The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-06-24
JUSTICE 10 Ay HONORABLE SENATOR

JUSTICE TO AN HONORABLE SENATOR
[Erom tbs Insslhyoncer, Juac H. ~
We give place With pleasure to the subjoined letter
rom the Hon. Arthur r. Hayne and the accompanying
papers, In correction Of pcrvcsion Of his views IN ref
to the Bank Of his State by some writer for
a Charleston paper:
TO my Faldpc-ciiseas Of As Ssas Of SouA CayoIsna
With feelings Of deep emotion address YOU Words
have been down for spoken in the Senate which
never uttered, and sentiments attributed which
never entertained The occasion of conversa-
tonal and desuory discussion, by question and
remark and reoiner, which might have called for len
iency of judgment upon words spoken by prac-
tsed debater might well throw myself upon your in
diligence, therefore might ask you not to allow to be
attributed to want patriotism and State pride,
contradictory OF the whole of my life and actions
and Of all the known sentiments of my heart upon the
evidence OF words thus spoken. But have need 30
to appeal to your Indulgence On the contrary, only
ask be judged by the severest rules ask that you
will the words really Spoken and those substi-
tusd for them Ny real words will sure be found
express sentiments OF duty to you and Of devotion to
| the interests of the State.
The of the reported debate was an unfortunate
for me, aud the moment it requested s
rection which at made 1t was one of those
mistakes which at times unavoidably occur, and for
which should be reensured when prompt correc-
t&Dp IL made.
charged with alleging the insolvency of the Bank
the State Of South Carolina and Of attempting to in
jurs its credit The charge utterly deny ! made no
such allegation my convictions just the reverse, and
any attempt such charged inconsistent with such
convictions sn f4se fattF
My remarks in the senate In reference to q
ton cf Mr. Simmons, of Rhode Island, to substitute
home valuation for the al yalorem principle OF the pres
emit tariff This motion a blow struck at free tnde-a
blow aimed against the South and in favor of the North
In tho of his remarks Mr. Simmons stated the
failures in Charleston in the recent crisis to amount
nearly million of dollars and endeayored 10 show
he nj In at
time of their suspension that the proportion Of coin to
liabilities had nothing to do with that suspension To
reue this theory TO show that the facts upon which
important part of his main argument founded
were loosely gathered and would not bear examination
and thus sap the very foundation Of the main argu
ment itself 1t necessary for to refer to tho State
action upon the banks which had been accurately given
by Mr. Simmons, and to the suspension ITSELF which did
| as follows
Not altogether, sir The penalty the first two in
stalments exacted by the State the banks were
qnred by the comptroller general Of South Carolina to
pay, and did pay, and refunded am Of opinion
that the Of portion Of banks having suspend
ed is to be traced to this fact have bank the CAPT.
tai of which is owned exclusively by the State and must
parake of the character less Of political bank,
subject TO responsibility, and at the period Of the
crisis its circulation large il compelled to
suspend but the Bank of the State had not been the
very first to suspendno bank Suspensions of
banks in South Carolina would have refused continue
to pay specie "
You will see that this ID very different from the Ian
guage attributed the Charleston Courier the
tice referred to, following the Congressional Globe Of
June 3d. AS promptly corrected 1t stands in the official
report the appendix to the Congressional Globe
442, where it is given substantially as spoken
/ cannot imagine how this can be construed in any
way into attack upon the credit solvency Of the
State Bank. could have wished fellow citizens that
before assang me- absent your service for strange
unpatrioc sentiments founded upon words reported
have been spoken these persons had inquired of
relation to the words My in the past might
| 4 A. Al -. A. -
mistake and have consulted in reference to 1t.
would have given an immediate reply l most heartily
regret fellow citizens, that they assumed the words to
be thus my sentiments to be unpatrotic and became
nv assailants, and condemned without a hearing
appeal to you and ask that hearing from you which
they have denied me.
While have been opposed to the bank on princi
pe upon expedency and upon policy never imagined
that the Bank Of the State Of South Carona was not
sound any other In the country On the contrary the
whole capital of the State the wealth of every in
it, pledged to sustain the bank and to make good its
capital No expression of opinion by any individual
could hurt the credit of institution sustained But
expressed doubt of i perfect solvency none what
ever.
That my remarks did not produce any such impression
upon the Senate will appear from the letters Of Senators
Simmons and Fitzpatrick copies Of which append with
that Of my letter to which they replies. Senator
Simmons being engaged in the discussion of course
alive to all that took place in the Of it, and he
pressly says that nothing said 10y incl that
CASTOR which could De regarded al renectng upon the
character of the State upon the credit of any Of its
moneyed Institutions. Senator Fitzpatrick of Alabama
who occupies the seat next to me- had such impression
made upon him. IN fact, nothing contained in my
marks would bear such construction.
feel that have been deeply wronged in the
which has been taken thus to condemn hastily and
without inquiry, when doing my duty at distance
my home and battling for the principles Of the people of
South Carolina; and confidently appeal to you, fellow
citizens to repe by Your might this ungonerous and
provoked assault
am, with high respect, fellow-czons, your obedcnt
servant, A. T. HAYNE. (
WASHINGTON, June Is, 1858
SENATE CIAMnKR
Washington, June IL, 1858.
Ny DEAR SIR have your note Of this date inqniring
It, in the Of the debate upon proposition for
home valuation of foreign imports you said anything
which, in my opinion, was injurious to the character
the State of South Carolina to the credit of the Bank
of the State Of South Carolina
In reply have to that then regarded your all
sion To the Bank of the State of South Carolina hav
ing reference only he sousInpaa Of r,lirv of