The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-28
THIRTY-SECoND CONGRESS.
FRIDAy, February p, 1852
SENATE.
FIRST SESSION.

~ raniiod IA the aniuladversions contained in the |
sneech of the Senator from Alabama (Mr Gle
mrNsl ut an earlier day, was that he was absent
from, The CITY and did hear OF them till shortly
before he left home his return for this place
Since his return, he had been waiting Tor taking
up this subject but II had not been taken up
For this reason he had to throw himself upon the
indulgence of the Senate for an opportunity to VIM
dicate himself -
He had hoped, with his alteration with MIR
FooTE, that all personal controversy mad ceased
IL was not his custom to be involved In them.
During twenty years service In the Legislature
ne had had personal difficulty win any one
He regretted now that almost upon me entrance
into the Senate he found himself involved IN con
troversies because his defence oil his consclen-
tious opinions, and the attack was such that ne
had no option but defend himself. his principles
and position -, l.,
Hvered in the Senate on December I'D, 1891, used
the following language
The scene we witnessed the other day. during
the delivery by the Senator from South .aroiiha
(Mr RHErr) of HE hsrangue, surprised no one
here but il would have been matter OF profound
astonishment to the country if they could have
been spectators of what occurred lhere was
the Senator from Massachusetts, (Nlr. SuMNEa,)
the Senator from Ohio. (Mr. CHAsED and the Sen,
tor from New Hampshire, (Nir. HALE,) gathered
aboat him in sort OF fraternal ring, whie .he
countenahce of the Senator from New fork, Mr..
SEwARp), was radiant with gladness. Thus was
exhibited the spectacle OF an extreme Southern
Senator denouncing, In no measured terms, the
government of his country, and declaring hInseH
disunionist, on account OF alleged wrongs
heaped upon him, with four as rabid abolitionsts
as this land contains, drinking in his words with
eager applauding, cheering and en-
couragiag him. All this was nothing new to US.
however strange il may appear 10 the PLAIN ana
honest yeomanry Of the country Nor was H.
" hen calmly considered, at all unnatural
'''A fellow feeling makes US wondrous kind
There is sympathy IN treason as well as IN
knaycry and those " no earnestly striving to
tt-h he, anne
the separate means employed y
Here was a charge made against himself OF
knavery and treason; and that sympathy IN
, knavery and treason existed between nm ana
four other Senators.
In repellng tbese charges his course would be to
dscredit the witness upon whose testimony they
rested; and would show that the Senator himself
was not in a position to arralk hln upon suCb
charges before the Senate elsew here.
Did any one in the Senate, on the occasion when
he delivered his speech here, witness this scene de-
scribed by the Senator Did any one hear any OF
these Senators applaud or cheer him! lie would
,ask the Senator from Massachusetts to state whe-
ther he had either applauded or cheered him Mr.
r } on that occasion!
Mr. UMNER said that when the Senator from
South Carolina made his speech, he (Mr. So &C
cupied his own He listened 10 the Senator
with attention. But, as a lover OF this mon, be
heard him speak of dlsunon, not only without APP
probation, either ieit or expressed, Out WIN strong
feelings OF dissent.
Mr. RHETT then asked the Senator from Ohio
(NIr CHAsE) to state whether he bad applauded or
cheered on the occasion referred to!
Mr.. CHASE said that he had listened to the Sen
ntor from South Carolina with great attention lie
was not that he had ever manifested out
watdly dissent approval OF any thing said IN
debate. But, far as the Senator maintained the
State right doctrines of Jefferson and Madison,
and opposed consolidationism, he approved oil his
remarks; but so far he spoke against the MON,
he dissented from him entirely and OF course could
not applaud approve such sentiments.
Mr. Senator
truth Of this matter. The Senators he had called
upon had declared they had neither applaudsd,
cheered encouraged him in ms speech; and yet
the Senator from Alabama had said they did all
three He would leave II 10 the country to Judge
how far the Senator was entitled TO credit In this
charge and how far he was entitled 10 arralgn
him upon a want of fidelity TO principle and honor.
