The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-21
THE REPUBLIC.

tract what he had said but the Senator from Ken
4 lucky says he has gone over 10 the other side.
| MIR. CLAY explained. He did not say that Fa-
| Their Mathew had retracted; but that his feelings,
and his course Of action ON the subject, had under
gone such change, that he could not partic-
pate In any controversy on the subject
| Mr.. HALE had read the papers at the time
Father Mathew in Boston, and the pro-
ceedings of the anti-slavery society; and, from
what he could learn, Father Mathew what is
| called Union man, or had taken his stand on
the Democratic platform of non intervention. He
would vote for the resolution grounds wholly
| unconnected with slavery; he would vote for it be-
cause of the great achievements in the cause of hui
manty and philanthropy. The Senator from Mis-
sissippi had said that if he had the power he would
exclude from this Senate every Abotionist, foreign
or domestic. Now he (Mr. H. would not go so
far as to exclude all the shareholders; but about
| the time for organizing committees, he would go
for excluding about three ffths of them, and then
| there might be equlibrity in the organiza-
| ton OF those committees than was displayed day
| or two since.
Mr. BADGER said no good could arise from this
debate, and he opposed TO the resolution, if
no Senator desired TO speak, he would move to lay
| it on the table.
| Mr. CASS desired to say few words. He re-
GREETED the of the opposition to this rcsolu-
| ton. He joined with the Senator from Kentucky
| In deprecating the opposition, and the of
| that opposition. He knew nothing, and cared no
thing for the sentiments or opinions of Father Ma
thew, other than what had been stated to- day. He
| thought that the evidence of the Senator from New
| Hampshire, who good authority should do
away with the difficulty which was presented to the
passage of the resolution. He had read in the pa
pers his views expressed to the Abolitonists of hos
| ton, in which he had told them that he could have
nothing to do with them the subject of slavery.
This was proper. 1t would have been improper for
him to have expressed any opinion on the subect he
was a stranger coming into the country on mis-
sion to do good. Why, then, discuss slavery here
in connection with this subject? Sufficient unto
the day Is the evil thereof therefore do not bring
the subject prematurely before the Senate it will
| come time enough; and do not upon such subject
| attempt to make test. Father Mathew is philan-
| thropst. He comes here on great mission-not
like Howard to carry ray Of hope into the darkest
cell; but he comes to save the sinking, to support
the wavering, to strengthen and shield the strong.
This Is philanthropy is exalted virtue. Why,
| then, object to the compliment? You give to the
conqueror who returns FROM the field seat in this
Senate-why not give to this greater conqueror,
| who conquers by the powers of peace?
MIR. DAVIS, of Mississippi, remarked that this
was mistake. The officers of the Mexican war
who received thanks from Congress only ad-
mitted.
Mr.. CASS SAID there was a standing resolution to
the effect But, if there never was such case be-
fore, he would make one now, and pass this resolu-
ton. There never was such man, engaged in
| such a cause, come amongst us before, and he
would make his case an exception to all others.
Mr.. FOOTE had sailed too long in the ship di-
rected by the experienced pilot who had just taken
his seat, and at the masthead of which plainly
| cond this motion He agreed with all that had
| been just said He agreed with all that had been
said by the Senator from Alabama, Mr. .CLEMENs;)
he agreed with all that had been said by his chival
ric colleague And if he like them, could take it
| for granted that Father Mathew had come among
| them as an incendiary, he would, like them, turn
! from him with loathing and disgust. The speech
| of the Senator from New York was the strangest
| he had ever heard III the Senate. That Senator
had attempted to draw Father Mathew into the
party OF Abolitionists to which he belonged. But,
that good man had already had his eyes opened TO
this subject. He had turned from the Abolitoniss
with adherence and disgust. When visited by
Garrison, the Apostle of Temperance had stood
| trm, consistent, and dignihed, and had placed
himself firmly on the ground of non intervention.
He had heard, within an hour or so, that letters
had been addressed 10 Father Mathew from the
South on this subject; and that he had responded,
but desired his responses should not be pub
llshed. IL those responses were published, the
Senator from New York would not have had
the opportunity, 50 rudely and inconsiderately
seized upon, to identify the philanthropst with the
most infamous cause OF Abolitionisrn. There were
some men who would ruin any cause of which they
took hold, and the Senator from New York was an
evidence of it. There was once two men charged
with crime, trial, and their defence was en-
trusted to young and inexperienced attorney,
who managed the case most awkwardly, and, by
his mode OF commenting on the evidence, had dis
spated any doubts to the guilt of one of his eli
ents; when, about commencing with the of the
other, the judge said to him, young man, you have
already by your speech hung one of your clients;
forbear, then, bcsecch you, or you will hang the
other" So IL with the Senator from New
York, who, by his ILL timed and rudely managed
speech, had endangered the passage Of this
luton.
Mr.. F., at length, pursued the political his
tory Of the Senator from New York, (Mr. SEwARp,)
and commented with much freedom upon his politi-
cal acts, governor, and before the people; and
understood To attribute the support this reso
luton by the Senator from New York coming
from desire TO secure the Irish vote for himself in
the election for President in 1852.
Mr.. MANGUM had witnessed many scenes in
this chamber, that he not surprised at the one
now presented. He regarded the resolution as
wholly unnecessary. Every Senator knows that
each day persons introduced on this floor by
members, and Father Mathew could have come
upon this floor without the least question But the
resolution introduced, and, being introduced,
he would vote for it. But if there a where
a new rule might be made, and any one introduced
by resolution, this case of Father Mathew the
one He is the man who has done more than any
other in the cause of humanity. He is the philan-
| thropist of the age. Mr.. Nj. neither knew nor
| cared what his sentiments in regard TO slavery
were. The institutions of the South based on
grounds too hrm and too safe to be endangered
by passing resolution comforting privilege upon
a man who a benefactor TO his race. Ifno pre-
cedent existed for this resolution, he willing
establish one now by passing il in this case, to
honor man who had directed all his efforts 10 cut
off the roots Of that evil from which all others and
all crimes sprung He would have been glad 10
have given him a more substantial tribute
| Mr.. BUTLER was surprised when the resolution
was offered, because il something unusual
and entirely without precedent. As To the views of
| the reverend gentleman named in the resolution,
| he had happened 10 be at Columbia, in his State,
when a message or letter was received there from
| Father Mathew in reply TO one addressed him on
| the subject by Judge Lumpkin, Of Georgia. That
reply was, in substance, that he (Fatber NJ de-
sired to keep aoof from all political parties Of the
| country. His view was, that the question should
be left to the people TO settle they thought pro-
per not opposed to the South, but very liberal.
But, Mr. b. opposed TO it on the ground
that il was establishing very bad, and, in time,
would be troublesome, precedent With all
| spect TO Father Mathew, he did not desire TO put
him on the same footing as Lafayette. The honors
conferred by the Senate ought not to be cheapencd
| Mr.. DICKINSON thought the resolution was sim
| ply 10 confer an honor ON good gentleman from
| the old country, on the ground that he great
| phanthropist and reformer. The resolution was
| unnecessary, but, being introduced, he would vote
| for II, without going behind before il 10 meet
l questions that would arise soon enough
| Mr.. BADGER agreed with his colleague that
| the resolution ought not TO have been introduced,
but would not support IL because il introduced