Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1858-06-16
PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS,

So PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
SPEECH OF HON. HENRY =. s1AW,sss
OF HoRrH-cxBoLInA, q * s.
IN tie Resss ef Representatives.. Nay 81, 1853.
The House being in the Committee Of the whole
on the state of the Union & -, s.
Mr.. SHAW said ::
Mr.. CHAIRNAN: ] am very reluctant 20 oDsIuo,ng
myself on the attention of the commistee - tns
late period of the session. particularly on question
that is not immediately before the committee. put
feel that the provocation urder which now speak
,nust be sufficient apology, in the estimation OF
every gentleman in this House. 5.ss.,
II will be recollecfed perhaps by some gentlemen
present, that some time since addressed the COM
mittee on the question of the admission OF Kansas
under the Lecompton constitution. think 1 can
appeal to you Mr.. Chairman, and to every gentle
man who heard me on that occasion, in proof OF the
declaration now make, that, from the beginning to
the end of that speech, treated my colleague from
the fifth congressional district of North Carolina,
GMr Gilmer, to whom then replied, with the ut
most courtesy. What, sir, has been the course OF
my colleaguef
Mr. GnxER Will my friend allow me to ask
him question right therea I want to know why
nv colleague represents in his speech as being OPP
posed to the admission of Kansas as slave State
using the words, "otherwise as q slave Slater"
Mr.. SHAW, OF NOftn.S8rOIHd. Will auo"oI tuo
gentleman on that point, before resume my seat,
as should have done if he had not called my at
tention to the subject.
ask again, what has been the course of the gen.
tleman towards myself Why, sir, on the evening
of Saturday week, my colleague came into this Hall
after had left it, (having been here many hours)
and announced that it was his intention to address
the committee in reply to me; but, with an affec-
tation of generosity of liberality, and of magnan
unity which believe never found q Judgment in
his heart he pretended that he could not do so be-
cause was not present. Sir, if the gentleman had
desired me to be present when he made his speech,
it would have been small tax upon him to have in
dicated the fact to me. On the following Monday
evening, after the House had resolved itself into
Committee of the Whole for general debate it being
understood that no buiness was to be done, having
seen my colleague take his hat and leave the Hall,
and being wearied and exhausted by continuous
session of seven or eight hours, followed his ex-
ample, and retired to my hotel He returned and
made the assault upon me, to which it is now my
purpose to reply.
1t was not tin the next morning that saw it re-
ported in the Globe that he had given notice on the
previous Saturday night of his intention to reply to
me, and this was the first intimation had of his
design. l repeat if he had had desire, or the
least disposition, to have me present when he made
that reply why did he not state it to me, SO that
could have been present? But, sir, while profess
ing regret on account Of my absence on that occa-
speech which did on the goth of April, had stu
diously and Intentionally waited till he had gone to
North Carolina for what? In order that
might take advantage of his absence TO do him in
justice. Now, sir, tell the gentleman, what be-
eve he feels and knows that there IS nothing about
him, physically intellectually. that fear, and
nothing that should have caused me to desire his
absence when spoke
For considerable time after the publication of
bis speech, wherever the House went into Com
mittee of the Whole it was for the consideration of
special order, which, as you are aware. and as my
colleague presume, knows excludes general debate,
80 that, as many of my friends know, was unable
to obtain the floor for the purpose had in view,
until the time made my reply. But my colleague
says that the gentleman from Virginia Mr.. Letch-
er] obtained the floor soon after he had made his
speech, and replied to portion of it. That is very
true but my colleague knows it occurred before his
speech was printed, and was unwilling to reply to
him until had seen his speech in print, for was
determined to do him no injustice.
Ny colleague saw fit to apply to me injurious
terms and offensive epithe:s I shall not enter into
any such contest with him he is proficient in
accomplishment which my tastes never led me to
cultivate. If have personal grievance to redress
l will seek proper opportunity to do it, and more
appropriate arena than this Hall. Moreover, when
my colleague was called to account for the offensive
language which he applied to me- he declared that
he did not intend to be personally offensive; and
y
gressional Globe the official paper of this House,
without any correction or qualification of the often
sive terms! Was that fair, was it manly, was it
just? Mr.. Chairman, l will not undertake here
properly to characterize such an act but will un.
.dertake to say that whenever make speech upon
this hoor and pronounce another, made by any COL
league of mine, or any one else, to be unjust and
untrue, prevaricating, and unworthy the gentleman
who made II, never will 60 out of this Hall and
say that did not mean to be personally offensive.
Never, sir And if in the heat of debate and the
excitement of discussion, should use language to.
ward gentleman which upon cool reflection was
forced to consider unjust to him, never would l be
guilty Of the injustice the gross injustice to him,
the injustice to myself, of sending that speech
abroad to the world without retraction qualifca-
ton. And yet, sir, with all his prstng about fair
ness and justice, that il what my colleague did, af
ter having made the retraction to which have allu-
ded, and made it in is own hand writing and over
his own signature
Sir, the gentleman has applied to me a number Of
anecdotes by way of disparagement and ridicule.
This, too, is favorite mode of warfare with my
colleague. Where lawyer or q statesman would
use an argument, my colleague applies anecdote !;
one gentleman on the other side was SO deeply i'm
pressed with his ability in that way that he decar-
ed Gas was informed during the delivery of my
colleagues first speech, that he was =" as good as
comic almanac" He has already acquired for him.
self the sou6riquet of the funny Representative
from North Carolina" and is fairly entitled to that
of "Me little JOKER" Let my colleague cultivate
his talent and increase his fund Of anecdote and he
may look forward with confidence to the time when
he will be able to obtain an engagement as chief
buffoon in some strolling circus But, sir. shall
not follow his example in this regard either; if
however, my tastes and my sense Of propriety led
me to do So instead Of treating this enlightened as
semblage Of the peoples Representatives to the
stale anecdotes and coarse jokes which my colleague
has INDUCED in, ! would procure copy Of Joe
Miller and read from it's pages such would be
vastly more amusing, though hundred times re-
peated, than any that my colleague has SO far en-.
tertained the committee with.
Nov, Sir, my colleague charges against me that