The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-04-17
8 Correspondence,
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WASHINGTON ID. c.:

II A
yYASIIIN NGTON. ID CT.
S&Tr RpasY, APR1L THE GrH, 1850.
M GsssfaI Stiir,,l S :sPeecf- ne Last Phase
of ihe Question Ercifing Debate, and
sfhe ProSttRcian,ento 0Js Senator Benfon2-
Meeting of The Southsrn SebaiorS--Ihe
Feeling at Present.
Yesterday was an interesting and an ex-
citing day in the Senate. Air.WALLAcE Of
our State having obtained the floor in the
House the day preceding, stopped into
that side to near him. hut found that his op-
t4ss pertunty ofbcing heard was procluded un-
til next week, in consequence Of Fridays
being assigned to the consideration of
private bills. Monday being also set apart
for emotions" he will probably no, be able
To obtain the floor until Tuesday next. A
es.ssstrong, energetic and able argument may be
anticipated from him, for more fearless
sss ss representative Of Southern rights, and
more staunplt.upholder of,he interests of
his section, canno, be found on that floor.
ts-se-aat strong intellect, cogent reasoning, and
scorn Of subteriuge and hypocrisy, cllarac-
tesizetlleaittcrance Of Mr. WALLACE, a,
all times and all places; for he is thorough
.4.s-slyan,honest man, as well as faithful rep
resentauve of the District which has OBJ
~ tainedthc services Of SO staunch and true
A,&G Sonthron in word and in act. Our DcIcga-
ton in the House have hitherto been silent,
x not for any want of zeal, or enthusiasm in
the cause, but solely for The reason that
Pt!eir friends supposed the enemy might
aga peryert their support and advocacy oi the
a., measures proposed to factiols ends, and
=, gain color from their avowas of The pre-
tended origin and ends Of this agitation.
: e'o The labor Of love on the p,rt OF the Ad-
~ minlstration organs Mt the North and their
IS sympathiscrs at the South, has been to pro-
~, iuce the impression that this controversy.
now wagng between the sections, is but
revival Of the old Modification quarrel, and
81 il'our Representatives have held their peace
~ thns:3lar to disprovc so foolish and
frivolous an imputation-as groundless as
il is absurd.
c 3 The time has arrived, however, when it
fer is necessary for every ono tU define his posi-
ton, aud Alr. WALLACE will open the ball
f5r the South Carolina Dalcgaion-to be
followed, most rrobahly, by Mr.. Onr, and
- MIR. CoLcoCK, at proper interval, both Of
.yyi iheso gentlemen having vain!y cndeavorcd
TO obtain the floor for some time past
NOonc doubts the position OF South Car
Dlina, nor her readiness or desire to "lakc a
placnint the picture:' yet her Representa-
.,lftycs feel bound 10 give a formal assurance
of the fact body that seems incrcdu!ous Of
s$ the existence of Southern spirit or South
S!t ern inteligencc--iu!giny from the tone
~! anu tenor OF ITS proceedings.
Finding that nothing was to he done in
the House adjourned to the Senate, in
= time to hear the speech Of Mr. SHIELDS,
which was as thorough Frec-so pro-
%. duction, rs HALE or SEWARD could have
given. birth to. This speech Ito the whole
OF which | listened most attentivcly-think-
ing of that S,o0rd all the whlc) confirmed
Vemost conclusively the suggestions as TO the
- opinions Of this gentleman, made in the
Telegraph last summer, and nj that time sc
positively contradicted, on the authority o
some of his friends, who were doubtless not
fully ''postcd up" rs to his sentiments, for Inc
not only declared that the instructions Of his
State required him to vote for attaching the
Wilmot provso TO all Territorial bills, but
EN- shatically added his own conviction of tho
.propriety of such procedure
He went even further, and aSsalcd the in
stitution on moral grounds, declaring il to be
against natural rights, and used very ,lncon
plimenfnry terms relative 10 the general sub
lcet In short the General treated us as M
,a. better than lMeyicans--thongh Isgdi.l 5.,
,hat@e S.as15saGns,Ej nFGi5sH;1Sfn& u CT
much apparent junction. After hearing him
throrgi, tin conclusion forced lpon INV
tern the head of a forlorH iopc-or as re-
cruit 10 storning party-,han az n member
ON dolibera.ive body or a Constitutional
eXp<e::t,ier. His sympathiCs may be with
the Soutll-bnt this mode Of mrnlcs,inp his
affection is very striking TO say the lc;s, of
Ills speech however was prcfaced bv a
compliment TO the memory of Mr. CALuorS
suggested by The proceedings of the las,
days sessions. Tho feelings of the private
man may lean towards the people WHO have
SO highly honorcd hm--but this public
manifestation of his policy and opinions
would certainly not insure him another
tiumphal reception in South Carolina
But lot this pass--for his published speech
must speak more strongly OH this point than
can do.
When he had concluded, Mr. M,soy rose
and briefly but powerfully protested agans,
the new doctrines propoun,ied in the Senate
MI! presented HE rnc HISTORY If the couniry
in "a strain of earnest am! surprising clo-
IHencc--tllat eoqucnco derived from strong
conviction of right. and determination to
!aaintain it AT all aud every hazard Strong
speaker and logical rcasoncr rs he always is
---iic seemed on this occasion to rise above
his own ordinary pitch, and in his words and
manner were evinced power and majesty
which proved him competent to assume the
conduct ot crisis such as the present.
lie did not condescenl to any mere dis
play, but spoke right to the point with n
dlrectness and energy which struck home,
and swaycd the Scnatc-as n forest bows
b,'ore strong and steady blast. The cl-
feet produced was most potcnt and salularv.
and when he concluded Mr.. Clay rose to
express his change of opinion as to the scp,-
rae consideration Of the California question
--and higher compliment could no, have
b"cn paid Benton also, rorsrd from hi,
apathy, roared like mad Bnli;,lo against
the. Incorporation Of the different measures
IN the Same hill Qncicd thereto by the effect
of Mr.. Mason's remarks, strongly and ju-
diciously seconded by Mr. Butler, and fol-
lowed by Mr.. Clay's rccan;ation,) and com
mcnccd a most violent harranguc, which
was unfortunately checked by a motion to
nnSinan.. the CIrtLnr a,.:.I.ra.;.... Il.