The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-03

ment. For my part, 1t 10 my glory as we'll as
nv privilege that am citizen of sovereign
State-the State of South Carolina To her,
rs the Senator from Alabama formerly said of
his State, owe my allegiance. With her
live; and at her mandate trust | am prepared
to die And | care not what consolidationist,
whether from the North or South, dares to as
sail her in the exercise of her sovereignty, so lar
as am concerned, with the little power pos
sess, at her command will resist, and resist to
the last. She is my sovereign; and she at least
will not tolerate the doctrine that treason can
not be committed against her. Let any man
within her limits take up arms against her. IN
obedience to any power-there stands her sta
tute her incorruptble Judiciary; her executive
armed with the sword OF authority to protect
her sovereignty. Their fate will be DEATH
Mr.. President, am exhausted; and pre-
anne that the Senate must be fatigued from
the length of time have tried its patience.
have here before me many other points in which
the Inconsistencies Of the Senator from Ala
bana are exposed, and which promised to
axpose must leave them to be read and COM
pared, as they are contained in his last sps ech
His Inconsistencies with respect to the dlsmeni-
bermcnt of Texas--his beautiful picture OF the
blessings of the Union--aud his tragic delinea.
tions Of the horrors of disunon, must leave
unquotcd / turn, in conclusion, to pubic
matter which has lately come to light IN Ala
bamn. 1t has been in the public prints for many
weeks, and have not seen it contradcted.
( Ike it to be true. 1t may 60 far to explain the
incomi oncies OF the So Nator from Alabama.
Il is well known that when that Senator was
elected to his sent in this body, he was elected
by the Wings. The Democratic party, by an
overwhelming vote, learn, nominated his com
f,,.l, f., ha hair f.Qnd
the Senate. The Democratic. party had ma
iority in the legislature; but few of the gen
tIeman's friends, in combination with the Wings,
elected him to his present place. ! hold IN my
hand the statement of Judge Buiord You know
the man, Mr. President; and more honorable
and truthful man does not live within the con-
fines of Alabama or the South. know him
also, sir; and suppose his veraclty ana honor
would not suffer in comparison with that OF any
man on this floor Here is a statement he has
placed before the world. He was Senator at
the time in the Alabama legislature
"On the night before the final baoting by the
legislature for United States Senator caucus
of the Wing members was held, at which it was
announced that Mr.. Clemens had verbally
pledged himself, if elected, to support the ad-
mnistration of General Taylor. Objections
were made by members of the caucus 70 re-
ceiying verbal pledge, and il was insisted that
it should be reduced to writing Accordingly,
soon after, small strip, containing written
pledge, was brought in the caucus by Mr. KIP
Davis, of Limestone. 1t was nearly or exactly
in these words:
"sIf elected to the United States Senate, |
promise to support the administration of General
Taylor. JERE CLEMENS.
at was further stated by Major Butord, that
he had seen the written pledge, and that it was
represented and believed to be Mr. Clemens
handwriting"
Another Wing member of the Alabama legis-
lature, who was in the caucus comes out with
statement confirming that Of Mr.. Buford. Here
is what he says:
EuFAuLA, (Ala,) Jan. 80, 1851.
GENTLEMEN:-Your note of this date is re-
ceived For my own part, never recognised
any obligation of secrecy in relation to the Glenn
ems affair. supported Mr.. Clemens Gas is well
known with extreme reluctance, and with the
reservation of the right to make any eXplana-
ton of the reasons might think proper; and
BESIDES heard of no pledge OF secrecy IN the
caucus would not, however, have volunteered
nv testimony in this matter. nor have given it,
but for the reasons stated in your note.
On the eve of Mr.. Clemens's election to the
United States Senate, there was a caucus of the
L
but went at the urgent request of my colleague,
Mr.. Gardner. When we arrived we found the
caucus organized-the only qaestion was wheth-
er the Wings, as a party, should support MIR.
Clemens. Some of his friends gave verbal as
surances that he would, if elected, act with the
Wings, and said they were authorized by him
to saw so. It was objected that il was unsafe
to su port him without written pledge,
and the caucus being unable to agree, a MEM
her from Greene stated that pledge could be
obtained, and called on Mr.. Rip Davis, from
Limestone, who rose and produced small scrap
of paper, and read it as near as | can remember,
in these words
.sIf elected to the United States Senate, |
pledge myself to sustain General Taylsr's adj
ministration JERE. CLEMENS
GA good many gathered around to inspect
the paper, and some seemed to question its be
ing in Mr.. Clemenss handwriting, when Mr..
Davis said in substance, pledge my honor as
gentlemen it is Mr.. Clemens's hand, and writ
ten by himself"
"1'he same gentleman who had called on
Mr.. Davis, as above stated then took the paper,
and holding it up, read it out in n louder tone,
and in the same words.
aYours, &c. PAUL MCCALL"
Mr. President, | have done. The Senator
from Alabama, without any provocation on my
part, thought proper to arraign me before the
Senate. | stated what my purpose was-thnt
I would dscredit the witness--that would
show that the authority which has presumed to
impugn the honor and character of other sena
tors was not so high as to injure the reputation
of any man, much less that of senator
have fulfilled my task. 1t has been most re-
luetant'y lerformed; but | could not avoid per-
forming it. i have only acted on the defensive;
and while deprecate the necessity which has
compelled me to this course of action, at the
same time, must render my profound acknow-
edgements to the Senate for the courtesy which
has afforded me the opportunity OF doing what
/ have done, in the vindIcation OF truth and