The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-07-25

IL is apparent iIolD tilC I'dPci hop "h'Nt az
draws his statement, that MIR. Monroe had
no doub, as to the power of Congress. J
then, in order to command majority, would
have had to control the other members
against hun. which Col. Benton seems to
think could have done very easily, if had
thought proper. He seems 10 have most
cx! ated opinion of my abilities. far more
so than | have Of his. Wherever ! am
placed. whether in Mr.. Monroe's or Mr.. Ty-
Icrs' Cabinet whether in the Senate or IN
prepared to execute his design, and hence
the House of Representatives, Or i'll the
char OF the vice President, alone, in his
opinions, am responsible on all qncsllons.
have now traced him through tho long
process by which he attempts to prove that
| am the author of the Wimot ProvIso, aud.
bv consequence, of all the mi ehtv evils, that
have followed in It's train, and which lie cX-
hibits with so much parade; but after all
mighty as he represents them to be, ihey
arc not so much SO, as to prevent him from
declaring himself to be WIlmot Frovlsn
man. He follows up his charge, by asserting
,fa, the effects of disclosing the opinion ot
the cabinet bv Mr.. Dix, introducing the pa.
per, compelled me 10 close my llps' and
abandon nv resolutions, and to give up my
intention of making them subject of gen
cral debate at the next session, with the IN
,ention, to use his own language. to make
chance for myself at the next Presidential
election. bv getting up test winch no north
crn man could stand. All lhIs is Just as er-
roncous. both as to facts and differences, as
are his statements and reasons, in his VAIN
ATTEMPT to make me The author OF tho WI
mot Prnvisn.
If bv abandoning my resolutions, he
means. that it compelled me I" abandon
their principles, on a single position taken
bv them, or to be silent, as to the cnnstltu-
tioraI power of Congress over the territories,
his assertion would he false throughout. The
resolutions were in lroduced as he states, the
10Th day of Feb. ls47, near the oose OF the
short session. Go far from abandoning them
or from keeping silent discussed the prln-
ciples on which we rest IN the dcbaic, on
The bill to establish the Territorial govern
mcnt Of Oregon at great length. at The next
session, and established them by argument
that have never vet, anil ! will venture to
say. never will he T., futcd: Few have un-
dcr,akcn TO rcfu,c them, and those, VIII"
thavc undertaken it. signay failed. Others,
Ike Col. Benton, have taken the more pTu.
den, course, tncry out Grcbrand-dsuiiun-
instead Of attempting TO rctutc them.
But If lie means, that was deferred from
introducing nv resolutions al tho next scs-
J4s;e.. hy the cause which he assigns, SIM
pie statement of facts will give his assertion
a fla, contradiction. He has made his state
mcnt 81 as To make the impression, that hr.
DIX introduced the paper at the same time
that introduced my resolutions, or at iarih-
est. carly the next session for otherwise,
it would not suffice to show. that 1t was
owing to its Introduction, and the disclosure
i, made that was deferred from lnlrodu-
cling them as he states The fact is rot So.
The session commenced the first Monday OF
December. lS47, and Mr. Dix did not intro
ducc the paper until the 26th July, 1918.
nearly ciyht months subsequent. and one
month after had fully discussed the prlncl'
pies of my resolutions. Did he see, that all
this would have been manifest at once with
out a word from nc. if he had given the
dates? and was not that his reason lor not
giving them!
Con. Benton seems to be conscious that
it was necessary for him to explain why nc
had not assaild my resolutions, and the base
and corrupt motives he attributes To me tpr
introducing them. long bclurc and in his place
in the Senate. lie asserts, that mt. Cal:
houn,s resolutions arc those oi the Missouri
Legislature. They arc identical. One Is
copied from the other When the original
is inyadatcd, the copy is OF no avail. am
answering his resolutions. and choose To 90
! it. 1t is Just and proper that should do so.
lie is the prime mover and the head con'rl'
vcr ! have had no chance to answer nm
in the Senate, and It will not do to let HIM
take snapjudgcmcnt upon me in Missouri
in carrying disunInn resolutions III my own
State, which he has been forced to abandon
in the Senate. Duty to the country forces
me to answer him, and personal reasons re-
iufnrcc lha, public duty
HIS explanation then is, that notwIlhstand.
ing his burning zeal to defend the Union and
his own character against these wicked re-
solutions, she could gel no chance before to
answer them" What could get no chance
from February. lS47, until June, ls49, Qhe
date of his speech period of upwards OF
two years Could get no chance when they
were first introduced and discussed None
during the long season which followed, and
which lasted more than eight months None,
during the long and full discussion on the
Oregon Territorial bill, when the principles
Of tho resolutions formed Tic basis OF the ar
pumcnt on the side of tho South None, to
reply to me. who fully discussed, and may
say established them beyond controversy!
None, duriug the discussion ofthe Report Of
! :, q IL .,.h;nh Ar (lnvinn