The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-04-26

apnare1y Ia default had not been influence by bad on
ubiquitous motives. but had, upon the whole, exered
terms OF their contract would II be asnanous proper
decent or even nghteons for the government gdy 10
enforce the obligation q Sach CONTACT % demand The
course might be the entire destruction OF me individuals
concerned. in pecunlary sense Ia other words. my
friend from Arkansas understand bun, contends that
Il can never be proper or consistent with The national
dignity apply the pTiscpe OF Shylock, and exact the
pound Of flesh from innocent persons who may have
tered into contracts with the government which they
afterwards hnd il utterly impossible 70 fulfil.
|. does not follow matter OF course that admitting
TO be true, which understand Is MOI rue N this case.
thai the violation the contract with the government Is
asceTtained fact is the duty ct The government
enforce rgdly the penalty of the law upon those nvd-
uals who have thus become involved in delinquency
Il Is the duty Of The FIRST to look closely into
the case and ascertain, possible how The parties have
failed To do they engaged TO dos whether this failure
arose through the influence Of good or bad motives; or
whether they have done the best they could TO do what
they promised do If this should turn out 10 be the
case have hesitation IN saying, that u The govern
men should undertake 10 enforce the contract Tgdy, it
would be justly regarded acting neIcess and dis
credabe part and deserving the seyeTest censure Ii
could not be otherwise. i my friend from Wisconsin
will allow me, will say that do not think he has
hibiied his accustomed gacoueness-indeed. that he
seems 10 me to have shown spirit somewhat At variance
with his usual !, eoayss q sosrallIy c,..
that the motives OF senator cannot be spoken Of
MIR. FOOTE. Ii il be out OF order to say that mem
Der has not shown his usual graclousnsss then have
been not little uniformed heretofore IN The ruesof social
civiy and parliamentary decorum say again 70 the
honorable senator from Wisconsin, in the most perfect
Kindness TIA. be has n9t exhibited hs usual sacous
applied to myself, should be induced rather 10 hold up
my head, with something Of cxnltaon on account Of the
personal compliment so obviously implied
The VICE PRESIDENT. The senator must not i'm
pugn the motives oil a senator
Mr. FOOTE. should be induced to conjecture that
my honorable friend from Wisconsin,, from the very
acting spirit which he has displayed this instance may
at some former period Of his e have been accustomed 10
perform the respectable functions Of district attorney
The VICE PRESIDENT. Il is not in order to discuss
Mr.. FOOTE do moi know how any. man can dis
cuss here in general debate, without referring more
less 10 me conduct Of senators in connexion with it,
The VICE PRESIDENT The Chair y Of opinion
that The senator must CONNIE himself 70 ne
/ Mr. FOOTE. suppose, sir might say, Il 2 senator
CHANGED to be either jealous frgd in his manner,
BE e sPPRFie sfass Ss cha beg. leave p
state to The honorable senator that what was considered
violation OF order the alluson TO the senator's
practice heretofore as prosecuting attorney.
MIR FOOTE ibid no, charge anything Of the kind
only said that from the present ACTON Of the honorable
senator might be well supposed maj ne haa
the functions OF district attorney al some period OF his
life But il il is the opinion Of The CHAR iha the ONCE
OF district attorney Of such grade as necessarily 10
disced its incumbent that reference could be made
to Il without being personally disrespecfu will say
nothing more upon this unTportant point
4 But must say my honorable friend that think be
,
been little rigorous insisting, in the very language OF
his amendment, that we should take legal steps 'mme-
diaiely" as though there were danger OF some i'm
agned culprits flying beyond the reach OF legal Of
4 fcers before they be seized upon, and sub.
ecisa to all the fitting penalties for their criminal
nlsteeds This amealmeh 10 lis language, is, unln
irtonaiy OF course discourteous and unkind Ii is,
have SAID before nngzc0us, and calculated 10 induce
TIRE inference with many that the honorable senator from
Wisconsin had found out OF enormous crim-
aals and that il is therefore necessary that the utmost
severity OF the law should be dealt Immediately, with
the Utmost prompttude for The purpose OF bringing the
supposed offenders 10 justice must say that does seem
II 10 me thar we cannot adop, this amendment without
some little discredt to ourselves do not know pre-
csey who the persons are that are IN TINS PRINT
ing contract Indeed know nothing OF the PARTICULARS o.
this contract at all and my friend sem Wisconsin in
mates 10 me, at this instant, that he knows as little on
this heal as do am e ne + in' = s oy 10
little aboa, the suppose he does If II Is Alto
gehsr right urge the Senate to adopt this amendment
which must necessarily, to some extent, operate as
serious mputaton upon the motives of those individuals
who must be understood to be referred 10 in II! This
amendment will inevitably raise the presumption that
great misconduct has been practiset-such As makes
Il that an example OF something like criminal
punishment should be supplied in order to deter Others
IRON the preparation Of similar offences Now, never
being disposed prefer charges which think cannot be
fully substantaed; being always inclined, as far as
reasonable can be, TO judge OF the conduct
of men with charity, and with all liberal allowance
for the nrmtes OF poor human nature, and the varying
circumstances and vcissiudes Of social life, | am
not prepared 10 take for granted any such which
presented tnat tne mOuNes Oh
are necessarily bad that they to be recognised not
otherwise than criminals 10 be brought immediately 70
justice.
will saw in addition, that the amendment advocated
by the honorable senator from Arkansas is, in my judg
ment. jodicous one and am prepared TO vote for y,
AZ at present informed, because think proposes only 10
do Justice have another ier supporting IT, per-
sona to that senator and the members OF the committee
of which he is chairman; which commtee-ths Com
mtee on Printing-have had this whole subject before
them The chairman himself, Il Is understood, Is some
what experienced in such matters the whole subject has
been rgdy investigated by the committee, as presume
and do not doubt and the result OF their abos faith
fully and diligently prosecuted, they have brought in this
Now am prepared to defer 10 the Judgment OF
gentlemen who have had this subject under considera
on; and think that is proper and right for US all TO
do so who have had the same opportunities OF inves
tgaing the whole affair At any rate, rely very much
upon the Judgment OF this committee, and am willing
for the present follow their lead. Therefore, am not
disposed to vote for amendment which will seriously
initiate against the one proposed BY the honorable sena
Now, in conclusion. beg leave to say that, il have
uttered word unknd or ungracious to my friend from
\ Wisconsin il part OF my intention TO do co.
Mr. CLEMENS obtained the floor.
! Mr.. B0RLAND requested the senator from Alabama
| 10 give way for moment for explanation.
il Mr. CLEMENS declined, Remaining that the senator
from Arkansas had already had the floor for consideT
BILE time upon this question: and thus bad had an ad-
i vantage over himself. and then proceeded:
II glad, sir to hear the honorable senator ron
Mississippi cay he inclined 10 60 with the COMMITTEE
on Printing and had the fullest reliance upon the judy
ment OF that committee. Now, II 90 happens thar The
Committee on Printing rejected the amendment offered BY
the chairman Of tina, committee is not the amendment,