The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-24
Tho Embrace Of tho Extrcmes-Mr. Clay's
Motion to refer tho Pa esident,s McssaRe.

The Embrace OF tho Extremes-NTr. Clay's
| Motion to refer tho Pa esidont's Message.
The 22d of February, 1851, will be re-
membered alike for what was seen and what
was said in the Senate of the United States
The debate on Mr.. CLAY's motion to refer to
the Judiciary Committee the message of the
PRESIDENT and the accompanying documents,
in relation to the recent rescue of a prisoner
from the officers in Boston, has brought out
and stamped the purposes and motives of GER
tain gentlemen in colors too marked to be mis-
| taken. 1t is idle to say that the motives of
public men ought not to be impeached-t
ought to be, and will be successfully impeach
cd in all cases of conduct or language tending
to produce, if not designed to precipitate, ca
tastrophe upon which all patriots must look
with horror.
The appearance of Mr.. RANToUL, the Coali-
ton Senator from Massachusetts, was suitable
prelude to the demonstrations that followed
His seat is the earnest by which the Abolition;
lists of his State have bound the bargain and
sale designed to vest the six years. Senatorial
term in an individual who represents but a
fragment Of the people of Massachusetts. By
his acceptance Of it Mr.. RANToUL has bound
himself, on the principle of honor among
thieves, to consummate the disgraceful transfer
of the Democracy to the embrace of Abolition.
For nine days. occupancy of seat in the Sen
ate, Mr.. RANToUL has forfeited all claim upon
the respect or confidence of his party, and sepa-
rated himself from all its honorable associa-
tons. Whatever ability he may possess, what
ever may have been his former services,
henceforward his services and his ability will
be but of small account; for he is party, by
ratification, to one of the most disgraceful ar
engagements for selling the honors and dignities
of State to a disorganizing and revolutionary
faction that ever blotted our history. Not the
most disgraceful, perhaps, for Mr.. CHASE, Of
| Ohio, is indebted to similar combination for
a position from which he ventures, as the
Representative of some thirty-five thousand
out Of three or four hundred thousand voters,
to speak eu cathedrd, not only for Ohio, but
for the State of Massachusetts and the entire
| North
Several Senators, to whom we listened with
much pleasure, took part in the discussion of
Saturday. Mr.. Downs concluded the remarks
commenced the day previous, in patriotic,
liberal and conciliatory spirit He was not
disposed to regard the recent outrage in
| den movement of the mob which could not
have been anticipated. Mr.. CLEMENS, of Ala
bama, followed with a spirited and pertinent
speech, in which he cordially conceded to the
PRESIDENT the character of patriot and a
statesman, and expressed entire confidence in
his administration of the laws. Then came in
the Disunionsts. When we listened to Mr..
BoRLAND, Mr.. TuRNEy, and Mr.. CHASE, we were
| prepared for the indignant invective with which
Mr.. DOUGLAS denounced traitors and conspira-
tors within the sound of his voice, and for the
sincere and fervent though somewhat rugged
eloquence in which Mr.. DopGE of Iowa vouch-
ed for the loyalty of his State, appaudcd the
conduct of the Administration, and announced
his determination in the measures of Compro-
mise to give it his earnest support And when
we heard Mr.. CHASE complimenting the opin-
ions of his friend from South Carolina, and
agreeing with the gentleman from Tennessee
and the gentleman from Arkansas, and the fire.
eaters generally, we were prepared for the ex-
pressions of surprise with which the Senator
from Michigan commented on the strange asso-
Citations and ominous conjunctions which the
Senate had that day witnessed.
Strange il is, indeed, to mark the numerous
points of agreement between Mr.. CHASE and
Mr.. HALE upon one side, and Mr.. Mason, Mr.
BoRLAND, Mr.. JEFFERSON DAVIS, and Mr..