Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-04-25
BENTON AND BORLAND.

In SENATE, MONDAY, April %.
MIR. Benton, after concluding his photographed ar
gunen against the lacking OF bills together proceeded
as follows:
1 am opposed to this lacking. L have resisted it from
the beginning, and have endeavored to restrain it by
Offering instructions to be the committee. The
Senate voted down the Instructions and that they had
right to do but a Senator, now his seattle Sena-
tor from Arkansas who sits to the right, tMr Borand)
said something OF my conduct and motives in relation
to the instructions which think he had right say
and which have right to notice. He said:
IT is sort OF expedient tor consuming the time OF
the Senate and delaying its legitimate business; of
legislative tilng which can neither approve nor hest
tate to condemn
This what that Senator said; and as that Senator
and myself have not been on speaking terms for good
while, hold that he was bound by the feelings, well
as by the rules of decorum, he felt himself called
upon to remark upon my speech, to contne himself to
the argument, and carefully abstain from personality
The Senator from Arkansas did not abstain: he i'm
plunged my motives and conduct, and that when l
right, and he assumed an official superiority which do
not admit he says he did not approve my conduct
TO approve dsapprove, is the office of superior.
and know of official superiority which entities him
to exercise that office me.
lie says that he GOES not hesitate to condemn my
conduct. Now, condemnation is the office Of Judge,
and the Senator from Arkansas is not my Judge and
if he was so in any case which concerned my life, |
would certainly pray change of venue He says that
my conduct was legislative trng, and an expedlent to
delay the legitimate business of the Senate. This is
censure, which do not receive, and have shown in
This DAYS eXnDlu0n OF parliamentary law that had
right to do what ddin fact, that was right in what
| did and of course that one had right to sayI
trltled and delayed business. And now why this per-
severing attempt TO connect California with other sub
Jects, contrary to parliamentary law, and injurious to
her, and to all safe legislation E. Why this perseve-
ring attempt do what all feel to be wrong in principle
wrong In law and injurious in practice! Why is it =
For fear of the dissolution of the Unon-tear OF the
Nash vile Convention. We are to make the conunc-
ton under that fear; Sir it would have weight with
me if the fear was real-if the Nashville Convention
s ha IN fhoo to
ter OF things which are passed. As l said of it some
days ago, It'll Sa procession which has passed by-has
crossed the stage-made its ext-and the curtain has
dropped upon It, Its no longer thing for any body
to be afraid ONO longer spectre legislation
But have gone farther than | intended. l only in
tended in support of the motion which have made,
establish the parliamentary law, and to show that the
lacking OF any bill to the California bill would be fla
grant violation of that law This is all that intended
at present. The full discussion of the whole subject.
under all its aspects OF insult and injury to California
embarrassment to legislation illegally and danger, will
be more properly in order when The amalgamation bill
shall be brought inf one shall in and to that
period adjourn my speech. Then the war will begin.
MIR. BoRLAND L am very sorry, Mr.. President, to
have to trouble the Senate with any remarks in con-
nexion with myself. 1t has always been my wish and
my purpose, when gaddress the Senate, to address it
upon some subject connected with the business before
the Senate, and not in any way my remarks
with individuals who have anything to do with the bu-
mess before this body. trust, sir, know too we'll
swhat is due alike to myself and to the Senate to DO
thrustng myself forward with my own feelings and my
own concerns, to nauseate the Senate with dose OF
egotlsm. l should feel that | Justly under the
censure and condemnation OF every Senator if should
so far forget myself, forget what becoming in
any man occupying seat on this floor, either Tor the
short time il has been my fortune to be here for
longer periodt could so far forget what was due to
myself or the Senate to speak OF myself and obtude
my feelings upon the notice OF this body. But, sir,
remark made by the honorable Senator from Missouri
seems to make necessary in order that may be I'M
derstood by all who heard him, that | should say a
word in explanation.
A. 7 40
the motion rather upon the series Of propositions,
which he submitted to the Senate and upon which the
Senate had to vote. He says characterized those pro-
positions as legislative trpg for the purpose of con-
Stunning time. Mr. President, it me that fair
Interpretation of that remark could certainly apply
to the person of that Senator, any other person.
spoke of propositions before the Senate and expressed
my opinion of them, and the effect they were likely to
have, and the only effect they could have. And the
effect which majority of this Senate, think,
with me in saying they would have, if they had any al
ALL would be an unnecessary consumption OF the time
OF the Senate And think that all will agree with
me that any proposition whatever, any amendment
tousy the time of this body-a body in which
the whole country looks for useful and practical egs-
ations legislative trihng, and nothing else That is
The VICE PRESIDENT The Senator is not at liberty
to apply an intention of that kind to any Senator.
Mr.. BoRLAND. Will the Chair allow me to say that.
in the hrst place, said that such remark did not
and could not apply to any Senator. But respect
fully submit, Mr. President, that, it did, might
be allowed, without any great improperly, to follow
the example which has been me: for although the
Senator from Missouri has not called the conduct of
Senators here legislative trfng, he has characterized
fragrant outrage, and by every ephet which the
vocabulary of language recognises to apply oppro
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Chair makes distinc-
ton between the condemnation of measure and
that of Senator
Mr. BoRLAND. Will the Chair allow me to referto
the words used in the beginning, to show that made
no application to individuals, but show The effect of
such legislation this body. think to say nothing
OF the ustrous example which has been SET, have a
perfect right to repeat the observations which have
made, and l!thnk could appeal to the Senate
tain me. AS the Senator was permitted to make di-
rect personal aluson to me, hope may be permit
ted to make an explanation.
The VICE PRESIDENT. If the Chair has omitted pre-
vious duty in allowing personal illusions that duty
should not be, for that reason, omitted again; but the
Senator will be permitted to make personal explana-
ton
Mr.. BoRIAND. The Senator from Missouri alluded
to the personal relations existing between himself and
me, upon which ask permission to make remark,
He took occasion 10 make several illusions OF person.
al character He said, if | were Judge, and his life
was before upon trial he should ask for change of
Mr. President, can say with all sincerity, that
the Senator'S life would be perfectly safe in my hands