The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-01-13
A PASSAGE IN THE SENATE.

! When Mr. Hale attempted, last week, to call
up his resolution respecting the management
of the American fleet in the Mediterranean
Mr. Mason undertook, with his characteristic
hGuietr to make him know his place. How
he Jared in the undertaking may be learned
from the following passage from the official re-
port
MIR. Mason Mr.. President the very gal
liant and distinguished officer to whom that
resolution refers, | have known for more than
thirty years Although heard the resolution
read Yesterday, would not descend to notice
it by appearing even to yindicate the subject
of IT, Sir, | can tell the Senator who intro
duced it, that he will not only shrink from no
investigation. but he will court it. And tell
the Senator at the same time who introduced
it. that the officer to whom he refers In that
resolution is a gentleman and man OF honor,
and he has a right to demand OF this Senate,
although apprehend he would not demand 1t
of him, that he should be treated as gentle
man and a man of honor. Sir, let HIM put
that resolution Of inquiry in the character OF
resolution of inquiry, and will promote it,
and will vote for it cheeriuliy for should be
doing very great njU-tioAto him If withheld
my vote But As the honorable Senator from
Illinois Mr.. Shields has said, It Is intended
for some Interior purp0se-t Is intended to do
its work incidentally and collaterally. 1t IL
not intended, apprehend, to bring him before
the proper inquiry of his peers in the navy of
the United States
Let it be put in the ordinary form, taking
nothing for granted and will assure the coun-
try, although would not undertake to assure
that Senator, that Charles w. Morgan, when
ever an inquiry is made into his character, will
prove that he is worthy the commission which
he bears | do not mean to object to inquiry
In any form but the resolution is 80 multlta-
rious in its character, that it is impossible to
comprehend anything more than its complex
ion and its complexion is one OF censure-
censurc in advance repeat let him put the
resolution in a proper form of inquiry, and
will vote for it cheeriully.
Mr.. HALE Mr. President, there is some
thing conveyed by words and there is some
thing endeavored to be conveyed by manner
and want 10 tell that Senator Mr. Mason,
that he is not man old enough, nor is he dig
nfed enough, either in his tone, or his voice,
or his manner, to make me stir thousandth
part of a hair out of my track Sir, have
heard enough of this talk about Senators de-
scending to meet a resolution that | offer.
am willing to have my place compared with
Others, before the country, or before any tri-
bunal where an honest, and fearless, and an
discharge of the duties which have
been devolved upon me- shall be weighed and
considered tell him, sir that it does not be-
come man--although he may come from
Virginia from the Old Dominion-to under
take to talk about descending to consider a
resolution that have introduced
stand here, sir, Senator with the obliga-
tions of the oath of God bound upon my con-
science, and, | think, with fully as keen a per-
,eption Of what belongs to the department of
a gentleman or to the dignity of debate, as
that honorable Senator This is not tho first
time sir, that sne mdle and manner of that
gentleman have been such rs TO let me know
hat he was Senator from Virginia, and that
was but poor, prescribed fanatic from New
Hampshire. He may take all he can make by
any such taunts He may place himself in as
high position AZ he thinks he stands before
the country, and see how far his missiles will
have to descend before they reach me. 1t may
not be quite so far as he thinks and it may be,
sir, that the honorable Senator from Virginia
would possibly not u quite'so assuming when
he undertakes to talk to me, if some power
would