Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-19

very animated Lecture conveying the impsaton that had
violated that decoum of debate with the avowed object of vnd
eating decorum of debate Not declaring il in so mapy
words but conveying that idea by Implication How sir does
he sustain that nnuendo He refers the word calumny
He knows or oughto know that his friend the acknowledged
organ Of the Administration here, has used the word.
Mr.. DAWSON. The Senator is mistaken. The word
caumny never escaped my lips. used the word conceal
men" and the phrase up, but said nothing of
lumny.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. am very glad to hear the senstor say
that he did not the word know be thinks be did not
and willing, in accordance with the usual courtesy OBJ
served in debate, receive the Senator's explanation
Mr.. DAWSON. am quite certain that | did not use
the word.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. l stand corrected. In regard to this
word conceamen, that Wing Senators had shown DISPOSE
ton conceal facts he had listened this debate would
have known that the Senator from Connecticut had in the
dexerous attempted to conceal facts and TO
press full investigation upon the subject feel authorized
to say it. Why do say it He wishes to get rid of this
matter unw read the TO the resolution the House,
and says that if this resolution be adopted be
ded showing that he is not willing to allow the resolution
be answered stands; that he thinks that the
the resolution of the House will be enough, and that
this must not be adopted should not have deemed the mat
of much importance but for the fact that this Senator has
shown in the debate that he must have been in communca
ton with the President his Cabinet upon this subject Why,
he informed the Senate that Gen. Riley had received in
sructons certain time, fact that he could only know
from that he informed the Senate that the Admins
aon had copies Of all papers relating to this NATTER
specifying scrap every piece every word
| "
muncation with the Cabinet he has inmated to the
y-whether he chooses to avow it explicitly no-ha he
has been 10 communication with the Executive and his Cab
net the subjects and, having been SO, he tries to evade
action this resolution, and he evade it, he 1t
must be modified and changed.
Sir does this authorize the inference that there is
attempt at concealment and that too by the Wing party
And the honorable Senator sir entertaining the opinions that
he does, might fully well have employed his time in
lecurng that Senator instead of ectung for What is
his complaint against me He says that am in favor of
-
from Alabama that he should vote for it himself He says
that he will vote for it. That is all ask him to dc.
And he complains of me becaueI urging be one what
he proposes to do and which his and apart efhe
Democrats willing should be d,ne That is the position;
and yet to be lecured hre about the decorum and
courtesy of DEBATE. There is much courtesy cti-
csng mpropery there much courtesy in refrain
ing from assuming to correct other until you have
rected your manners there would be in talking deli
beraey and kindly brother Senator do not pretend to
carry copy Of Chesterfield in my pocket; do pretend
to prescribe to any brother Senator the rule which he shall
observe speaking the hour when he shall speak, how he
shall speak but do pretend to judge Tor myself to what
is due myself and the Senate in dbae and do pre-
tend to say that it would have been courteous in the
Senator from Georgia to have replied to his friend from Con-
necicut, knowing that what said rue that he had
attempted conceament upon this point than would to have
made charge against Of having msrepesented the Wing
party.
the blow than there Of courtesy between Senator's do
not shuttle off responsibility in controversy BY selecting out
of the opposite party, and lashng him furousy, when
know that my political friend needs it. and stands indie
fensibe and the evidence oha ndeensbeness exhibited
here by his being struck dumb and unable reply to the
fact that he had shown that he had been in communication
with the Administration the subject When gave him
the evidence, he became mute and dumb This must have
been observed by the Senator from Georgia. and still am to
be ecured because drew inference unfavorabe to the
Administration. say, sir that he, and not l. should have
been the subject OF this lecture and with the kndes feelings
towards the Senator from Georgia. suggest that think he
committed mistake and has not watched the course of
the debate, he would thus lecture for want of
| courtesy
Mr. DAWSON. 1t has never been my habit either in
public private relations, throw back language at all
improper to myself ask sir, whether any words uttered
when was last the floor impote unkind and il,
the contrary, they offered in the poes
and in the mlest terms ! Why, have been in
the habit of ecturng any body and think the honorable
Senator himself has taken of remarks To himself than
he is entitled to- My observations these and they
such home to the good and the honorable feel
ngs OF every Senator this floor that the idea OF charging
conceament to the party opposite my friend from Illinois
(Mr DoUsLAs) was unjust and unnecessary saw nothing
to justify his mputation of desire to cover up matters
which the Executive Department did not desire to have
brought TO the world, and desired ward off, far as
could, all imputations Of this kind. We in minority
here, and you pass please resolutions Of any cha
race but has there been the first motion made by any
Wing this floor to avoid this investigation.
Mr. DOUGLAS. Did not the Senator from Connecticut
(Mr SMITH move to lay this resolution the table to-day
Mr.. DAWSON. The Senator from Connecticut and
said that this resolution would provoke discussion and
that, he and his FRIEND the Democratic Senator from New
York; had some resolutions which they had concocted be-
tween themselves for the benefit Of their constituents they
had combined and asked the Senator from Alabama mr.
CLEMENs to allow his resolution to lie Is the Wing
party responsible for that Why should be doing injustice
to this body, and probably to myself again repeat any
thing have said but every thing did say intended
in kindness and, when desire to speak language that is
unkind, nobody will misapprehend l submit to the
Senator and the Senate whether the position that occupied
is not true in point of fact and whether violated any rule
of Senatorial decorum of personal intercourse stating
as | did
Mr.. DICKINSON. The Senator from Georgia (Mr.
DAwsoS says that he supposes that the Senator from Con-
necicut and myself had combined the preparation of
resolutions. Not at all. know nothing Of that Senator's
resolutions except what have learned from his public actsn
reference to them the Senate and perhaps heknows little
OF mine. My resolution is the table, is the Senator's
from Connecticut and DESTROYS get at it, and sup
posed it would pass without debate.
Mr.. DAWSON. That's what mean, aud the Senator'S
explanation makes my position doubly strong
MIR. SMITH. conceive that, after what has transped in
the presence of the Senate, and after the remarks which
made and which presume very well understood by
every member of the body that proper seepect will not
permit to pass unnoced the mpuon made by the hon
orable Senator from Illinois, that had indicated desire to
prevent full development on this subject The Senator
may amuse himself long he peases by repeating mpu-
taions of this character. say a gentleman, and to the
Senate, that entered this body with determination on my
part preserve the decorum Of the Senate and nothing said
by him. any other person, will ever induce me to embark
in the miserable business of elimination and ecrimination
And further willing that the facts, represented in
this body should go the country side by side with the
charge which the gentleman has made and often repeated
This is all | desire to say on this point
With tn which made. that thought