Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-06-17

placed the charge where it properly belonged.
The Senator had alluded to his change Of opinion
this subject. Was there change 10 any of the Sena
tors opinionsl He had heard il said that during the
canvass in the State Of Missouri last the Sena
tor had taken the ground that the admission OF Caior
mia was unconstitutional. He did not know that the
Senator had done So but he informed that such
the fact II the fact be then was as great change
OF opinion in the Senator as the one imputed to him.
similar change had taken place in the Senator's opin-
ions as respected the admission OF Texas. The Sena-
tor had then opposed the admission of Texas uncon
sutona and afterwards had voted for the joint reso-
If such changes these took place in the Senator's
constitutional opinions, he should have little more
charity when abiding to changes by another
He had been in favor OF admitting California as a
parate and distinct measure and had frequently urged
such. But after few weeks he had become salts
fled that the speedest way of obtaining the admission OF
California was by combination OF measures. And 1t
the Senator had taken the trouble 10 examine
other of his speeches he would have that it
with that view alone he had agreed with the suggestion
to combine her admission with other measures.
He then repeated the reasons why the committee had
not filled the blank in the bill with the proposed to
be paid TO Texas s.. lE5as T
MIR. HoUsToN then addressed the Senate in support OF
the claim of Texas, and in reply to Mr.. Seward.
MIR. BENTON said that it was unfortunate that any
Senator should feel himself called upon to retail in the
Senate, and make part of the parliamentary history Of
the country what had been said OF another Senator at
home among his constituents: Many things were said
OF man at home by persons from various motives and
was unfortunate that it should be repeated in the Sen
ate. 1t, however there was necessity tor so doing,
the person who felt called upon to do so should be
ous in first getting at tine truth OF what he was going
TO repeat. On the 2ls of March last, he had written
public letter to his constituents in which he had re-
piled to similar charge In that letter he had used
these words:
"Itis not true that few months ago was opposed
to the admission of Cali ornia but it is true that
have been in favour OF such admission from the night
that Congress adjourned, March Sd, 1S490 without
giving to California a territorial government sending
officers there at the time to collect revenue from
the people, and TO transport them to Oregon and Lou
isiana for the trial ofaeged offences. | for the
State government from that night, and gave my opn-
ion to Mr. Clayton Secretary of State, to that effect at
the time, at hi lodgings on Capitol HILL before he
moved to the west end Of the avenue, and with view
a government in California. All my talk, public and
private, in Missouri and out OF it, when spoke to that
point, to that effect and when l heard that the
people OF California were proceeding the formation of
such government put it into public printed Speech
that the Wilmot Proviso dead and rotten"
One person had been referred to at that time
thory for such statement, but that person
forward to sustain it.
Mr. B. then entered into an argument to sustain the
consttutionality of the admission Of California.
Mr.. CLAY said that he had only alluded TO the mat
show that if the fact so, quite importanta
change had taken place in the Senator's opinion as
the Senator had imputed to him. He had stated that
he did not know the Senator had said that the admis-
sion OF California was unconstitutional but simply that
he had been so informed The Senator's own denial
sufficient for him. He wanted nothing more than
this.
and which he has just read is dated 2lst March-He
(Mr. c. held in hls hand letter dated in May, after
that letter ofthe Senator had been written. 1t had with
other papers Just been given to him. 1t was dated at
Independence Missouri addressed to member of the
House, and signed by ar Reed Mr.. G.
then read the letter The writer said, that when Col.
Benton in that State they had frequent converse
tons on the subject of California and governments for
the territories; that in those conversations Col. B.,
in speaking OF the scheme OF the President TO estab
lsh state government in California, said that orm
GIoverrIpant
Wilmot proviso, was cowardy policy; that Caltor-
MIA not fit to be admitted as State; that such was
in violation OF all precedent, &c; that he was in Ia
vor OF establishing territorial governments without the
w lmot proviso &c.
This letter. said Mr.. c., was read simply as jus
ticatcn for having made the statement, and he was
perfectly satisfied from the Senator's DENIAL that there
must be mistake about the matter. The Senator'S
denial was sufficient for him.
Mr. BENTON told the Senator he had better have
the letter entered on the Journal.
Mr. CLAY said that he did not desire any thing OF
the kind.
in that way. No man should get off from him in that
way. The Senator had charged the minority with
having delayed the public business. In reply to that
charge he had read to the Senator his speech,
for the purpose of showing that in February last he
stood upon the same ground which that minority now
occupied, and for maintaining which they were de-
nounced also to show that the very delay which was
charged on the minority had been predicted by
the Senator the inevitable result Of that course
which the Senator was now pursuing. That speech
II.
then turned round and charged him (Mr b. WITH dis
tnct matter, having no connection with the hQeer in
question, and now, after repeating the charge put it
HIM to deny it. He could not get off in that way The
Senate. had placed the matter in the Senate be re-
corded in the parliamentary history of the Senate He
had by reading that letter made it charge OF his own
and such was legally and morally responsible for it
The author does not come forward; he would there
fore proceed against the publisher. The Senator
the publisher Of that letter He had arragned him up
on charge before the Senate where did he get the
uht tn He had IN
letter and arraigned him before the body he might
as well have prepared an indictment at once.
He denied the right OF the Senator to arraign him
there any such charge He would say, he had
before, that if any man desired TO arragn him let
be done elsewhere than in the Senate and where the
charge could be properly and suitably met This mat
ter Of arraignng Senator before the American Sen
ate not proper. Let it be done elsewhere He
would read what he had written when this charge
was made before; he then held the publisher response
BILE. No man who made such charge against HIM
could get Oft by standing behind another He would
hold the publisher responsible when the author
not forthcoming On that a occasion ne had written,
Mountaineering to say 10 the letter he read to
its writer. He is the publisher, and that makes him
ser, and that makes him the the principal He
the grautious publisher and the grautous endorser
with grauitous epithets, &c.
AS in that case he had charged the publisher the
authof OF the l. tier, he did now. He charged the
Senator from Ken lucky with being the publisher, and
there lore he made himself the author OF that etter He
considered the Senator as the autnor OF the letter. and
considering as his lie ter he stamped it as an inta-
nous caumny ferries Of "order order"l and with that
brand upon it, deep as fmade with burning IRON he
desired it to 60 into the parliamentary history Of the
Senate.
The VICE PRESIDENT repeatedly called the Senator
to order.
Mr. BENTON said that it appeared that no person was
out of order but him. Every person was allowed to
get up and make charges against him. and he was to be
called to order for defending himself
Mr. CLAY said that he repealed with scorn and indg.
nation the charge of calumny it intended for him; he
threw back upon the Senator, and babe him place
10 his casket OF other calumnes,
Mr.. BENTON Oh, you may thow it back; but you
got it upon you first
Mr. WEBSTER said that he regretted that the two
Senators should have permitted themselves to be led
into such this. He thoughtthe Chair should
always interfere and keep the debate confined to the
hetnra the Senate He did nat nEtais