The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-04


Mr. CLEMENS. There is another matter
to which | wish to advert, and | will give way
in ten minutes
Mr.. JONES. withdraw the motion.
Mr.. CLEMENS. There is a matter which
has been brought into this controversy which
choose to notice now. do not wish that any
false impression shall go abroad to the country
The Senator from South Carolina has ventured
to DO here to-day what no man IN Alabama was
ever found bold enough to do in my presence.
The retailer OF slander is as bad as the origi-
nator. Indeed, he is, if possible, worse than he
who originated it, lie has charged me with
owing my election to corrupt bargain with the
Wing members of the Alabama Legislature, and
he has read letter from Jefferson Buiord and
Paul Mccall on the subject. choose to notice
them now. If he had only waited two days
longer, think the probability is, he would
never have yentured to MAKE the charge; be-
cause the retutation of it has gone home so
strong, that no man would have dared to repeat
It, Toe fact is this, that, so far from making
any pledge, that slip Of paper to which Mr..
Buiord alludss, contained no expression OF
opinion at all. Sir, you were in Montgomery
county at he time Although, Of course you
cannot be presumed to know what was done by
the Wing party, yet your conduct from that day
|
leve one word Of the calumny. II was sim
pie note of authority to Mr.. Davis to state ,ohai
my opinions were. He was a warm, personal
friend, perfectly familiar with those opinions
and tod him, who had heard them repeatedly,
to state what they were. There is now mem.
Der in the other House who was leading men,
Der OF that legislature-one of the individuals
whom 1t is alleged knows most about it--who
| has again and again authorized me to pro.
nOunce it a calumny Mr.. Davis has again and
again authorized me to do the same. A num-
Der of gentlemen have written letters denounc.
ing it, or authorizing me to do so. But the
Sen ,tor brings up that dead carcass, on the
floor of the Senate, and makes it charge
against me, to account as he supposes, for
what? An abandonment of Democratic princi-
pies? Who charges me with having done so ?
Who alleges that have ever given vote that
was not according to the strict Democratic
faith? Who charges me with not being in full
association with every Democratic member of
this body!
promised long ago, and it is duty which |
mean now to discharge, that if ever could NEE
a man in Alabama who would alIege that thing
to be true, should brand him as he deserved;
and | want the Senator to mark now what
have to say on the subject. and apply it. The
charge, emanate from whatever quarter it NAV,
circulated by whom it may, is foul lie, unmiti-
gated and unredeemed by the slightest sem
blance of truth am now willing to adjourn
until to morrow.
Mr.. JONES, of Tennessee. Then | move
that the Senate adjourn.
The motion was agreed to, and the Senate
adjourned.
SATURDAY, February 3d. 1852.
The resolution submitted the 4th of Deem
Der, in relation to the adjustment of questions
growing out Of the institution Of domestic slave
ry was again taken up.
Mr.. CLEMENS. Mr. President observed
paragraph in one of the papers of this morn.
ing, amentng that the Senate had been dis
graced on yesterday by the use of coarse and
scurrous' language When the Senator from
South Carolina Mr.. RHETT] gave a formal no.
tice to his peculiar friends to be present on that
OCCASION, for the purpose of hearing him indulge
in personalities when he caused notice to be
served upon me, that it was his purpose to en-
gage in that particular species of amusement,
hope that neither he nor they supposed the wal
would be confined entirely to one side 1t is te
be regretted, doubtless that the invitation to m,
funeral should have turned out to be so sad 1
mistake. The guests were all present thu
y with the ceremonies but then came tho re
surrection, and now, instead of the triumphant
notice which the senator no doubt anticipated
we have short paragraph deprecating the use
of personal language in the Senate. Ii thai
senator had taken the course he ought to have
taken, there would have been no syllable uttered
by me to which the greatest etckler for pro
priety could object. If he had confined himsel
to attacks upon my political course; if he haG
commented in language, no matter how severe
upon what he chose to regard as my inconsst-
encies, or my abandonment of State-r rights,
should have replied with perfect temper, and
uttered nothing offensive to him or Others But
when he went to the columns of low and
scurrous newspaper to hunt up foul and oath
some caumny; when he brought that calumny
here, and sought to give it dignity and import.
ance by parading it in the presence of the Sen
ate, did feel some degree of irritation, and gave
the only answer it beca lie me to make Fol-
the language used have nc regrets nor have
the least disposition to recall or explain it,
Previous to that, he had said nothing which ex
cited feeling of anger. If he imagined he wa.
: saying anything new-anything which had moi
been heard from every stump in Georgia, Ala
bama, and Mississippi--he knows but little Of
the contest through which the Union men of tn,
A'outu H"'c icCSHl'y PisScu Ills nous ol as
sault was too familiar to me to cause annoy
ance; have met it again and again, and expected
to meet it here.
If had been permitted TO conclude on yes
terday, should have said other things quite a.
unpleasant those to which he has already
listened but nights reflection has sa' sfeC
me that enough has beer said, and that how
ever much he may deserve it, it does not be
come me to utter more shall, therefore, con-
fine myself to defence of that consistency he
has arraigned, and in the course of my remarks
shall endcavor to show that he knows nothing
t whatever of the subjects on which he has un
derlaken TO speak. He promised in the outset
to prove that in 1850, was thorough States
, Rights man, and in December, 1851 (the date Of
my speech on Foote'S resolutions,) was fede
raj consolidationist 10 establish this he quoted
{ an extract from a speech of mine, which h,
f either could not, or Would not understand Ir
that speech the term Sovereign" is indeed ap
) piled to State and their is denial of The
right Of the executive to use force. 1t was
based upon letter of the President, in which