The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-11

and
cabinet were about retiring TO private life and prepar-
ing quietly and deceny surrender the rens OF author
ity TO others, who have been called by the American
people to succeed hemi when suddenly this Protocol
makes It's appearance among grave legislators, and in
some mysterious way becomes the basis OF proceedings
evidently designed 10 be productive OF the most serious
consequences all supposed to be concerned either
remotely nearly. in giving it existence. A democrat
(f in this, trust 10 be corrected, but think that
nothing ever more certain IA democrat obtains, on
special application, from the Mexican minister IN this
city, copy perhaps several copies of this Protocol
He brings II into this hall--he goes without delay to a
distinguished wing senator-hands II 10 him IN The
Spanish tongue, and explains ITS contents. This wing
senator is the honorable senator from Delaware, who is
recognised by the whole public sustaining peculiar
relations to the administration shortly to come into
power. Immediate proceedings Instituted in the
House OF Representatives, based upon this Pre-
toco at the instance OF those thus supplied with the
of annoying the national Executive by the
democratic senator before alluded to- The wing mem
bers OF this body speedily advised to all the
particulars of this mysterious interview between the
democratic referred to and the honorable senator
from Delaware; but the democratic members of this
body kept wholly in the dark upon the subject and
they get their first information as to this whole affair from
the other end of the Capitol What could this demo-
cratic intend by acting have described him to
have done Did he design only TO perpetrate inno-
cent hoax upon the honorable senator from Delaware,
and his political associates in this body' wish could
be satisfied that such was the fact, the feelings OF
chagrin and resentment which now feel, and cannot
avoid feeling would be greatly diminished by discover
ing such be the fact Or did that democratic senator
seriously design, through the agency OF the senator from
Delaware, to Impeachment to be set foot in
the House Of Representaives, which he hoped might
with him in the administration of the governmental af-
fairs Did that senator aim 10 impose discrcdt upon
m o. al OF yet to
his honor man and public officer; and the other
of whom sleeps quietly in the grave, inc apabe of
warding off the arrows of malevolent caumny, or of
indicating his reputation against undeserved eproach
What was his object! Who can divine il, What were
his motives' Who can state them What purposes
personal to himself did he hold in view at the period of
this transaction These questions easy to PROFOUND
and difficult to answer not proper TO be solved by
any but the person alluded to himself is for him
to decide whether he will remain SILENT answer
PLANTATION of his conduct 1t is for him to determine
either to treat these suggestions with assumed and pol
ttic contempt or by coming forward with manly explana
ton of his acts claim to be justified before his couHymen
and to stand undscredited before the civilized world
Who is that senator' He is man of experience-of
accomplishments-of great weight OF characterize
tended nhuence-connected for than thirty years
past with the public history OF the counry-assocated,
times past, with heroes and statesmen, who have i'm
parted impershabe lustre to their age and naon and
whose deeds OF high renown have won for them the
eternal gratitude OF their counymen this senator is
stricken years. and cannot expect, according to the
OF nature, much longer to remain active par
ticpant in the management OF public AFFAIRS he is
to whom the democratic party owe much, but who
much more to the democratic party he Is man to whom
this administration has, at one tme deferred more thar
any other man in the republics and to c)Aciae and to
advance whom, more anxiety was at time displayed
than quite agreeable to all even OF the trues and
the confederacy. He s-Who is he Where is he! What
is he? How call you his name
Who would laugh, if such there be9
Who would NOT weep if ATrIcus lPontng to Col BEyroNl
Mr.. CLAYTON inquired what was the motion before
the Senate.
The VICE PRESIDENT stated the question.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Would it be in order to move
print with this document the original treaty signed by
Mr. Trst and the amendments made therein by the SEN
The VICE PRESIDENT stated that it would be in
order.
Mr. CLAYTON Then make that motion have
no objection whatever to printing any number of copies
which may be desired. The senator wishes the whole
matter to go before the country presume there will be
objection to printing these documents also, neces
sary 10 the understanding OF the whole subject.
Mr. FOOTE. We desire no concealment of anything
material; full exposition of all important facts il what
The VICE PRESIDENT inquired whether the senator
from Delaware made moonl
Mr.. CLAYTON. | do, sir. | move that the original
treaty. the amendments made thereto by the Senate, and
the treaty amended, be printed together with the docu
ments received this morning
| should not have risen to revert to single word
which the senator has said with reference me, were
not for misunderstanding upon his part. | do not
know understood the senator to say, that this Pro-
tocol given to me in confidence But | will state
that il was made to me conhdentialy 1t was not
given to me as secret supposed il was given to
10 be shown to any member who wished to see It, There
secresy about the matter Every member of the
Senate might have had an opportunity to examine it. 1t
was not communicated to wings merely, but to all the
members Ls
Mr.. FOOTE Why sir. no senator on this side of
the chamber avows any such knowledge. The senator
is certainly in error in supposing that this matter
not kept secret generally from Did the senator
communicate the fact to me that this document was in
Mr.. CLAYTON. No, sir.
Mr.. FOOTE. The senator may rest assured that he
is in great error on this point My friends all around
their entire want of knowledge TO this Poto-
col until it made the basis OF hostile proceedings
| against the administration.
| Mr.. CLAYTON. | do not intend to discuss the sub
ject to which the honorable has referred For
my part, feel that would be improper for to
enter into the question whether the Protocol differed from
the amendments OF the Senate not, whether the
coRduc of the President of the United States be- in this
| case, justhable or not These questions which do
not intend 10 touch As senator of the United States,
although one of the humblest of the members here do
not intend to make OF any words which may hereafter
be quoted by the party with whom have contracted
| the government of Mexico As one of the humblest
power do not propose to say word in this chamber,
or in any other place, which may be quoted elsewhere
II have any remarks to make, shall offer them my
| fellow members here in executive session only My
only object IN rising was to amendment that the
whole subject might 60 be fore the country, and per-
fectly willing that there should be 10000, any other
| number printed
Mr.. FOOTE. regret that the honorable senator from
Delaware seems so unwilling to yield the impression that
this communication to him secret one, and not
tended to be made known to democrats generally again
deny at the instance of honorable around
has gone on without the agency, connvance, know
edge OF democratic senators generally; and satisfied
that they concur with in supposing that they could
not either have nsgaed connived at the movements
under consideration without entire loss OF their
self respect and absolute forfeiture OF all claims to
| Intt,N r OF. II EIn.x-. L..