The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-04
PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE FRIDAY ANN
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE FRIDAY ANN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Last Friday MIR. Rhett obtained the consent
of the Senate to reply to speech on the Com.
promise Resolutions. by Mr. Clemens in which
that gentleman, in allusion to the alleged sat.
isfaction with which certain Free Soil Sena.
tors from the North had listened to q speech
by the member from South Carolina on the
same subject used the following language:
''There rs a sympathy in treason as well as
in knavery; and those who are earnestly stri-
wing to accomplish the same end need not quar-
rel about the separate means employed"
The remark was of course intended not
to apply to the argument but to disparage the
character and position of the Senator from
South Carolina
II deserved no attention, but affording an
occasion for retaliation, Mr. Rhett made it the
subject of speech, in which he discussed the
subject of Mr.. Clemens and his opinions, with
a view he said to dscredit the, witness who
had s,largea nm ~'tp enjoying the ssnnja
thies of the Free Soil members. The speech
was long and searching, but we submit that
neither the subject nor aim of it had any
claims TO the consideration of the Senate, and
Mr. Rhett might have better employed his time
and theirs, by using the day set apart to the
consideration Of private claims on the justice Of
the nation for that particular pQfpose He
proved of course that the honorable jeremiah
Clemens of Alabama had advanced contradic.
tory opinions, and shifted his position during
the progress of the struggle on the Territorial
Question, having planted himself on the ex.
treme ground of State Rights in the beginning
of II, from which he had turned somerset
towards the close of il, landing him on the
ground of consolidation and compromise But
what Of that! Who cares particularly for the
whereabouts Of the Senator from Alabama
He is not one whom age, experience, ability
or influence, entities to be considered as any
definite quantity in American politics.
So far, however, there was nothing personal
nothing that the proprieties of debate did not
warrant in Mr.. Rhettsremarks. But he went
still further, and read letters to show that Mr.
Clemens had been elected by combination of
the Wing members Of the Alabama Legisla-
ture, with few Democratic, on the strength
of written pledge to support the Administra-
ton of General Taylor. This was uncalled
for, had nothing to do with the relations of Mr..
Clemens to the Compromise, and was purely
personal--but it is a fair specimen Of the mode
of warfare tolerated in Congress- in full view
of the fact that it almost always leads to the
most disorderly personalities.
Mr.. Clemens followed with reply which
defes description. He imputed to Mr.. Rhett
F" selfconceit and ignorance n--he charged
him with being "a knaye" Ga traitor" and
" q coward
"The Senator" said he, complained that
in the speech he had been called knave and
a traitor. The speech bore no such construc-
ton. No man, except the Senator himself
could say that it contained any charge of kna-
very. He has, however, supposed 80, and for
two months he has brooded over the charge,
and been engaged in collecting materials for
his speech, without taking a single step for his
coward to that Of knave and traitor
The Chair called him to order, as usual in
such cases, after the mischief had been dome
then, instead Of being denied the privilege
Of proceeding any further, he was allowed to 60
On even without saying, "by your leave," and
IN the very next breath repeated the insult by
saying
"The Senator had taken no notice of the
charge of knavery which he said was made
against him; and he who would not take an
'ther opportunity of resenting the accusation
but would resort to this mode of defending
limself did not deserve the name of man.
And this time, he was not even called 10 or
Ter!
Here is another paragraph, as reported in
he Republic.
Mr.. Clemens said that the Senator was
nan for whom he had never much fancy.
v hen he came to the Senate, he MIR. CO. had
eclined the usual courtesy, and had refused
N introduction to the Senator After further
emarks he said that he had read Of dark
ess in which vpers crawled among the null
tude, Kissing. but stingless; he slwaysapplied
to the Senator. His kissing was always to
9 heard, but he possessed no sting
And the Senate with its presiding officer,
card this too without interposing in behalf OF
$ dignity.
As to the report of his conduct when can
idate for the Senate before the Alabama
legislature, he pronounced it ga base SANDER
nd the Senator who had related II as bad
. the originator Of it,
The next day, the Senate was edited in
milar way, Mr.. Clemens not having finished
he day before. He announced that the Ian
uage he had used toward the Senator from
outh Carolina, he never intended to recall"
ie then proceeded to reply to the arguments
Mr. Rhett.