The southern press., 1852-03-06


with four as rabid Abolitiouists as this land con-
tains drinking in his words with eager approba-
tion--applauding, cheering, and encouraging
him. All this was nothing new to us, however
strange Il may appear to the plain and honest
yeomanry of the country. Nor was il, when
calmly considered, at all unnatural
"A fellow feeling makes us wondrous kind
There is sympathy in treason as iceL as
in kiapsry; and those who are earnestly striv-
ing to accomplish the same end need not quar-
rel about The separate means employed"
J Now, here the Senator charges that there is a
. sympathy between these Senators and myself
upon the matter of disunion; and he then OBJ
serves, that there is sympathy in treason as
well as in knavery Is not that plainly charging
US with treason and knavery? ! will leave the
Senator from Alabama to explain if that is not
his meaning of his words
Mr.. CLEMENS. There is not senator on
this floor who does not understand it precisely
as do. There is no more charge OF knavery
against him than there is against the Senator
from Massachusetts, or the Senator from Ohio
against whom never meant to make such a
charge. There is charge of disunion and he
had himself avowed that he was disunionist.
i Mr.. RHETT If that is all the Senator has
to say, his words stand unexplained. / ask him
to expcate from his pords quote, another
meaning than that | put upon them. He does
not attempt to do so. He says that they do not
contain the charge i allege they do contain.
That is denial; but is no proof In his failure
J to show that they contain any other meaning
than that put upon them, he virtually admits
that he cannot make his disclaimer consistent
, with his words. His words mention persons
declares that they are in concert to accomplish a
certain end, and then asserts that there is sym
pathy in treason as well as knavery" The
Senator can take his choice between two alter
} ratives He was either using words without
meaning anything by them, and thus talking
nonsense to the Senate, or he did, by his words,
make the charge | deduced from them. No
} man of sense can draw any other meaning from
his words.
Now, Mr.. President, admit that this was
i gross and wanton insult, and admit, too, that
acting upon" the code of honor" ought not to
have waited month, or day, or a moment, be-
fore had required him to retract or fight This
is the course we are accustomed to pursue in
! the State represent. Twas perfectly aware Of
my position I.didnot require the Senator from
: Alabama to tell me what ought to have done,
! as a man of the world and man of honor
D But, sir, am professor of the religion Of
r Christ. did not think it proper to challenge
Q the Senator for. two very important reasons
8 The first was because | had another object in
| view, and still haveit, far above the vindication
!, of myself from any personalities or insults that
: the Senator may have offered. Whilst vindica.
g ting myself on this floor, Twould also vindicate
the great cause with which am identified
: have very feebly Indicated my purposes in my
!, defence, if the Semitic has not perceived that
f have used the Senator from Alabama, If not for
G my scorn or laughter, to bring up again the
> wrongs perpetratel by this government upon
: the South, and the consequent dangers which
I surround her; and again TO place forward for
/. public consideration those great conservative
J principles arising from State gbts and State
7 sovereignty, which alone can give her peace or
safety. :.
, Sir, without sovereignty in the States-with-
out the right of secession in the States-we live
, under consolidated despotism and | am in
favor of the exercise of the right of secession if
for no other purpose, for the purpose (as init
} mated in the speech delivered the other day.
! of testing the form of government under which
we live.
But my second reason for not calling the Sem
, ator from Alabama to the field was of still
higher and more controlling nature. For twenty
: years have been member of the church of
{ Christ. The Senator knows it-everybody
knows it. lcannot, and viii not dishonor my
religious profession. III be, or any one else,
supposes that ap so much afraid Of his insults,
or the opinion which requirts them TO be re-
: dressed in the field, as to be driven by them to
J, abandon the profession of twenty years, he is
D entirely mistaken. | frankly admit that fear
e God; and that fear him more than man. AL.
5 though DESTROYS Of the good opinion Of all men
-Cfor our usefulness is very largely dependent
E on the good opinion of our fellows)-we can
E never obtain il by an abandonment of the prin-
q lcinl +. L..
7 by the firm maintenance Of our principles amidst
! all temptations and all trials | did not assail
7 the Senator from Alabama He assailed me.
3 have defended myself; and in doing so, II he
has seen any fear of him indicated by me, he is
welcome to all the pride and qualification il can
( impart. II Rrmness in maintaining even worldly
principles or a course Of worldly policy be any
, indication of courage, might not suffer from a
e comparison with even the Senator from Aaba.
ma. i have not here threatened and tried TO
bully the North; and when the North will not
e be bullied, and puts upon me the outrages and
J dishonors TO which had declared resistance,
J have not quietly submitted, and then begged
the humble pririlege' Of supporting them.
! have not afterwards turned round upon one Of
] those who was battling with me, and who would
not yield, and accused him Of fear, Of cowardice.
Sir, profess the possession Of no extraordinary
{ courage; but | trust have the courage to sup
E port the right and defy the wrong, although
I backed by an overwhelming public opinion,
. North and South. / am here. here alone but,
!. trust, alone without fear. Have quaifed be-
4 fore any Of youl Senator's, answer, If have
n ever done so.
D The Senator from Alabama said that he did
{ not mean 10 say that the senators he speaks Of
), in his speech made any noise in cheering ap-
e p'auding, and encouraging me. lie says, he
: supposed everybody understood him TO mean
that they did not make any noise. Those who
. were present here, and knew that there was no
noise by applause and cheering, might have
known that The fact was not so. | will not say
e they could have known his construction Of the
words he uses, for tic words themselves are too
D plain for misunderstanding. What is the mean
e ing Of applauding and cheeringl II the gentle
2 man will turn to the dictionary, he will find that
To applaud is 10 clap with the hands, strike with
I, the feet, or make some noise 10 indicate appro.