The southern press., 1851-12-29

not publicly, discussed | have certainly been
SO informed.
Mr. RIIETT. | have only TO say that
never heard any ylhing of the sort; and there
stands another delegate, Mr.. McRAE,l who
can say for himself whether he heard anything
of the kind. But If had, should not have
thought it very extraordinary thing. The
Constitution provides for emendations upon its
face; and can no appeal be made to that instru
ment to carry out its own provisions, but a mar
is to be denounced as disunionist or some
thing worse! General Jackson, in his first mes
sage, think, distinctly proposed, that rather
than assume powers, the Constitution sspuld be
amended
In order not to be misunderstood, will say
that am content with the Constitution of the
United States as il is | have myself never
wanted hing more than the Constitution Of
the United States, administered upon the strict
principles of the Republican party. That Con
stitution does not sanction abolition agitation
here. IL does not authorize unjust taxation OF
expenditure. If it was adhered TO we should
have peace we should have no collisions. But
the difficulty is, that the Constitution is not
adhered to, but is doomed to constructions and
evasions. Its provisions have been nullified by
the power ofa Northern majority; and hence, ir
my view, nothing but the parties to the Const
tution--the States--can make this Northern
maj ority yield its usurpation of powers. The
time is not far distant--if not already herein
which what John Randolph said will be true: il
will be out of order to quote the Constitution
Of the United States. The Constitution car
never be brought back to its original principles
by the action of the central government here
1t is the majority here which carries the aggres-
sve policy and measures into action; and how
L. al. II.
so to amend the Constitution as to deprive
themselves of this very power, and to paralyze
and restrain their own action? There is no pos
sibe way to get an amendment of the Consti-
tuition, or distinct guarantees enforcing it, except
by checking the sectional power through the
States. Then alone, finding that their aggres-
sive policy cannot prevail, they may be expected
to consent to alterations of the Constitution
decIaratory Of its true meaning Therefore
have never looked for any new guarantees in
the Constitution of the United States in any
other way than by the action of the States--the
minority States asserting their sovereignty, and
arresting the usurpations of the majority.
This can alone induce them to give up their
power, and yield to the limitations of the Con
stitution.
| Another reason assigned by the Senator for
assailing Mr. Calhoun was, that Mr. Benton was
about to assail him; therefore, by way of keep.
ing Mr.. Benton from assailing him, he assailed
him himself!
| Mr.. FOOTE. did not say so, l said ex-
pressIy, that the Senator from Missouri (Mr.
Benton) would attack the whole of us as disun-
ionists, on very plausible ground. Therefore, it
was that sought sage and patriotic counse1s,
and following those counsels defended Mr. Cal
houn and all his political associates from an at
| toclr which fanr.d p,ir do ;.;,,
Mr.. RHEIT, Well, Mr. President, the SEN
ator from Missouri (Mr Benton) told me last
winter, standing near that column, that the gen
teman from Mississippi had thrust Mr. Calhoun
into his grave. These were his words "Sir.'
said he, 81 would as soon have thought of strk-
| ing dead corpse, as to have laid my hands
upon him, in the dying condition in which he
was" And yet the Senator from Mississippi
has alluded to Mr.. Benton as intending to assail
MIR. Calhoun
Mr.. FOOTE Politically.
Mr.. RHGTT. He condemned what the SEN
| ator from Mississippi did, with Indignation
only say this in exculpation of Mr. Benton, be-
cause he is not here.
But the Senator says ! ought not to be the
man to speak in defence of Mr.. Calhoun, because
| was very desirous to supplant him in the Sem
ate and therefore stood in the position of po
litical rival. ] am not at all sure if the premises
were true, that the conclusion follows. ! am
not sure but that, being his political rival in his
lifetime, 1t might not be very proper for me- after
having succeeded to his place, to defend him
when assailed upon this floor. But the prem
ses are not true, and the Senator from Mississ-
ippi shall himself refute the charge The charge
arose, presume, because | differed from Mr..
Calhoun on the various measures | differed
from him in regard TO the Mexican war, and the
support of President Polk's administration. The
Senator from Mississippi agreed with me in my
| course presume tnat is no ground then, to
impugn any mans integrity or motives. diff
fered from Mr. Calhoun also upon the presiden.
| tial election, in supporting the Senator from
Michigan, Mr.. CAss.
But the Senator from Mississippi again agreed
with me there, too. In both OF these points |
differed from Mr.. Calhoun, and in both Of them
the Senator from Mississippi agreed with me, as
to my political course. Was the Mexican war,
or the support of the Senator from Michigan to
the Presidency, so outra eous, so malignant,
and so corrupt thing that one man was not
only culpabe, but csuld not agree with another
in that support without having bis motives i'm
pugned think not, sir. did not, in differ
| ing with Mr.. Calhoun as to these public mat
ters Justly render myself amenabe to the impu-
tation that Senator has brought before the Sen.
ate | thought was right then. think was
right now, and that the imputation is wholly un-
served. will not say that the imputation is
vile and calumnious hut will say that the SEN
ator who has acted with me when | thus differed
from Mr. Calhoun, ought to have been the man
to defend me, instead of joining in defaming
me- AT the same time, must say, that ] au
not aware that there was any hostility between
Mr.. Calhoun and myself. was appointed to
deliver an Grafton upon his death before the le
gislature of South Carolina, and | performed
that duty as well as was able, and endeavored
to do iull justice to his memory And certain
ly in his lifetime defended his political course
in the newspy pers and periodicals to no small
extent spent more ink in defending him
personally aud politically, than any man living
Still was only doing what though to be my
duty, in SUI porting great man who was serv
! ing the country in the cause with which was
identified Sir do not know how any one car
,, escape the tender charities of the Senator o
Mississippi fyou go against him he denounce'
!, you, and if you go with him he imputes un
worthy motives to you. Go with him or agains