The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-05


ed, and witnessed with pain the manner iu vhtrn
they were delivered; and eonlcss thought there
was deep feeling manifested.
The honorable Senator has given explanation.
do not dispute that such were the motives that in
huenced him on that occasion; bot feel it due 90
myse as one OF the supporters OF the President 20
express my regret al the course OF the honorable
Senator. When see sufficient rrahun to NilldraN.
my confidence from the Executive, shall do 90. !
have no tavors TO ask; have received mono from
him, and am free TO do him justice The honor
able Senator will remember (and ] pursue this
point in justification of myself for having alluded
to it at all) that the Presldcnfs views had been
misrcpresened. II had been stated in the Republic,
or representations had appeared in that journal,
from which il might be Inferred that the President
had changed his policy and come out in support Of
the plan Of the Committee of Thirteen.
Mr.. CLAY think the Senator from Tennessee
will find that that paragraph in the Republic ap.
pearcd, if | am not mistaken, the next day after
made my conciatory appeal to the Executive
Mr. BELL. That may be So ]. noticed the arti-
Gle, but do not remember the date; and ] am re-
minded that similar statements and representations
appeared in the Union about the same time. Though
not careful reader OF all that appears in the lead
ing papers Of the country, yet look into them
sufficiently to have perceived that about that time,
the drit of others of the leading presses OF the
country was that the President had changed, or
would change his views upon this subject re-
member the conciliatory speech of the distinguished
Senator; it was wholly unexccptionable. and con
| ciliatory. | remember also TO have remarked TO
| some of my friends with whom ] was in the habit
of social intercourse that that speech was judicous,
| and we'll timed for its purpose But happened to
know that the President had not, and was not dis
| posed TO change his views; and then foretold that
| that speech would soon be succeeded by very dill
ferent one. The avenues to that knowledge were
pretty open TO any gentleman that chose TO inquire,
and whose associations were such as 10 give INN ac
cess TO the usual sources of information upon sub
jects OF that kind We know that these things are
not kept secret here have not assumed to be, and
| am not an adviser Of the President; have never
| NM artn hat pff in q
ing him privately for information as to his vlews
derived my knowledge of the views of the Prcsi-
dent the subject of the change his opinions were
| supposed TO have undergone, through other per-
sons But the honorable Senator will remember that
! in the very first speech believe it was the first
he made after the introduction of his resolutions
upon this subject, during the winter there was
very extraordinary appeal made to the Senate
and il was rung through the country, IN allusion
TO the plan recommended by the President. "And
where is the Whig,' exclaimed the Senator, 'who
| will stand up and maintain the policy OF leaving
the inhabitants of these Territories under militia
! ry governmcnt's
Mr.. Clay, Tin his seat) repeat the SEN
/ timent now.
Mr. BELL know that when the honorable Sen
ator from Kentucky once gives utterance to SEN
timcnt, he never retrdctsl 1t.
Mr.. CLAY, Gin his seat.) Never! never
Mr.. BELL. We'll, sir, ! viii not now inquire
whether the sentiment was just Interpretation Of
the Presidents policy; but the honorable Senator
| knows that the announcement of such sentiment
by him Is very different thing from similar one
| coming from any one el5e. The influence he pos
scsses, especially with the Wing party, by a great
portion OF whom he has been idozed for the last
quarter of a century, is such that sentiment an
| nounced by him, at the opening of such question
as this, must have had, and did have, great weight
in prejudicing the public mind. This, the honor
able Senator will rccollect was antecedent to any
announcement in the Republic that the President
adhered to his original policy. The Senator alter
wards did make, as he alleges, conciatory
| speech. and only regretted that thought saw a
speech of different kind brewing In that speech
he expressed the hope that the President would
think favorably of the plan of the Committee of
Thirteen; and he believed If the President had oc
! cason again 20 speak his sentiments upon the sub
iect they would be favorable that plan. But the
President had already taken his course. But where
| Is the attack upon the honorable Senator The
! article in the RepuJiic, which Is complained Of,
was rather carelessly and nartihcallv drawn
up. ] think it might have been framed in more
ludlciOus or sklliul language. But, when you
come TO examine 1t carefully, what Is II beyond n
simple announcement that the President had not
changed the views he had expressed in his message
to Congress, after mature consideration OF the
question? If ] am not mistaken, there was not a
word Of censure In Il upon the plan which had been
proposed by the committee or by any one else.
know, sir, that in many of the newspapers of the
North, and elsewhere, the plan of the committee
~as condemned and opposed, Uut ia Ivno that could
be fairly considered the organs OF the Administra-
ton, for whose and opinions the Presiden
could be held responsible We all know, sir, thai
| a man placed in the position of General Taylor
and assacd hi. policy has been, Is still like other
men; and Il l. quite probable that IN moments OF
excitement expressions may have escaped him, IN
private intercourse, which he would regret in his
calmer moments. But, in the case of functienary
like that of the President OF the United States, il
it just reasonable that expressions thus uttered
should be attributed TO him az his deliberate scnti-
mcnts, unless they are 50 announced by some oil
his friends who authorized 20 speak for him. OF
by some organ known 10 be in his confidence II
Is no disparagement to the distinguished Senator
FDf no v Ia he IA mai.
tive upon these questions, when he considers a sim
pie announcement in the Republic. that the Prcsi-
dent still adhered TO his original opinion an attack
, upon him.
Mr.. CLAY, Gin his seat) No, not an attack upon
me, but upon the measure.
Mr. Bell. To make the most of II, by inference
and implication, it was simply an announcement
that the President could not recommend the plan
OF the Committee Of Thirteen, in preference 10 the
plan recommended by himself 1t had been re-
ported that he had changed his views, and il was
but just and fair TO himself and 10 the country that
II should be known that he had not. And then the
speech followed 10 which have alluded, in which
the honorable Senator proceeded, in the most for
nal manner, 20 call the attention Of the Senate nd
the country TO the fact that the President had
ayOwed his determination 10 adhere to his own
plap, and to mark the points Of antagonism be
tween the two plans May be permitted 10 say
OF the whole matter and manner OF the honorable
Senator, IN speaking Of the limited length to which
the President proposed TO go, and Of tue condition
IN which nc proposed % leave New Mexico, and OF
ms refusal 10 gave his support to the plan Of the
committee, that il was one Of unqualified denun-
citation; particularly in his alluson that people
left under the protection Of "heuteHanf colonel "
a subordinate officer OF the army and in hs call
upon "thc American people 10 witness the spectacle
Of people, In time Of profound peace in this free
and glorious republic, continuing under military
/ government Sir, know that these are the cen
tincnts Of the honorable Senator. o. not ccnsure
him for entertaining these sentiments; nor for hii
/, yindicatiOu of the measure before the Senate in
which shall be happy to agree with him in sup.
porting II II shall be found TO be the only which
Z give quiet TO the country But repeat, that il
is the manner and the conne1ion in which the hon
orabe Senator introduced these sentiments; the in
justice done 10 the plan Of the President, and the
exception taken 10 the mere announcement that b,
adhered 10 Il; II il the interests and passions awak
ened and the cubarrassmcnts thrown into the dis
cussion. that regret
Mr.. CLAY. Will my fricnd-for really re-
gard him as such allow me TO make one or two ob
, / Ger, atious,
Mr.. BELL Certainly, cir.
Mr.. CLAY. Sir, I came here with the most anx,
iOus desire 10 cooperate with the Administrator
m al public measures, and that desire remains =,
far as can cooperate with them. But came her,
! also with the firm and mistaken determination {,
act upon my own judgment and convictions o
. duty.
Now sir with regard TO the ue rti,,lar article m