The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-08-20


State legislatures and we have heard nothing OF any
Inconvenience The senator from North Carolina [Mr.
KADoER] referred TO State yesterday (his OWN in
Which Inc practice had led 10 incon nvenence; other
senators-ihose from Pennsy yvanla and New Hampshire
bad referred to Their States, where the privilege
thought important To have been secured in the CON
siuion of these States, and in which bad been exer
csed without mischief II 10 me, TOO, that If an
evil which would speedily correct ITSELF # it should lead
10 sdch abuses as gentlemen speak Of We should have
Two means OF correcting it. In the first place. the Senate
could correct the evil by the establishment of rule not
to apply TO any particular case but by doing what has
already been done during this session, when wished
TO strike al practice which believed TO be waseIul
OF the tine of this body By establishing rule
ing at any particular instance but applying 10 all future
cases. we could at any time put end the practice if
should lead to The evil which is anticipated. But in
point OF fact the evil would itse for why would
any member wish To spread his the Journal
Because, Sir 4 would give them additional soemnity,
and attract 10 them attention than any other mode
in which he could sgnaze and give evidence OF his OPP
position 10 the measure. But il it became common If
upon every light and trivial protests spread
on the journal il would be no longer the of giving
additional soemnity 10 your opposition, or Of attract
ing more OF pubic attention to The resistance that you
have made. Yon would then abandon il, being
more troublesome than giving your views TO the pnDlic
through the newspapers OF the day, and because Il did
not give more prominence, or soemniiy, or Importance
to your opposition So that the evil would correct itself,
should turn out TO be evil But in point o TACT do
not believe that It would lead to any evil. presume
that every senator has OF self Prospect and
gentleman would get up and endeavor, light and
trivial occasion, TO invoke torn solemn this, for
the purpose OF attracting noorley would be sure
way to himself with riArcule We could not get
along ALL unless that feeling existed amongst the ind
vidual members, and amongst as body; unless
such conservative ieehng existed here, you could not
make rules enough to preserve lbe order and harmony
of the Senate Members are supposed 10 have some self
respect it would be impossible could get along
with convenience order here. III, then, this be an
evil, one said before, which will correct itself
and ii does do the Senate and will correct it,
have doubt In these considerations lies the whole
question. believe that The whole matter 10 be consid
& ii
false, not whether the reasoning ne Well or Ill, but
whether it will be likely TO do harm az parliamentary
precedent | believe that II we were TO establish the
precedent il would be productive OF good rather than
harm. believe it would be better calculated 10 content
ninores, if You thus allowed them 10 give additional
soemnity and additional strength TO their opposition 10
measures which may up, AMI that they would be
better able to go home and satisfy their constituents that
they had done all which they could 10 oppose and resist
them They would be thus able to measure the de-
gree of their opposition; and in where there
danger OF the establishment of precedent which
might be hereafter mlschevous, they might then be
better enabled TO break the force OF that precedent and in
doing be better able 10 satisfy and content their
sttuents at home In this point OF view believe this
measure would have dlteren effect from that which the
senator from Louisiana Mr. Dowssl supposes it might
have-hat of iniaming the excitement in the popular
mind, already disturbed IN relation to these maters.
believe the people OF the South would be apt TO be
conenied they thought that had made opposition
this bill than usually solemn. than usually
imposing and better calculated to break the force oil the
precedent he reaie than would have been the il
sisance Here is mode which involves disrespect to
any one, dsturbs the peace nowhere and which, be-
eve ii II had been permitted, would have had rather
soothing and quetng effect But, be that it may,
the senator from Louisiana Mr.. DowNs] that
there is no ul.eror purpose behind the protest What
il says face, and he It's
effects as well as we | him that far
as am concerned-and believe is the feeling of every
protestant whose name appears on this paper-thee no
desire design TO comm either States or anybody else
any course OF action. There appeal To the feel
ings. and commitment OF The States any else 10
any course OF acon but II contains mere dissent, and
the for the dissent, to the passage OF this bill
Mr. DOWNS. The gentleman will pardon me. He
seems not to recoect the precise saore OF my remarks
distinctly disclaimed mputng any such intention to the
proestans but still thought that that might be the ef-
feet OF it
Mr. HUNTER. That is mere difference OF opinion be.
tween us-opnons honestly entertained, DOUBT not, on
both sides But, sir wish 10 say here once and ior-
that never seek and do not hold myself to be au-
lhorized TO commit my State TO any course OF acton
whatever. When and how she Will act she Nilideter
for herself Ii is for her people TO commit her. and
not ior She commits me TO action, not her; and
have pursued the path which she has marked out for me
BY resolutions adopted with almost perfect unanimy at
the last of her Legislature That her purpose
in those resolutions was grave at least am bound to
believe have pursued that path which she has marked
out Tor me, feeling that had no nght 70 sSetve or dew
ale from IT, HAIR breadth. Sir, If her flag is aoa
she delivered IT 10 the breeze; and II there be anything
emblazoned upon 1t which might be offensive or even
menacing, the notices and emblazonmenis her own
dare mol lower that flag long 1t is placed in my
hands lobe display ed as the emblem ol her honor or the
symbol oil her rights II had the heart, have not the
courage to strike il, unless abe bids me do It.
MIR President, think the Senate 1an bear me witness
that have not shown myself agitator on these sub
ects have proved myself eager for the fray,
entered into with the Joy OF battle On the contrary il
is painful TO me to contemplate these differences shrink
from them, and should be glad, II could, to AVOID them
and hereafter. II ~ only upon questions of great
constitutional rights in which the safety, peace and
equality OF my State concerned that feel bound TO
come forward and minge in the debate and Join in the
contest.
Mr. President, have no very strong individual wish
In relation to the mouon now pending When said that
appeal 10 the courtesy OF the Senate, meant
that had strong individual wishes but tbat having
no right 10 ask il matter of parliamentary privilege,
we should be gratihed senator's rather than
II it should be the pleasure of the majority TO put this
protest upon the journal have desire rolong this
debate or to open up discussion did not propose, when
ect -
INTessrs BENTON and BUTLER then addressed the
Senate as published in the Union OF Sunday and the de-
bate proceeded as follows:
Mr. WALKER. In connexon with what the senator
from South Carolina Mr.. BuTLEa has stated, wish to
remark he has hat OF back handed
that the protest not written for me- have only to
say that it not, censures those who voted tor the
admission OF California came IN for my share OF that
censue and consequently felt it be my duty, in
which hope respectful, 10 epei the censuIe IN
my place II the remark made, sr with any sense
to imply that views OF il, my ideas ot the protest, are
regarded a matter OF entire indieencef 1t was writ
Ten with entire contempt for me-al have to say Is
ths II the protest was not wnten for me- IT was written
by those who, they had undertaken TO write protest Tor
me, would not have had right to do IL and to this quali
hcauon, II II was meant any contempuous sense ior
me, have The further reply to make that the senator
from South Carolina, mir BuTIERl ia one OF the last