The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-03-17
THE UNION.

this self restedupon hedescendants of those
who murdered the Saviour OF the world And let
say to honorable senator's and to others who have been
concerned in the odous proceedings which have been for
two days past In progress in this body that wash
hands Of the innocent blood OF this Just person. who has
been the subject OF unieeling persecution before the
country Let honorable senators take heed TO themselves
that they suffer not hereafter portion OF that
under which the whole Jewish nation has been groan-
ing Tor so many centuries.
Mr. President, when had first the honor OF seat IN
this body received various monitions from distinguished
senators here to the importance OF rlgdly enforcing,
in all cases. the qsages of the Senate These usages in
their full extent have commanded my cordial re-
spect unqualified admiration There are several OF
them to which have expressed at different times, more
less OF opposltion and have eves far as to
urge their repeal insisting that they of evil enden
cy, and mschievous in their operation But certain
worthy gentlemen here have uniformly urged on such
occasions, that the usages OF the Senate should be held
sacred and neither relaxed nor modified except IN obe
dence to imperious necessity When have reclted
the maxim of the common law to such senators'mafus
aboendus ef-lhough great admirers, professedy,
of the common law, these gentlemen have not been in
cned to pay the least respect 10 this well known pnc
pie No, sir, the usages OF the Senatee usdges OF the
to be preserved and enforced IN defiance
OF objections, and without regard TO luences. Let
ask these senators-lnd especially my friend from
North Carolina, [Mr. BADGER]- how he can reconcile it
TO his sense OF Popety to refuse his support to the mo-
ton before though 1t has been proved satisfactorily
TO be fully justified bypreceden and SO strictly in con
iormy with senatorial usage Why shall not the course
recently pursued in the OF the honorable senator
from Maryland (now Attorney General of the United
Staes be pursued in the case before us Will any gen.
tenan undertake to state grounds OF exception connect
ed with the particular circumstances OF the case under
consideration which would justify a departure from
usage and violation OF precedent? This | am sure,
will not be done and certainly has not been attempted
heretofore.
Mr. President those who have inspected the 'pictued
page" of Lvy, and have made themselves familiar with
those high examples which the history of the Roman
public affords for the eternal instruction OF mankind, will
ka,, Mrrl AM
tonus account of his heroic defence of the Roman Cap
ito when all that remain ed of the glory and strength OF the
republic was TO be found within the compass OF single
edice whilst the fierce babarians OF Gu do minated over
the whole city besides either bank of the Tber This
Marcus Manus by feats OF extraordinary herosn, had
successfully defended the Capitol against nocturnal
PRISE and had thus secured the admiration and gratitude of
his countrymen He was afterwards suspected, upon
grounds less plausible of consprng against the
institutions OF his country-o engaging in scheme OF
tablishing amonarchy, OF which he to be the head
legal prosecution commenced against Manlus and he
subjected to trial in the field of Mars in sight of
the Capitol which he had rescued from destruction II
soon perceived by the trbunes who superintendent
his trial, that it impossible to convince the multitude
OF his guilt whilst they occupied situation where even
their eyes must remind them OF such an honorable
plot -" wherefore adourning the trial. they summoned
meeting in the Peeline grove on the outside of the
Momentum gate from whence there view of the
Capitol and the peoples mind being unmoved by any for
egn adventurous circumstance sentence, and
which excited horror even in the breast OF his judges,
passed on him" Manlus was afterwards punished
a traitor by being cast down The Tarpcian rock.
Lvy informs us further, that, ga short time after the
people. recollectng only his virtues, were filled with
deep regret for his loss pestilence, too, which pres
emily followed without any apparen. cause OF great
inflicted on Manus The CAPITOL they observed, had
been polluted with the blood OF its preserver and had
given dspeasue to the gods that the person by whom
enemy should be brought before their eyes, manner,
to suffer punishment" And now, Mr.. President few
words by way OF application.
This counryman OF ours has been guilty of crime,
privately publicly; his misfortune If misfortune it be-
is tQARve been native of foreign country Though
born where than the United States, he has never
failed to sympahize with our progress nation and
for years past, he has performed all the duties of cit
zenshp creditably Within two years this prosecuted
hero has had il in his power to give evidences of true
been able to exhibit: he has been baptized in blood
and fire into our American family upon the battle
plains OF Mexico, and the heroic deeds of this
have become part OF our national history. The re.
nown which he has acquired has penetrated every part
of the republic; there is no neghborhooa this side
of the Atlantic with which his name has not long since
become familiar, and his fame become established Is
any one so daring az to call this man in question in
the presence of those who familiar with all his
deserts Will any man dare to condemn him with
out the mputation of crime and in legislative
body where his merits have been more than
acknowledged, and his heroic achievements more than
twice signay recognised Shall a man who has been
faithful in peace, and in glorious, be discrelte1 be-
fore the civilized world without crime and without fault,
the very chamber where his deeds have been soemny
enrolled fOr perpetual remembrance, ana MS claim 10
public honor and gratitude confessed, with all the
IDENTITIES which belong to the most formal national egs-
ation Will the Senate OF the United States undertake to
declare this person mpost0r and usuper and refuse
him all the privileges and courtesies OF cocltiZenshp
because he CHANGED be born in Ireland and fought
maintenance of our honor nation foreign shores
If, Mr. President, this were Wer,can Congress-
(as it is motif it such Mexican Congress as
few months since, decreed peculiar honors to certain
statesmen, who to their eternal disgrace, threw their
whole weight and influence against their own coun-
try and in favor of semi barbarous foe, should not be
surprised that any member of it should willingly partci-
pate in such acts OF legislation might tend to disgrace
those who have earned distinction leaders of that
thrice. glorious band who Immortality at Churubus-
CO. at Cheputepec, and at Mexico Butt cannot believe
that any considerable number of this american Senate
can unite in vote which would at the time rob
heroic brethren of their meritel renown and plunge
the nation itself into eternal disgrace.
Mr. BUTLER do not know how far | may be, by
implication, subject to the profuse extravagant and
cumulated abuse which has been hea ped upon the
jority of this Senate.
Mr. FOOTE. | did not allude to the Senator.
MIR. BUTLER Mr. President, there is nothing in
the subject itself-nothny, far have observed.
in the temper that has been exhibited on the part
of those who voted with the majorty-to have called
forth the excitement which has beea manifested upon
simple question for carrying construction of the
believe all Of us, acting under the obligations OF that
instrument. have elevated ourselves above the
strong inducements to crafty our sympathy. | know
OF such preconcered purpose as has been alleged
of kicking the incumbent out OF this house ]
struck with the improperly OF the language of the
senator from Illinois, and wish that the from
North Carolina had persisted in his question of or
der. Sir, my feelings have been favorable to Gene
raj Shields and, If his friends had taken the course in
Dictated by him. should have had nothing of this disa