The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-28

| The PRESIDENT The Chair is under the impres
sion that this discussion does not apply to the ques
Mr. FOoTE. Well | shall not press the matter |
bad no idea OF bringing forward proof sustain my allie
CATION The gentleman ought TO be thankful TO me for
having gwen him The opportunity which he has enjoyed
OF explaining charge which might have operated
what delrimentally 10 his public reputation.
lhe gentleman also suggested something in regard TO
The presidential election, He ought not TO have
toned that matter at ALI After the nomination Of our
candidate for the presidency in S4s the gentlesan and
myself were both residents OF Georgetown, the District
oil Columbia. | learned that short time after these
nominations were made, the senator from South Carolina
cly but very coureously to complain OF his conduct
hm ha bseS "esd Hs al moi Aa
that snch was The fact lie had criticised candidate.
and used as UNDERSTOOD very lukewarm terms of com
Notwithstanding him with faint praise, TO say the
| Mr.. RHETT. hope the senator will allow me TO
state ate my r. reeoeG!ion e. 10 of that matter
The PRESlDENT rs The Chair Is very unwilling to
OF discussion cannot be tolerated much longer.
Mr. BUTLER. hope my colleague viii be allowed,
Mr.. RliETr There is not a man upon this floor who
does no, feel more mortified and sensitive at the
position which the senator and myself occupy in this
controversy than do But what can do! / will tell
the gentleman wha, occurred during the presidential
paign to which he refers. After General Taylor
was at party on the heights Of Georgetown, as the
gentleman says Mr. Robinson, Mr.. Cartier. and
other good wings. came 10 talk about the presidential
nominations, when stated TO them that in my opinion.
the democratic nominations would be beaten, and that
General Taylor would be elected. Mr.. Robinson, be-
lieye, oldthe senator from Mississippi what said The
next thing heard Of when went to see the Pres
dent of the United States (Mr, Polk) one morning. He
said TO me, How is his' You said you would support
General Cass and the democratic nominations very
clearly and very distinctly to me. Now. MI. Rche tells
me that Mr. FoorE told him that he heard that you
wings" why" said ], "sr never said So. On the
contrary shall certainly support the democratic nom-
nations, as told you before. shall support Mr. Cass,
nd Saufh nina wills "A yha
was that believed We were about to be beaten and the
charge OF Mr.. FoorE totally ungrounded." imme
a,aely came to the Senate and asked the senator be
inference from what had said told him that the infer
ence erroneous and told him further that General
the vote of the State Of South Carolina Oh, said the
senator from Mississippi that is out Of The question MI
Calhoun is against him. and he !, Wl never carry South
sippi for General Cass Certainly, said be, by ten thou
sand majority then said 10 him, Now, you carry Mis-
sisspp and don't trouble yourself about South Carolina
and will carry South Carolina for General Cass. The
result has shown whether was right or wrong
Il Mr.. FOOTE If The gentleman had known what pc.
culia difficulties had encounter in Mississippi if
he had known what peculiar Iayor-Cass speeches were
made there by who possessed particular in
huence-whch made me leave certain duties which was
performing here Tor the purpose of couneracting move
meats elsewhere-he would perhaps have perceived that
circumstances had occurred which had right to an
tcipale at The time of tina, conversation These circum
stances were OF such nature as even TO Justify some
surprise that the State not carried by some ten thou
sand majority against US. But truce with that
cans be had declared that he was about to Be beaten
stead OF saying that he prepared to whip the enemy no
matter what force was brought against him-i General
Scott on any OF the batlle-Geds upon which he won
much glory, had declared to his men, Let US advance
and meet The enemy, but really think we shall be bad
y whipped" believe he would have been overcome in
every battle That was my opinion at that time and
must say tina, not in the habit of hearing members
of political party, honestly Jealous and devoted to the
interest OF that party. coniessing IN the presence OF its
adversaries that which would enable them to quote
him-as ! have heard the gentleman quoed-as assert
ing the feebeness OF the ticket and the utter i'm
possibility Of jts success have never believed that the
bright namesoi Mr. Calhoun, and his powerfully-ex-
pressed and maintained opinions have received any ad
donal Furnishing soldily from that source.
The gentleman says tina, he is opposed TO these meas
ures OF adjustment, because he is in favor OF expansion
Let him read the letter of Mr Burt, OF South Carolina,
in which he touches this point OF expansion as states,
man and philosopher In that letter he shows that IL
South Carolina should secede there would be end to
that slave could not carry their slaves
beyond their borders without going into country;
that they would lack the protecting influence of the con-
stuon of the United States, and that secession would
coop up cabin and confne fatally the system OF slavery
within the limits of South Carolina and yet hear
avowed secessonist declaring himself in favor OF expan
sion. What sort of expansi would that be when South
Carolina could not carry slaves beyond her borders
have nothing TO say about the idea OF expansion,
except 10 mention that governor OF Mississippi men:
toned this idea in late message and the people OF
Mississippi then accordingly expanded him into private
life.
But the gentleman seems to think that have more
sympathy with the aboitionss than he has shall not
undertake 10 discuss this matter al length. have TINS 10
say that the gentleman has not yet made an explanation
with regard 10 my statement that he and his particular
party agreed with the abotonists IN syracuse and Dos
Ton in asserting the abstract right OF secession That's
one point OF agreement between them. They all agree
as TO the territorial government bills being entitled TO an
amendment-the one asking the Missouri Compromise
and the other asking the Wmot provso. They agree
again asserting that the fugitveslave law Is unconsti.
tutona They agree again in saying that the people OF
the North right in opposing IT. On these vital ponts
they do agree and agree also being opposed TO the
measure which settled the Texas boundary question
There is the happiest harmony IN the world between
them Now, let the gentleman suggest any such points
of smilude between myself and these genilemen and
when he does so, let him associate my name t not
too humble) with the OF some distinguished abo
ZIONIST candidate for the presidential OF vce-presidenha
, honors, If he pleases.
. Mr. RHErT Does the senator from Mississippi assert
that at their convention the abouonsts maintained the
: right OF secession
, Mr. FOOTE AT the Syracuse convention they passed
solemn resolutions asserting the abstract right OF seccs
sion, and praisng South Carolina The gentleman ooes
not to know what Is going on around MIN. ne
ought to be thankful TO me for giving him an opportunity
. ot learning. We thus what company ne keeps
There is old maxim that you can know man py ms
company. Another.maxlm requires an " knuw n.h
self and have enabled the gentleman, by informing
him of the company keeps TO know HIMSELF he ought
certainly 10 be thankful TO The gentleman says That
there n more sympathy between myself and certain aDo
,ioost gentlemen than between them and himself
Well il is not the sympathy OF principle nor the sympa
INV of action if any sympathy at all My votes are M
rived anst these gentlemen my principles are against
, them. The gentlemans opinions theirs as have
lust now described and their actions are the sane Ihey
were equally opposed to the compromise measures and
they are now equally in favor OF agitation against them
and II they do no, constitute party hereafter, - be