Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-06-15

upon u.s. We have sword to ske but at our assaants
The constitution presume, has noclause to allow the United
States strike their sords people in the possession OF
their rights Our shield justice, repel aggression, and
will be carried from fields upon that shield before we
will surrender one constitutional right is our gis and
we will have it to the inch
Central Government indeed The honorable Senator
here speaking Of central Government central Govern
men for what To Texas to submit to aggression
To tell Texas that she surrender her rights before adu
dcaiion To tell her that she must surrender rights for
which the United States her guardian went to war; after she
herself had merged her powers of resistance to foreign Gov
eminent in the United States Because she occupies that
territory peaceabe manner Is she to be threatened by the
myrmidons Of power tell them that they have lesson to
learn from Texas She goes beyond her borders She
Teslsts constitutional requirement. and will submit TO no
aggression from any power under heaven She will have the
rights 10 which she is entitled, the must soon
hear their requiem.
| would say to gentlemen, then, with all0deference
and good feeling that when they wish to indulge n troPes
and figures and dashipg metaphors they will keep lions
and central governments out of the path. do not like
to encounter them. "A lion !" am no Samson. Laugh
teri "central government y have been accustomed
to resistance to central Texas keeps her war
ros at home to defend her women and children against the
savages. She sends of her warriors here but let
central lay rude hand upon her banner and
that star will be ecpsed though gentlemen BY esdng
stars here, may not seem to think much of it. Our
banner floats the wind and would let gentlemen remem-
Der that from the darkest clouds Of revolutions has led US to
association with this Union which ready TO contribute
the last drop Of blood to mainainahfn to the Union
f.
Mr.. BENTON. Mr. President, consider it rather an
important business for any Senator to take up what is said
for against any citizen and public man at his home or be-
fore the people. think it very unfortunate that Senator
should take up any su1 thing and retail it TO the American
Senate, there make part of the parliamentary history of
the country. We know that all subject to great IL
Of speech, and that have all great many things
said OF and about There great many things at
tbuted in the of discussion in State,
and must repeat that think very unfortunate for any So
nato to undertake to retail such things the floor Of the
American Senate, ard dignity parliamentary history
But if he must do there is precauon which be ought to
take He ought to make of the truth Of what he
And after making sure, there great many things
that should be well considered before they boache in such
assemblage this The Senator from Kentucky has,
somehow or other, gathered up great many things which
said in Missouri last summer in the and have
doubt he will 60 that State he get many
But sir asonshed to hear the Senator from Ketucky
make the statement which he has made without having the
of verifying il. But IL sr not caught mapping,
and if the Senator from Kentucky has thought proper
foy himself prove what he has said before he spoke it,
have and the matter will now go into the parliamentary
history of the country, wish to put the matter right
Now, appears that far back the 2st day of March
last in reference this very thing which the Senator from
Kentucky has repeated here to-day, addressed letter to
my constituents and, spoke to thousands, what
wrote was known to be true untrue by thousands
will read an extract
is not true that fen months ago 'sas opposed to the
admission Of California" III"
1t was not true, sir ...@TH .#>'".
But is that have been in favor of such admission
from the night that Congress adjourned s. lsi9 with
giving California Territorial Government sending Of
fcers there the time, collect from the
pe and to transport them Oregon Louisiana for the trial
alleged offences the from that
night and gave my opinion Mr.. Clayton, Secretary OF
sa'e to that ese. at the time at his Lodgings on the Capitol
with the view to encourage him in promoting the establish
Of such Government in California All my talk pub
that point was to that effect and when heard that the
people Of California were proceeding to the formation Of such
Government put it into public printed speech that the
Wimot proviso was dead and rotten.
This is what said, sir, and what published in my
Sae and which person has been found there to gansay
or TO deny One persons name mentioned as authority
for it, but that person never to knowledge came forward
to sustain it, and he had it would have been gross false
hood.
So much for the pointed Now for the argumena
tive 1t is said that declared that would be unconsi
utiona admit California State because Congress had
not passed law authorizing the people to form State
constitution. Why, Michigan did precisely the thing,
and at the time Of the admission Of Michigan was chairman
of the committee that reported the bill for her admissions and
answered, well could, all the objections that were
taken to her admission that ground. That example,
think is sustained by half dozen other Staes that made
their constitutions in the same way What gross injustice,
then, is it to make such asserons And is unfortunate for
the Senator from Kentucky who has put under the
y Of reading these extracts and making these statements part
Of the parliamentary history oflhe country
Mr. CLAY. Mr. President, have only risen to say
few words. really do wish TO engage in any conro-
versy with the honorable Senator to matter of fact The
Senator from Missouri will recolect that he making
charge against Of having varied opinion TO the pro-
per mode admit California The truth is, never the
letter which the honorable Senator has read. heard from
two three different quarters that the Senator from Missouri
had in the of the Of last summer in Missouri
declared that he did think California ought to be admit
ted. did state the matter matter of fact which
knew could vouch for but stated what had heard, and
left the Senator disprove it, if he might think proper.
Now, sir, the Senator has read to letter which he
wrote in March last also hold letter in hand among
great deal of other matter but will not 60 into it for
do not think the fact Of sufficient importance in itself to
rant it. But will read this letter for my vndcaton, and to
show that had think that the Senator bad used the
language attributed him. It dated Independence May
26th 1850 ; of subsequent to the letter which the
Senator has addressed to the public, but which
This letter is from John W. Reid and is addressed to
Der from Missouri in the other House. 1t is as follows:
stlNDEpENDKScE, MAY 26, 1850.
SIR have jus. received letter from you nquiring
whether not Col Benton told during the last
that he opposed the admission OF California into
the Union State p
81 do remember having heard Col. Benton upon several
occasions express himself that effect conversations and
there any thing confidential concealed in the
place OF these conversations have no hesitation
replying to your note.
Zone occasion last summer remember clearly. While
Col Benton this place, the policy of encouraging CALI
fornia form State Government Immediately and apply for
for avoiding the issue Of the provisowas the topic ask
ed Col Benton what he thought OF the plan He replied
it cowardly policy she fit to be admitted il
not the old regular way of doing things the Terri
tories should be treated the older had been and should
be admitted in due time and with proper FORM This is the
substance Of what he said and is, in the MAN, think his
language.
cannot be mistaken because thought his views were