The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-11

Union, II is no cap-trap matter with me- | have
evidence innate OF 1t. | would rather not to
be than to be without country; and with
out Union we have no country-we can have no
home.
Mr.. BUTLER. Mr.. President, the occasion
imposes upon me the double duty of doing Justice
to the dead and Of doing justice to my colleague,
whose letter has been the subject Of COMMENT
and assure the senator from Texas that | shall
say nothing at all that will subject me to the i'm
putation oftaklng any part in this personal con-
troversy. In that | take part at all. Respect
for my friend would forbid it, Justice to the
senator himself would forbid it. But, sir, | am
bound To say that have the word of my colleague
for this statement, that he never heard Mr.. Cal
ho"n, in his life, say one word from which he
could draw any inference, or that would authorize
him to PROFOUND those heterogeneous. And so
far as myself have had any association with
Mr.. Calhoun, l never heard him speak on this
particular subject in conneXion with the senator
from Texas-and believe have the authority
l Of other friends in saying the same thing; that
these Undergraduates which have been read from the
letter Of my colleague are not traceable to any
thing that Mr. Calhoun suggested, directly
or indirectly. He was remarkable man IN one
respect. He said very little connected with pr-
waite matters, even ofmatters growing out Of his
official duties. | never heard him say anything OF
the Kind, even allude to it; and if the course of
his official duty did, in some measure, require HIM
! to give directions to the department, have no
doubt that, IN some measure, they have been the
cause OF degree, ut leasi of not very friendly
feeling towards him by the gentleman who sup
posed himself wrunged.
Now, sir, so far regards the other statement,
my colleague put these Undergraduates, as under
stand it, exclusively upon the authority of the
statements made to him, and which are contained
| believe, in book that has been published by
Gen. Thomas Jefferson Green, OF Texas.
Mr.. HOUSTON, Gin his seat.) No sir, not OF
Texas.
Mr.. BUTLER The gentleman is from Cali
| fornia now; he used to be from Texas; and am
instructed TO say that the exclusive authority for
these Undergraduates, or exclusive suggestions, to
use more proper word, grew, out or this state
/ ment, and without any discussion; so that you
have the clue, not through Mr.. Calhoun s remarks
if such an mpuation or implication could he made,
but upon the authority that have explicitly stated,
and no other This much, hope, will dispose of
that part Of the genteman's remarks.
Now, sir, in regard to another point. My
friend and colleague, have no doubt, had every
reason to believe that the inn ,uaton that had been
more than once made upon him that he had gone
| to Mississippi as secret agent of MIR. Calhoun,
! to make suggestions in some measure, or in rela-
! ton TO the Nashville Convention, were believed
and he denied 1t two or three times. II was pub
ished IN the newspapers Of this city, and had re-
ceved the approL alton, believe, Of the National
Intelliyencer. Well, sir, when these charges were
persevered IN and reiterated M very imposing
form in this body, it was well calculated to wound
his feelings man of honor; placing him, as it
did, in very unenvlmbe situation in regard to the
people of Mississippi, who had extended to him
marked hospitality. But, sir, take no part in
this controversy, and have nothing further 10 say
upon this point.
Now, sir, Of course the peroration of the homo
rable senator from Texas may be intended for rhe-
torica effect but it may have different mean
ing. shall, not, however, notice it further than
To put him and the country right. As regards the
ha
to make statement in relation to the franchise of
citizens of South Carolina, it Is not to be found IN
either the constitution or laws of that State. The
people Of South Carolina excrcise-with an am
plituJc had almost said, unparalleled in any other
State--the right Of suffrage. Every white man,
without paying dollar, either property-taX,
poll-tax, or any other kind of tax, who has ar
rived at the age of twenty-one years. and who has
a residence as prescribed by the constitution, has
a right to vote. | do not know that the same can
be said Of any other State Of the u ion This, then
is the great OBJ lection made to the institutions Of
South Carolina by one who chooses to become
commentator upon her institutions.
We'll, sir, South Carolina has not shown exact
T ly the temper and disposition Of what is called
," the progressive democracy" She has not been
one of those States that has remodclicd her nsti
tuons often or that has obeyed IN any great
measure this "great law of progress, 'us it is com
monty termed, by which, solemnly believe be-
fore high Heaven, there has been incurred more
danger to the institutions of this country than by
conservative principles such as have prevailed in
South Carolina. The people Of that State acqui-
in she laws and institutions Of the country,
and when they elect members to the legislature,
they elect them with double Office, of voting for
Governor Of the State aud President and Vice
/ President Of the United States. Then have
certain checks by which there never can be law
passed without concurrent interests, which make
it very difficult to pass a law in South Caaolina,
: nd | ihnn nt far lima
in the way, the better. Why then, sir, is she to
! be held up TO the censure of every aw-g yer who
chooses to regard himself rs Moses or II Lycur-
gus'
Justice requires that should say, in connection
with this subject that is eligible to office
there either n member of the Senate the
House of Representatives without proper quallG-
cation. That perhaps may have led in some
measure to the gentleman confounding things
that ought not to he COMPOUNDED.
believe have discharged every duty that the
occasion called for. | have done it with very lit
tie feeling for the senator's manner and every
thing else showed that, whatever muy have been
his intent otherwise, his feelings towards ndlvid-
uals are sincere. If he has committed errors,
hope he has not done it by mputng to Mr.. Cal
houn the giving Of suggestions. ! believe Mr..
Calhoun never spoke to General Wallace upon
the subject. That is my information, and, hav-
ing said thus much, have discharged my duty.
Mr.. HOUSTON. Mr.. President
The PRESIDENT. The chair will be under
the necessity of restricting any further remarks
Of this kind.
Mr.. HOUSTON. ] will occupy but moment.
| can assure the gentleman that | cast no refec-
ton upon Mr. Calhoun What | sad was, that
could not tell how the gentleman had been traced
back thirty odd years to find this error. II was
mystery to me. say, moreover, to the gentleman
that have no doubt lis explanation is perfectly
satisfactory in relation to the individual who
wrote this book. He is most notorious man; one
who is known from California to Maine | can say
that he once Inhabited Texas for time, but be-
lieve he has not been there recently. If remember
rightly, ne left there somewhat in hurry-not
much regretted by some, very much by others.
As to South Carolina and the right Of suffrage,
I said that no citizen Of South Carana, except in
"A representative capacity, had ever voted for gov
ernor or presidential electors. That was all
said Of that State and | have nothing more to add.
Now, so far the senator connected with
this matter, may say that he only acted in ac
cordance with his uniform demeanor, and has
evlnced becoming courtesy, pollteness, good
feplinr mi propriptv HI would far the