Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-05-10

4
late others by his incendiary appeal to violence
and bloodshed, he would not have sought re-
dress by words on this hoor where be is safe
from personal injury. ! will never permit his
assaults without repelling them in the manner
which he deserves, Notwithstanding he does not
admit his responsibility, and skulks behind pet
ticoats, on the plea of non-combatancy, for pro-
lection.
Sir see that he is pleased by this attention.
j know that there are those of his class, who,
like the pettifogger, Mark NEEDLE, in the play
of London Assurance, are ambitious of
kicking. He sought it while his imagination
sported over suits, costs, and damages. Before
the senator's mental vision, public trusts, honors,
and offices arise as the rewards for his selfabase-
ment and humiliation. Sir, there are some
who are willing to riot in infamy, are willing to
invoke contempt and obloquy who are willing
to submit to any debasement of degradation
here for the poor triumph of promotion at home.
He is one of that class but will teach him
before we have been long associated on this
floor, although have twice declined his ac-
quantance, when sought by him, that he can
not assail me with mpunity.
1 have nothing more TO say to that senator;
and j beg pardon of the Senate for having con-
sumed so much time on one who soils the carpet
upon which he treads.
Mr.. HALE. Mr.. President, my answer was
made before the speech was made, except in
regard to one fact of which the senator has
spoken. He says that have sought his ac-
quaintance which he has repealed. ! desire to
state the whole facts in regard to that matter,
and then, think, we shall stand in position
satisfactory to both of us--certanly it will be
satisfactory to me-
On one occasion, some years ago. there was
a citizen of Alabama in this city prosecuting
a claim before Congress to some considerable
amount. He had retained to prosecute that
claim an attorney residing in this District, and
, that attorney asked me, as / was friend Of
his, to assist him somewhat, as | had the
entree on the floor, and told him that would
do so. The Senator from Alabama who has
, just taken his seat was then member Of the
Committee of Claims, and this bill was re-
, ferred to that committee. A citizen of Alaba-
ma was the claimant. ! applied to the other
senator from Alabama, Mr. Fitzpatrick,
whom | had known, he having been upon the
floor of the Senate with me, and / told him
that desired to see his colleague upon matter
of business, and asked him if he would do me
the honor to introduce me to him. He said
that he would go and see him. He came
back, and told me that he declined That is
! the only occasion when / ever sought any ac-
quaintance with him, or any introduction to
him, of any sort or kind, and then it was of a
professional character for citizen of Ala
bama, on business before him as member Of
the Senate, on which he declined to see me-
Other than that / have never sought MS ac.
! quaintance. | do not think / ever shall seek
/, it. unless it should be in my power to do him
some favor, which it is not very likely ever will
; be the case but that is the only occasion on
which / ever sought any introduction. The
| Alah pbo
! Fitzpatrick can bear witness to the truth Of
what | say in this respect
Sir, it is not for me to boast and say that
do not seek the society of anybody. / seek the
: society ofevery gentleman who is willing to as
sociate with me, and so demean myself that
nobody who is gentleman declines it, unless
under some misapprehenson. But, sir, / do
not think that the creative energy of Almighty
power has ever been developed yet in making
any man that will look up to- or seek any ele-
walton by associating with him, but / do not
know what may be done in the future progress
of creative power / have no more to say in
regard to anything that the senator has re-
. marked.
Mr.. CLAY. am not going to bring private
affairs before the Senate for decisions neither
: would | weigh my character for truth in the
scales with that of the senator from New Hamp-
shire. The man who will eat his own words in
order to crafty his personal and political en-.
{ nifty, who will assume one proposition to-day
and deny 1t tomorrow, with a view of traducing
political opponent; and who has done that
publicly, as | have exposed in that senator's as
saults here on the President Of the United States
at one time assailing him for interposing in
the affairs of Kansas, and again denying that
be did not interpose, and assailing him for not
doing so-wth such mans word know that
; mine will not suffer by comparison.
Mr.. HALE. single word will end this
my own words. ] have only to reply that /
think shall have much more palatable meal
! than he will have in eating his.
Mr.. DOUGLAS. desire to say to the SEN
ate that | shall feel it to be my duty on next
Thursday, after the senator from Michigan shall
have concluded, to ask for vote on this BILL
give this notice in order that those who wish
to speak will be prepared to take the floor prior
to that time.
Now, before take my seat have a word to
say in good nature to the senator from New
Hampshire. DE has thanked the senator from
Louisiana over and over again for the declaration
that the wings and democrats stand on the same
, platform in regard to the Nebraska bill and the
question of slavery. He seems to be highly
gratlhed that he has procured an admission from
, one senator that such is the case. Sir. If he
choose he could call me as witness to the same
; fact, for have already on former occasions ad.
verted to the fact that both the wing and demo
cratic parties in 1852 had the same platform on
: this question. The senator from New Hamp.
shire comes forward now and congratulates the
country on the fact that he has an admission
that any wing must go for the Nebraska bill in
order to carry out the the principles which he
held as whig; and therefore he tells the sena-
tor from Ohio Mr. Wade that he betrayed the
wing party, deserted its principles and its creed,
when he opposed the Nebraska bill and Joined
IN the republican movement He tells the SEN
ator from Vermont Mr.. Colamerl that he, too
ceased to be wing, and betrayed his party,
and abandoned its principles, when he went
into the republican movement, and that if he
bad remained true wbig he must have gone
with the senator from Louisiana, and joined the
democratic party, He tells every old.line Hen
ry.Clay whi0 that if he ,vishea n he oo,s;e,o,.