The southern press., 1851-12-29


controversy. The gentleman says that have
had great many personal controversies here.
and was about To remark upon them at some
length, but for the interposilion Of the Chair |
shall not refer To his conduct touching this
rather delicate point further than to say, that
have had some controversies here which should
have been glad to have avoided may per-
chance have a few Others, here and elsewhere
Life has been with me marked with obstacles
and incilement to energetic action, and have
delighted in struggling to overcome the one
and in yielding so far to the other, as to be
ready to do any duty that time and circum
stan es might devolve upon me. | am not, I
think, particularly in the habit Of assaulting any
mans feelings unnecessarily and without provo
cation. Those who assault mine will always
meet such requital as | may consider appro
pirate; with this special understanding, always,
that he who takes offence at what may deem,
il my duty to say, will always, on demanding it,
receive such satisfaction it may be in my
power TO afford
The gentleman says that there are several re-
spectacle members of the other House who
concur with him in the opinion that my at ack
on MIR. Calhoun on this floor, had the effect Of
hunying him out Of existence ] commend to
the gentleman the legal maxim, +" Cui hbef in
sua arte credendum est" If these gentlemen are
doctors or men of experience in such matters, il
they are capable of deciding such question AZ
the one propounded, which must say involves
vast variety of delicate and difficult c0nsidera.
tions connected with the animal frame-the
being called man-thev are fairly entitled to
settle the question, and shall not complain of
their decision but believe that Mr. Cahoun's
regular physician here, DIR. Hall, "a very eminent
man) would decide the question exactly other
wise; for he told me some time before the la
men,ed decease Of this ilIustrious parsonage,
that the disease under which Mr. Calhoun was
laboring must inevitably consign him to the
tomb in short period of time. | have no pain
fu or unpleasant feeling Of any kind in refer
ence to this matter. My conscience is abso-
lutely clear in regard to it. Whatever opinion
other gentlemen may entertain, their opinion will
no. prove in the least degree offensive to me,
unless my intention or motives should be as.
sailed and the honorable Senator to whom
am now responding has admitted that no design
is entertained of nssailing my motives. per-
formed at that time plain, but hi. hly important
public duty, under sage and patriotic counsels.
have never regretted the performance of that
duty, but every day has given me fresh evidence
of a nature to satisfy me thoroughly. that my
course was both judcious and necessary. The
only unfortunate circumstance connected with
it was that it had to be performed by one of less
weight of character perhaps than so grave an oc-
casion required.
The gentleman from South Carolina says,
that the late Senator from Missouri Mr. BEN
TON, expressed the opinion to him that my con-
duct towards Mr.. Calhoun was unkind and ilib.
era Well, sir, the relations between myself
and that gentleman are such as to compel me,
as man setting up the least claim to magma
nimity, to decline saying one word of unknd-
ness or disrespect in relation to him. He shall
have the full benefit of an entire exemption on
this occasion from all cavil and criticism 1t is
said that Mr.. Benton expressed the opinion to
the gentlemen at private interview, when was
not present. that nv conduct in his opinion, had
be n extremely unkind, and that he Mr. BEN
TON would not have practised any such con-
duct under any circumstances. Well, sir, am
quite willing to leave it to the American public,
and to the friends and fellow citizens of the H.
lustrious Cnrolinian, to decide whether the indi-
vidual who enlisted in the defence of Mr. Cal
houns character, after his death, when all the
Senate understood him to be most unkndy
assailed, is to be presumed to have entertained
sentiments of greater unkindness to him whilst
living than did that assaant himself ! have
not word more to say on this point Let is 90
for what it is worth.
last man to call into question his friendship for
Mr.. Calhoun, since he and concurred in sup.
porting the distinguished Senator from Michigan
for the Presidency in 1913, and concurred like
wise in certain other measures mentioned by
him. did not say, that on account of the gen
tlemans support of the Senator from Michigan
for the Presidency, and on account of his sup
port OF Mr.. Folks administration, | hal taken
it for granted that he desired to obtain tie seat
then occupied in this body by Mr.. Calhoun.
The grave suggestion which II ade yet remains
unanswered. The rumor which suggested as
being of general prevalence, remains vet unde-
MED. would ask the gentleman whether he
did not express to several persons here, his q
sire that Mr.. Calhoun should resign and run fdty
the Presidency, intlmating that he entitled to
succeed Mr.. Calhoun in this body! | ask him
further, if he did not, from time to time, repeat
edy express his strong anxiety TO take the place
of Mr.. Calhoun in this body! If he can declare,
with his hand upon his heart that these things
are untrue, ! shall not say another word upon
the subject, and shall presume that the gentle
man has suffered injustice from the tongue of
rumor
Mr.. RIIETT Does the Senator from Mis-
sissppi refer to the resignation of Mr. Calhoun,
and does he say that counselled Mr.. Calhoun
to resign at that time
Mr. FOOTE. | ask the gentleman whether
he did not express a desire that Mr. Calhoun
should resign, at first, and partly at least with a
view of committing the government to send one
who was supposed to concur in the sentiments
expressed by the Senator on this OCCASION of
hatred to the government ever since 1888 and
secondly, whether the Senator did not, from tiue
to time, IN various companies, express his desire
that Mr.. Calhoun should resign his place in The
Senate ntimatng that he had been long enough
'on the stage of public action, and that his place
might well be filled by some other person?
Mr.. RIIETT. Mr.. Calhoun resigned his seat
without consulting me. He told me of it with
out asking my opinion as to it. had nothing
to do with his resignation. Further than that
! will say, that never expressed desire to
member of the Legislature or to any intimate
friend, as far as know, to come here in his
place. On the contrary, standing in the posi-.
ton which he stood, | thought it exceedingly
important to the South that he shou not re-
sign; and if he had consulted me about it, |
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