The southern press., 1851-12-29
DEFERRED DEBATE.
In sen

|
The debate having been resumed, Mr. F6orE
made brief explanation, and the debate was
continued follows:
Mr.. RHETT thought the other day, when
the Senator from Mississippi Mr.. FoorE came
to speak of my opinions, that he had read my
speech, as it so happens it is in print. have il
not here, but have it at home. Now il is of nc
sort OF consequence To me at what time the gen.
tIeman, or anybody else, puts me down as
secesslonlsl-whether II be twenty years ago
1--WE years ago, or now | say that am one now
My own view about my position is this, that il
1888 was struggling for a reform of the gov
ernment did not despair of it's reformation
until In 1912, when the tariff had been passed
overthrowing the compromise tariff of 1888
the 2lst rule, it was known would be repealed
and the Democratic party, having the majority il
both branches of Congress, refused to alter the
tariff act of l842. 1t was not until then that
despaired of any reformation of the government
Mt the central head on distinct and right princ
| pies.
| am sure the Senate will not expect me, and
will hardly pardon me, if were to do so, to re-
ply to the whole speech of the Senator from
Mississippi Mr.. FooTE of three hours length
and delivered in two days. 1t is not my pur.
pose to respond to that speech at all, but only to
refer to a few particulars, and those of per
sonal kind altogether, in order that correct
conception might be- had of the whole. la
ment very much indeed, the necessity of having
any personal controversy. have been fortunate
enough to serve seven years in the South Caro-
lima legislature, and twelve years in the other
branch of Congress-, without being involved in
any personal alteration with any one. And
must say now, what is known to every one, that
since the Senator from Mississippi Mr.. FooTE
has been in this body, there have been more
personal disputes here, than for twenty years
| before
Mr. FOOTE. | call the gentleman to order
He has no right to refer to my course here in
this personal manner. He has no right to refer
to any personal disputes may have had with
honorable senators on this floor or elsewhere
If the Chair thinks he has right thus to speak
of me and my course here, shall submit to the
decision cheerfully, only claiming the privilege
of response to the gentleman's suggestions up
on this rather delicate topic.
The PRESIDENT. The Chair has no hes-
tation in saying that everything of personal
character is certainly out of order.
Mr.. RHETr. thought was referring to
a fact that everybody knew. But ] have no
disposition to 60 into this matter. So far as |
am concerned, this, believe, is about the first
uililculY OF blluI nave ever Uuu WIFI
anyb body.
The Senator says that what said in concu-
sion of my speech in respect to Mr. Calhoun,
and his having hurried him to his grave, " was a
vile and calumnious charge" The Senate will
The PRESIDENT. The Chair was not
aware that the Senator from Mississippi Mr..
FooTE] made use of that remark as applying to
the Senator from South Carolina, Mr. RHETT |
Mr.. RtIE TT. No, sir, admit that. But he
said that the charge was vile and calumnious
one.
The PRESIDENT If the Chair had thought
that anything personal was meant, he would
have called the gentleman from Mississippi
Mr.. FooTe to order.
Mr. RHETT He did not say that had
made vile and calumnious charge, but that the
assertion was vile and caumnious one. When
said that he had hurried Mr. Calhoun into his
grave, everybody understood that it was meta
phorcal expression What | meant the meta
phor to express was this--that by his attack, he
had weakened Mr.. Calhoun, and thus had hast
ened his decease. That is what | intended to
say And that was not very wild in that ex-
preston, is supported by what the Senator him
self says He says himself that rumor con
veying this charge was in the papers and about
Lne ClbV, ana ttuJ lIle 1OUOTdUlt ObUdIOE from
Alabama, Mr.. Clemens wrote to the New
York Herald, and had it contradcted. believe
he is right as to the extent of the rumor. 1t is
certain that heard it in South Carolina, where
then was, and when came here, two Senators
informed me of the same thing-one of them
will mention directly. And in addition to that
three gentlemen, | might say four--but will
say three gentlemen that were living in the
house with Mr.. Calhoun at that time, and who
are now members of the other House, distinctly
declared to me the same thing. can give their
names if the Senator wants them. They were
here, saw Mr. Calhoun's condition, before and
after; saw the effect the attack of the Senator
produced upon him; saw him on his sick bed,
and they did not doubt, and they now say that
they do not doubt the effect OF that attack upon
Mr.. Calhoun was seriously to impair the then
condition of his health, and hasten bis death.
Now, there is my authority for saying so. ]
believe myself, that everybody thinks so. ]
was not here at the mel saw nothing of it,
but did not suppose that was saying anything
that nybody would controvert Observe that
do not say the Senator designed any such thing.
But | thought that if he produced that effect,
and was aware that he had produced it, he was
the last man upon this floor, as | before said,
who ought to have got up here and said any
thing disparaging of Mr.. Calhoun.
Now, what are the reasons that the Senator
gives for having made that attack? The first is
that the proposition of Mr.. Calhoun was in it.
self equivalent to dissolution of the Union
What is that proposition? 1t is scheme un.
der which the greatest republic that ever existed
in the world lived for six hundred years. 1t is
proposition of the consular system of Rome
with this difference only, that the veto power is
Joined with it, But, sir the veto power is only
preventive, not an aggressive power; and al
though should not be in favor of such pro
position, by no means think it so very unwise
or dangerous. am sure its tendency woulc
not be to bring the sections into antagonism
on the contrary, it would produce harmony; i
certainly would protect the South, and was pro
duced from zeal for the South, and therefore il
entitled to the indulgent consideration of al
true Southern men. do not see in the propo
siton itself, therefore, anything so very alarming
as to call out the passionate anmadversions o
the Senator. But he says that the Nashville
convention was about to sit, and it was expected
that that convention would propose emendation
to the Constitution, and that Mr.. Calhoun sough