The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-09
! ! made my conciliatory

~. a
do not remember the date and am reminded that sm
lar statements and representations appeared in the Union
about The same time. Though not careful reader OF all
that appears in the leading papers of the country, yet
looked into them sufficiently to have perceived that.
aeoa hat tme the drift OF others OF the leading presses
would change, his Siews unoo ao ,hs subject remember
the conc,atory speech OF the distinguished senator IL
was wholly anexceptonable and concatory. ITemem-
whom was in the habit of social intercourse that that
speech was udicious and well timed for its purpose But
happened TO know that the President had not. and
disposed TO change his views and then ioreold that
that speech would soon be succeeded by very different
one The avenues 70 that knowledge pretty open TO
any gentleman that chose % Inquire and whose associa
tons such TO give him access the usual sources
OF information upon subjects OF that kind Weknow that
these things are not kept secret here have assumed
to be, and not adviser OF the President have
never undertaken that Office am in the habit of
going 10 him privately for information as TO his views |
derived my knowledge OF the views OF the President,
the subject OF the change his opinions were supposed to
have undergone through other persons But the honor
able senator will remember that in the very first speechl
believe it was the sthe made after the introduction
OF his resolutions upon this subject during the winter,
there was q very extraordinary appeal made 70 the
to the plan recommended by the President And where
is the whg. exclaimed the senator. who will stand up
and maintain The policy Of leaving the Inhabitants b Of these
Mr. CLAY, (ln his seat) repeat the same sentiment
M Mr. BELL. know that when the honorable senator
from Kentucky once gives utterance to sentiment, he
never retracts It,
Mr. CLAY, I'm his seaf.) Never never!
Mr. BELL. Well sir, | will not now inquire whether
the sentiment a just Interpretation Of the Presi-
dents policy but the honorable senator knows that the
announcement of such sentiment by him is very diff
ferent thing from similar coming from any. one
else. The influence he possesses, especially with the
whg party BY great portion OF whom he has been idol
lied for the last quarter OF century is such that sen
men announced by him. at the opening OF such ques-
ton this, have had and did have. great weight in
ne 10 ne
in the Republic that the President adhered to his org
nal policy. The senator afterwards did make, as he
thought speech OF different kind brewing. In
that speech he expressed the hope that the President
ana s If sd
again TO speak his sentiments upon the subject, they
would be favorable to that plan But the President had
the honorable senator The article in the Republic
which is complained OF was rather careessy and inar
6cialy drawn up think il might have been framed in
more judcous skilfu language. But when you come
to examine il carefully, what is il beyond simple an
nouncement that the President had not changed the
views he had expressed in his message to Congress- af
ter consideration of the question: II am not
mistaken, there was not word OF censue in It upon the
plan which had been proposed by the committee. or By
papers of the North and elsewhere the plan OF the com
mitiee condemned and opposed, but in none that
lion. or for whose course and opinions The President
could be held responsible We all know sir, that man
placed in the position Of General Taylor and sssaed g
his policy has been, still like other men and s qui
probable that, moments of excitement, expeseions
may have escaped him. in private intercourse, which he
functonary like that OF the President Of the United
States, is it Just reasonable that expressions thus ut
tered should be attributed to him his deliberate sen
friends who authorized to speak for him, or BY some
organ known to be in his conhdence II Is no dispar-
agement 10 the distinguished senator from 70
say that he is little too sensitive upon these questions
when he considers simple announcement in the hepub-
lie, that the President still adhered to his original opin
y Mr. CLAY. In his seai) No, not an attack upon me,
MIR. BELL To make the most Of il. by inference and
implication, il simply an announcement that the
Presden, could recommend the plan OF the Commit
tee OF Thirteen in preference the plan recommended BY
Vsws and was but lust and fair to himself and to the
country that should be known that he had not And
then the speech followed to which have alluded. IN
which the honorable senator proceeded, IN the most
formal manner, call the attention OF the Senate and
the country the fact that the President had avowed bis
determination to adhere to his own plan. and to mark the
permitted to say OF the whole matter and manner Of ne
honorable senator, in speaking Of the limited length 70
in which he proposed 10 leave New Mexico, and Of his
refusal TO give his support to the plan Of the committee
hiatt was one oi unq usnea & Gsr On
a lieutenant colonel" subordinate officer OF the
army" and in his call upon the American people TO
peace, this free and glorious republic continuing under
military government Sir, know that these are the
sentiments Of the honorable senator % not censuIs
cation OF the before the Senate in which shall
be happy agree with him in supporting II shall be
found to be the only that can give quiet to the cogn
try. But repeat that is the matter and the connexon
in which the honorable senator introduced these eent
mens, the injustice done TO the plan OF the President.
and the exception taken TO the mere announcement hat
he adhered to il; il is the interests and passions ava
kened and the thrown into the dscusson,
Mr.. Clay will my friend--for really regard him
such--aow 10 make one or two obsevatonsi
Mr.. BELL, Certainly, sir.
Mr. CLAY. Sir, came here with the most anxious
desire cooperate with the administration in all public
measures and that desire remains, far coope.
rate with them. But came here also with the rm and un
shaken determination to act upon my own Judgment and
convictions ofduty.
Now sir, with regard to the particular article in the
Republic, TO which my friend refers, admit that Al
though the language is guarded and that s only oy
implication you at the conclusion TO when ny
mind brought, Of the determination on the part OF me
Executive to oppose any measure but his own u IN. -
had stood alone and had been followed up oy me
subseouent dismissal OF the editors OF that papern had
not not known and did not feel at this moment 70 every
vein OF nv body the influence which the aamnisnnon
had exerted outside Of Congress and insde OF Cons
and in both houses Of Congess-f dm not Know mai
secretaries and heads OF departments nave denounced n
measure and that the President himself IN derson had
aIIsd !, The omnibus bill lit all these circumstances
,sL an ,ocs,her that led to the conclusion that would
Ssfsnd he measure and would defend Il against
Thousand Presidents, be they whom they may. Zap
Mr.. BELL. That seems to command the applause Of
the gallery know the honorable senator will defend
any measure OF his, not only against thousand rIes