The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-28
CONGRESSIONAL.
DEFERRED DEBATE.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1851


lows
MT RHETf thought the other day, when the SEN
alor from Mississippi Mr.. FooTEl came to speak of my
opinions That he had read my speech, happens Il
- IN print have 1t moi here, but have il at home
NO OF no solt OF consequence to me at what time
me gentleman, or any body else puts down a
sohisl-whether be twenty years ago. FIVE years ago.
or now: say thai am one now My own view about
my position is this that in 1888 struggling for a
reform OF the government had hopes that il could then
De reformed did not despair of its reformation until in
ISi2 when the iar' had been passed ovenhfowog the
compromise tariff OF 1883 The 2ls rule il know n
would be repealed. and the democratic party having the
majority IN both branches of Congress, refused alter
ne sali act OF is42. II was not until then that des
paired OF any reformation OF the government the
tIal head on distinct and right principles
sm sure The Senate will not expect me-and would
hardly pardon me il were to do so--lo reply 10 the
whole speech of the senator from Mississippi, [Mr
FooTE Of three hours length, and delivered in two days
IS not my purpose to respond TO that speech at ALL but
only 70 refer TO lew particulars, and those Of personal
kind altogether IN order that correct conception nigh,
be had OF the whole. lament very much, indeed, the
hecesssy OF having any personal controversy have
Deeh fortunate enough to serve years the South
Carolina legislature and twelve years the other branch
OF Congress, without being involved in any personal
atercahon with any And must say now, what is
known to every that since the from Misss
slP INT FooTE] has been in this body there have been
more personal disputes here than for twenty years be-
| fore.
Mr.. FOOTE. call the gentleman to order He has
no ght 10 refer TO my course here in this personal man
ner tie has no !gh to refer TO any personal disputes
may have had with honorable senators this floor
elsewhere Ii the Chair thinks he has right thus to
speak OF and my course here | shall submit TO the
decision cheerfully only claiming the privilege OF re-
sponse TO the genemans suggestions upon this rather
The PRESIDENT The Chair has no hesitation in
saying hGt everything OF personal character certainly
Mr.. RHErr though, was referring to fact ,ha,
everybody knew But have no disposition TO go into
that matter So far concerned. this, believe
about the hrst d,tculy or alteration that have ever
had with anybody.
The senator says that what said in conclusion OF nv
Pr and his hay rrlaI
him 10 his grave, twas vile and caumnous charge"
The ne Senate ma E, wi will eassi,!y PsIceiye--
! The PRESIDENT. The Chair not aware that
the senator from Mississippi [Mr FoorEl made use Of
that remark as applying 10 the senator from South Caro-
Mr. RHETr No, sir, admit that. Bu, he said that
The PRESIDENT. IL the Chair had thought tha,
any thing personal was meant he would have called the
gentleman from Mississippi Mr. FooTE] 10 order.
Mr.. RHETT. He did not say tha, had made a vile
and caumnious charge but that the assertion was vile
and caIumnious When said that he had hurried
MI Calhoun into his grave, every body understood that
II was metaphorlcal expression. What | meant the
metaphor TO express this that by his attack he had
weakened MIR Calhoun, and thus had FASTENED his de-
cease. That is what intended to say. And that was
not very wild in that expression is supported by what
the senator himself says He says himself ha,
conveying this charge in the papers and about The
city, and that The honorable senator from Alabama Mr
CLEMEksl wrote 10 the Nsw York Herald, and had i,
conadcled. believe he right to the extent of the
rumor. II certain that heard in South Carolina
where then was; and when came here, two senators
informed me OF the same hing-one OF them will men.
ton directly And in addition 10 that. three gentlemen
might say four-bu will say three gentlemen, who
were living in the house with Mr.. Calhoun at the time,
and who members of the other House, distinct
i the senator wants them They were here, saw Mr.
Calhouns condition. before and after saw the effect the
attack of the senator produced upon him saw him
his sick Ted and they did not doubt, and they say
tha; they do not doubt, The effect Of that attack upon
Mr. Calhoun seriousy 10 impair the then condition
OF hIs health, and hasten his death Now, there is my
A. r.. ,I,
boiy thinks | not here at the time-I moth
ing OF it, but did not suppose that was saying any
thing that any body would contIovert Observe that do
not say Tie senator designed any such thing. But l
thought that il he produced that effect, and
that he had produced II, he the last upon this
loor as before said, who ought 10 have got up here
and said anything disparag'ng OF Mr. Calhoun.
Now, what The reasons that the senator gives for
having made that attack The first ls that the PROPOSE
ton Of Mr.. Calhoun was nitseIf equyalen, to dssolu
ton OF the Union. What is that proposition IL is a
scheme under which the greatest republic that ever ex
sted in the world lived for six hundred years. II IS
proposition OF The consular system OF Rome, with this
difference only, that the veto power joined with it,
But the veto power is only preventive not an ag
gressve power; aud although should not be in favor
OF such proposition, by means think 1t so very un-
wise or dangerous am lis tendency would not be
TO bring the sections into an,agonlsm On the contrary,
it would produce harmony 1t certainly would project
the South, and produced from zeal for the South,
and therefore is entitled to the pdu gen, consideration of
all true southern do not see in the proposition
ITSELF therefore, anything very alarming as TO call out
says that the Nashville convention was about TO ST. and
it expected that that convention would propose
emendations 10 the constitution, and that Mr.. Calhoun
sought To nstgaie that convention to demand certain pro-
posed amendments, which not being adopted, would dis
solve The Union. ! member OF the convention, and
heard from MIR. Calhoun, from anybody else,
any such proposition.
MIR FDOTE Let me call the honorable senator's at
ien,ion 10 one fact At the time the Nashville conven-
ton In session, short time previous as think,
had occasion here 10 notice very striking Publcanon
made in the Union newspaper OF this cly, winch was
wedly made at the instance Of OF the representa-
,vcs from South Carolina IN the other House, for whom
have the highest personal respect The newspaper ar
tcle 10 which have reference contaised areguar and
certain Mr. Wigfall, OF Texas, South Carollnan by
birth, and known TO be closely affiliated with certain
politicians OF that State, that the Nashville convention
should demand certain constitutional amendmenh-to
the number of seven, beieve--as sine qua mon 10 a
settlement OF the pending questions As soon as saw
it, conjectung that it intended to operate upon the
action OF the convention, and upon The southern men
ment then before Congress- took occasion, IN solemn
and formal manner, 10 warn the country asans .na, s
proposition do not remember whether MI Wtgaii
in the convention moi. Mr. henderson, OF ieAas'
was, and believe the proposition was there privately
il not publicly discussed have certainly been SO IN
! formed
Mr. RHETT ! have only to say that never heard
anythne of the and there stands another delegate
Mr. McRArl who say for himself whether be heard
| ANYTHING of the kind. But il had, should not have
thought il very extraordinary thing The constitution
provides for emendaons upon Its lace and can no ap
peal be made that instrument TO carry out It's own pro-
Visions but a man i. TO be denounced as dsunionsi or
something worse Gen Jackson, in his first message
think distinctly proposed that rather than assume pow
srs the constitution shouId be amended,