The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-03-02

ulon OF Missouri 3th article, 18th clause there is the
same provisions in the constitution OF Kentucky 10Th
article, I'd clause Indiana. (artcle llth clause ado
Louisiana, Guile 9th, article 90) Mississippi, (arce 7lh
clause $50 Florida, lafticle TO- clause y Arkansas
(afucle 9, clause y Texas (arlice 2, clause - Wis
consn, (article clause 10 and, last Of all Iowa ar
Gle 2, clause l6) Every OF lheseall OF them new
oiates-haye been admitted into the Union with this
clause IN Their constitutions IN which they assert the
right OF Furnishing treason and consequently the right
the allegiance OF their citizens oil which treason is The
violation Look at the construction these facts afford
Congress- at every successive act approving of these
stuons, endorses The right OF the States to punish
SON. and therefore atrms the sovereignty and ndepend
enee oil The States That Is IN perfect consistency with
the constitution OF the United States That constitution
says that treason against the United States shall consist
IN levylng against them, and in adherng TO their enc
mes. and giving them aid and comfort, " Their enc
mies"-enemes OF the States The constitution of the
United States itself describes the States sovereigns
against whom treason may be committed IN their united
capacity And when, afterwards, Congress- approved the
State constitutions, in whicheason IS defined and pow
expressed to punish against the States IL perfect
harmony with the constitution OF the United States and
both the constitution of the United States and the con-
stitutons Of the States which have been admitted into
the Union go 10 show that the States alone
elgn The constitution does not say that treason may be
committed against the government OF the United States
or the Union No, sir; il is against the States that
treason can alone be committed whether acting together
the Union separate States. Therefore say that the
constitution OF the United States and the constitution OF all
the States teach but doctrine, contrary the ana
ton oil the senator from Alabama and that doctrine is that
the States are sovereign. His own State Furnishes tea-
/ IL,
and cast her out OF exstencef he degrade her into
wreched dependency on this government which be
tramped upon with impuny, and dare not lift the front
OF Tesstance-le him do H. and take all the glory OF
such an achievement For my part il is my glory, as
well as my privilege that am citizen OF sovereign
Statethe State OF South Carolina To her. as the sen
aor from Alabama formerly said OF his State, owe my
allegiance With her live, and at her mandate trust,
am prepared to die. And care not what consoda
ZIONIST whether from the North South dares 10 assa
her in the exercise of her sovereignty, far as am
concerned, with the little power possess at her com
mand will resist and resist 10 the last She is my SOW
egn and she al least will not tolerate the doctrine thai
treason cannot be committed against her Let any man
within her limits take up against her in obedience
toany powerhere stands her statutes; her incuTupble
Judiciary her executive armed with the sword OF au
thoriiy to protect her sovereignty. His fate will be
death.
Mr.. President, | am exhausted; and presume that
the Senate must be atgued from the length of time have
tried its patience have here before me many other
points in which the inconsistencies of the senator from
Alabama are exposed, and which promised TO expose
must leave them TO be read and compared they
contained in his last speech His inconsistencies with
respect TO the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of Texas-hs beautiful
pcture~of the blessings OF the Union, and his tragic de-
lineatons OF the horrors OF disunion must leave
lquoted turn, in conclusion, 10 public matter which
has lately 10 light in Alabama 1t has been in the
public prints for many weeks, and have not it
contradced take IL TO be true II may go far 10
plain the inconsistencies OF the senator from Alabama
II is well known that when that elected TO
his seat in this body he elected by the wings The
democratic party, by an overwhelming vote, learn
mated his competitor, Mr. Fitzpatrick, be their can
didate for the Senate The democratic party had ma
joriy in the legislature bat few OF the gentleman's
friends in combination with the wings, elected him to
his present place hold in my hand the statement OF
Judge Buford You now the man, Mr. President and
more honorable and truthful man does not live within
the confines OF Alabama or the South. know him also
and suppose his veracity and honor would not suf-
Ter IN comparison with that OF any man on this floor
was senator at the time in the Alabama legislature
son the ngAt before the final baotng by legislature
for unted States senator caucus OF the wing members
had We bay pledged hmse Il else ed 10 support the adj
members of the receiving verbal pledge and i
insisted that il should bo duced writing Accord
was Hhs in the caucus by Mr. Rp DAVIS Of
IL was nearly or exactly In these words
".JERE CLEMENS
further stated by Major Bnord that he had seen
the written pledge, and that presented and believed
to be in Mr.. CLENEss's handwriting
Another wing member of the Alabama legislature who
in the caucus comes out with statement confirming
that oil MIR. Buford. Here is what he says;
'"EgFAuLA, (Ala.,) January 30 1851
"GESTLEaIEsi Your note Of this date is received. For
my own part never recognized any obligation OF secrecy
Ia. is well known} with reluctance, and with the
reservation OF the right make any explanation the rea
OF secrecy in the would not, however, have vol
uneered my testimony this matter, have given il but
On the eve Of Me- CLKMESs's election to the United
States Senate, there was Of the wing party did
Of my colleague Mr.. Gardner. When arrived, we
found the organized only question whether
the wings, party should support Mr. CLEMENS Some
Of his friends gave verbal assurances that he would n
elected act with the wings and said they authorized
by him to IL objected that
port him without written pledge, and the being
unable 10 agree, member from Greene stated that
pledge could be obtained, and called Mr. Rip Davis
from Limestone, who and produced a small scrap Of
paper, and read H. as near as can remember in these
words,
"'If elected to the United Ststes Senate pledge myself
to sustain General Taylor's administration
"'JERE. CLEMENS.
"a good many gathered around inspect the paper and
writing, when Mr. Davis said, in substance, i pledge my
honor, rs gentleman Il Is Mr. CLKNESss hand, and writ
ten by hi mselE'
The same gentleman who had called on Mr.. Davis as
above stated, then took the paper and holding read
il out in a louder tone, and ~ the same words
Yours, &c.,
PAUL MCCALL"
Mr. President, have done. The senator from Ala
bama, without any provocaiion on my part, thought
proper TO auaign me before the Senate. stated what
my purpose wasthat would dscredlt the wilness-that
would show that the authority which has presumed 10
mpugn the honor and character OF other senators was
not high as inure the reputation Of any man. much
less that OF a senator. have fulfilled my task. II has
been most reluctantly performed; but could not avoid
performing it, have only acted on The defensive and
while deprecate the necessity which has compelled me
TO this OF action, al the time, render
my profound Acknowledgements 10 the Senate for The
courtesy which has afforded the opportunity OF doing
what have done in the vndicaion of truth and Justice
Mr. CLEMENS. Mr. President, yesterday about two
o'clock, when at my room, received the following for
mldabe missve:
SKNGTE CHAMBER, Feb. &C. 1852
DsAR SR / have been directed by the Hon. Barnwel
Rhett inform you that tomorrow he will address the