from Tennessee himself pu
sued the very that he found fault with
MIR. TURNEY said it very true he sometimes voted
against his party and he should always 20 when he be-
eved they in the wrong. But what he say
and he believed it very generally understood that
among the Democratic party there aspants for the Pre-
scncy and those asprants had their peculiar friends and fol
lowers who ready all occasions to in such
TO the aspirant the ascendcncy Ii de-
mandcd OF him. he could point such aspran though
he would rather not be compelled do Nor did he think
that necessary to he explicit for he believed
distinctly understood by the whole country. As
the question which had been put him by the Senator
from Florida whether the party he had spoken Of being the
balance party organized party he would
that he knew nothing fits organization. He only knew that
head organized and that he prescribed his followers
they should take This party, he contended, small
as might "a, -h"ud alone be responsible the American
people Tor The passage rejection Of all which
the necessities of the country required.
Mr. CALHOUN hoped, after what had been said by the
senator from Tennessee, that the Senate would excuse him
Tor detalng them with few remarks Ii the Senator when
ne spoke OF aspant for the Presidency intended his OBJ
servaon to apply TO him, he would Tell the Senator that he
was entirely mistaken He was not and never had been an
aspran for the Presidency He would tell the Senator fur
thomoe that he would much turn upon his heels for
the purpose of being elevated the Presidency The Sena
tor had uttered n libel upon him when he said
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator must be
aware that he using language not strictly parliamentary
Mr. CALHOUN, continuing-whcn he intimated that he
was capable OF voting any occasion with view the
ainmen oil any other object than that which egimaely
within the sphere of his public duty The whole volume OF
bis life would show that he above being Influenced by