Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-04

md against them he certainly yas not Under
stood as making any such charge.
MIR. Rhett thought that if the language used
did nor convey the allegation of knavery then
1t was purely nonsensical, and the Senator
might chosse either horn of the dilemma He
had considered it, and still considered il. wan
ton insult. But it had been suggested that. if
he considered it such an insult, he miuht and
ought to have restored to another mode of resen
ting it. 1t was true that he might have chal-
lenged the Senator for the offence, but he had
reasons good and sufficient for not doing so. Mr..
X. then read a statement of his reasons for his
not challenging the Senator from Alabama
They were, i'll substance, that he had n great du-
| ty toperform to the cause with which he was
| identified and was determined not to be with
drawn from its execution. Another reason was
| that for twenty years he had been professor OF
the religion of Christ, andh he could not and would
not dishonor that religion by such a course. If
it was supposed that he had declined challeng-
ing the Senator from any fear, then those who
| supposed so were entirely mistaken. He feared
no man, but he did fear God. He had never
shown fear Of man. He had pursued that
course which he thought the honor of his State
demanded, without fear of personal risk or con-
| sequences to himself. In the Senate he stood
| alone; no one there to sustain him; vet he
| had never fatered in his duty; he had quailed
| before no man.
He again referred to the statement that
| Messrs. Sumner and Chase had sappauded,
cheered, and encouraged him on the occasion
when he delivered his speech, and to Mr.. Gle
mens's denial that, by that statement, he meant
to say that they had shouted or applauded by
any clapping of hands or stamping of feet. He
read these words several times, and maintained
hate IL
| est yeomanry of the country no other idea
| than that these Senators hadapplauded by stamp
ing OF feet and clapping of hands, and by cheers.
The Senator must either admit that he meant
this, or stultify himself by declaring that he
used language without meaning.
lie denied that he had ever avowed himself
traitor-that he had ever admitted or said he
was traitor. Under his view of the Consti-
tuition, he could not believe any one traitor I'M
less he was consolidationist like the Senator.
He owed no allegiance to any State except to
South Carolina, and owing no allegiance, could
not be traitor to any other sovereign but that
State. If there was any treason against the
Constitution of the United States, as it was
committed by those who were breaking down
the Constitution, denying State rights, and en-
gaging in the work of consolidation, repudiat-
ing all State sovereignty and all allegiance to the
States.
He had not introduced to the Senate any pri-
vate NATTER as stated by the Senator. The
charge against the Senator relative to the means
by which he was chosen to the Senate, was not
a private matter; it was an affair affecting the
dignity of the Senate. Mr.. r. was understood
to say that if what was contained in the letters
he had readyesterday concerning the means
sorted to by the Senator to secure an election to
the Senate were true, and could have been
known previous to his taking his seat, the Sena-
tor would never have been allowed to enter that
body and that such conduct now merited ex-
pulsion from the Senate
He then repeated the statement concerning
the proceedings in the caucus of the Wing mem
bers of the Alabama Legislature, by which Mr..
Fitzpatrick, who was the caucus nominee of
the Democrats was defeated. He asked the
Senator if Mr.. Fitzpatrick was not the caucus
nominee ofthe Democrats?
Mr. Clemens said that a number of the Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature had u meet
ing-not for the purpose of nominating candi-
date for the Senate-and that at that meeting
Mr.. Fitzpatrick friends, being in the majority,
declared the meeting caucus, and nominated
him. But on the next day the resolution was
rescinded, and there was no caucus nominee.
Mr.. Rhett asked if Mr.. Fitzpatrick was not
the choice of the Democratic party?
Mr.. Clemens said that is was SO claimed, but
he (Mr. CO. denied it.
Mr.. Rhett said the facts of the case best an
swered the inquiry. The Democrats supported
Fitzpatrick; the Senator sent pledge to the
Wing caucus, and the result was, the latter sup
ported and elected him.
He then repeated his argument in favor of
State sovereignty.
In conclusion, he said that he did not consider
hot E,,,, l,b, l.. I
succeeded in defending himself, He would
take another opportunity ofreplying to the Sem
ator from Michigan.
Mr.. Clemens said that, as regarded the rea-
son of the Senators declining to challenge him,
he was not aware till last night that he was
member of the church. He would saw,
however, that in position, education, and abili-
ties, he was the equal of the Senator; in point
of standing in the Senate, and in reputation be-
fore the country, he was his superior. He
was not aware till last night that the Senator be-
longed to the church; that knowledge had in
duced him to spare the Senator to-day many
things he otherwise would have said.
How could he have known the Senator be-
longed to church? How could he suppose him
a Christian who went to bed every night with
the prayer on his lips, ''Father, forgive us our
trespasses as VIC forgive those who trespass
against u.s. and, day after day, was preparing
with fiendlike malgnity cold FLOODED attack on
his reputation!
He would say no more to show how utterly
the Senator misconceived his speech into a
charge of knavery, &C. If the Senator would
not see, or so blind that he could not see,
as all others saw, he would not occupy the time
OF the Senate in any vain effort to enlighten
him.
FROM GIBRALTAR.-VEssEL ATTACKED BY
PIRATEs.-Ihe Gibraltar Gazette of the 9TH ult.,
contains narrative of the capture of the Bri-
tlsh vessel Violet, on the Riff coast, by four
boat loads of pirates, numbering about so men.
After hailing the vessel and fl hiding she was
not armed, they fired into her severely wound