The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-07-31
MIR. keltl'S Speech.

We give from the NATIONAL lntellIgencer
the following synopsis of Mr.. Ketts speech
Mr.. Keitt then took the floor remarkinp
that 1t was not his intention 10 widen any
breach or exacerbate any feeling; lie would
rather do the opposite. lie felt that he had
word TO speak for the old Common eath
his native State-for her dead and her liv-
ing; Tor her dead, because their sacrifices
and patriotism had been Questioned; for
her living, because their revolutionary Ii.
ties bad been denied.
lie then eloquently defended South Car
DINA from the imputations that had been
made upon her achievements during the
Revolutionary war, and entered into a brief
review of the history of his own State and
that OF Massachusetts as connected with the
struggle for independence
After some rema ks in reply to the speech
OF MIR. Burlingame, Of Massachusetts, he
referred TO the question Immediately before
the House. Ie thought it s little extraor.
dinary that from certain men they heard
no invocations upon the Constitution ex.
cept upon particular occasions. When great
rights were to be upheld, when vital inter
ests were to be protected nothing was said
chastised the Constitution was invoked. 1t
would seem that among some people there
was no vitality in the Constitution but to
protect slanderer. He wished to state that
he was in the Senate Chamber when the
assault was committed 10y hs late colleague.
lie knew that it would occur unless expla
nation aud apology were made. lie knew
1t would occur, because the provocaton was
great, aud because lie knew that when his
colleague had determined upon an act he
would do it. Mr.. X. did not, however,
know the time when, nor the place whc,e,
| the assault would be made, or the explana
ton demanded. Nor DID he anticipate
that 1t would occur ia the Senate Chamber:
otherwise he would have been still more
accessory than he was. Now, what had
been his offence! That he did not inform
| against his colleague, against his bosom
friend, and he might SAY against his State.
he was asked 10 inform against whom !
Against his native State. Those who wish.
ed to drag into the mirc the garments OF
their State might do so-not he. And in
whose favor was he asked to inform! He
who had made fraudulent charges against
his State and slandered her distinguished
Senator, gentleman whom for many long
years the State had placed at her head, like
Ajax at the feast of Agsmemnon; in whose
every vein flowed patriotic blood; whose
whole escutcheon was loaded down with
honorS There was none OF mortal mould
who could impose upon hin; this confidence
and have it violated. He would not have
informed if it had been reposed in him by
the bi.terest foe lie ever had against his
best friend. If there was one character
more Infamous than another it was that OF
the n!ormer. If there WAS one character
which, when the flesh that wrapped it had
nou!dered away and mingled with the taint.
ed earth, history, amongst the uuhonored
things OF earth, would dag up and exhiLi,
IL eternal iniamy, it WAS that Of the in.
former.
He had now TO perform The last act in
this drama. About the individual opinion
Of the House he cared nothing; about its
official opinion it was his duty to care 1t
WAS his duty 10 care something about his
constituents in this matter, and lie would
so TO those men who lived upon the battle
| plains that had been fraudulen.ly msrepre
SenteI; be would 20 10 constituency
whom he knew and who knew him. lie
+ hal only 10 say that he bad seat his resig
nation TO the Governor Of South Carolina
10 take effect when announced on the floor
of The House; and he would now announce
that lie was no longer member OF the
/ body.