Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-03-29

terng scurnlous nvectve in this hall OF deliberatlon
that personalities alike forbidden by the rules OF the
Senate, and by the laws of decorum, after which, aye,
the very next second, he is heard to pour forth full
tide OF as offensive personalities ever were listened to
in the Senate could have been uttered with equal
vouby and JUNCTION by regular ale-house disputant
Yes, sir, this gentleman, more renowned than any OF
modern times for the ncessant euctaon OF the terms
OF coarse and low reviement, and not wholly free
from the fray OF nduging in another sort OF person
atty which may be called personality eg0tistcaL
whningy complains that personalities have been re-
sorted to for his annoyment Well sir, what it say
that III this OF personalities the Senator from Mis-
souri, most manesty the aggressor; that the words
OF personal reproach rather OF unknd and Liberal
inuendo. found uerance first from his ips Is this
true, sr Did henot commence this contest, by para
ding himself forth the peculiar friend and champion
OF California and the measure OF her admission Did
he not thus most clearly nsnuate that those OF whom
he was combating so Justify were enemies to California;
Was this not personality9 Was this not a grossly ca
luminous charge? Sir the whole Senate and the coun-
try knows that only an affirmative response be given
to these interrogatores.
But the gentleman says mean by the friends of Ca
torna those who disposed to bring herin the Con-
tederacy, without forcing her back into Territorial
condition, and who tor dssolvng the Union on &C.
count of her admission. Well sir, have not yet in
sisted upon Caliiornas being forced back into Terri
tora state Ihave not yet been heard to declare for
dissolution OF the Union if she should be admitted in
manner not intentionally and deliberately offensive and
insulting to the South These delicate points that
have not yet touched on or alluded to- reserve full
declaration OF my views in reference to these points for
more suitable stage Of this unhappy contest. And
yet he presumes to class among the enemies OF Cali
tornia What provocation did administer to the no.
norable Senator from Missouri that he should have
taken it upon himself to flame out against out
rageously? What cid do to justify him in all the
wrathful denunciatlon with which he has been pleased
to begin the war of words this morning? What trea-
sonable acts OF INSTRUMENTATION among base sons of
humanity, who dwell beneath the cope of heaven has
brought forth this Jupiter Tonans of the Senate with
all his thunderbots vengeance and of perdtionl What
has reused this Napoleon of parliamentary strife, this
more than lieutenant general upon the arena of po-
cal warfare and prompted him thus to bring all the
tllery OF his logic his sarcasm, and his selt-idozng
rhetoric into midst, filling his adversaries with fear
and with Encouragement and forcing the very hills and
valleys to re-echo to the rude voice Of warl
And now, Mr.. President, before conclude, let me
offer or two additional observations, that hope will
be specially noticed and safely treasured up in the
| memory OF the honorable Senator from Missouri. He
commenced the conflict this morning with language of
incivy entirely unpfovoked, and wholly unexpected
by me. Really, am not certain that | knew of the
honorable Senator's presence in the Senate chamber
when brought forward the motion under consideration
Certainly did not aude to that Senator my opening
remarks, utter word that could give just offence to
any human being. Indeed certain passages had here
ofore occurred between that Senator and myself which
had induced me to resolve again to alude to him
IN debate, or even to think OF him at ALL could pos
sby avoidit. Under such circumstances he made his
fierce assault upon my motion, and through tupon me.
tbs manner, as all present know was far more often
sve than his words. His words responded to in the
spirit which they breathed; his manner rebuked, as
had right to do. His malign and covert inuendoes
repealed, as it was easy to do. l carried the war
little, too, INTO the enemys country And what then
curred Why, this Senator who abhors personalities
who loves decorum and who lectures parliamentary
courtesy, presumed to apply to the harshest and
most dlshononng eplthets Yes, sir the harshes and
most dishonong eplthets If they shall remain unye-
sented. Well sir, beg Senators to observe me; am
calm, cool, unexctednot carried away by sudden and
tempesuous WRATH not nstigaed either by feelings of
cold and sulen revenge.
