Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1849-07-25

10 show that it was owing to its introduc-
ton, and the disclosures it made, that l
was deferred from introducing them as he
states. The fact is not so. The session
commenced the first Monday Of Decem-
Der, lS47, and Mr. Dix did not introduce
the paper until The 26h of July, l94S,
nearly eight months subsequent. and one
month after had fully discussed The prin.
cipIes of my resolutions. Did he see, that
all this would have Leen manifest at once
without word from me, if he had given
the dates and was not that bis reason for
not giving Them
Col. Benton seems 10 lie conscious, that
it was Necessary for him 10 explain why
he had not assailed my resolutions. and
Ire base and corrupt motives he attributes
10 me for introducing lbem,- long before,
aud in his place in the Senate; an'i &C.
cordingly. he has attempted 10 make one.
He asserts that "Mr. Calhoun's resolu-
,ons are those of the Missouri Legislature.
They are identical. Ore is copied from
the other. When the original is invai-
dated, the copy is of no avail. am an
swerng his resolutions, and choose 10 do
il. 1t is just and proper that should do
so. He is the prime mover and head con~
trivcr. have had DO chance 10 answer
him in The Senate, and it will not do TO al
low him to take ap.judgmenl upon
me 10 Missouri, in carrying disunion reso.
lutions in my own State, which he has
beeu forced 10 abandon in The Senate.
Duty to The country requires me to answer
him, and personal reasons reinforce that
public duty"
HIS explanation then is. that notwilh-
standing his burning zeal to defend the
Union and Of his own character against
these wicked resolutions. " he could get no
chance before 10 answer Them" What
could get no chance from February, 1917,
until June. lS49. Ghc dale Of his speech)
a period of upwards oflwo years Could
get no chance when they were first intro
dYced and discussed! None during The
long session which followed and which
lasted more than eight months! None
during the long and full discussion on the
Oregon Territorial bill, when the princi-
ples of The resolutions formed the basis of
the argumcn, on the side Of The south
None 70 reply to me, who fully discussed,
and I may say established Them bey1nd
controversy? None during the discussion
Of the repor, of The selecl committee, Of
which Mr.. Clayton WAS chairman? None
on the discussion Of the bill from The
House Of Representatives, which applied
The Wilmot Proviso to the Oregon terri.
tory, and which was passed by his vote
and his friend Gen. Aouslon's? None
during The whole Of the last session, and
still more wonderful, none in making his
last speech? l say none, for he confined
himself 10 denupciation and abuse Of the
resolutions, without even attempting 10
answer them. No, he never could get,
aud never can get chance to answer
them. For every other purpose he can
get a chance. whenever he pleases. No
one is better at getting chance when he
is disposed. He had no difficulty in GET
ting a chance 10 pour out torrent Of
abuse, 10 empty seats, against the late Ge.
neral Kearney, day after day, for the
greater part of week, aud that too just
at the close Of a session, 10 the utter dis
gnst Of the Senate, and at the hazard Of
defeating many bills then ready for final
action. | might 60 on and repeat similar
questions until they would fill pages. but
enough has been said to prove that his ex-
plaualion is puerle and hollow.
He had many and fair chances to an-
swer the resolutions, and could have made
one, if he desired 1t at any time, but there
were two reasons which prevented him.
The first is, that although he had made up
his mind 10 desert you and your cause be-
fore the introduction Of the resolutions, he
saw the hazard. aud was unwilling to take
that step hastily. The Missouri resolu-
tions forced him 10 disclose his intentions,
aad 10 proclaim his deserlion before he
was fully prepared to execute his design,
and hence The depth TO which they have
excited his ire. The other is, that he had
TOO much discretion TO address sucn far
rago 10 body too well informed to be i'm
posed upon by old, stale aud oft,repealed
charges. lie knew besides that they would
have been promptly met and repelled, and
tha, the an,idole would go with. the poison.
lie knew this from experience. He had
tried it before. 1t failed most signalIy.
1t was in the session of 1647, few
days after had introduced the resolutions.
In that attack he paraded, nearly in the
same words, all that he has charged in
this, about the Florida treaty, Texas. aud
almost every other subject. lie had taken
time and prepared deliberately. II was
given out that ho would demolsh me.
The Senate was crowded by those who
wished to witness the sacrifice. / rose and
repelIed off hand his charges. l leave
those who were prcsen: to decide With
what effect. Ii was certainly not 10 his
qualification or satisfaction. He did not
even attempt rejoiuder. But what be-
comes of his apology, that he had no
chance to reply to my resolution? They
had been introduced but shortly before,
and then ho had full chance to answer
them. He then assailed every act of my
life, which he thought he could distor,, SO
as 10 make a plausible charge against me,
Why then omit to answer resolutions which
he now holds up as tho worst and most
Objectionable Of all? Can any answer be
given, except that he is either mol sincere,
in what he asserts, or that the time had
not then arrived. at which he could safely