The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-12-11

Inc election OF James M. Mason is the first
part of lesson 10 Trimmers The mails. bring
us the other half lie is the ruin of Henry
Stuart Foote. While the Legislature of Virgi.
MA was giving to James NJ. Mason 4 majority OF
seventy, the Legislature OF Mississippi passed ;
resolution of censure on Henry s. Foote by 1
majority almost as overwhelming. Men OF
double minds, look on this picture and on that
You who doubt the course 10 attain popularity
in the Southern States, listen to these two sto.
rles.
We do not publish in to-day's paper more
than bare statement of proceedings on Satur.
day, because the debate is interesting, and by
the delay of n few days We can obtain correct
copies Of all the speeches which were u ade on
the OCCASION These We will publish entire in
our next piper. For the present we will merely
mention that Mr.. Mason was nominated by Fer
guson Of Logan and Boone The most promin-
ent point in his remarks was the declaration of
his belief that MIR. Mason was not an advocate
OF secession as the first and only remedy for the
injuries which have been inflicted on us. He
was followed by Messrs. Massey of Alexandria,
and Darlington of Botetourt, both of whom
deemed it their duty to the people whom they
represented to vote against Mr. Mason.
Mr.. Segar followed in some objections which
created considerable surprise among those who
recollected his strongly Southern course on the
Virginia resolutions. Mr.. Mason's course, it
cannot be denied, was throughout in the strictest
sense with the letter and spirit Of those resolu-
tons. They were his official directors. Mr.
Segar's Inconsistency was keenly and ably
pointed out by Mr.. Newman Madison and Mr..
Harrison of Prince William. They were fol-
lowed according to our recollection by Mr.
Witcher Of Pittsylvania, in some remarks which
were destitute Of arrangement because evil
IDENTITY eXtemporaneous and unprepared, but
| which were rema: kabe for the vigor with which
they set forth the circumstances under which
Mr. Mason had acted, and for the strong sense
with which they dssected the celebrated "Ad
justment." Mr.. Witcher is we'll known as IL
most influential and distinguished leader Of the
Wing party; but on this occasion he declared
his intention of separating himself for once from
the organization to which he belonged-and in
the event, he was followed by many patriotic
gentlemen of his political complexion, as the
V, to will show.
Mr. Strother succeeded him, with some re-
marks in explanation of his course Although
he had supported the Virginia resolution, he
would not support Mr. Mason. We leave the
reconciliation of this inconsistency to the nge-
NOUS delegate from Rappahannock Mr.. Dor
man made specch--;is matter of course But
the most brilliant and snowy remarks to which
we listened on this occasion, were unqueston-
ably those Of Mr.. Flournoy. However common
elsewhere, it is rare that the d-corum Of the
Virginia legislature is disturbed by popular
exhibition, but on this occasion the sentiment Of
the crowded audience broke through restraint,
and loud applause interrup et: the speaker. Mr.
Mortimer Johnson, of Taylor, made short but
sensible speech, which VIC shall give in its place !;
and Mr.. Richard Ivanhoe Cooke declared his in
tention offoIlowing the example of Mr.. Witcher
in few very striking remarks. Mr.. Martz, of
Rockingham and Mr.. Lewis, Of Harrison, closed
the debate with few remarks which we did not
have the pleasure of hearing, but which We shall
| publish in their place.
These were the principal participators in the
debate in the Lower House. In the Senate, Mr..
Isbell delivered an address distinguished as much
for its admirable style and temper as for its in
genuity and ability But though we have much
respect for Mr. Isbelrs Judgment, and were much
pleased by the talent which he exhibited o.: this
occasion, we cannot think that he reconciled his
positions. lie appeared an advocate Of the
Compromise, who saw cause for applause in Mr..
| MaSon's opposition to that measure. However.
we will lay his remarks before our readers, and
they may examine for themselves. Mr.. Wood
followed in a very different strrin. He was n
| Wing, but intended to vote for Mr. Mason solely
because Of his opposition to the Compromise.
| lie entered into an examination of al,at scheme,
aud in the course of half an hour made one of
the best summaries of its Objectionable points
| which we recollcct to have heard. The debate
! in the Senate was closed by Mr.. lnman Horner,
of FauQuier, in short but very sensible and
| high toned address
The vote was then taken, with that result of
which the reader is already informed.
We cannot conclude these remarks without
noticing one feature in this deblte--to wit, the
declaration which was made by several gentle
men, and particularly harped upon by those
speakers who belonged to the Wing party, that
the assurance of Mr.. Mason's friends. Of his de-
sire for The Unions preservation, had changed
their relation towards him; and that they now
understood him, as acguiescing in the Compro-
mise The Wing press of this city have caught
at the word-They have the absurd impudence
to claim this election as the Triumph of that'nca
sure. Their position can he theme Of ridicue
only-argument would be wasted upon it. But
we do not distinctly understand what the
speakers of the House have meant by the
acquiescsnce in the Compromise. If they mean
only the wise, well considered view which is
taken of congressional action by the present
distinguished chief magistrate Of this State
| if they mean only that Mr.. Mason will not
advocate the dissolution of the Union on
account Of that measure, or make an absurd
attempt to force Congress to retrace its steps
of usurpation; l. they mean only that he
will submit to w0uN is inevitabe-we have no
objection to the phrase. But if We are to IN
derstand that Mr.. Mason has changed his opin-
ion of the Compromise and its kindred mca-
sures that he no longer protests against them
that he does not now and will not for all future
time regard them severally as treasons to the
Constitution, and in their connected form as an
accumulation of wrong, injustice insnt, and in.
jury, which the South ought to resist by every
measure short Of revolution, and punish by every
means consistent with the safety of society,"
then, we shall regard him as the basest of trait
ors since Julian the Apostate, and deplore his
election at the last blow which can be struck
upon fallen and ruined State.
! Candor Of the Intelligenoer.
In the article from this paper re-pnblished
yesterday, 1t will be seen that the editors charge
| rnop SouJb rar1Iin1 ti,r nronoviti0n In toy thr