The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09


prudences of the members OF the cabinet nor for the
hasiy speeches OF the President himself There may be
moments OF irritation and excitement when words are
spoken in regard 70 some subjects strictly becoming
10 gentlemen IN high positions; these. however, are
fleeing and transtory and are generally regretted when
the moments OF reflection return. dare not undertake
10 say that these statements and speeches have not been
made. But what they worth, as noticeable here
when they are msdel Sir ought not 10 ask that ques
non, perhaps IN avery confident manner after what the
honorable senator from Kentucky has stated They
worm great deal alter that Tor he has stated that but
Tor the interference ofthe President and bis cabinet this
measure would have passed long since, and BY ample
majority II that be true anything which the President
has done II anything which he has to offer in the way
Of favor il any power of punishment which he holds in
resenatiyesin the decision Of such question, then 70
the country. Wo, to the time when such senti-
ment can be entertained here and announced 10 the
Sir II may be true but thank God do not know it.
and do not believe i. have already stated with re-
gard 10 the course Of the President, hati my judgment
his cons ncy required that alter he had announced
his sentiments, that was enough leaving il 10 Congress
TO settle this question as they chose He would then
haye discharged his whole duy @ the country.
But the senator from Kentucky will remember that
when he made that speech OF the 2lst of May, holding
up in vivid contrast the plan Of the President with that Of
the committee. he accompanied his denuncations with
the utmost degree OF scorn OF mannernot to say con-
tempt and did he not then tempt the President TO The very
brink Of proprietyl II he did not take the leap-if he
was moi thrown ohis guard il is proof OF the nobles
forbeaTance Presidents, like other men, made of
flesh and blood, and paItake OF all the infmies OF hui
manly ltwould be strange therefore, if after such a
speech, the President should not have shown some irr
taton and resentment And ask the senator from Ken
lucky judging from his knowledge OF human nature and
his own temper were il hls case, how far would such
feelings be likely to be treasured up and find uterance
from him, even against the dictates OF policy and
pretyi
! But the honorable senator from Mississippi [Mr
FooTEl has made broader statements still He charges
that honorable gentlemen-members of Congress-have
been threatened with the loss Of their places BY members
Of the cabinet If they should dare vote for the plan Of
COmmlttee ap
senator will specify and furnish the proofs that the gull
~ parties may be dismissed and held up the contempt
and scorn which they deserve.
Mr.. FOOTE. mean that members OF The cabinet
have told members OF the House that particular States,
not one whg would dare to vote for this plan That is
language look upon as menacing language and can
MI BELL do not deny that il may be 90 but ap-
peal to the honorable senator from Mississippi whether
even such language that is not the language Of nsan
~ iauty monomania, or whatever else you choose to
IN Mr. FooTE The simple fac, q the dismissal Of
Messrs Bun and Sargent from the editorship Of the
Republic, because they every day denouncng
this plan, must satisfy every how far cabinet nfu
ence brought to bear have construed it, and SO
has the country, and there is doubt that hereafter
will oe looked upon as one Of the blacklist pages OF
American history
Mr.. BELL have heard that fact already stated by
the honorable senator from Kentucky. And put the
candor and sense OF justice of the honorable from
Kentucky and the honorable from Mississippi,
whether, il the President had changed and did not
change his position and the editors OF the Re-
public were understood to speak the general sentiments of
the Presdent-no by authority exactly but standing In
such friendly relations to him that what they said would
be supposed 10 have his sanction-whether, if they
dertook OF their own accord to put forth sentiments
which were calculated to mislead the country, and TO
cause their readers TO believe that the President had
adopted the plan OF the Committee of Thirteen ought
they not either 10 have retired from the press have
presented 'he a true opinions OF the President whether
course or the other do not mean to say that the
editors meant 10 miscpresent the views OF the Pres
dent ! have the pleasure OF knowing those gentle
men. l consider them gentlemen OF high honor. Bn
put il to the senator from Kentucky, if he had been The
incumbent OF the White House-and man, al pc
nod labored more faithfully than did TO place him
there-and newspaper understood to speak his seDi
ments, which he had any control, had taken the
eouise Of the RePabc 70 say what would have been bis
course should like to hear what he would have 10
say TO the editors OF such paper the first time thai he put
bis eyes upon them | should like to exhibition
here IN THIS Senate OF the manner in which ne would
meet and address them. ! do not mean to say that 1t
would be indecent exhibition. Not at all But il he
had not risen TO the height of his powers expressing
his disapproval and resentment, am much mistaken
And, sir they would have had to retire, or lose his
fdence and support And put il him say whether
he would consider anything more than legitimate
ercise OF his rights ana influence to replace them with
others who would more truly reflect bis sentiments And
was il improper either in the President desire that they
should retire, or dishonorabe in them do under the
circumstances! Had they been less honorable in their
principles feelings, they would not have retired but
they ielt the position in which they Stood and at their
own option they retired And what has the country lost
through hve hundred channels, and by the trumpet
tongue oil the honorable senator from Kentucky, that
ney Were dismissed because they in favor OF the
plan OF the Committee Of Thirteen. Be il so. The
President had right 10 have understood that he bad
not changed his policy and there has been no conceal
ment practised upon the country.
When the senator from Mississippi MIR FoorEl inter-
upled me, was asking the senator from Kentucky Ir
CLArl whether he bad driven the President TO the
fore the Senate The President had been compelled to
explain his position and TO his policy The SEN
afo from kentucky took this attack upon his favor
lie PLAN and in his speech OF the 2ist OF May took occa
sion TO denounce the plan OF the President to the Senate
and the country IN terms OF and derison and In
the printed pamphlet in which that speech was circulated
ansyed the two conflicting plans in opposite columns in
such way, and wiihsuch interpretations Of the plan OF
the President, that hardly who read Acknowledging
the high source from which the statements in that speech
emanaied-the distinguished senator from Kentucky
could have any respect for General Taylor or his policy
Now, again ask the senator from Kentucky what
would have been his feelings, and what his course il he
mad been placed in the situation of General Taylor
What would be have felts What course would have
been left open Tor hum, Tor any OF spirit, when
thus assaulted but TO indicate himself from that position
the great wing party for the last twenty-five years had
placed him in There no alternative left General
Taylor, under the circumstances but maintain and JUS
thy his own opinions and policy or TO surrender them,
adopt the plan OF the committee, resign his place, and
cease 10 be President OF the United States There could
DO but one Justification OF such a II the Presi.
dent became convinced OF the superiority of the plan OF
the sacrifice, he should, Curiuske, have lesped into
the gulf say
Mr. President, have been led into wider range of
discussion upon these points than had anticpaed but