There was also the charge that there existed
sympathy between him and these Senators upon
the subject Of disunion. IL was well known that he
had denounced the Union az II nos exists with a
violated Constitution IL was equally well known
that the Senators from New York, Mr.. sKwAsp,)
from Ohio, (Mr. CHAsK,) and the others alluded
to- had all glorihed tie Union, and had denounced
disunion: in this they cordially united IN
sentiment with the Senator from Alabama, who
also prai,ed this Union in the highest terms.
He then proceeded 10 show that the Senator from
Alabama not the man toarralgn any one upon
the charge Of inconsistency. IL was custom In
the English courts Tor counsel 10 state 10 the jury
what was expected 10 be proved. He would now
state what he expected To prove; he would arraign
the Senator, and prove his charge by the senators
own speeches. He then read several pages contain
ing a summary Of Mr.. CLgMrSs's speeches from
December, 1919, 20 the speech al this session upon
the COMPROMISE. During the reading one OF his
sheets was mislaid, could not be iound, when
Mr. RHETT said that he would publish u with hls
remarks when printed.
Mr., CLEMENS asked that it be read now. Tie de-
sired to reply TO II at once
Mr. RHElT said II vas at his room at bis hotel
and If the Senate would indulge him, be would go
after IL.
Mr. CLEMENS desiring that it should be read,
Mr. RHETT left the Senate, and alter some time
returned With the paper, which he read
After reading the synopsis OF the several speece
be then read c0pi0us extracts from speeches Of Mr.
G Of the following datcs:
December 81, lsi9 be introduced a series Of re.
solutions in the Senate calling upon the President
Of the United States to communicate 10 tie Senate
whether any steps had been taken by the Govern.
ment towards a fAmation Of a State government
in California or not and whether any agent had
been cent there by the Government 10 induce the
people 20 form such government, &c &c.
On the 10th Of January, 1850, on the motion to
print the resolutions of the Legislature Of Vermont,
tbe Senator from Alabama made speech, IN which
he spoke Of two classcs Of tratOrs-oue the north
ern fanatics, who, reckless of consequences, 10 &C
complisb their ends, sought the subycrsiOn 81 the
Constitution, &c; the other, for whom he had css
respec.. was c0mpOged Of those Umid, doubling,
besitatin,, men AT the South who would not march
up % the line and repel, upon the thrcshJd all en-
croarhTneus upon their rghts-that IL, (said Mr.
C, } men who Ould not reslst the admission 81
California and d vut Where vas the Senator nov
On the 18th Il February, $50, on the presenta-
ton Of a petition by the Senator from New Hamp.
shire 10 dissolve tie Union, the Senator made a
speech, IN which be treated the charge Of being a
disunionist with contempt, and held that the South
in resisting the proposed measures, wac not TO be
blamed Tor putting the Union IN danger but that
those who persisted in the aggression were alone
responsible for tho consequences
On the 10Th Of February the Senator de
nounccd the proposed admission Of California, and
said that under the Compromise resolutions OF Mr.
CLAY the North got all, aud the South lost all
that he preferred the WIlmot prOyiso to be openly
adopted. than its application ~ an indirect way by
smuggling California into the Union. lie distinct
ly counsellcd disunion, alluded 10 Washington.
farewell Address; and claimed that II Washington
we're alive he would be found on the side Oi th,
South justifying resistance 10 such aggrcs-iOns
On the sh Oi May the Senator attacked the re-
port Of the Select Committee Of Thirteen, and de-
nouucsd az traitors all those who supported 1T
being nothing more than the plan contained in Mr..
CLAY's resolutions.
On the 10Th Of May be arraigncd Mr. Fo0Ts aud
Mr.. MAS0rM, iUr supporting that Compromise, a.
unfaithlul o. TIE South and denounced hr.
FOorE's "Dost we can get" doctrine a. unworthy
Of Senators. he (Mr. e would never, II be was