The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-02

son. lie says there Is sympathy IN treason as
well as in knavery; and that that sympathy ex
lists between myself and those four senators on
this floor. The course which propose to pur-
sue on this occasion before the Senate, is that
which is very common in our courts Of Justice:
to discredit the witness. mean TO show, that
the Senator from Alabama stands in no such
high, moral position, as to give any force to his
arraignment of me or of any other man, for the
want Of integrity or fidelity.
Such are his words, and will now show the
character of the witness. The assertion that the
Senators he has mentioned were around me sap
pauding and cheering" me, is entirely destitute
of truth. Every senator on this floor can testi-
fy, that no such transaction took place in the
Senate Did any senator on this foor--did
the Senator from Ohio, the Senator from Mas
sachusetts, or the Senator from New York, APP
plaud or cheer me? Will the Senator from
Massachusetts rise up and answer before the
Senate whether be applauded or cheered me
during the time ] was speaking yield him
the floor TO hear his reply.
Mr. SUMNER. Mr. President, when the
Senator from South Carolina addressed the
Senate on the occasion to which he now refers,
occupied the seat belonging to me on this
floor, and near his own. | listened to him
throughout with attention. | was interested
by his manner and his ability but, since he
now appeals to me, | am constrained to add
that, as lover of the Union, heard him not
only without appreciation, expressed or felt, but
with entire dissent.
Mr.. RHETT. Will the Senator from Ohio
please state to the Senate whether he applauded
or cheered me!
Mr.. CHASE 1t so happens, MIR. President
that | occupy the seat next but one to that Of
the Senator from South Carolina. When he
was speaking the other day, did not leave my
seat but paid him the respect Of listening atten-
lively to the remarks which he addressed to
the Senate. am not aware, that | so far for
got the decencies proper to this Chamber, as to
applaud or give any special sign of approval or
disapproval of any sentiment which the Senator
uttered. | will say, however, now, that so far
as the honorable Senator advances the doctrines
of State Rights which Jefferson and Madison in.
culcated, agree with him; so far as he advo.
Gates the doctrines of disunon dissent from
him wholly, utterly, here and everywhere. And
will add further, that SO far as the Senator from
Alabama inculcates reverence for the Constitu-
ton, and attachment to the Union, concur with
him, as | do with every man who processes
these sentiments but when the Senator from
Albania ingrafts upon that doctrine of attach
ment to the Union, the doctrine of consolida-
ton which the patriarchs of the Democratic
school have ever rejected, dissent from him,
and repel the doctrine
Mr.. RHETT. Mr.. President, will 90 no
further on this point Every senator knows
what is the truth in regard to this matter. There
was not one single sign of applause or cheering
in this body, yet the senator asserts that these
four senators applauded, cheered, and encour-.
aged me; ard he says it was no extraordinary
thing at all-nothing new--that in the Senate
of the United States consisting of representa-
lives of the States, grave governors and judges
of the land, that spch men who have gone
through a probation of public service in all the
States, when they are here gathered together,
should applaud and cheer each other on this
floor in the course Of their observations. Such
a thing has never disgraced the Senate There
fore, leave the Senate to determine, and leave
the country to determine, in the very commence
ment Of my reply to that senator, how far he is
fit TO stand up here and arraign others for a
want of integrity, truthfulness, or consistency.
There not only was no foundation, no fact TO
support this charge, but the reason he assigns is
equally without foundation. His reason was,
that there was a sympathy between these gen.
tlemen and myself on the subject of disunon
That is his assertion that is what he has spread
abroad and sent into Alabama and the Southern
States. Sir, you have heard what these sena-
tors have said. The Senator from Alabama
himself has heard them express on this floor
their opinions concerning the Union. ] myself
have heard the Senator from Ohio and the SEN
ator from New York, (who, IL is said, was also
one OF those who applauded aud cheered me-
as every other senator has heard them on this
floor, speak in the most devoted terms of their
adherence and attachment TO the Union, and
deprecate its dissolution as the greatest Of cal
antilles, and the Senator from Alabama rises up,
and not only asserts the fact that they applauded
and cheered me on this floor for declarations of
hostility TO the Union, but that the reason for
their applause and cheers was n sympathetic ac-
cordance Of opinion between us on this subject
Sir, the charge Of any sympathy between us on
the point Of dsunion, is as baseless as the facts
by which he attempts 10 prove il. On the con-
trary, these senators agree with him in his union
ism. Their sympathies, IL any exist, are with
him in his newborn zeal for the preservation Of
the Union. They are his allies, not mine and
by his course, Is helping on the consummation
Of their policy. suppose might stop here, so
far as am personally concerned but the cause
Of the South requires, think, that should 90
on, and show the Inconsistencies Of the Senator
from Alabama. ! will show that he occupied
exactly the ground now occupy, and which
many represent support II he has abandoned
il, apd now takes directly opposite ground, his
censure or aspersions can harm no one. His
credibility rs a witness, his authority for evil,
can affect neither me nor any other man on or
of Of this floor propose 10 show, what kind
Of q man he is, from his own speeches and his
own acts.
There is practice Of the English bar, which
| have seen used in our own courts with very
good effect. Before the proofs are brought for.
ward, il Is usual for the lawyer 10 state what be
intends 10 prove, in order that the minds Of Che
court and Jury msy be brought TO those import
ant points which he deems material 10 the issue.
Now ] will state 10 the Senate what ! propose
TO prove, by the words Of the Senator from Ala.
bama do not mean 10 coz Wet him. mean
that he shall convict himself ! do not mean 10
arraign him-he shall arraign himself and
whatever evil consequences occur to him in the
estimation Of Others, il shall be the work Of his
own hands. II he shall commit political or
moral anicida his ou,n ba,l sbsli A. iLo Al n