The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-03-22
An interesting NJ d Inn portant point In PoIit
ieai Hitory-Onc OF the last Debates In
tho Senate.

An interesting NJ Inn portant point In Polit
ieai History-One OF the last Debates In
tho Senate.
In a ebate in the United States Senate, at the
recent executive session of that body, General
Houston, Senator from Texas, m lde some animad-
versions upon South Carolina, her politicians and
institutions, and her course as a member of tho
confederncy Of States. To Houston's remarks,
Mr.. Rhett, one Of the Senators from South Caro-
lima, replied, exposing the want Of political know
ledge Of the Hero Of San Jacinto, not only of the
institutions and history of South Carolina, but of
the constitution and history OF the United States,
showing an amount Of ignorance, quite surprising
when we consider the long time Houston has been
in public life. From 1923 to 1877 Sam Houston
was member of Congress, from Tennessee, and
in 1897 he elected governor Of that respectable
State. He was for some time President OF the
Republic of Texas, and since the admission Of
that State into the Union, he has been, for the las,
five years, one Of the United Stens Senators from
Texas. Whatever may have been the defects OF
General Hous,on's early education, we have never
heard that any peculiar circumstances occurred
during the four years he was a member Of Gen.
gress from Tennessee, to prevent him from obtain.
ing tolerable political education, az many other
public men have done at Washington. There Ia
the advant age at the Capitol Of a very good and
extensive Congressional library, some of the trea-
sures Of which are poured forth from time to tim
in elaborate and profound speeches Of members o
Congress. To that source Houston had access, a,
well as Benton, John A. Dix, and others, who have
obtained immense credit for their speec hes on
great national questions.
But Mr.. Rheit, the Senator from South Carolina.
in rebuking Houston, and exposing his inexcusa.
BILE ignorance, unfortunately falls into errors him
self, learned and profound as he may claim to be
In matters Of constitutional history. One Of these
errors being matter Of considerable interest, we
shall take the trouble to correct.
Gen. Houston, among other statements, had
said
The Legislature (of South CarolIna) elects the sena
tors Of the Untsd states electors for President and
Vie. President Of the United States and can change
or amend the constitution when IL sees It.
Mr.. Rhett replies
States. That 10 certainly true, and suppose is as
novei ~ " must be alarming to the Senator from
provision IL not a. ali ia IN. const,tuton OF souts
Caroiina. IL viii aetopsh him doubt, TO learn
that a provision In the Constitution OF the United
states They he Legislature elect electors for Pre-
,d.nt and Vice President OF the Usited States That
true and II 10 also tue that every stats 10 the
constitution Of the United States and that the con.
sructiou given By the trainers Of the contribution BY
this simuts neous end unanimous practice was that
this vas the regular and proper mode by which the
electors rbould be chosen. We old fashioned
enough n South Csrolina) stIii to stand vb.rs the
fathers Of free institutions stoed and where ali
the ststee stood at the commencement Of the opera
lions Of this government.
Now, IL is somewhat surprising, that a South
Carolina Senator, OF the high intellectual charac.
ter and requirements Of Mr. Rheu, who, under his
former name Of Smith, and his present legisla-
i've one of Rhet h,s long been in public life, in
GLIDING N ore than ten years service in Congress