beg Senators to believe me when assure them
that never bring accusations against any man, whether
he be public or private individual, which do not be-
ieve myself able TO establish by rreagable evidence
and in maintaining which do not feel myself RESPONSE
bic in every way whatever to him who chances to be
assaied, And now sir > will formally announce that
there certain stains which have hideousy ble-
mished the character OF the honorable Senator from
Missouri since the days Of his early manhood; that the
unfavorabe antclpaons awakened by the dawa of his
career have been quite strkngy realized by the meri-
dian of development through which the honorable Sc.
has now passed. that there incidents in his his
tory, OF somewhat recent occurrence, which might well
relieve any man ct honor from the obligation recog
Mise him as fitting antagonist yet ist notwithstand-
ing, true, that if the Senator from Missouri will degn
to acknowledge himself responsible to the laws of ho-
nor, he shall have very early opportunity of proving
his prowess in contest with one whom hold per-
feet control if he feels in the least degree aggreyed
at any thing which has fallen from me- now or former
ly he shall, demanding it, have full redress accord
ed him, according to the said laws OF honor do not
denounce him coaoard; such language is untitled
for this audience but if he wishes to patch up his reputa
ton for courage, greatly the wane, he will GER
tainly have an opportunity OF doing whenever he
makes known his desire in the premises At present. he
is shielded by his age his open disavowa OF the oblga
tory force OF the laws OF honor and his Senatorial pr-
vieges.
Mr.. BENTON. pronounce ii cowardly to giveinsuts
| where they cannot be chastsed. Can take cudge
to him here
SEVERAL SENATORS Order, order
Mr.. FooTE. have done with the subject here -
Mr.. BENTON. Is q Senator to be blackguarde here
in the discharge ofhis duty and the cuprt go unpun
ished Is language to be used here which would not
be permitted be used in the lowest pothouse tavern
oyster cellar, and for the OF which he would be
turned out OF any tavern by decent landlord 3
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator is called to
der.
Mr. BENTON. II such things are to go on and he is
to persist in such blackguardsm here, place where
the cudgel cannot be applied to him. must have the
public indignation brought upon him until the pub
lie sentiment shall make him behave with the proprety
due to the Senate.
SEVERAL SENATORS Order, order
Mr.. FooTE. Let him 90 on.
Mr. WALKER. | call the Senator to order
The VICE PRESIDENT. The Senator is called to
order.
Mr.. BENTON. Well, sir, write down the words. |
know the rules of the Senate, sir; when Senator is
called to order he takes his seat and the words are
reduced to writing;
MIR. WALKER; l called nobody to order except the
Senator from Mississippi, (Mr. Foote)
Mr.. Dickinson. In order to give an Opportunity for
this matter to take aproper direction, suggest that we
now proceed OF the order of the day
will not make the notion but the floor is due to the
Senator from Ohio tMr. CHAsE0 who snow ready to
speak.
Mr. WALKER. wish to be understood upon this
matter. did not call the Senator from Missouri to
order
Mr.. FooTE. did not Understand the Senator from
Wisconsin calling the Senator from Missouri to or
der. l understood him as nterposng between tine
Senate and myself, and endeavorng to prevent me
from interrupting the Of his remarks Now Mr.
President, may be permitted to make single re-
mark
SEVERAL SENATOR'S. No; no.
OTHER SENATORS. Proceed proceed.
Mr.. FooTE will not indulge in any personalities. |
merely wish to say that did not use the first personal
tiles. | certainly did not the grossest. All have
said willing to stand by If the door not thrown
open me cannot proceed further but lift is opened
shall proceed with eagerness and promptitude.
Mr. DoUGLAs. This debate has proceeded for some
rous of speaking this subject would suggest that
it be postponed to future day. when we may pro-