Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-30
rng DEBATE IN TnE SENATE.


the Senate. The order of the day was Mr.. Foote'S
resolution in reaffirmance of the measures of
Compromise. The resolution, as amended at the
suggestion of Mr.. Badger, adopts the language of
the Presidents message in relation TO the mea-
sures of adjustment; holding them in substance
a final settlement Of the exciting topics which
they embraced.
Mr. Clemens yielded the floor to General
CaSs, who made brief speech, in which he re.
buked with calm and digni6ed severity the disu-
Mon sentiments of Mr.. Rhett--avowed his de-
termination to abide by the Compromse-bore
testimony to the great advantages which had re-
suited to the American people from the Fede.
raj Constitution, and expressed the hope that
they might be enjoyed by the gnera tions to
come after US TO the latest posterlty He spoke
like a statesman and patriot; and though his re-
marks were brief, we think they were calculated
to produce a strong impression On the public
mind
Mr.. Clemens followed in a speech of consider
able length, and of no inconsderable ability. He
was pointed to say the least, in his anmadver-
sions on the Abolitonists and Secessioniss, some
times perhaps transcending the rules of ORDER
He reviewed the several measures composing the
Compromise, and showed very concnsively, with
regard to most of them, that they were not North
ern aggressons upon the South, for the reason
votes. His first point was that if any Southern
State were to secede, or attempt secession, on the
ground of any Of these "aggressious," it would
lind great difficulty iii ascertalnng from what
states twas to separate. Tennesseeand Kentucky
had both given a ma orty of their sufrages in the
| House of Representatives for the admission OF
California; and, if this were a reason for seces-
| sion, it would operate with regard to those States
as well as to any Northern commonwealth that
had voted for the same measure. He showed that
Mr.. Rhett had voted for the very tariff of 1916,
which he had recently denounced as one of those
measures of Northern aggression ustifying dis
solution Of the Union. He commented on the
remarkable interchange of kindly sentiment and
sympathy between Mr.. Sumner, Mr. Chase, Mr.
Hale, and the secession senator from South Ca
roina--Which he attributed to common ndif
ference not to say reasonable hostility, to the
Union. He expressed an inability to understand
the subleties by which Mr.. Rhett reeonciled his
avowed designs against the Union and Constitu-
ton with his oath Senator to support them
and discussed with great ability the doctrine of
"peaceable secession tracing its origin to the
Hartford Convention, and showing the concur.
renee of sentiment in this regard between the
Syracuse Abolionists and the Fire-eaters of S.
Carolina. Mr.. Clemens examined all these ques-
tons at length, and in an animated strain o.
eoquence. He spoke with tersensss, spirit and
point; and we candidly confess that from such
Democracy as that of Mr.. Clemens, illustrated
by his speech CT yesterday, it is somewhat diff.
cult for good man and patriot to dissent.
The floor was next taken by Mr. Douglas who,
in reply to an observation of General Houston, felt
called upon to define his position. The general
had stated in his speech of the day previous that
he was the only Senator who had voted for all the
measures of Compromise. Mr.. Douglas consid-
cred this remark as calculated to convey an erro-
neous impression in regard to his own position
He had voted for all the measures of adjustment
excepting the Fugitive Slave law, and he proceed
ed to state at some length the circumstances which
had prevented him from giving his vote in favor
Of that law. The honorable Senator suggested
that he had been charged with lodging this vote,
by his political opponents, and that journal in
this city friendly to the Administration had given
color to this allegation. We infer that the Jour
nal alluded to was the Republic, and we desire to
take this occasion to do entire justice to the hon.
orable Senator from Illinois, The fact of the
Senator's omission to vote on this occasion might
we'll enough be reserved FOR a topic of comment
and censure at some future time; but we have no
disposition to take an unfair advantage of an OPP
ponent and are incapable of pressing any argu
ment against our own conviction. 1t is true that
we have mentioned, in one or two instances, that
Mr.. Douglas did not vote on the final passage of
the Fugitive Slave BILL and havs left the public to
| draw their own inference from the fact Unex
planned, itwore the appearance of dodge; and it
was for the friends of Nir. Douglas, or for Mr..
Douglas himself, to explain this unfortunate ap
pearance.
We think that Mr.. Douglas succeeded, yes,
terday, in making a perfectly satisfactory exoa.
nation. In view his antecedents in this regard,
and Of his speech at Chicago soon after the pas
| sage of the act, we think that he has demon,
al hail .ah oa loe L.
| tments the subject, but has always pursued
an open and manly policy. If we have some
| times conveyed by the naked statement of the
fact different impression, in the absence of
any authoritative explanation, we have done the
honorable Senator no intentional injustice, be. |
cause we think it was his duty to remove the I'M
favorable impression by positive and distinct
statement of the circumstances. Now that the
statement is made, and made satisfactorily we
cannot be so unjust to the honorable Senator
or to ourself as to withhold the admission that
we believe Senator Douglas was in favor of the
bill, was anxious to record his vote for it, and
was prevented from doing by circumstances
which We're beyond his control.
Nothing, indeed, should induce US to withhold
liberal recognition OF the patriotic and generous
sentiments which have led to the support of the
expressed and positive policy of President Fill
more, in regard to the measures of adjustment by
such opponents OF his Administration as Mr.
Clemens, General Cass and Mr.. Douglas When
we see these gentlemen, actuated as we believe
by the most elevated motives, coming forwsrd and
giving in their adhesion to the recommendation of
President Fillmore, we feel that we should paw
but poor return to this candid magnanimity if
we should fail to render the amplest Justice 10 their
own patriotic efforts in the cause of the Consti-
tuition and the Union.-Repub7ic.
,l.L;-
from the United States have formed society at
Paris tor the purpose of promoting the study Of
the different branches of science connected with
their profession, and of facilitating for American
physicians the enjoyment of the numerous ad-
vantages of the Paris schools and hospitals