Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1850-06-18
MISCELLANEOUS.
MESSRS. Clay AND BENTON.

these two Senators Thursday, when VIII h'cIee' W"
readers Seward charged the friends oi The Adjustment
with having caused all the delay in the legislation Of Con
pr,ss Mr. CLAY replied explained the facts and showed
that if any body was blame il was the Senator rom ~
York and those who acted with him. and not the committee
of thirteen and the majority in tho Senate Mr. Benton
followed and denounced Mr. Clay for Inconsistency IN hav-
ing in February opposed the combination OF Other sub
ects with single admission of callorni" and III now
ec,urins the minority for changing their opinions with
him. Mr. Clay said
He had not commenced the subject The Senator from
New York had declared that This bill delayed the public ou-
sness He had defended l' MAJORITY ana placed Inc charge
where il properly belonged. .
The Senator had alluded TO his change OF opinion on 'is
subject Was there change the Senator opinions
He had heard said that during the canvass IN the STATE o
Missouri last summer the Senator had taken the ground ina
the admission OF California was Unconstitutional re Ole
not know that the Senator but he informed
tina, such was the fact Ii the fact be then II was as
rea, ch.pus Of oplnou i'm the tie imputed
10 him similar change had taken place in The Senator
opinions respected the admission ol texas he senator
had then opposed the admission OF Texas by Joint resolution
ana AFTERWARDS '"t'a
resolutions uf annexation
If such changes as these took place in the Senator's
stituona opinions, he should have little more charity
when abiding 10 changes by ano.h
He had been in favor OF admitting California as separate
and distinct measure and had Frequently urged as such
But after few weeks he had become satisfied a the
sneedest way of obtaining admission of California was
bp a combination of Ard il the Senator had Ia
Lon TIA rouble 10 examine some oil his speeches he
would have that il with that view alone he had
agreed with the suggestion 10 combine her admission with
other measures.
He then repeated the why the committee had
filled the blank in the bill with the SUN proposed to be paid
10 Texas.
Mr. HOUSTON then addressed the Senate support o
the claim of Texas and in reply 10 Mr. SEwARn.
Mr. BENTON said that il unfortunate that any Sena-
tor should feel himself called upon retail i'll the Senate
and make part OF the parliamentary history of The country
what had been said another Senator home his
constituents. MANY things said Of Al home by
nesons from various motives and il was unfortunate
bar in The
necessity for doing the person who f called to do
should be cautious in first getting the truth Of what hc
was going repeat On the 2si of March last he had writ
public letter his constituents in which he had
y, TO similar charge. In that letter he had used these
wctds:
at is that few months ago was opposed to
the admission of California but il is that have been
in such admission the night that Congress ad
ourned March Sd, lSi without giving California
territorial government sending officers there the
time collect cm TIE people ard transport
them Oregon and Louisiana 10. the trial OF alleged oen
Tor the State from tina, night and
gave my opinion Mr. Clayton Secretary o State that
effect the time, nj his lodgings Capitol Hill before
ne removed to the west end OF the avenue ana with
view TO encourage him in promoting the establishment
such government in California. All tax public
private in Missouri and Out oft when SPOKE to that point
that effect and when heard that The people Of Cal
fonia proceedn. the formation of such
ment il into puoic printed speech, that the Nmot
proviso was dead and rotten"
One person had been referred tia, authority
for SUCH statement, but that person came toward 10
Austain il.
Mr. b. then entered into an argument TO sustain the con-
stihtionality Of the admission Of California
said tina, he had only alluded 10 the matter TO
show that, II ire fact quite Important change
had taken place hattie Senator'S opinion Senator had
imputed 10 him II, had stated that he did know the
Senator had sal that DO admission o California
CONSTITUTIONAL but simply t!la, he had been so informed
The Senator'S own denial IVES ssicient for him. lie want
ed nothing than this.
