Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-05-25


against me upon this point, and he will find hav
struggled night and day, for months past the
junction OF the bills, believing aly that separate act
admission would be grossly unjust to the South and nigh
endanger the Union should have been shamefuy stupid
or faithess to those with whom was acting had sug
ged hard 10 unite these bills one comprehensive scheme
OF settlement with the intention Of afterwards aiding II
defeat.
As to the charge of inconsistency in the first place an
not guilty charged secondly, if guilty in the precise man
ne and form alleged, not appehenve Of receiving
very serious punishment at the hands Of
constituents for an offence SO trivial will inform the hon
orabe gentleman that do not up any claims to absolute
consistency, and have always held such claims by whom
soever set up not little ridiculous have been guilty
of Inconsistencies at different periods of my political life
far serious than the specified. II was my
misfortune to far as to abandon for
few months the Democratic party That is to say,
did not act with il for short period of time. But the
people of Mississippi did not punish very sgnay hs
the contrary they noby orgave me- and me here to
labor for the safety and happiness of the repubc without
regular solicitation Of that high honor their handsas
present that sent here whilst avow-
ing my desire that distinguished friend of mine should be
selected in place can assure the honorable gentleman
that he himself with that letter long he
ease am not aPprehensiye Of receiving the least det
ment from II here elsewhere.
Mr.. DAVIS. Will the Senator from Alabama allow me
say word merely in explanation Of this latter point
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair is under the
necessity of inerposng This matter germane the
subject under consideration Senators must be strictly re-
scted in their remarks the under discussion
The Senator from Alabama will proceed
Mr. CLEMENS. AS the Senator has objected to my
reading the letter, will let that pass propose try hm
by the Congressional record-by opinions not only jebe-
atey uttered but deliberately revised and corrected shall
read from of my speeches. which fully endorsed
at the time by the honorable Senator from Mississippi The
extract is in reply to question by the Senator from Ken
lucky:
W that every thing conceded by the admission of Cali
orna The whole matter in controversy terminates
The North gets all she has ever by the action
nf(
that the wrong-doer shall not profit BY his own wrong
Who among does not know that agitation in the State
Legislatures and in the national Congress has prevented
Southern emigration to California and placed the country in
the of those who have imposed this restriction Who
aggressons commenced here And who does feel that
Congress responsible for the fact that slavery has been
cluded Property is proverbiay imd The Shareholder
would carry his property there with threat hanging
him that be taken away by operation of law the
ment he landed Agitation, then, in Congresrepeated
declarations made every wherein State Legislaures-in
conventions-n the public pressrom the pulpit evenhat
slavery should be excluded by law, has deprived of
constitutional rights as certainly e ctualy any posi-
tive enactment could have one and not only asked
submit to it. but to accept as boon, and be very thankful
for outrage. Sir prefer the Wilmot proviso direct
prefer because it is boder, paner and more manly The
robber who meets the highway and demands the
render of property leaves at least the option of
Turks behind and sabs in the dark So sir he who
undertakes deprive OF legal rights by open
psh the same end by deception and ckery hold that
whatever opposition is due to the Wmo provso whatever
resistance demands doubly due to this scheme Of snug
Cling sovereign State into the Union."
This strong language certainly, but not too strong
for the taste of the Senator from Mississippi at that time He
endorsed fully suppose he thinks but little short Of
treason
At this point the honorable Senator gave way 10
Mr. BUTLER, who moved that the further consideration
of the subject be pos poned till Monday next. ,##
The Senate then proceeded the consideration of Execu
tive business, and after time spent therein the doors
eopened, and then motion the Senate adjourned.
MONDAY, MAY 20, 1850.
The California bill being again under consideration
Mr.. CLEMENS said Mr.. President, when the Senate
last adjourned, examining the pursued by the
Senator from Mississippi, (Mr FooTE,) and attempting to
show that if the opposers Of this bill justly chagsabe
with uasm could least plead his example in
uaton The task was an ungracfu one to me many
counts The Senator from Mississippi and myself represent
adjoining and kindred States Our personal relations
have been of the kndes character hope and believe they
will continue to be There other reasons as which
impeed me strongly to avoid any controversy with him, how
courteous lis character Even Of er was begun in
the interval which followed the adjournment of the Senate
had determined to say nothing upon the subject But
the which has been since pursued by the advocates Of
this bill renders impossible for to close The
traOrdnary efforts which have been made to manufacture
public sentiment in its favor, and the denuncaons hurled
against those who from deep of Duty have expressed
their opposition to scheme of compromise deusive and SO
dangerous, demand exposure Of its deformes Certain
letter. from this city have been ndusrousy engaged
in misrepresenng the acts and asang the motives Of those
who common with myself believe this to be shameless
surrender-not compromise One in particular has admon
ished that the Senator from Mississippi holds proud po
on in great national party, and therefore he cannot afford
to be ultra have doubt that the Senator has national
position, and hope he may always retain it, hope ALSO
that the people Of the South take the view Of the
ton suggested, and while repudang his DOCTRINES that they
may still cherish the kindes feelings for the 1t may
not be amss however, say few words Of this thing called
national reputation II is something value very lightly
We apt to prize objects in proportion to the difficulties
which attend the pursuit and, estimated by this rule
hona reputation Of quite easy attainment to be sought
with any great avdity, We all know process by which
any Of may it. is not beyond my grasp.
should only have to traitor to my convictions of duty,
and abandon the interests Of the South to change entirely the
notes Of that whole pack of who now yepng my
heels Sir want national reputation purchased at such
price, spurn it would any other foul and oa,hsome
thing.
When the Senator from Mississippi addressed u.s. the other
day. he took occasion inform that he did regard
sency any great virtue, after ALL Perhaps he right
In degree certainly agree with him. mere mortal
whose judgment be clear and perfect ought
adhere with blind and dogged obstnacy to all his opinions
may be my fault to cling to mine with too much tenacy
STILL think of the two extremes It Is the best must think
better to hold to opinions deliberately uttered than
acquire the habit Of changing them with every change Of
the How far the Senator is justly liable to the last
charge will appear the progress of my remarks He has
constituted himself the advance guard Of the grand copro
mise army He has assumed to deliver lectures here upo
the dangerous tendencies Of urdisn propose 10 she
that if it be SIM it is of which he has himself lat ely
repened that he has hardly had time obtain forgiveness He
has not only endorsed the strongest language by
me, but he has far beyondme On Thursday "
the Senate extract from my remarks, and sai that
strong this language too strong for the
Of bo =