Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, South-Carolina) 1852-1852, 1852-03-16
From the Montgomery Ala. Advertise7.
Mr. Rbett and Col. Clemens.

ton the r6ceuG peIsola oeUdte Ill the OhiVeu
Senate, between the above gentlemen. We say
it has mortified US, because we conceive that the
character of our State has suffered considerably
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 vainglorlous boast
ings of his own superiority in intellectual en-
dowments, reputation, &c. We shall not 81 Tar
gratify Mr.. Clemens as to espouse the cause OF
Mr.. Rhett We are too we'll aware OF the mo-
tives of that assault to do so. Mr.. clemens
knew full well, that Mr.. Rhett's doctrines had
rendered him perhaps the most unpopular pub
lie man. out of South Carolina, in the United
States and that by attracting Mr. Rhett's no.
tice by abusing hi,n, the latter would retort and
assail his ealumniator; and that although the
argument aud the justice of the case might be
on Mr.. Rhett's side, yet the latter's cause could
not be espoused on account Of his odiousness,
without beneftting Mr.. Clemens. To say that
Mr.. Rhett had used up Jere Clemens, OF course,
would be translated by the latter and his friends
into an endorsement of all Mr. Rhett's secession
notions, disunion, &c. We say that this trick
is too plain to be misunderstood; 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 understand
inc would read the whole Of it. Read both sides.
Our object in noticing this debate at all, was
to reprobate in the most decided manner this
lowering of the Senatorial dignity of our State,
by language and demeanor, on the part of one
Of her Senators, more beftting the sinks and
parlieus of the Five Points, than the grand Coun-
Gil House Of the Confederacy; to condemn his
sickning selfeulogy, which is disgusting to every
man of good taste; and to notice that part OF
the debate relating to the manner of Mr. Gle
mems election to the United States Senate.
These speeches we find published in the Wash
ington Union of the I'd and Sd inst, and pre-
sumo they underwent the revision of the speak
ers themselves.
That to which we desire to call particular at
tention is Mr. Clemens account Of the caucus
that nominated Gov Fitzpatrick. I" Some fifteen
or twenty members of the Legislature" he says,
"got together for the purpose of consulting not
to hold caucus. Mr. Fitzpstrick's friends, find
ing they had majority of those present in his
favor, turned in and nominated him. The very
next day that same caucus met, and resclnded
their resolutions. There never was any more OF
that: and the democrats who voted for me rep
resented majority of ten thousand of the vo-
tes of the State (!!D We need not say, that
this assertion of Mr.. Clemens will astound every
one. who is at all conversant with the facts rela-
tive to the matter: which substantially these,
land for their correctness, we appeal to every
member of the caucus, and to the democratic
members of that session. viz: There were IN
the session of le49'5O, about seventy-two dem
ocrats and sixty-one wings in both branches Of
the Legislature. ,
AT the caucus or meeting alluded to by Mi.
Clemens, there were about sixty democrats, IN
stead of g fifteen or twenty" as stated by Mr'
Clemens. That caucus nominated Col. hlng,
and Gov. Fitzpatrick, as the nominees of the
democratic party.
The record of the votes for the two Senators,
Will best show whether any subsequent caucus
annulled what was done by the first.
On the first ballot to fill Gov. Bagbys vaean-
cy. (see House Journal page 1l4'l5) Col. King
received 81 votes, all democrats Gov. Chap
man Is votes, all democrats but one; and MIR.
Hopkins the whig candidate, received So.
On the second ballot. COL King received SO
votes, democrats; Gov. Chapman l3, democrats;
but one as before, and Hopkins 59
On the third ballot, Gov. Chapman was with
drawn, when Col. King received II votes, and
was declared elected.
On the first ballot to fill Mr.. Lewis vacancy,
Gov. Fitzpatrick received 60 votes, of which tlt-
ty-eight were democrats, and but two wings; MIR.
Clemens received 81 votes of which fifteen were
democrats, and six wings; Hopkins, whig, received
so votes
On the second ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick recei-
we'd the same vote as before; Mr. Clemens 20 votes,
of which fourteen were democrats and SIX wings;
Mr.. Hopkins 49, and few scattering.
On the third ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick received
the same vote as before-60; Mr.. Clemens %
of which fifteen were democrats and seven where
wings; Mr.. Hopkins A. and few scattering.
On the fourth ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick received
"a votes, of which fifty nine were democrats and
five were wings; Clemens received 20 votes, Of
which fourteen were democrats, and nine wings;
Mr. Hopkins received 81 votes, and there were
! few scattering
On the fifth ballot, Gov. Fitzpatrick received
e5 votes, ofwhich ffty-nine were democrats. and
six were wings; Mr.. Clemens 25 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 accidental
absence Of Mr.. Coleman, democrat from Fay