The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-12-20

thrown in The way of early and equitable adjustment
OF the slavery question IN It's multiplied bearings and
well remember that these gentlemen were Inclined 10
doubt the possibility oil such proposition being brought
forward by Mr.. Calhoun in the manner predicted by me
Well, sir, the speech was read we all got copy OF II
and examined IL most carefully and with The strong
est disposition 10 harmonic, II possible win lis dsu
gulshed author. The more examined II, and medllaed
upon s contents, The more intense became my uneas
ness and the painful my apprehension OF the CON
sequences likely 10 result from It's promulganon re-
Elected upon several particulars which had occurred within
year or two, connected with the public history OF The
country, with which Mr.. Calhouns name had been
prominently associated, which feared might specially
awaken suspicious OF dscredltiDg character against
himself and his particular political friends lie had been
the draughsman of Southern Address, the diffusion
of which had given great offence 10 certain dsngus he'd
politicians, of whom Mr. Benonl had seized upon
on The part OF Mr. Calhoun and his political friends TO
destroy the Union. During the summer succeeding It's
issuance, whilst sojournng in Washington, received
one half OF speech of Mr.. Benton. delivered in the
State of Missouri in which this accusation pressed
against all the signers OF the Southern Address, and
against Mr. Calhoun IN particular sent the hall speech
10 him without delay accompanied by letter. urgently
soliciting him 10 respond at once to he serious accuse
ton of MIR Benton, stating to him. what believed TO be
true that man liyag could SO etectualy put down
what regarded as groundess calumny, but which,
must say, had been presented and urged with singular
4 pausibly, e1eclually as be could. In reply TO
my first letter, he wrote to me declining the task
of vndcaon. When ! received the second half
OF the speech again wrote 10 him, most urgently
demanding that he should come into the arena
asains, Mr. Benton without further delay Mean
while | had issued certain letter, addressed TO
Mr. WISE OF Virginia. in which had, without much
gard TO dignity OF manner or classical elegance OF
dic,ion abored to of the rubbish out OF Mr.
Calhoun's way. hoping thus to render il somewhat more
easy Tor him. without being exposed to the necessity OF
ecprocang the language OF personality 10 meet
and overthrow gigantic assallant Mr. Calhoun again
wrote reply conserving at last to come into the field in
defence OF Address, and thanking specially for
what had done Tin subordinate Capacity in clearing
away the obstacles which he confessed but for my inter-
position in their removal, would have made it impossible
for him, with his notions OF what was becoming and
proper in public OF his experience and standing in
ton He sent the first printed copy OF his reply, and
requested TO procure an early insertion OF the same IN
the Union and ntellgencer, OF this city, which did
Now this reply of Mr. Calhoun bad denied, in the most
formal and emphatic manner, all hostility TO The Union,
aud had poessed high veneration for the constitution
felt confident that Mr. Benton, smaring under the
chaseement he had recently received, would lose no
time sezing upon the unfortunate feature OF Mr.. Cal
houns speech 10 which have been referring and base
man and those who were known to be particularly atf
aled with him. Indeed had good reason to believe that
twenty four hours wonld not be suffered 10 eapse before
the thunder OF Mr. Ben,ons voice would be heard, de-
nouncing us all traitors and disunonls,s, and upon
evidence which many unpreudiced citizens might hold to
be quite satisfactory Besides the Nashville convention
what now believe most conhdenty TO have been true,
that il intended by MIR. Calhoun 10 make this
phatc demand OF constitutional amendments in advance
of the session OF this body, with hope OF getting the
South committed thoroughly IN favor OF some great and
signal change in the constitution, to make il i'm
possible for TO re,ace our steps without mourning
more less OF rdicule and contempt This state Of
things feared mig result in utimate-yea in speedy
disunon Such being the opinion which entertained and
the apprehensions which iormenled me, | up to
this chamber early in the morning succeeding the day
upon which MIR. Calhoun's speech had been deliy
cred, found here several senators from the Sor:h,
with whom claimed an immediate conference Oae of
them was my friend from Alabama, [Mr. CLEMEss,l
and besides him there the senator from North Ca
rona, [Mr, NANGum and the late senator from Ten
hoe. hall
no little regretted by any OF u.s. These three gentle
men knew to be devoted 10 Mr.. Calhoun. | pointed
the objectionable part Of the speech and found that
they all concurred with me in regard TO IL and of
opinion for the stated by me 10 them, that
one OF Mr. Calhouns known friends should al once put
in reg ular protest against the demand OF constitutional
amendments, and thus, by anticipating Mr.. Benton,
save ourselves from what might have proved highly
detrimental assault upon Us and our cause My friend
from Alabama MIR CLEuESsl viii recollect thai he
told me- that OCCASION that he had already resolved
himself except TO this portion OF the speech of Mr..
Calhoun, and showed me printed copy OF the speech
with black lines drawn round The part objected 10. Well
sir, under these circumstances ! acted Mr. Calhoun
came into the Senate whilst his colleague [Mr BuTLrRl
was offering few remarks in reply 10 my courteous but
emphatic protest. and he interrupted the gentleman speak
ing by thus excamng appears IN the printed debates
before me
g" really express my great that member Of
the confederation of this question: should have engaged in
commenting my remarks IN reference TO the Important
question under discussion ihad NC advantage OF
hearing the remarks OF the from Mississippi Did
he accuse OF disunion : Did he mean i,sinuatc
that Z
"Mr Foork. regret that the honorable senator was
his place. My only for referring to the
ter this that did expect the honorable
ator TO be here at all for many days"
did not expect it for had heard that he was very
III. and that II impossible Tor him TO come here. As
1 explained afterwards him. took the course which
had pursued with the view OF giving him opportunity
OF considering The matter al his room; and he
could not get here IN person. to explain in written
form what the true meaning OF his speech, and
himself aud his political associates from impuations
which feared would arise. ! continued
81 thought that he much ndisposed be pre-
and believing that should have other opportunity
for easonaby shielding myself from msudgnen', deter
mined 10 seize the present aston Tor that
:" Now, will to tho honorable senator from South
Carolina that had tue slightest Intention impule
him designs hostile 10 the Union said that his moyes
were patriotic He will find my remarks, when reported
cause exceedingly cncomiasic IN relation to himself"
] | went on then TO say several other other things
which it would be egoliscal 10 read, will read what
Mr.. Calhoun SAID IN reply:
My trend from Mississippi" Does that look as il
there was enmy between us, or as II had done any
thing which, in his opinion, evidence OF my being
his enemy! How dare any man, with thi. speech be-
fore him, me OF "murderng" MIR Calhoun !-for
this is the amount Of the charge preferred know that
the object OF preeung was to poison the feelings OF
certain high toned South Carolniaus against me The
senator will find, feel assured, that he little under.
rated the Intellectual powers OF his own CONSTITUENTS, and
II he is not the luokss in the world, the reproach
will recoil upon himself with the most deadly effect
among liberal minded men even in South Carolina But
listen TO what MIR. Calhoun says:
/ "My friend from Mississippi might have been saved
from the ofmaking these solemn protests that he
has followed leader for have pretended