The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24

Of them, ms parties to the conspiracy.
The moment Mr.. Douglas remarked that it was
a by-plsy which he had understood all the time,
Mr.. Butler of South Carolina sprang TO his feet,
exclaiming-
I "Understood what1n
"Mr. Douglas Understood that the Senator
from Alabama did not desire to have that vote
reversed, because he wanted to hold me 10 my
vote to lay the resolution on the table This was
understood by Senators all around me-
MIR. Butler. | never heard Of such an under
standing. When the gentleman speaks Of Sena-
tors all around, may be permitted to say that he
takes in too many.
Mr.. Downs The remark is certainly too
broad
Mr.. Davis, of Mississippi. It has not reached
as far as my seat. / have not understood it.
Mr.. Borland | wish to say that it did not
reach even ne far as this spot.
Mr.. Douglas Well, | will explain. Several
Senators came to mel do not know how many
and said they believed many were willing this
should be regarded as laid on the table, and kept
there by Northern votes was willing to reverse
the vote Of the other day. Other Senator's so far
as ! had spoken to them, desired to show on the
record that they were not unwilling that the in
vestigstion should be made. And when it was
whispered in private circles and here that the
North had been caught and that it would be held
up as sectional vote against allowing this inves-
LEGATION, several Senators spoke to me, and desired
to have the question taken up"
Mr.. King Of Alabama disclaimed any knowl-
edge of an intention on the part of Southern men
to dispose Of this subject for sectional purposes
If the Senator from illinois was aware that any
Southern man harbored such an intention, let
him name him.
"Mr Douglas went to the seat Of the Senator
from Alabama, just after the vote taken the
other day, in the kndest feeling, and said to him
that would move to take up his resolution at the
earliest period on that day He said to me that
his object was accomplished; that it was laid on
the table by an almost unanimous Northern vote;
his object was thereby accomplished and he
desired the South to understand the matter.
said that mine was not, and that he ought not to
make such use of my motion, because he knew
] only desired to lay it on the table temporarily.
He replied, you may have done so, but you are
the only onen
Mr. King disclaimed, for himself, any such Sec
tiOnal purposes, but had not word to say in re-
Duke of the indirect, crooked, sinister policy of
his colleague. To the sins of Mr.. Douglas he
was keener sighted, and he reprimsnded him in
the following style;
I'll am sorry TO see that my friend from Illinois,
Mr.. Douglas, whom l have always been proud
to call my fIisnd has been actuated by nonijyss
not precisely such as expected from him in the
advocacy of this resolution | supposed that like
myself his sole object was TO get the Information
we desire on this subject, and that no little miser
able object was to be accomplished by it, North or
South
Truly, this is marvellous. Mr. Douglas hon.
esly desired the resolution to pass, for the sake
of obtaining the requisite information, and for the
purpose, too, of relieving the North from a false
position.
Mr. Clemens wished the resolution to lie on the
table for the purpose of showing up the North in
a false position, that he might embitter against
her the feelings of the South. And the fastidous
honor of Mr. King can see much to blame in the
former but nothing in the latter! Is it not writ
ten in the book of the Chivalry that stakeholder
can do no wrong?
But, the reader will say, we have only the
statement Of MIR. Douglas-give us that Of Mr..
Clemens.
Here it is-he confirms the statement of the
former, and adds thereto
"Mr. Clemens l do not know that it is neces-
sary should say more in relation to the merits Of
this question, but there is matter between the
Senator from Illinois and myself which requires
that something should be said by myself. And
take occasion to say that Senator who under
takes to retail private conversation ought to be
cautious what he says in relation to it, because If
it should happen that the memory Of the individ-
ual and his own should differ, he might find him
self awkwardly situated. But he runs no risk in
I Nv linz w hat n
and my hand il ready to defend it. said to the
Senator from Illinois pretty much what he has
related. and something besides, which he has not
told did tell him, when he came to me and Of
fered to make motion to take up this resolution
from the table, that | did not want his help.
did tell him, also, that the North had proved
what | always knew, that the Northern Demo-
Gratis wanted TO shield the President from this in
vestigaton because the slavery question was in
volved in it,
At this point, the Northern Democrats began
to show symptoms of impatience. General
Shields rose, and in reference to the last declara
tion of the speaker, said very pOintedly and sig
nifcantly-
II disavow, for myself, any such imputation,
that gave a vote for any such purpose"
1t seemed to us, from the manner in which this
was said, that the Illinois Senator intended to
check the audaci'y of the speaker, by raising a
personal issue. So the Senator from Alabama
appeared to think, for he proceeded with much
vehemence as follows;
"Mr Clemens The gentleman is perfectly at
liberty to disavow it if he sees proper. repeat
that said it, and say it now, and am response
BILE for what | say, sir; that the people of the
Northern States were willing to shield the Pres
ident from this investigation, because the question
Of slavery was involved in it that on resolution
of this sort the entire body of the Northern De-
mocracy were found voting against it. told
him that wanted to show to the people OF the
South that they were laboring under delusion.
Mr. Dickinson | will thank the Senator not to
read me out of the party. | voted against the
motion to lay on the table
MIR. Clemens ! beg your pardon, sir. | said
the people of the South had been heretofore la
boring under hedelusion that the Northern Dem
ocrats were their friends said it was delu-
sion. and | was glad to have an opportunity of
explaining il to them God deliver me from such
friends M the Northern Democrats would
rather trust Northern Wings to-day. They CON-
menced the game earlier, and have not to 60 30
far to get in proper position. Look at the reso-
lutions of Democratic Legislatures, and the mes
sages of Democratic Governors, and the resolu-
tons adopted by Democratic Conventions, and
then tell me about Northern Democrats being the
friends of the South They may vote in 3 body
for the adoption of this resolution If they choose
but it will do US no good because similar reso.
luton has already been adopted in the House, and
this investigation must go on. They come for
ward now, with their aid, when we can afford to
dispense with it. They tell us now they are will
ing to adopt the resolution and the gentleman
from Illinois says it is necessary to put himself in
a right position What is that position II isto
enable him to 90 before a country and to tell
the South that he is still a friend Of the South
and to deceive them little longer. That is the
position of the Northern Democrats. Put them
to the test, put something practical before them,
and where il the aid We get from the Northern