Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-25

s IN anot whether ba will consent to chains at ALL
but whether the links to be round or square wns
her he will bare his shoulders 70 the asn put VIVA,
the color of the cowhide with which they are inflicted o
when consent 10 ask myself such questions nope tne walls
Of this Capitol will fall upon me and crush me. Wnen
stop to nqGe into the degree Of oppression rather nan tne
fact shall Gel that degradation has reached is lowest dee
and existence is but the privilege TO be infamous.
Mr. President have endeavored to showand that the
extent Of the task proposed to myself this occasionhat
the Senator from MISSISSIPPI a. least mas no sn % aever
done we have had the sancioA Of his authority pray them
that the next time he has occasion to administer rebuke he
will deal with more mildly than heretofore.
Mr.. FOOTE. regret very much, Mr. President, that
feel compelled selfdeence to occupy again the at
tenon Of this body defening, certainly do most pro-
foundry other gentlemen Of the Senate far better quahed
than myself to eucae the great questions now under con-
alteration but sir all that could not remain 81
lent without mourning less of dscred and being
subjected msconstrucon both to my acts and
motives could not fail to respond to part al least Oh
what has fallen from the lips of the honorable Senator from
Alabama, Mr CLEsESs, mysslfto be wholly
unworthy Of occupying place in this august legislative as
semby But Mr. President, beg to assure ths senate ano
the country that entertain such an exalted estimate Oh 'ne
great objects for which struggling tnat nave re-
solved under no circumstances whatever to be drawn into
controversy merely Of personal character whilst this measure
of compromise is pending shall be induced, by any
provocaves which be 70 turn ASIDE from ne
Of those grave which should engage our
whole attention, for the purpose OF parciPang NOSE lue
hvaes which have in way or other lately iound tne
way into this debate Nounknd feelings have been
in my bosom upon the present occasion by the honorable
Senator from Alabama, have at any time cherish
ed feelings towards him which could induce me to seek that
sort Of heated and almost dscourteous dsPutanon io
which it would seem that the honorable Senator from Ala
bama has such decided procivty The path OF Senate
rial duty lies plainly before me, raversing the platform OF
the constitution, midway between uraism IN the North
and in the South and shall endeavor to tread u nrmiy
and calmly without deviating either the right to
the left and without faterng before any obstacles which
the ingenuity Of honorable gentlemen may conure into exist
which the spirit of vain and ultess may
conve for my annoyment The relations of friendship here
toore existing between the honorable Senator from Alabama
and myself and which he has been kind to as
still existing, will be broken up, even temporarily sus
pended by any of mine will be my fault H. alter
this debate we shall be better friends than before
though deem my duty to defend myself with such ability
possess against the assament which has been praced
upon meto character as lar as possible from me
charge gross and ridiculous inconsistency which has been
preferred and make good also of those positions here
toore assumed and which have been erce assaed
by the Senator from Alabama shall seek to refrain entirely
from the employ of those terms OF nvecve OF which we
have had soremakabe specimen supplied this morning
shall denounce traitor to the South because ne
chances with to the general character OF the mea-
sure before by nnuendo endeavo to throw
the odum of eaey the rights and interests OF the South
Southern Senator conclude not to vote forhe
bill after shall have undergone such amendment as may be
supposed by its friends to need shall even charge the
influence Of bad motives upon those gentlemen any such
there should be- who may found hereafter cooperating with
the adversares of the South in laying the bill upon the table,
amending bring aboutis deeatin some indirect
mode. No, sir repeat, shall call no man traitor Tor
doing any these things and regret that the honorable gen.
eman from Alabama has thought proper to employ language
towards myself which would to imply belief that my
own conduct deserved so harsh an epithe
Mr.. CLEMENS. called man traitor, either di-
recty or indirectly. was speaking of myself.
Mr.. FOOTE. very glad to hear the disclaimer.
From the in which the honorable Senator expressed
himself could hardly put any other construction upon his
words than that which affixed TO them. The honorable
Senator from Alabama, in speaking Of certain letter writer
having far overvaued my poor standing public man
to give credit for having acquired national reputation,
said that quite easy establish the sort OF national
reputation thus attributed by the aid Of certain
chose to proue traitor to the interests Of the South
These possibly not the precise words employed by the
honorable Senators but understood him to say much as
this in substance.
Mr.. CLEMENS. WAS speaking of myself, and said that
/ could do it.
Mr.. FOOTE. am glad to hear the explanation, for
must say that at the time uttered supposed an
ausion to myself
Mr.. CLEMENS. Not at ALL
Mr.. FOOrB. am reoiced hear that such the fact
though think friend from Alabama will find that he was
not altogether ccumspect in his phaseoogy he
rally IS But his present disclaimer Of all unknd meaning is
perfectly satisfactory The honorable Senator from Alabama
has supplied with example of oratocal self repe
tition which, least, little striking He has
read in our hearing, quite copiousy from haangue Of his,
time since delivered in this chamber and which at the
time of its delivery awakened much attention both here and
elsewhere. Whether the honorable gentleman may not have
been actua,ed much by desire brilliant specimen
Of rhetoric from being forgotten by wish ed upon
the points under discussion, shall not undertake to de-
eide do not object this reappearance among us OF the
speech my honorable end do regard its being
delivered all in violation of the laws Of
criticism Certain it that he is without high authority
in support Of what he has done in the matters since all
know that Demoshenes delivered of his Onhrae oraons
second tme by different name after inter venng period
of some fifteen years distinguished orator OF our own
country member this body, isknown to have deliver
ed twelve fifteen pages of speech popular edu
trvsro and TIM ad-
mrers of this gentlemans intellectual powers will
cordngy find the matter printed twice in the three
volumes of his speeches portion OF two distinct orations
My honorable friend from Alabama, them may well defend
himself against the charge Of having been at all indelicae
egotsca this occasion, in reading copousy from his
recently delivered speech by falling back for authority
upon the high examples which have just cited. Really,
hough feel authorized complain that my honorable friend
not satisfied with being allowed reproduce his speech
again but has undertaken to hold responsible
for all the views contained in it. Now, as make great
preparation ofsny kind think that will be regardless qte
sufficient by all liberal minded to hold responsible for
all my oatorica indiscetons and to release from
any sponsbiy account of the SINS either of omission
commission, in this line, whchmay chance be commit
ted by others,
The honorable Senator, by way Of making Of
rank Inconsistency against me- avered that had sanctioned
his read and then declared that he had doubt
that would pronounce it altogether reasonable In
both these points, it nae, the Senator aborng
under deluson In the first place. have certainly
honorable eenemans speech all though certain that
felt sat3ed, Of his early friends that he had made
SO brilliant exhibition in body. Nor do recol-
iect that read the speech of IT, in lfe