Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-04-19


sonal and Partizan enemies of these two distin-
guished gentlemen have labored earnestly of late
through the press to asperse their characters in
connection with former and late legislation of
Congress upon the Houmas Land grant question.
Never, in any other case, have gentlemen in their
position been more foully bitterly. and exten
svely assailed. The point essayed to be made bv
their assailants, was that Senator Toombs had. in
his Senatorial action upon the Houmas question
loaned the influence Of his name to give currency
to the foolish and malicious charges In connec-
ton with it Of irresponsible pal ties, really thus
seeking TO get revenge upon Mr.. Slidell for his
dlslnclination to subscribe to Mr.. Douglas and
his phaze Of aboIitionisin-for we take it for
granted that thai was at the bottom Of the assault
On Monday last Mr.. Benjamin brought those
asPersions to the notice Of the Senate Mr. Toombs
having returned to Washington and beihp in his
seat His reply to the remarks of Mr. b We
fancy, settle the question made against the Sapa-
tors from Louisiana explained above; and we
print below from Tuesdays Congressional Globs
the colloquy upon the subject, that the Stars
readers may see for themselves how completely
the roorback to which we refer was then and
there exploded
Mr. Benjamin.-Before the bill is considered, l
desire to trouble the Senate for moment on ,
question personal TO myself | have waited be-
fore saying anything until should see the honor.
aoie Senator from Georgia, (Mr. Toombs,) back
amongst u.s. The Senate Is aware that some time
ago special committee was raised for the mr.
pose Of taking into consideration petition for Tn.
repeal Of certain legislation which | had recon-.
mended In report to the Senate some two wears
ago, ana which passed on my recommendation
That committee has reported, recommending the
repeal Of that legislation. With that REPORT for
the present, have nothing to do. retain INV
own weiiconsldered opinion that the Legislation
Is CrOD0Sed tn
proper legislation, and that the repeal would be
unwise and mischievous. The reasons for that I
shait give at some future time should not trou-
have sent me a series Of newspa Der REPORTS from
which 1t appears that somebody, for some cause
which am unable to divine, has taken the trou
bic with great pains, to write to nearly eyerv ua
per In tue State which Is in the Opposition a
statement, that In commenting upon the leoisla
ton previously had before the Senate and in rec
osmmenaing It's repeal, my personal character was
which L should look upon with entire conten Mt
Were II not that the honor Of my State is involved
In it somewhat; and it processes to depend on the
acuon OF committee Of the Senate I have
therefore, waited for the return of the chairman
OF mat committee in order to put The ouest ON to
nim that It may be understood explicitly in the
CATION touching this legislation before the com.
mlttee-what that investigation was I know no.
there was anything In the slightest degree i'm.
Pugning the purity OF my motives, the fecttude
as man or a legislation,
Mr. Toombs--Mr. President, il gives me great
pleasure to respond to the inquiry of the honorable
Senator from Louisiana. The question submitted
to the committee was solely upon the propriety of
repeating the leg islation which was ad opted by a
previous Congress. That question alone wss SUBJ
mitied to us. Thatquestion alone " a considered
We neither heard evidence, nor was there any fact
In any way brought to the attention Of the com
mittee in the slightest degree affecting the char
acter: OF integrity, or motives Of the gentleman
We differed rom the committee Of which he was
a member two years ago, the Committee on Pri-
vate Land Claims, az to the proprety Of that legis
lation, and that was the sole question considered
and decided; and there was nothing in the slight
est degree affecting the gentleman OF his colleague
submitted to or considered In any way by the Sc
lect committee -
MI siidsll.-Mr. President, could ask no more
sxplcit explanation than has been given by the
senator from Georgia. Ii is a complete refutation
Oh numerous calumnies that have been circulated
throughout the country against my colleague and
myself shall not at present make any comment
on the source from which presume these charges
have emanased, or whatprompted them, but am
extremely anxious that this whole matter should