Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-08
Mp FooTE AND MR. CALHOUN

hearing the speech Of Mr. Webster. He then proceed
ed with many expressions of respect and admiration for
the senior Senator from South Carolina to take excep
ton to some Of the sentiments of his speech read on
Monday. Mr. F. said
feel bound to declare, that in my opinion, the
speech OF thehoncrable Senator from South Carolina
was drawn up without consultation with any other
Southern Senator and that no other Senator would be
willing to become responsible for those portions to
which have already alluded, being, n my judgment,
SO decidedly Objectionable At any rate, sir have de
ermined, Southern Senator, not yet desparing,
thank God OF the Union, and still resolved to struggle
perseverngly for its maintenance il it may be maintain
ed consistently with Southern honor and Southern safe
ty say sir, have resolved to lose no time in enter
ing my protest against such parts of the speech OF the
honorable Senator from South Carolina as deem likely
to inure instead of beuefttng the in behalf Of
which il delivered
Mr.. F. went to protest against Mr.. Cahoun's po-
sition that the So nth should require amendment OF
the Constitution, condition which he said was impos-
sble OF performance. Mr.. Calhoun appearing in his
seat during this portion OF Mr. Foote'S remarks Mr.. F.
hoped he would explain to the country whether he
meant to insist upon this alteration Of the constitution
a sine qua non.
This proposition is an additional obstruction to the
immediate settlement OF the questions pending; it
is proposition which has not originated with any por
ton Of The people OF the South and one which, if in
sisted on will procrastnate settlement, as | verify
believe will make disunion ineuiiable. "Now, sir, |
beg leave to say, and wish TO say it very earnest
ly and very solenly, that quite satisfied with the
constitution as framed by our wise and patriotic loretta
TIERS entirely content with its existing provisions,
if can but secure their faithful enforcement. am
for the constitution and its guarantees. [ am for
the Union provided for and deneaed in that sacred
instrument
Mr. F., however, earnestly affirmed his confidencein
the purity of Mr.. Calhoun's motives and his ardent
love for the Union !" (Credat Judeus!") He con-
cluded by farther protesting against Mr. Calhouns
tment that the whole North is hostile to the interests
of the South and referred to the late Tammany Hall
letters Of Senators Cass and Dickinson.
Mr. BUTLER, without having conferred with his col
league, rose and sad-(Mr. CALHOUN being in his
seat
did not understand my colleague to say that the
Upion could not be sustained with its present organza
ton, with established and fixed majority, or that the
existing difficulties might not be patched up by compro
misses to a certain limited EXTENT but understood him
to say distincy-and such was the whole tenor of his
speech-that if this Union WINS to be made perpetual,
he wished to have it in two essential overwhelmingly
among its members and OF selfsecurty in every
part | understood my colleague thus far to indicate
his opinion; and, by way OF summing up, he said res
tore harmony by doing JUSTICE by complying with the
obligations OF the constitution, by making provision
the part of the North for the restoration of fugitive
slaves; and more you wished this Union to be pepe-
ua and love OF to exist IN the hearts OF the people
of the South if you wished her to have the security
her property which you protested it would be best for
you, as it would be best for all or at least desirable
thing, that provision be made in the constitution
by which the weaker party in the Union could have this
sense of security, and by which it could be protected
from the aggressions of numerical majority.
Mr. CALHOUN, lin his seat) What is the question
before the Senate! Is their any, sir!
The VICE PRESIDENT. There is question pen
ding.
greet that member OF this body, in my absence this
morning before the hour for the consideration Of this
question: should have engaged in commenting on my
remarks in reference TO the mpotantquesiion that is
under discussion. had not the advantage of hearing
the remarks of the Senator from Mississippi Did he
accuse me of dsunion? Did he mean to nsnuate
that I!
Mr.. FoorE. l regret that the honorable Senator was
not in his place NV only reason'for referring TO the
matter at this time that did not expect the hon
orabe Senator to be here; | thought that he was too
much ndisposed to be present; and believing that
should have other opportunity for seasonaby shield
ing myself from msjudgement, determined to seize
the present occasion for that purpose.
Now, ] will say to the honorable Senator from South
Carolina that had not the sightes intention impute
to him designs hostile to the Union said that his
tves were patriotic. He will find my remarks when
ported in the morning. to be somewhat in bad taste, be-
cause exceedingly encomiastlc in relation to himself
All that said was, that his speech, given to with the
construed as feared they would be construed, would
be regarded insisting, on the part OF the South, upon
demands that had neyer before been up and which
might prove fatal to the Union, if not abandoned In
other words understood the view OF the honorable
Senator to be-and know that other honorable Sena-
tors so understood hlm-that all amendment OF the
stution would be sane qua non to settlement OF eX
listing difficulties and declared that, II the honorable
Senator designed to be so understood could not agree
with him that had never been consulted in relation
TO this point aud that believed the honorable Senator
from South Carolina would find himself quite alone in
regard to this requson. employed uncivI or dis
respectful language towards that Senator. Every Sc
nator present we'll knows such to be the tact. ven
tured 10 differ with him in opinion as had right to
do. took the liberty of stating my own opinion, in
opposition to his, clearly and strongly as could
This, hope, was not impous orlndecen or unalowa-
ble Whilst aspire to he the leader OF no man, wish
tito be understood that recognise man, either here
or elsewhere, as my leader. menace no one, aud
will submit to no menace; command no one, and
will Weld to no commands. | show courtesy and
shall certainly exact it from all with whomI may have
intercourse. Gentlemen who venture boldly upon the
of debate here must expect sometimes to have their
tavorite positions questioned and their arguments
sponded and they have no right to presume unknd-
merely the ground that their speeches are not
| permitted to go wholly unanswered.
Mr. CALHOUN. My friend from Mississippi might have
been saved from the necessity OF making these SOLEMN
protests that he has followed leader for have
| never pretended to be the leader Of any man. When
speak speak for myset-upon my individual response
bjlity-and not for the Senator from Missspp nor any
other Senator Sir desire that my words Shall 20 ont
and be received by the public they stand and not as
they may be attempted to be explained here by any
gentleman.
Mr.. President, the Senator from Mississippi has un-
fortunately overlooked the character OF my remarks
What the great object had in view! 1t was 10 as
certain the cause Of the disquet which prevails and
could overlook that which so obviously to be
traced to the utter inability OF the Southern States to
defend themselves through Congress- upon this or any
other subject upon which the Northern States choose to
act7 Could that be overlooked 1t is the great and ma
nfest cause. 1t we had the same power now that we
had formerly, could defend ourselves here but that
power is gone And is the sense of weakness that The
South ees-it the conviction that they cannot defend
themselves here that is the OF the deep excitement
Vhich prevails in that section OF the Union Could
overlook that! And what was my summing up? It
was that unless this question is finally and forever set
tied now, it is probable that it will be settled at any
future time and that be satisfactorily settled
unless the cause which has led to that dsquiet be re-
moved | said nothing about sine qua non; | did not
alude to any sine qua nOn-that is an inference of the
Senator from Mississippi not to be deduced from any
language that fused.
But will say, and say it boldly-for | am NOT
afraid to say the truth any dueson-that, as things
now stand, the Southern States cannot with safety re-