The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-09-13
A Scene in the U. S. Senate.
Mr. FooTE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHIv-
AIRY.

A Scene in the U. S. Senate.
Mr.. FooTE AND THE SOUTH CAROLINA CHlv-
AIRY.
Senator FooTE, nthe course Of some remarks
in the Senate, few days ago, came down with
terrible severity upon the South Carolina chiv-
airy We make the following extracts:
Sir; let me next allude to speech of gen.
tleman, whose eloquence is much commanded
The very particular mention he made ofme seems
to render it necessary that should say some
thing Of the speech OF Colonel % Maxcy Gregg,
Of Columbia South Carolina. After talking for
some time about the Nashville Convention, he
goes on TO say:
perhaps. however California by itself might
be admitted. Ii that event, we ought to secede
and take it by force"
Yes, sir, this gentleman proposes that if Cali
fornia should be admitted. South Carolina should
secede and take it by force. Laughter.
He then says:
"If nothing is done at the present Congress,
we ought to pursue the same course"
And if nothing at all is done, he tells them
thev ought TO pursue the same course. Laugh
ter This IS the braggart menace of one ofthe
.chivalry" of South Carolina. have really
wished, since saw the outbreak of herosm,
that the author Of "Don Quixote" could be re
vived from the tomb for the purpose of giving
us another delicious romance on Knight Errant.
try, or rather Amercen chivalry, or if the gentle
man will allow me, '.South CaronH chvalry."
| do not know whether or not the speaker from
whom have quoted actually belongs TO the
"chivary" himself; but he seems to use brave
words, and would doubtless make them good
upon an equal field. Col. Gregg goes on 10 say.
"Other modes OF resistance might be proposed
and adopted; but in theevent of their ineticeacy.
other and more decisive steps would be taken"
Howv very valorous! How alarmingy menac-
ing!
Mr.. BUTLER. Ifthe honorable Senator wish
es to know who Col. Gregg is, | will tell him.
Mir. FooTE. think know him very well
from his speech Laughter
Mr. BUTLER. Colonel Gregg is man of
high character. He wouid make true his word
on any field.-IIe was an officer in Mexico. |
know of no man Of more remarkable purity OF
character than Col. Gregg he may have these
warm sentiments; but there is no man that has
purer character.
Mr.. FooTR. Undoubtedlv would not have
noticed him if had not supposed that he
was distinguished man. Laughter | am
producing testimony. The gentleman's course
of defence is more than judiciuus; it is exceed
lngly generous Instead of endeayorlng to call
in question or weaken the testimony brought
forward against him, he comes forward voun-
tary for the purpose of bolstering up testimony
which is strong enough to accomplish lis pur-
pose without his aid. | certainly do not doubt
IN the least that Col. Gregg is an eminent man,
an accomplished gentleman, and possessed Of
all the high qualities of head aud heart which
his friends may attribute to him. | only say
there is treason in that head and heart of his;
and prove it by his speech And say further,
that such high testimony as this appears to be
is we'll entitled to regard, when we are inquiring
into the actual condition of,pubiic sentiment in
the State Of South Carolina. Can the honora-
bic gentleman from Virginia defendthe language
which The gentleman uses? Would any man
in the Old Dominion use or justify such treason
able language? But Col. Gregg tnen went on
to say:
'sWe had no need to fear war springing out
Of the formation of a new government; that we
had the right TO secede; and if it we're necessary
and advisable, it did not become men 10 be de-
tered from exercising it,"
Col Gregg goes on to say:
"Besides, it war should come, it must ter
inmate favorably to the South. 1t must do SO,
because we were more war-like people than
our opponents, and would have that decided
advantage attendant upon superior spirit and va
ior C) Moreover, we were an agricultural peo-
Pile; while our opponents were engaged in man
ufactures and commerce; and the former always
have the advantage over the latter in practical
struggle This be illustrated by reference
it0 fha clo ipal
"Besides this, we have the mouth of the Misss-
sippi river" They have got the mouth of the
Mississippi in South Carolina! CLaughter.) |
did not suppose that two hundred men in South
Carolina had ever seen the mouth Of that noble
river at all.
To repeat, be says:
Besides this. we have the mouth Of the Mis-
sissippi river, q and by this means can blockade
the whole northwestern States. (!(
Yes, gentlemen of the Northwest. you are
in imminent danger of an armed blockade, to be
set on foot by South Carolina MAJOR or colonel,
| q do not know exactly whicb.) and you ought
at once to prepare yourselves for the process of
having your means Of egress hermetrically OBJ
structed by the chyalry Of South Carolina.
{Great Laughter.I
This is really, Mr.. President, about the
most laughable speech ever read; and its pow
er of awakening ludicrous emotion is greatly
enhanced by the fact that the orator is one of
the remaining great men of South Carolina.
Well. sir. though have always voted for the
line 36s 80 min. when have had an opportuni-
ty, | confess that never yet in my life thought
for single instant Of making it an altimatuan;
nor can easily perceive how any person, being
possessed of the ordinary quan.um of reasoning
power, could think of such thing as practi,