Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-03-03

sistency and morality to stand up in the Senate
and arraign others. The Senator now denoun-
ces those who are standing on the platform
erected by himself, and who do not submit to
what he himself styled a base and ignomnous
surrender as traitors.
He then referred to that portion of Mr.. C.'s
speech of December last in which his Mr..
X argument that the admission of California
was unconstitutional because the Constitution
provides only for the admission of States, rs
pure nonsense; and where it was held that all
the States, with the exception of Vermont
Kentucky, and Texas, were Territories till ad-
mitted into the Union, and that it was the act
of admission that made each of them States
He repeated his argument, that all the States
now in the Union were States in fact before ad-
mitted, except California; hence the admission
of California was unconstitutional. He consi-
dered the Senator from Alabama as ignorant
of the history of his own State. He consider
ed that the Senator was hard driven for ma
terials when he resorted to IA false statement of
the facts to prove that California had been ad-
mitted constitutionally.
The Senator was so enamored with the Com
promise that he would not vote for the repeal
of the acS aboshing the slave trade in the Dis
trict of Columbia The act not only abolished
the slave trade, but, by making the freedom of
the slave penalty for the violation of the law,
was the incipient step by Congress in the exer-
else of the power of emancipation.
He referred to that portion of Mr.. Clemens
speech in which it was held that the Fugitive
Slave law had been executed as faithfully as
other laws-as the laws against murder; and
maintained that the law had not been executed
at all. The cases where slaves were returned
were the exceptions. He adverted to the Chris
,i,f =,
person engaged in any of these successful resis-
tances 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, and
in which it was said that "John C. Calhoun and
George McDuffie had examined the resolutions
of '98 and '99 for the right of secession, and
could not find it. They found, as they thought,
notifications but notification is itself denial
of secession;'' and that ''some of the ablest eff
forts made by those great men were to establish
that notification was the rightful remedy" He
his arguments in favor of State soye-
reignty, and the right of the States to secede.
The man who will say that Mr.. Calhoun ever
denied the existence of the right of secession will
never dare show himself. That great man
has friends and sons who can and will defend
him.
10 that part of Mr.. C.'s speech which de-
MED that the States possessed sovereign powers;
which held that ''there is no such thing as a so
vereign State within the limits of this Union"
that 'the Constitution has taken away from the
States some OF the highest and most essential
attributes OF sovereignty-they cannot coin mo-
ney, they cannot emit bills of credit, they cam
not punish treason against themselves &c.
he replied at length. He maintained that, not
u tbSta fIpu a.
States were sovereign; that treaties, offensive
and defensive, between nations, were common:
that 1t 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. If, however, it
could be shown that the States had no power to
punish treason against themselves, he would
abandon the subj ct. In the constitutions of
South Carolina and other States, treason was
defined and its punishment provided for. Let
any one of South Cardinals sons levy war against
her, or commit what by her constitution was
defined to be treason, and her authorities would
be found to execute the law. Any of her sons
who would take up arms against her would find
that the hangman's rope was his destiny
He then read letters written by two gentle
men, of Alabama, in relation to the circum-
stances attendant upon Mr.. Clemens's election
to the Senate. The Democratic party had a
majority in the Legislature, and Mr. Fitzpat
rick was their choice for the Senate. The
Senator was chosen by fraction of his own
party, together with the Wings. These let
ters stated that while the Wing members of the
Legislature were in caucus, the Senator was
named; that pledge was required, and that
during the caucus a slip of paper was handed
in, which read in substance: eff elected to the
U. S. Senate, pledge myself that will sup
port the administration of General Tavlor."-
Signed "Jere Clemens That Mr. Davis a
member OF the caucus, declared it was in the
handwriting Of Mr.. Clemens, and that upon
this pledge he was elected to his present high
position.
Mr.. R. now said that he had started out with
a declaration that he would discredit the wit
ness, and had done so; so that he would show
that the Senator from Alabama was not him
self in position to alraign others; and he had
done this Also He thanked the Senate for the
opportunity it had given him to vindicate himself
rom the attacks in the Senator's speech.
Mr.. Clemens read note received by him
by which he was notified that the
Senator from South Carolina would to-day re-
ply to certain portions of his speech. He was
surprised, however, that not content with this
notice, the Senator had announced to the Senate,
W. INV 'iSiAo9' " VIC lCPolIols, ioIIerWTlteTS,
md every one else, that he was to-day to de-
troy him, in order that they might all be pre-
ent at his death. He was sonythat Senator
had not given him the opportunity of dy-
ne more decently. To that self-conceit and
trange Ignorance of the Senator, that mani
est Ignorance upon all things relating to the
passage OF the Compromise and himself he |
attributed his blindness with regard to that |
peech. 1.-THE Senator complained that in
he speech he had been called knave and
| traitor. The speech bore no such con-
truction. No man, except the Senator
himself, could say that it contained any charge
II knavery. He has, however, supposed so, |
md for two months he has brooded over the |
barge, and been engaged in collecting materi-
is for his speech, without taking single step |
or his vindication. He now would add the |
pithet of coward to that of knave and traitor
The Chair said the Senator's remarks were
nut of order.
Mr.. Clemens said that he would endeavor to !
eep within the rules of order. The Senator had |
AIKEN no notice of the charge ofknavery which
1.