New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-02-19
Election Of u. :. Senator mr. Beekman's
Course aud speech.

To ne Editor q The IrioNne:
have read with considerable interest and at
tention the speech of the Hon. J. w. Beekman
published in the Argus Of the 18th inst, wherein
be sets out to define his position on the Senate
rial question-to relate the circumstances which
produced 1.-THE reasons and rules that governed
L. At the same time lie takes the opportunity OF
indicating himself from the charges brought
against his character, as a politician and a man
Of reconciling apparent Inconsistencies in his
course and OF justify ing himself before his conStt
uents and fellow citizens How far he has been
successful it may not be az present well to de-
eide. | AN not very clear on that point, and
the reasons for my doubts | propose briefly to
state Passing over the conduct Of the Hon. Sen.
ator in taking an unusual and not over courteous
method of explaining his course, the reason tor
such conduct is stated to be the opportunity thus
afforded Of offering few remarks. He then pro-
ceeds to state that Some days ago, by the act of
God, bis vote acquired an Importance which had
made him notorious, but he would not confess, in.
famous" What the meaning Of this sentence
may be is not very evident. Where the Senator
finds any special interference Of Providence in the
case or in his behalf he does not fit 70 inform
u.s. The number of Senators had not been dimin.
isbed by death not one was absent from illness
they were all there as the FIRST day Of the SEES
sion. The special mission entrusted to him had
been then in abeyapce, and he coolly and deber
ately claims for himself Divine inspiration as the
rule of his action and the cause of his notorety.
Pleased with his position, and So well satisfied
with the part he had played on that occasion, he
at once promised his consent to the introduction
OF a bill providing for another election in the same
manper; bat the bill in question providing for an
other election in different manner he should ob-
ieci and continue to object, to its introduction
The Hon Senator had already forgotten that his
objection was made merely for an opportunity OF
making q few remarks. Another reason leaks
out-the bill in question is very Objectionable Ii
deprives one Senator OF the power of controlling
bis sixteen Wing colleagues. 1t enables ninety
odd Wing Members of the Legislature to obey the
spirit and letter of the Statute the wishes of their
constituents, the obligations OF the Constitution.
1t puts an end to the One Man power-to the re-
enactment OF the Beakman scene and the triumph
Of traitors and Loco.Foc But his memory
grows much wOrse-he proceeds as follows
He had not acted nconsstently in the he had
marked out for himself upon this question Three years
ago he had the honor conferred upon him OF occupying
seat in the Assembly and he opposed the election OF
William II. Seward 10 the L. ). Senate He had always
bee opposed to Sewards in the form in which II mani
tested sel and he hoped be always should be Al that
time he had but little experience In politics and went into
ibe Csucus bnt aer the nomination. he said nothing bat
merely sbseDted himself upon the day OF election. When
hsnsme again brought before the people OF his dis
uict he walled upon by committee OF gentlemen,
and asked If when member OF Assembly. he voted
against Mr. Seward Is candidate for the of.s Of Z. s.
Senator and he informed them that he did, and probably
under that very he returned to seal IN mis-
body"
Mistaking the duration of his political career,
which commenced ttcO instead of three years ago,
it is not surprising that he is mistaken in assert
ing that in the Assembly he opposed the election
of VIM II. Seward to the United States senate;
IT 49,, Coafn m
have opposed--there was but one day on which
he could have resisted it. That occasion and that
day was on the day of election, and then by his
own confession and by the record, he was alb
sent. He had always been opposed to Seward
ism-and yet the only opportunity afforded him
of proving his opposition he dare not or does not
improve. Could the Senator be charged with
dooging or trimming, this might be twisted into
proof of such an accusation. He had, however,
but little experience in politics, and went into
caucus-to do what IL is to be presumed to
nominate a Senator. IL he did, how does he re-
concile his subsequent boiling OF that caucus nom
nation with bis high principles of honor, his cor.
rect notions of party discipline and fidelity II
he left the caucus betore the nomination was made
and not after as he alleges, where appears bis
deadly hostility The Union Safety Committee
was not then in existence and the Custom House
was not ll-powerful in elections; else, perhaps,
the proof might be forthcoming Alter this
double game, SIR. Beekman was brought forward
as candidate for Senator. Then he selects
with evident satisfaction and self gorlfieation,
the result OF an interview between committee
of gentlemen and himself, and to which he at
tributes, probably, his success at the then sue
ceeding election. These gentemen-doubtless
anti. Sew ard men-inquired OF him, Il when
member of the Assembly he voted against Mr.
Seward as a candidate for Senator. He informed
them that he did, and he then or now deliberately
stated an untrptk, and according TO his supposl
ton, obtained the seat he now holds by false or
fraudulent representations Ii be absented HIM
self from the Assembly on the day OF election,
when and where did he vote against MIR. Seward
1t is not my province to reconcile such discre-
pencies in matters OF fact. l presume they are
reconceable, for the Senator states subsequent.
", that bis name has never before been coupled
with an epithet of disgrace, land tor these and
other reasons should not nowl lie continues
"He had THEREFORE been consistent In voting as he
did last Tuesday. Why therefore? When In the
assembly be had not voted against Seward be-
cause he STAYED away. He had 1t is true, stated
to a Committee, that be had voted against hln,
and as that vote was missing on the record, ne
therefore, to be consistent, would vote against
Fi.h now-instead of Seward then With this
reading the therefore is most appropriate Then
commences a collection of elegant extracts
The first proves Mr.. Beekman TO be modern
Washington The second and third to DO success
sively a Young Harry Clay, and young Daniel
Webster Then comes a most cruel attack on
the thirty gentlemen who ought TO have been 10
the boat with him, and who doubtless will defend
themselves. The famous higher law" doctrine
is lugged in for some purpose best known TO the
orator, and then he becomes Martin Luther. Such
il the speech-such its arguments-such It's main
facts. IL may be deemed a sufficient justification
bv Mr.. BeekmAn and bis friends. Ii it be, he and
they are very easily satisfied. K
S
BEAUrIFuLl-A correspondent sends US let
ter from Havana, describing various scenes in
STYLE peculiarly his own. We have only room for
..L;.c, oooonnt of tho nartino of