The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-02-23
w BHkG1ON WEDNESDAY MORNING FEBRUARY 23 1853


relentless and vindctve And OF this hostility you may
sufficiently Judge when tell you il has spared not what
even saysges are said 10 respect for with an assass
instinct they pursued me even into the sick chamber OF
my humble household, when powerless TO Defend and
oppressed with feelings which every manly heart will
appreciate was watching what seemed the iast-ebbng
lives OF those most dependent upon and most dear to me-
and made The very fact OF my being there the subject of
their hend like assaults Even then, aud for that those
enemies discharged their poisoned me from be-
hind and OF them from ambush saying what none
better than themselves knew TO be false that was away
from this chamber TO the lect of my public daties 10
my State, and TO avoid the responsibility of important
votes
The occasion aliude 10 OF this MISREPRESENTATION was
the passage OF the compromise OF 1850 And yet
matter OF record here that was among the first 10
take position and express deeded views upon those ques
ions; but that record was not then in Arkansas And
yet further also, known TO every senator who OBJ
served the business OF the session-and appeal TO all
who were then here--hat no interest pertaining TO my
State left unattended 10 by de- and that no ysspoa-
sibiRfy whlch one SO humble as myself could properly
assume In regard 10 any public had BEEN has
since been, avoided, Oh by indrecon or accident
evadsd by me- but then there were none OF you in Ar
kansas to testify Tor me the truth here II known
MY own single, plain statement OF the truth was all L
had 70 oppose 10 the calumnious clamors OF the human
ackalls who hunted me- But the people, and their rep
resenlaves then assembled believed me and out OF ole
hundred members Of The legislature, but five could be
found to Say otherwise.
The Senate will trust, pardon these illusions which
have, of course, for others than myself only that
general interest which eyery Honorable must feel for
far dealing everywhere for in every heart, in mne
there are, doubt not, fountains OF feeling which, how
ever deep they may e the hard hand of the wrong doer
will sometimes reach and 80 disturb as TO make them
overflow with words Of bitterness which all must recog
MISE az their natural expression As connected with the
iomer occasion, now stand right upon the record al
nome, and JUSTIFIED before my own people; SO would
stand light and justify myself as connected with the
present question; and therefore, will now explain my
silence when others spoke here last Saturday upon the
Arkansas railroad BILL was silent because was not
here And was absent because did expect the bill
would come up for consideration indeed, had the best
OF reasons for believing il would not up. The cir
II will be recollected that weeks ago my col
league gave notice that Monday OF last week he
would move to take up the bill in question. The day
came and passed butt doubtless for good and proper
sons, the molten was not made. So came aud passed
Tuesday and Wednesday, and Thursday and the molion
was not made On Thursday informed my colleague
that as my bad health made few days rest desirable
and as business OF some Importance called 10 neigh
boring State, would like TO be absent until the follow
Ing Monday, If he thought nothing affecting the interests
of our State would come up for consider before that
time He expressed the opinion that nothing of the kind
would occur within that period With this understand
ing parted with him, and that evening left the city for
Virginia Unexpected and unusual detention of steam
boats delayed my return two days, and did not reach
here again until Tuesday night last Upon my arrival
the first paper ! took up contained the Senate pro-
only some thirty.sx hours after | went away, my col
league had called up the Arkansas bill, which, after
short debate, passed Well, although this did,
1 CONFESS surprise mention II not 10 lmpuZn The
motives nor arralgn the course OF my colleague,
object 10 the passage OF the bill But do mention il as
explaining my absence that occasion for most as
suedy, as my colleague well knows and for reasons |
had given him, would not have been absent if had
supposed such proceedings were TO take place at that
time.
And now, sir 10 complete my explanation word to
the reasons OF my desire 10 be present when the bill
to be aCled upon 1t will be recollected that, the last
session, introduced several bills for railroad grants
Arkansas; and that subsequently reported, from the
n Dub Ianda
visions OF those several bills and that those two grant
ing land for three roads entirely the State, with
fixed srmna, passed by the Senate and the
House These two bills based upon various memo
rails from the people of Arkansas, and framed in con-
ormlty with the wish OF the memoriass, indicated
by their action, az companies organized Tor the
structon OF these particular roads: the FIRST from Mem
pins, via Little Rock Fulton the second, from Helena
via Little Rock TO Fort Smith and the third, from
Gainess Landing, Via Camden, to Fulton If there ever
was anywhere expression OF opinion, any indca-
ton OF wish, by any one in Arkansas in favor OF any
other road than these, can truly say heard OF
II, nor have found any one else who heard OF it
until within the last three days OF last session, there
TO us here from the House, at time, and under circum
stances when, under our rules il was impossible pass
II through the Senate, against single objection, the bill
which you passed last Saturday.
My exerlons this floor and my earnestness in
king what was called "perlnaclous opposition" have
aot been orgo,encertanly Bot by the senators whose
objections labored to overcome-exertions which were
conlnued until the last hour OF the session. and not aban
doned until absolute mposs,by oil success made
elusive, and further continuance of them would have
ooslructed the indispensable business OF the Senate And
yet is well known, did not approve the BILL because
1t had not been asked for wished for by the people OF
my State, for the that II not adapted to their
wants. nor calculated 10 promote their interests, well
as those bills they had asked Tor, and which, having
passed the Senate, then and now, pending. or
rather sleeping the sleep OF DEATH from which friendly
hand has sought raise them in the House Why then,
did make such exertions tor the passage OF such bill
For the reasons SIR that would not have opposed
II this session had been here when IT passed Those
reasons are FIRST assured by my colleague OF the
House that the only bill for Arkansas which
was POSSIBLE TO get through the House II there
needed aid for the construction Of her roads and this
covered part OF the ground wanted though mIserably
short OF real wants, and especially as hoped II
might subsequently, be amended when sober second
thought" should prove it's defects, | brought my own
preference, and the peoples preference, Tor the
sake OF their interest in subordnaton my OF
duty, and accepted for them this "ha Loaf" rather
than get mo bread at aL. And there was peculiar
force IN this at the close of last session Two
months from that time the Legislature OF my State was
TO meet and il meets but once in two years, And /
thought tina, any of grant OF land this one
"scarce half made up" il was, submitted 10 the State
legislature under the influence OF the spirit OF internal
Improvement which recently aroused and active with
people, might be converted 10 some useful purpose,
was wng 10 lose the certainly oil obtaining par
ta good then, for the probability OF much greater
good thereafter.
Second confess to reason, certainly subordinate to-
yet scarcely less potential with (at least lar my
feelings are coDcerned) than the one | have scted II
sincere, anxious, almost invincibe twill
ngness that either the interest," the dignity, the hon
of State should suffer temporary deirmen
derogaion, from seeming absence OF harmony in
the councils, want OF unity the action oil her
gresslona delegation, upon any directly relating
to her And that during the whole period of my service