The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28

they were not. In the former ne OeCIaTtd VI
lie glance due 10 the State Of Alabama; in the latter
that none was due to her. In the former he advo-
Gated secession; In the latter he denies that SUCH
right exists
II these things appear-and he thought by the
Senator'S own speeches which he had read II was
would seem that the Senator from Ala
bama was pretty specimen OF consistency ana
morality To stand up IN the senate and arralgh
others The Senator denounces those who are
sta nding on the platform erected by himself, and
" ho do not submit TO what he had himself styled
base and ignominious surrender ms traitors.
lie then referred to that portion OF Mr. Z 3
speech of December last in which his (Mr KID
argument that the admission Of California was un-
constitutional because the Constitution provides
only for the admission OF States, as pure nonsehst
and where it was held that all the States, with the
exception of Vermont, Kentucky, and Texas, were
Territories till admitted into the Union, and that
the act of admission that made each OF theHi
States. He repeated his argument, that all the
States now in the Union were States IN TACT before
admitted, except California; hence the admission
of California was Unconstitutional. lie considored
the Senator from Alabama as ignorant oil the ms
tory OF his State. He considered that the Sen
a!or was hard driven Tor materials whcn ne resort
ed to false statement OF the facts To prove that
California had been admitted constituonally.
The Senator was 50 enaInored with the Com,
promise that he would not vote for the repeal OF
the act aboshing the slave trade in the District OF
Columbia. That act not only abolished the slave
trade, but, by making the freedom oil the slave
penalty for the violation OF the law, was the IN
cpient step by Congress in the exercise OF the
power OF emancipation.
He referred to that portion OF Mr.. CLEMENs's
speech in which it held that the Fugitive
Slave law had been executed as faithfully az other
laws-as the laws against murder; ana main
tanned that the law had not been executed at all.
The cases where slaves were returned were the
exceptions He adverted to the Chrisiana rioters
and the rescue at Boston; not one person engaged
in any Of these successful reslstances to the law
had been punished-all had been allowed to go
scot free.
He also adverted to the positions assumed by
Mr.. c against the right of State secession, ana IN
which il said that Z" John c. Calhoun and
George McDufhe had examined the resolutions OF
9S and $50 for the right of secession, and could
not find il. They found, as they thought, noilifi-
cation; but notification is itself denial OF seces-
son;" and that leone OF the ablest efforts made
10y those great men to establish that nnllifca-
ton was the rightul remedy" He repeated bis
arguments in favor Of State sovereignty, and the
right of the States to sccede The man who will
say that Mr.. Calhoun ever denied the existence OF
the right Of secession will never dare show himseli.
That great man has friends and sons who can and
will defend him
To that part of Mr. C.'s speech which denied
that the States possessed sovereign powers; which
held that there is no such thing as sovereign
State within the limits of CHS Union - that " the
Constitution has taken away from the States some
Of the highest and most essential attributes oil
sovercignty--they cannot coin money, they cannot
emit bills Of credit, they cannot punish trea-
son against Themselves" &c.-he replied at
length. He maintained that notwithstanding the
want of these attributes the States were soveregn
that treaties, offensive and defensive, between ma
tons, common; that it was at one time
long considered that there should be but one
coinage In Europe; in which case, none OF the
powers there would by that course lose their
sovereignty. II, however, II could be shown that
the States had no power to punish treason against
themselves he would abandon the subject. In the
constitutions of South Carolina and other States,
treason was defined and its punishment provided
II A.NV,Y n. Va Nl,t,ai Low
war against her, commit what by her constitu
ton defined to be treason, and her authorities
would be found 10 execute the law. Any of her
sons who would take up arms against her would
lind that the bapgman' 4 rope was his destiny.
He then read letters written by two gentlemen
OF Alabama In relation 10 the circumstances at
teudnnt upon Mr.. CLsmEss's election to the Senate
The Democratic party had majority in the Lee
gialature, and MIR Fitzpatrick their choice for
| the Senate. The Senator was chosen by fraction
| OF his own party, together with the Wings. These
letters stated that, while the Wing members OF the
\ Legislature were in caucus, the Senator wac
named; that pledge was required, and that dur
ing the caucus slip OF paper was handed in, which
read in substance: f elected to the United States
Senate, pledge myself that will support the ad-
ministration OF General Taylor" Signed "JERE.
| CLEMENS" That Mr.. Davis, a.member of the eau
Gus, declared it IN the hand ring of Mr.
| CLEMENS, and that upon this pledge he was elected
To his present high position.
MIR. X. now said that lac had started out with a
4 declaration that he would discredit the witness
and had done so; that he would chow that the Seua
tor from Alabama was not himself in position &c
arraign others; and done this alec He THANH ed the
Senate for the opportunity IL had given him 20 win
dictate himself from the attacks IN the Senators
speech
| Mr.. CLEMENS read a note received by him
yesterday, by which he was notified that the Sena.
tor from south Carolina would to-day reply 10 GER
| tain portions OF his speech. lie surprised,
! however that, not content with this notice, the
Senator had announced to the Senate, to the gale
rics, TO the reporters, letter writers, and every one
else. that be was to-day 20 destroy him, in order
| that they might all be present at hIs death. lie
| was cory the Senator had not given him the op.
portunity of dying more decenty. To that selt.
conceit and strange ignorance of the Senator, that
manifest ignorance upon all lhings relating 70
| the passage Of the Compromise and bimself
| he attributed his blindness with regard TO that
speech. The Senator complained that IN the
| speech he had been called knaye and a traitor
| The specch bore no such construction. No man
except the Senator himself could say that It con,
tanned any charge Of knayery. He has however
supposed SO, and for two months nc has broodco
/ over the charge, and been engaged in collecting
| materials for bis speech, without taking siugl,
| step for his viudication. lie now would add tbs
epithet Of coward 10 that Of knave aud traitor.
! The CHAIR said the Senator's remarks were out
Of order.
Mr.. CLEMENS said that he would ondeayor t.
keep within the rules Of order The Senator had
| taken notice Of the charge Of knavery which he
said was made against him, and he Who would not
| thkc opportunity Ol Ffsfnllng tue aCCusd-
| ton, but would resort to this mode Of defending
| himself, did not deserve the name Of man.
| The Senator bad sad he had discreditcd the wit
ness How and by whom BY the evidence Of two
! Of his co-conspratOrs In his part Of the country
! parties standing in such position W Guild not b,
| permitted to testify.
! NJ one, bot the Senator, supposed that he mean
| thnt the Senators from Massachusetts,, Ohio, anc
/ New Hampshire, bad made open demonstrations
Of applause, or had given expression to cheers; bot
! IL the evident satisfaction with which they
| listened TO him. The Senator from New Hamp.
| shire had left hs seat and occupied one near tn,
| Senator; and after he had concluded his speech
| they surrounded him, shaking hands with ano
| oongratulsting him. This the Senator could nO
deny.
Mr.. RHETT made remark, which was no
heard.
| Mr.. CLEMENS Mr.. CuAfE, did you not shak
hands with him on that OCc asiOny
| Mr.. CHASE was understood TO cay that be had
Mr. &. then asked the Senator from Alabarnr
upon what authority be styled him cocoon
| spirator Of any one
Mr. CLEMENS said he could answer but on
at time. lie then alluded to the apparent,
warm and friendly personal relations which eH
isted between the Senator from South CAROLYN
and the Senator from Massachusetts (Mr. Sun