The letter written BY the Senate, lis constituents and
which he has just reud is dated 2lst Mara He (Mr c.
held in his hand letter dated May after thu letter of the
Senator had been written had with o,heroape Just
been given 0 him II dated IndependSsce Mis-.
by Mr.. - Reed Mr.. c. then read the letter Tttwrj.
said tina; when Col BESToS in thai State they I'D
frequent conversations the subject of California and gov
ernments for the Territories that in those
Col b. in speaking of the scheme Of the President
tabsh State government, in California said that 10 fora
State government for the purpose of avoiding the Wilmot
provso, cowardly policy; that California not tit
10 be admitted State; that such act in violation
of all precedent, &c; that he in favor VI establishing
territorial governments without the Wmot rroyiso,
This letter. said Mr. C.. read simply justification
for having made the statement and he was perfectly salts
fed from the Senator's denial that there be mistake
about the matter The Senator's denial was sufficient ioi
him.
Mr.. BENTON told The Senator no had better have the
letter entered on the Journal.
Mr. CLAY said that he did not desire any thing OF the
Mr. BENTON laid that the Senator should no, &c, of
in that way. No should get or from him in that
The Senator had charged the minority with having delayed
the public business In reply that charge he had read Ia
the Senator his speech the purpose showing that
IN February last he stood upon the ground which thu
minority now occupcdnnd ior nantanin. which they
dsnouncea also to show that the deay which
charged the minority had predicted by the Senator
the inevitable result "i that which the
was now pursuing That speech the Senator had dcni-
ed re could deny He then round and charged
him (Mr b. with distinct matter. having no conucxion
with the matter in question and now repeating I-
charge put il t. Kim to env il He could no, rel oil il,
that way The Senator had placed tho matter in Senate
TO be recorded in the parliamentary hso,y of the Senate
He had by reading that letter made charge of his own
and rs such was legally and morally responsible for it, The
author does not come forwards he would therefore proceed
against the publisher. The Senator the publisher OF
that letter He had araigned him upon charge before IL,
Senate; where did ho get the right arraian Senator >,
He had presented this letter anu atra.nei him before III,
body; nc might well have prepared indictment
lie denied the right Of the Senator 10 arfsn him there
on any such charge III. would say he had before thu
any maa desired aIaisn him. let be done elsewhere
Inan IN The Sennte and where the charge could hc properly
ana suitably met This manner Of arlagnng Senator be
ioie inc American Senate was not proper Let il be done
elsewhere He would read what he had written when
this charge was made before he then held the publisher
sPonsiblc No who made such charge against hm
could GET on by standing behind another He would hold
the publisher responsible VIXEN the author net forth.
coming On occasion h, had written and he rcrcai
II now =" have nohin, do with his misunderstanding
10 say To the letter he read writer lie is the pub
Usher and that makes him hc auh"- both legally and
.ay tie IS the enacrscr, and Ia M SHIN the
the principal lie IL The gratuiiou- Euhlsher and the
tuitous endorse, with gratuous opnes" DC,
As In thai he had hlre the publisher tho author
OF the letter 20 he did now He charged the from
KENTUCKY with being the publisher md therefore ne made
himself the author of that cer. He considered the Sen
me autho. of e letter and considering his
letter. he stamped il Infamous calunny IcrisS
"Order, order and wiz: that brand IT, deep - ii
made with burning ron he desired 90 into the par
hamenary history oil the Senate.
The VICE PRESIDENT repeatedly called the Senator
order.
Mr.. BENTON snid that it appeared that person was
of order but him. Every person allowed GET M
and make charges against him. and he be called
order for defending himself.
Mr.. CLAY said that he repealed with and ndlsna-
cha,gc of caumny if intended for him; he threw
back upon the Senator and babe him place in his caske
other calunnies.
Mr.. BENTON. Oh you may throw it back; bu, you 90,
il upon you first.
Mr. WEBSTER said that he regretted that the two Sena
tors should have permitted themselves 10 be led into such
this He thought the Chair should always inter
and keep the debate confined the matter before the
Senate He did approve OF this of bringing into
the Senate charges o. having changed opinions and reading
them in the Senate they had nothing DO with the bust
before the Senate He regretted that the two distin-
gnishcd Senators who had long occupied seats IN this DO
dy should have been the parties such proceeding
The VICE PRESIDENT said tina; greater pat of the
debate had taken place during his temporary absence from
the Senate and he did know much Of what had been said
Mr. HALE said he would like TO know how old Senator
must be to be entitled protection from having letters con-
tanning charges against him read in the Senate. few days
ago letter had been read Of such character and Sensors
instead OF calling the Senator who reading it 10 order