The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-06-18

this morning and announced himself as the special cham
pion OF legislative morals but being particularly
licous to the legislation OF the United States from
that corruption with which he says is threatened Sir
he may reconcile these Inconsistencies, which are ap
parent in his in reference TO this matter, in any
way which he is capable OF doing IT, But beg the hon
orable senator, for the honor OF the country and the
honor Of us all never again to indulge in suggestions OF
the kind he has brought in this morning. unless he has
the evidence 10 produce. should not have said word,
but that the speech Of the honorable senator, going out
pose that facts had come 70 his knowledge 10 satisfy him
that attempts had been made, by wholesale bribery. to
corrupt the legislation Of Congress. and to the pas
Of measure which otherwise would have been GER
MI. HALE Mr. President, the narration Of facts
which gave was not my own read from Jefferson.
pose the denuncaticn Of the Proviso as highway rob-
berry, Mr. Jefferson is understood 70 be the author OF
il, intended castigation OF Mr.. Jefferson. and
and the castigation was his. The senator asks
know anything about bribery | said nothing OF the
kind, and intimated nothing OF the kind was merely
us in our present The honorable senator must
know that ii there any such thing brbery-i am
as far any senator here from impuing Or supposng
it possible-but he must know that IL there to be
anything of that sort, would be OF the leading
members Of the Senate who would be considered worth
buying, and not SO humble individual as myself Par
ties interested in such undertaking would require the
services Of who have some influence. and not those
who destitute Of influence prescribed. dead and
Durl6Q as myself. Wnys MI, euOuiu DC uCiiucu W
think that the question was intended as fling at my
want Of influence, if did not know how adverse the
honorable senator is to making personal alluslons'
[Laugher1 If it were not Tor that sir, should take his
inquiry as unkind but knowing that such is not his
character will not indulge in any suspicion Of that sort
[Renewed laughter
anything OF this sort which has within my knowl-
edge did not to intimate that there was any
ato upon this floor whose character In this respect was
even liable the breath Of suspicion; and do not put
this in formal disclaimer, figure OF rhetoric
but expression OF my honest and under
standing do not believe that there is upon this floor
single individual upon the purity OF whose character the
breath of suspicion could rest for moment. have
said that and that is enough But, sir, must go on STILL
and say that believe we were AL born snce Inc ia' o.
influences TO which the rest OF mankind have been sub
ject And must believe that the other branch OF the
national Legislature is also made OF men OF like pas
sons and infirmtes with ourselves; and know sir,
that il has been consdered IN days past that tins matter
of pecunary consideration directly or indirectly affecting
the deliberations OF legislative bodies, was dangerous
element That all sad-a meant to say. meant
hold up light keep ourselves in the path OF secari.
ty in which we have hitherto walked meant TO point
out pfall into which some have fallen who have gone
before wished to against or remove nota gaping
wound but gaping gulf into which we might possibly
fall This was the only object had in making the sug,
geson which did and notwithstanding the remarks OF
the honorable senator from Mississippi, INT FoorE TO
whom always listen with instruction. and with proh
and with pleasure except when he is little too personal
have heard from him, still think that what have said
was well said ; by which mean that it is well that il
said without any intention Of saying how II was
said
Mr. FOOTE. am glad now MIR. President, that |
gave the honorable senator from New Hampshire an op
porunity for explaining himself particularly, which
he has done very handsomely and very gracefully; and
glad that he ams in that explanation that he did not
refer any matter OF his knowledge or relating to
the present time. will now state to him what II is
probable that he did not know which is that there have
been grave charges of this very sort made in several
newspapers The senator says that he only read from
IL un1fh ha
not do because be knew OF anything In the present
times the circumstances OF the present times, 70 make
the language which he read applicable that there is
nothing either known or suspected by him TO which It
can apply II to me- them that the whole OF what
he has said and read upon the subject quite irrelevant
Il seems to have had no purpose or object
The honorable senator talks about the leading members
Of the Senate and says that OF course he is not expected
to know what is going he not being leading mem
ber Well, he may or he may not be leading memoer
his consideration, that there different kinds OF bribery
possible Its sometimes expedient give large amounts
10 men OF high distinction and extended influence, who
could not Be bought at any petty price understand.
ALSO that sometimes bought who Is OF less intn-
value, but who be obtained at cheap rate; so
that man who is not leading member OF Congress
might possibly be the subectof corruption, provided the
price is sufficiently small
will end this whole matter by saying that, the hon.
orable senator acquits all handsomely, and shows
that his remarks have no application to us, think we
ought II that the purpose to permit him with be-
coming liberaliiy g confess his own weaknesses
length His remarks having been withheld for revision
will appear hereafter.]
Mr. DAYTON. have no purpose, MIR. President, 10
20 again into the discussion, 10 any extent OF this ques
ton OF the title OF Texas 10 the boundaryof the Rio
Grande think that upon the general subiect-mater
ered TO by the senator from Texas this morning. had
already addressed the Senate The senator from Georgia
has made some suggestions about which desire to
one or two words He says, in the first place, that the
government OF the United States entered upon this dis
puted territory under the Texas title Having entered upon
that territory under the Texas title, good faith and fair
dealing require that we do not disclam that title.
Grant the premises and there Is ground for the
clusion but beg leave TO take issue upon the premises,
applied TO that part OF the country now IN controversy
to particular spots down there, is true The United
States took possession OF Corpus Christi, and along that
ne under the claim OF the Texas title; and therefore
il was in connexion with that and some other mat
ers that steps taken by the in regard TO
the claim OF Texas think II equitable and night not TO
make serious question between this government and
Texas IN regard TO the claim to the lower Rio Grande.
But the question is, whether we entered under her
title upon the territory OF New Mexico. Why, sir, at
the time military force entered New Mexico, we en-
tered under the declaration of and we may with
the same propnety say that our troops marched upon
Monterey, Maamoras, or Chapultepec, under the claim
OF the Texas title, to say that when we entered New
Mexico IL not under declaration OF war that II
was done, but under the TEXAS title.
II was done under the laws OF and in prosecution
OF offensive warfare upon the territory o. ne enemy
again. SIR the SENATOR in further illustrating his IDEAS
says that he can hardly conceive 1t possible that, this
property had been acquired by negotanons, ougn nj
Sdelhe IN ha possible that there would
have been any doubt raised to its belonging TO Texas
Nov with very great respect deny that Why, SIR MT