The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-23

When he (Mr. R } used the word hurried >
| ever body must have understood HIM as speaking
metaphorically. What he meant, WAS that Mr.
Calhoun's death had been FASTENED by the course
of remark pursued by Mr.. FooTE Several sena-
to, S (Co. BEsToN among others) and gentlemen
| (Mr. r } the same thing, and some of them spoke
Of the marked effect that debate had on Nr. Cal.
houn. He would not charge Mr. FoorE with
having deslgnedy intended to niure Mr. c. Mr.
RHErT went on to question Mr.. FooTE's asser.
ton that Mr.. Calhoun mad proposed to amend
the Constitution of the United States. He (Mr.
| X. had never heard him make such II proposition
| Mr.. FOOTE explained. When the Nashville
convention was in session, proposition of that
kind had been made by Mr.. WigfalI, citizen OF
| South Carolina. ..n = ....
Mr.. RHETT said that while at Nashville no
such proposition had ever come to his ears. But
| if there had been, It would not have been very ex.
traordnary, the Constitution itself provides for
| its amendment. Gen. JACKSON, in his first mes.
sage, had proposed its amendment. He (Mr R. !
was well enough satisfied with the Constitution
if it could be carried out fairly and administered
strictly on the principles of the old republican
| party. But it had not been adhered tot had
been nullifed. Under it the North claims and does
as it pleases, to the injury Of the South II
can only be amended by two.thirds vote
and was it to be expected, where there is an
overbearng majority, two thirds can ever be found
voting to negative their own power The MAORI
ty will never consent, If there is no way to check
the central power they assume. He believed that
secession was the only way to effect this. The
States themselves are the legitimate and sovereign
power by which il can he effected. The Senator
from Mississippi had alleged that differences had
existed between him (Mr. r. and Mr. CALHOUN
--intimaung that heIMr. R.) had entertained a
rivalry against that gentleman. True it was, he
differed with him on the annexation Of Texas and
the Mexican warquesrlons but he believed he
(Mr. r. had been sustained by the people Of his
State on both. The Senator IRON, NIissIssIppI,
however, had been with him on both these qurs-
tons What right, then, had he to impule mo-
tives of rivalryi If he went with the Senator, he
was denounced, or if he went against him, it was
all the same. What was to be done' No one can
please him. ...
Mr.. r. continued at some length in further re-
ply to Mr.. FoorE. He also alluded to President
Fillmore who was an Abolitionist, and sympathi.
zing with that faction, would of course Sc ect his
Officers from its ranks He remarked, also, on the
| sympathy existing between the Senators from
Mississippi [Mr. FooTE,) and New Hampshire
| MIR. HALE. When the former asserts that, by
the compromise, the South has gained all she
wants, the latter says Eyes" to it. There was a
fraernal concord between Mr.. FooTE and the Alb
olitionists. Both are opposed to the right of Sc
cession, and both in favor of consol dalton. The
NJ Y. Tribune and National Era like the Senator,
are furious for the Union.
Whe& Mr.. RHErr had concluded, Mr.. FooTE
again replied for few minutes. sd.
| At ; o clock Mr.. HOUsToN took the floor and
moved an adjournment until Monday, which was
| carried.
The Senate then went into an executive session