I desired to do, and which his presence would necessarily suggest. I know his ability and distinction. I am aware of his adroitness in debate. I know his diplomatic capacity. I fully appreciate those high qualities which distinguish him from the ordinary mass of mankind. I aspire to none of those distinctions; I am too humble in my pretensions even to emulate his proud, preëminent position; but I must nevertheless be permitted to vindicate the course which I have taken in reference to the measure now before the Senate.
It will be recollected, Mr. President, that the Senator at some period—I do not recollect the precise date, nor is it material—came forward, after the Senate had gone into executive session, and indicated a desire to present to us a most momentous subject —one deeply affecting his own feelings. I must confess that I felt the deepest sympathy with the Senator then. I had heard of his indisposition, which had detained him from the Senate Chamber for ten days previous to this event, and I believed it was a valedictory that he came here to deliver to the Senate; and I supposed it would command all the sympathy which his colleagues in the Senate could afford.
This was my impression then; and if I were in the habit of surrendering to sensibility to a womanish extent, I believe I should have wept, such was the plaintive tone and manner of the Senator. Great was my astonishment, however, when I heard his speech, after leave was accorded to him to have it read, as he was unable to deliver it. It was an address carefully collated, conned, prepared, punctuated, the i's dotted, the t's crossed, and everything done in nice order—documents referred to with great particulaiity, and of the most astounding import—all prepared for the occasion. Senators sympathizing with him, asked him to sit on the chair to rest himself. He read it all. It was painful to hear his plaintive tones. His voice, usually vigorous; his manner, characteristically animated and nervous, seemed to have become enervated; and he sunk down into the softest gesticulations and most pathetic tones, yielding apparently to the force of disease. His tone and manner commanded the richest stores of sympathy from every feeling heart in the Senate.
But, sir, when that speech appeared in print, what was it? It was a flaming eulogy; it was the inauguration of Captain Du Font's fame and name into the Senate of the United States. Was it brought forward under ordinary circumstances? or was it intended to send it forth as a harbinger for the purpose of forestalling anything that might result from the communication of certain documents (when his name had not been previously alluded to in the Senate), and by that means give him an advantage which he would not otherwise possess? Was it fair, was it courteous to the Senate, or was it to take a snap judgment on the sympathies of the Senate, and foist a man before the public in the most imposing attitude?
No sooner was the speech delivered here, than leave was asked to remove from it the injunction of secrecy, and throw it wide to the world. It was done in executive session. Gentlemen may have said: "It must be something of great importance; we will read the Senator's speech, and see what it is." The injunction was removed, and the speech was published. On examining it, we find it to be an attempt to indoctrinate us with the Senator's opinion that Captain Du Pont is a perfect nonpareil. [Laughter.] Yes, sir; here it is; this is the title-page to the speech:
"Captain S. F. Du Pont, U. S. Navy. Speech of Hon. John M. Clayton, of
