The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-03-01

upon speech in which he mir {. had charged
MIR. FoorE with inconsistency; and said tina, what
had occurred between him and Mr.. FooTE was
perfectly and strictly in spirit Of courtesy, and
was not marked by that rancorous bitterness
which characterized the attack OF the Senator from
South Carolina.
The Senator was the last man who ought to
speak OF disunion in these Halls. In the House,
on one occasion, John Quincy Adams presented a
petition praying dissolution OF the Union. re-
solution was offered 10 expsthim for presenting it,
MIR. Bolts moved to lay the resolution on he table,
and the Senator, then member OF that House,
voted against Mr. Botts's motion; indicating by his
vote desire TO expel Mr.. Adams. But what was
Mr. Adams's crime when compared to that OF the
Senator? The one, believing in the right OF petit
ton, presented memorial asking the dissolution
of the Union, stating that he was opposed TO the
prayer. The other rises in the Senate, declares
himself disunionist, and advocates openly dis
solution of the Union.
MIR &. then defended the Texas Boundary act,
and the aboishing the slave trade in the Dis
trict, and his votes on them.
MIR. repeated the declarat contained in his
speech Of December last. that Mr.. Calhoun was
opposed TO the secession OF single State, and that
che regarded the attempt Of a single State to go
out OF the Union madness" and died In that
opinion. Shortly before his DEATH in conversa-
ton with him, Mr.. Calhoun said that in 1892 he
could have gene much further than he had, but not
without arraigning Tennessee against South Caro-
lima, and Kentucky against Virginia; he wanted
platform upon which all the Southern States could
stand together united &C.
He considered that il the whole fifteen Southern
States were to secede in body, that perhaps it
would be folly for either party to attempt coercion,
as would undoubtedly be the case ii single State
were to attempt secession In either case, however
he could not believe that peace between the two
sections could be long maintained, but war would
follow, and the result would be the total destruc-
ton Of the liberties of all.
He was not different man in 1851 from what he
was in 1850. He left here after the adjournment OF
Congress with no sentiment or principle changed.
When he got home he found demagogues ha.
raDguing and telling the people Of Alabama that
they had been robbed by the Compromise /; that
the North had robbed them of all the territory and
that nothing left for them but base submission
or secession. He, too, went upon the stump, and
told the people the truth He told them that the
robbery, if any had taken place, was committed
by the votes of the South that Missouri and Ten
nessee, and Kentucky were equally guilty the
North and that they, if they seeded at ALL should
also seccde from these States. The people heard
him; they saw the truth, and the August elections
showed that he was sustained. Before that cleo
ton took place there was not man in the State
who would himself disunionist No man
entertaining the sentiments of the Senator from
South Carolina could be elected in Alabama to the
post Of constable.
The people Of Alabama were Union men; and
yet they were as true and devoted southern men
as those who are continually clamoring for south
ern rights, ard depicting southern wrongs They
were as consistent friends of the South as those
who at home were constantly speaking of the per-
hdious robberies Of the North, and ye, hen here
took seats in counsel cheek by jowl with such men
as PRESTON KING, GIDDfSGs, RANToUL, HALE,
CHASE, and SUMNER
Mr.. RHETT said that he was not surprised at
the Senator's course Of reply. He expected that
when he was called upon TO answer Tor having
wantonly insulted another, the Senator would
ply by renewed insut. He (Mr. RI had not as
the Senator stated, brooded over this matter for
months. He had already told the Senator that he
was not present when the Senator's speech wac
fi.l.xH a he
return. He had since then been waiting for an
opportunity 10 reply, and had at length appealed
TO the Senate for this opportunity.
The Senator den ed having made any charge Of
knavery. lie would read what the Senator said,
and then the Senate could judge whether the
char-c was not made. The language of
the Senator was as follows
"The scene witnessed the other day. during
the delivery by the Senator from South Carolina
(Mr RHETT) of his harangue, surprised no one
here but il would have been matter of profound
astonishment 20 the country II they could have
been spectators Of what occurred. There
the Senator from Massachusetts, (Mr. SUNNsR,)
the Senator from Ohio, MIR CHAsE,) and the Sen
ator from New Hampshire (Mr. BALE,) gathered
about him in a sort Of iraternal ring, while the
countenance Of the Senator from New York (Mr.
SEWARD was radiant with gladness. Thus was
exhibited the spectacle Of extreme Southern
Senator denouncing, in no measured terms. the
government Of his country, and declaring himself
dsunionist, on account Of alleged wrongs
as this land contains, drinking In his words with
eager neutrality-suspicious. cheering and en-
couragng him. All this nothing new TO us
however strange j; may appear to the plain and
honest yeomanry Of the country. Nor il,
when calmly considered, 1t all unnatural
ga fellow feeling makes wondTous kind"
There - sympathy "a TREASON iosH as IA knauuy;
and those who are earnestly striving 10 accomplish
the same end need not quarrel about the separate
Here the plain and direct charge that there
was a sympathy between him and these four SEN
ators; and then that there sympathy In knave-
~ as well "a ia treason. lie would ask the Sena-
tor himself now To cay whether by that language
be did not intend and mean 10 charge him with
knavcryl
Mr.. CLEMENS said he meant no such thing
Every one understood that scmaik as be (Mr. c.
did. IL was no more a charge OF kpavcry against
the Senator than against the Senator from Ohio or
the Senator from Massachusetts; and against them
he certainly was not understood az making any
such charge
Mr.. RHkTT thought that If the language used
did not convey the allegation Of knhvery, then il
pn purely nOnsensicai; and the Senator might
chose either horn Of the dilemma lie bad con
sidered ~. and still considered IL, wanton insult
But II had been suggested that, II he considered IL
such insult, he might and ought 10 have reaored
10 another mode Of resenting n. II was true that
he might have challenged the Senator for the Of
fence, bot he bad reasons good and sufficient for
not doing Dir. X. then rnld statement Of
his reasons Tor not challenging the Senator from
Alabama. They we're. in Substance. that be
had great doty to perform 10 the cause
with which be identified, and de
termincd not 10 be Withdrawn from its
cution. Another that for twenty
Yeas he had been a professor Of the religion u
Christ and he could not and would not disbOnor
tia. religion by such a course. fit was supposed
that he bad declined challenging the Senator from
any fear, then those who supposed 20 were entirely
mistaken. lie feared no man. bal be did fear God
He had never shown fear If man. lie had pursued
bic oOar,e that course uhioh he thought the honor
Of lie State demanded. without fear Of personal
risk or consequent e. 90 bimself In the Senate he
stood alone; one vas there susiain him; yet
he had never ALTERED in biz duty; he had quslcd be
fore no nan.
lie again referred TO tine statement that Messrs.
suNSEs and CHASE had "applauded. ohecred, and
ragged" bim on the occasion vhca he dcliy-
cred his spcecs aud 10 Mr.. CLssESs's denial that,
by that statement, he meant 20 say that they had
shouted OF applauded by any clspping Of bauds or
stamping Of feat. lie read these words several
times, and maintained that they could convey 20
the "plan and bone.i yeoTnanry Of the country"
no other idea than that tbesc senators he'd ep.
pauded ~ stamping Of feet and olspping % hands.
and by cheers. The Senator must either admit
that be meant this, stuufy bimself by declaring