The southern press., 1852-03-23

we nave read win great ueai u moft'hca-
ton the recent personal debate in the United
States Senate, between the above gentlemen.
We say it has mortified US, because we conceive
that the character of cur State has suffered con-
siderably from the great want of dignity and
decorum displayed by Mr. Clemens on the floor
of the Senate in his low and vulgar assaults
upon one, who everybody knows, is professed
Christian, who does not hold himself amenable
to the code of honor, and further by his vain
glorious boastings of his own superiority in in
telectual endowments, reputation, DC. We
shall not so far crafty Mr.. Clemens as to es-
pouse the cause of Mr.. Rhett. We are towel
aware of the motives of that assault to do so.
Mr.. Clemens knew full well, that Mr.. Rhett's
doctrines had rendered him perhaps the most
unpopular public man, out of South Carolina,
in the United States; and that by attracting Mr..
Rhett's notice by abusing him, the latter would
retort and assail his calumniator; and that al,
though the argument and the justice of ihs case
might be all on Mr.. RS side, yet the latter's
cause could not be espoused on account Of his
odiousness, without benefiting Mr.. Clemens.
| TO say that Mr. Rhett had used up Jere Glenn
ems, of course, would be translated by the lat
ter and his friends into an endc ,ement of all
MIR. Rhett's secession notions, disuniOn, &c.
| We say that this trick is too plain to be misun-
derstood; let our friends in Alabama beware Of
it. So far, then, as to the merits of this debate
we care not to express an opinion; all we should
desire is, that every man in our State capable OF
reading and understanding would read the whole
of it. Read both sides.
Oar object in noticing this debate at all, was to
reprobate, in the most decided manner, this low
ering of the Senatorial dignity of our State, by
language and demeanor, on the part of one of
her senator's, more BETTING the sinks and par
lieus of the Five Points, than the grand council
house of the confederacy; to condemn his sick
ening sefeulogy, which is disgusting TO every
man of good taste; and to notice that part OF
the debate relating to the manner Of Mr.. Glenn
ems election to the United States Senate. These
speeches we find published in the Washington
Union of the ID and Sd inst, and presume they
underwent the revision Of the speakers them
selves
That to which we desire TO call particular at
tention is, Mr. Clemens nc count of the caucus
that nominated Gov. Fitzpatrick. Some fifteen
or twenty members Of the legislature" he says,
got together for the purpose Of consulting,
not to hold a caucus. Mr.. Fitzpatrick's friends
finding they had majority Of those present in
his favor, turned in and nominated him. The
very next day that same caucus met and rescind-
ed their resolutions. There never was any more
of that; and the Democrats who voted for me
represented a majority of ten thousand of the
voters Of the State CID We need not say,
that this assertion of Mr.. Clemens will astound
every one who is at all conversant with the facts
relative to the matter: which are substantially
these, (and for their correctness, we appea. to
every member Of the caucus, and 10 the Demo.
cratic members of that SESSION. viz: There
were in the session of l849-'50, about seventy
two Democrats and sxty-one Wings in both
branches OF the legislature.
AT the caucus or meeting alluded to by Mr..
Clemens, there were about sixty Democrats, in.
stead of I" fifteen or twenty" as stated by Mr..
Clemens. That caucus nominated Col. King,
and Gov. Fitzpatrick, as the nominees of the
Democratic party.
The record of the votes for the two senator's,
will best show whether any subsequent caucus
annulled what was done by the first.
On the first ballot to fill Gov Bagby's vacan-
cy, (see house Journal pages ll4.l5,) Col.
King received 81 votes, all Democrats; Gov.
Chapman Is votes, all Democrats but one and
Mr. Hopkins, the Wing candidate, received So.
On the second ballot, Col King received SO
votes, Democrats Gov. Chapman 10, Demo.
Gratis; but one as before, and Hopkins SO.
On the third ballot, Gov. Chapman was with
drawn, when COL King received IL votes and
was declared elected.
| On the first ballot to ill Mr.. Lewis vacancy,
Gov Fitzpatrick received 60 votes, of which
| fifty.eight were Democrats, and but two Wings;
Mr.. Clemens received 81 votes, Of which fifteen
were Democrats, and six Wings; Hopkins,
Wing, received so votes.
On the second ballot, Gov Fitzpatrick re-
ceived the same vote as before; Mr.. Clemens
20 votes, Of which fourteen were Democrats and
six Wings; Mr. Hopkins AZ, and a few scatter
ing.
On the third ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick received
the same vote as before-60; Mr.. Clemens %,
Of which fifteen were Democrats and seven
were Wings; Mr.. Hopkins Al, and few
scattering.
On the fourth ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick re.
ceived "a votes, Of which fifty-nne were Demo.
Gratis and five were Wings; Mr. Clemens re-
! ceive % votes, Of which fourteen were Demo
Gratis, and nine Wings; Mr. Hopkins received
81 votes, and there were few scattering.
On the fifth ballot. Gov. Fitzpatrick received
IS votes, of which fifty nine were Democrats,
and six were Wings; Mr.. Clemens % votes OF
which twelve were Democrats, and thirteen
were Wings. Mr. Hopkins 80, and few
scattering.
Here Gov Fitzpatrick lacked but one vote,
and would have been elected but for the acct.
dental absence Of Mr.. Coleman, a Democrat from
Fayette county.
At this stage Of the proceedings an adjourn.
ment was effected.
Without recurring 10 what took place in the
Wing caucus-th the Democrats had none
during the night Intervening, we will simply
proceed with The record-IIouse journal, page
1913.
Mr.. Hopkins was withdrawn, when Gov. Fitz-
patrick received fifty-eght votes, Of which fifty
four wire Democrats, and only four Wings
Mr.. Clemens Sc votes, Of which seventeen were
Democrats and 40 were Wings.
The above is from the record, and shows
conclusvely that Gov. Fitzpatrick was consid.
cred the nominee Of the Democratic party; as
there was no ballot al which he did moi receive
more than threc-fourths Of the entire Democratic
vote in both branches Of the legislature.
But, says Mr. Clemens, the Democrats that
voted for me represented ten thousand majority
Of the Democratic voters of ths State. Well,
| let us see how this is borne ON by the record