The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-18

who have, since Congress met, thrust themselves
forward as its special advocates had done so with
out being well enough informed of whas they were
endeayoring to do There had been constant
laundering. There had been vindication offered
by these special advocates which would have
damned any administration. Among those who
thus had attempted to defend the Administration,
he did not number the Senator from kentucky and
other able men, who rather seemed disposed 10
| thrust themselves forward without knowing what
| they were about. He insisted on the immediate
passage of the resolution, act of justice to the
memory of the illustrious dead.
| MIR. DAWSON had no desire to participate in
the discussions but he thought it due to the country
and to the Senate that the facts attending this
ate whether it was not painful to hear Senators in
duge in charges, against members Of any party, OF
attempting TO conceal the acts Of the Administra-
! tion The Senator from Illinois had called ON the
Democratic Senators to help to get at something
which, he sad the Wing side desired to keep hid
den, covered up, and concealed. And what was it
which they were charged with desiring to conceal /?
His Democratic friend from Alabama had intro
duced resolution, doubtless with a proper feel
ing, to obtain certain information in the House a
resolution of similar character had been present
ed, and was frat adopted. On Monday last, when
this resolution came up here, he had spoken 10 the
Senator from Alabama, and suggested that it be
laid over until the answer made to the resolution of
the House had been examined, and that possibly
that answer might suffice for his resolution. That
suggestion acquiesced in, and the resolution
laid over, and there the matter has rested till
this morning. Was there any Executive interfcr-
ence here to prevent inquiry Was there any
thing in all this showing desire, on the part Of
the Wing Senators, to conceal any thing? The
| Senator from Alabama suspected nothing, and let
the resolution lie over. The Senator from Con-
necticut this morning had made but the same re-
quest he had on Monday, and the Senator from
Alabama, as he had then done, said, let the resolu
ton lie on the table. Senators certainly had not
| heard this.
Mr. FOOTE. ! did not hear il.
I Mr.. DAWSON thouDht the horses had Done off
before the drum had been tapped. Now, the SEN
ator from Illinois calls upon his Democratic friends
to help him to uncover some acts of the Admin
istration which he thinks, from these simple
movements, the Wings of this body desire to con-
ceal. No Senator, Wing or Democrat, had at
tempted to conceal any thing relating to the acts
of General Taylor. General Taylor would not ask
from Illinois calls upon his friends to aid him in
bringing to light something which is to be very
dreadful when it does appear. He would vote for
the resolutions when satisfied that it required
He had the same motives for having the informa-
ton as the Senator from Alabama had
MIR. DOUGLAS said the Senator from Georgia
had read him a lecture upon Senatorial decorum,
which, he thought, might have been omitted. If
that Senator had listened to the debate, and had
paid attention to what had been said by the Sena-
tor from Connecticut, he would have perceived
that the Senator from Connecticut had stated
things showing that he must have been in consulta
| ton with the Cabinet before making opposition to
this resolution and had tried to evade this rcsolu
ton, or at least modify it that things called
for by it should not be required to be given, The
lecture would have been more applicable to the
Senator from Connecticut, the accredited organ Of
the Administration, who, when charged with try
ing to evade this resolution for the purpose of pro-
tecting the Administration, had become one
struck dumb.
Mr.. DAWSON said he had not uttered word
but what should have come home to the breast Of
every honorable man. He understood the Senator
from Connecticut to have moved to lay this resolu-
for the purpose Of taking up other resolutions,
cocted by him and the Senator from New York,
which would lead to no debate. He did not under
stand the motion as being made for the purpose of
defeating the inquiry.
Mr. DOUGLAS asked why the Senator had al
ready moved three times to lay the resolution on
the table?
Mr. DAWSON said that the motion had been
made and withdrawn, and renewed again.
Mr. DICKINSON said the Senator from Georgia
was mistaken in supposing that he and the Senator
from Connecticut were interested in the same
utions. They were very different ones, though
the object has been the same
Mr. SMITH said that after what had taken place
and what had been said he felt perfectly satisfied that
he was understood by the Senate, and proper self
respect induced him to take notice ofthe gratu-
tous imputations of the Senator from Illinois, That
Senator might amuse himself as long he pleased
by making such statements, and would receive no
notice. He had entered the Senate with determi-
nation never to engage in the miserable business of
elimination and recrimnation. He was willing
every thing that had taken place should go before
the country As to the parts of the resolution which
required notifications, they were those asking
whether census had been taken, whethera right of
suffrage established and whether there had any
election districts been laid o-things that all knew
had not been done. He would not, after what had
taken place, renew the motion TO lay on the table,
but would leave IL for the Senate TO make what dis
position il thought fit of the resolution.
Mr. BUTLER thought the Senator from Alabama
entitled to some courtesy, he being the author of
the resolution; and if he desired it should lay on
the table, II should be done. If the inquiry con-
tanned in the resolution had been answered already
this resolution was unnecessary. IL cumula-
tive. He had never supposed any Senator was dis
posed TO screen the Administration from inquiry.
There seemed TO be an impatience in relation to
this child California. And at the last session of
Congress the Senator from Illinois was 80 impatient
that he wanted bring the child forth before It had
head, feet, limbs, or lungs TO breathe with He
would say, however, in regard TO California, If she
was admitted into the Union, IL should be in
manner different from that of any other State
Mr.. FOOTE disclaimed any intention of charg-
ing any one with design to screen the Admins
tration The Senator from Connecticut, by his at
tack on the illustrious dead, blamable for the
Mr.. CLEMENS said he hoped no one would vote
upon this subject with regard TO any courtesy TO
him. He asked no courtesy, but desired every man
TO vote according to his sentiments. II had become
the fashion 70 debate every thing but the question
pending The question now IL, not whether the
information sought by this resolution is necessary
that was the question the other day when the Sena
tor from Illinois moved TO lay this resolution on the
table, and, by his vote, had decided that question.
The question now is, whether this information has
not already been communicated. He felt sur
prised at the newborn zeal Of the Senator from
illinois, who had, when this resolution was pend
ing, voted TO lay IL the table, and had postponed
this inquiry till IL had become stale. That Sena-
tor, by his vote, had shown he not in favor OF
the inquiry being made, and, when IL has been
swered, he is now advocating the adoption OF the
resolution.
Mr.. DOUGLAS regretted that the Senator from
Alabama had charged him with being the cause of
having postponed this resolution. When Il came
up the other day, he had, with view TO take up
some unimportant resolutions which called for
debate, moved 10 lay the resolution on the
table, promising 10 move 10 take IL up again in
hour. Could the Senator from Alabama charge
him with being the cause Of postponing the resolu
ton Fifteen minutes after he had made the mo-
ton, he had called on the Senator from Alabama,
and told him that he would, If II was desirable,
then move to take up the resolution. The Senator
replied that the resolution had been laid on the Ia
bic by a northern vote that he had attained his
object, and wished now TO show the people of the
South that the professions Of friendship the part
Of the North false, and that resolution OF in
had kco,, at,A od LoI