New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-11
PennsyIvnnia Legislature.


PeunsyIynnia Legislature.
HARRIsBURG Monday, March 10
Tho hill compelling the New York and Erie
Railroad Con paDy TO fence in their track In Sus-
ouehapna County, has passed both Houses
special Session % the SENATE.
WASHINGTON, Monday, March 10.
MIR CAss read the editorial IN this morning
ReDHbI,c shout his letter on Rivers and Har6ors
to one Kellogg, and made an explanation. his
slusioD t. the Chicago letter was entirely play
ful and not serious as implied by the Repuoltc
Nor was it correct in suPposiDg that be- by that
Kellogg letter, was pledged TO support the River
and Harbor bill. Even if it could be tortured into
a pledge to support the River and Haroor bill 1t
was the bill which on the 25th of January was
before the House, and not the bill which was be-
fore the Senate The bill before the Senate was
an entirely different bill and contained apPro'
priations which were never called for by the
Departments. He would have voted for prop.
or bill. He had no doubt but q truly national bill
could have been passed. The Republic seemed
to SCOT at him because be entertained constltu-
tional and religious scruples. de was not
ashamed to declare that he had both constitutional
and religious scruples He was believer In the
Divine institution of Sunday, and never in time
of peace would he consent to desecrate the Lords
Day by holding a session OF the Senate and trans
acting business on that day. He also had const-
tutional doubts of the right of Congress to legis-
late after 10 p. NJ. on the Sd of March. General
Jackson and Mr.. Polk had similar doubts. He did
not believe Congress had any power after that
hour TO legisate He discaimed any idea that
this attack, or any former ones by the Repa6ltc
were approved by the Administration; bat he re-
garded the Editor of that paper as deficient either
in moral or mental qualifications. He again de-
MED, in most positive terms, that there was any
truth in the statement that at Cleveland he avoid.
ed any expression Of his sentiments because OF
noise and confusion.
Mr. RHETT rose to defend South Carolina from
certain false and erroneous statements which he
found contained in a letter written by Gen. HoUs
TON to Gen. HAMILTON and published In yester-
DAYS Union. The falsehoods were that no man
could vote in South Carolina who was not a free
bolder-that no man bat free holder was eligible
10 the Legslature-that all elections were con-
fined to the Legislature-that all officers, down to
Sheriffs, were chosen by the Legislature; also
the implied allegation that the Constitution OF
South Carolina could be at any time changed by
majority of the Legislature. For forty years
there had been universal suffrage IN south oaro'
lima. Any man owner Of free hold or ten slaves,
whether in or out Of debt, was eligible to the Leg
islature All County or Parish officers were
elected by the people, and it required twothrd
vote of each branch of the Legislature to amend
the Constitution. 1t was true that U. 5. Senators
were chosen by the Legislature, and this was
a most astonishing evidence OF al olgarchy 1t
was also true that the Legislature chose Electors
for President but every other State did so at one
time. and it was thought when the Constitution
was adopted that that was the true and proper
mode He saw no evidence In this of any oil
garchy in South Carolina He thought it time
that this wholesale viliicatlOn OF South Carolina
snc ~ institutions should be brought to an end.
The Senator from Texas since bis senatorial term
had had sufficient opportunities to have discovered
the truth Of this matter
Mr. BUTLER-I set him right once before about
it.
Mr.. RHETT-Tbe Senator has be en- CORE eted in
his statement once before. Why was the errone
Gus allegation again made 1t little became
State which, but the other day, became State To
ioin in the vilificaton of South Carolina. 1t was
particularly ill-becoming in Senator who repre-
sented State for which South Carolina had fought
so successfully. But for South Carolina Texas
would not have now been here.
Mr.. Houston was ready to respond at any time
to any matter brought against him, If he had
erred it was not Intentionally, bat through an in
edvertence in getting hold OF wrong copy OF the
Constitution OF that State.
Mr.. RHETT-I have examined the copies of the
South Carolina Constitution in the Library, and
what have stated appears in them all.
Mr.. Houston said it was obvious that no lnten'
tional Misrepresentation could have beenmade DE
had long been target for every in s. Carolina
to assall for bis vote on the Oregon bill. He had
been denounced, and even before that, during the
Texan revolution. The Governor Of that State
had denounced him and his companions as OUT
laws, and unworthy of the sympathy Of the peo-
pie Of the United States. In his letter TO Mr..
Hamilton, II be made errors they were uninten-
tonal but he still believed South Carolina was
ruled by few leaders. The paucity OF the vote
at the recent election showed how little the PEG.
pie took interest in elections. No citizen of that
State ever voted Tor Governor or for Presidential
Electors. If he was to be taught concerning his
course on public affairs, he claimed the rich to
select bis own preceptOrs. Texans and Repre-
sentatves of Texas were not to be taught by
South Carolina how to love and preserve liberty.
They had learned its inestimable value by expe.
rience. Nor were they to be taught the imPor-
tsnce Of the preservation OF the Union by any
South Carolina teachings. be had no desire 70
detract from the merits Of South Carolina, bat he
could not admit that she stood foremost in every
thing great and good.
Mr. BUTLER had always avoided any eulogies
upon South Carolina. he regarded such 70 be IN
bad taste but he could never submit to hear her
denounced in terms Of detraction and abuse
On former occasion, in the presence of General
Houston he had denied the charge that there was
property qualification on the right to vote In
South CsroDs, and the Senator from Texas must
choose between alternatives OF not having read |
that constitution, Of having read it without ca
pacity to understand it. This might be So for TO
some minds wellbaanced and properly framed
constitution vas difficult of comprehension, az
Gieek Lexicon would be TO a savage The error
might be one Of inadvertence, but it was annoy
ing 10 hear public man perssting in a statement
the truth Of which bad been disproved to his face.
The Governor it was true was not chosen by the
people, but he had bat LITTLE power. he had no
Veto. He was perfectly surprised that any pub
lie man would lend himself for any cause TO the
unjust and grouDdless prejudice against South
Carolina, or that he would take opportunities of
making attacks upon that State which were un.
true, AID only calculated TO increase that preju-
dice.
Mr. Houston disclaDed any desire to add to
any existing prejudice az sinst South Carolina,
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