deportment are properly appreciated. But somehow or other a burnt child will dread the fire, and the wary bird will shun the Fowler's

net.

I hope, Mr. President, that the few desultory remarks I have had the honor to submit on this occasion, may not be construed into a desire on my part to cover up or hide from my constitu

big with this reflection, I stood at least three inches taller in my shoes, and looking down upon my co-editors with a sort of patronizing air, as much as to say, "I am sorry for you gentlemen, but it can't be helped. I have got the vantage ground of you this time, and no mistake." Well sir, the speech being concluded, I took my gentleman by the arm, and marched him down in town, and, after some re-ents, anything that I may do or say as a memfreshments at my expense, repaired to my room to re-write out the speech. After laboring over it for more than an hour, he finally succeeded in writing out about one page of foolscap; and on glancing my eye over what he had written, I found it but a miserable caricature of the able and eloquent address I had just been listening to. But consoling myself with the reflection that I should be able to draw upon the resources of my own memory, to dress it up and make it passable, I urged him to continue his labors. He soon, however, complained of lassitude, and of being nervous, in consequence of the heat and labors of the day, and proposed to adjourn to some restaurat or coffee house, to recruit his strength, by the application of proper stimulants. I remonstrated with him, and proffered to go myself and bring him whatever he might want. But my remonstrances were all in vain. Go he must, and go he did-but he never returned;-and that was the last I saw of him.

Now, was ever editorial wight in such a fix, before or since? There I was, with Mr. Clay's great speech before me, reported at large, by a practical Stenographer of large experiencepartially written out, but the great body of it still in hieroglyphics. Of what avail would it be to me or my readers? Neither the one nor the other would ever be any the wiser for it. It was to me all Pottawattamie, and I doubt whether the genius of Champoleon himself, would have been able to decipher it, and render it into intelligible English.

ber of this Convention. No sir, I have nothing to conceal from them, and in all I may do or say, will endeavor to act as though they were present, and looking in upon me from every quarter of this lobby, scrutinizing my conduct with a jealous eye. The place I occupy here was wholly unsought by me. My election to a seat in this body was the unsolicited and freewill offering of as noble and generous a constituency as any gentleman on this floor has the honor to represent. And as such I esteem it the more highly; and so long as I sustain my present relation to them, will endeavor, in all things, to prove myself worthy of their generous confidence.

And what better evidence need be adduced of their noble generosity, their political magnanimity, and as some would doubtless infer, of their sterling good sense, than is to be found in the presence on this floor of my worthy democratic colleague, now sitting on my right, representing as he does a county claiming a popular political majority of at least 500 against that party to which he belongs! And why did they send him here? Why, casting aside all political considerations, and overleaping all the great barriers of party, why did they endorse him up hither, clothed with the high and responsible functions of a representative delegate? It was, sir, because they had great and important interests to subserve, reaching far beyond and above all the mere political and party conflicts of the day. It was that they believed he would look to the subservance of those interests with the broad and comprehensive eye of the patriot, and not with the narrow and contracted vision of. the mere partizan. It was that they believed, in his representative character, he would rise superior to the behests of party, and frown indignantly upon every attempt that might be made to sow the seeds of political dissension in our midst, come from what quarter it may. Sincerely do I trust, that neither he nor I, political antipodes though we And here, Mr. President, allow me once for are, may never for a moment lose sight of that all, to disclaim any other than the kindest feel-duty which we owe to our common constituings towards the worthy gentleman, who has been selected to report the debates of this convention. I would not for the world, for I could not, insinuate any thing derogatory to his character or qualifications. I doubt not he is a gentleman of eminent qualifications in the line of his profession; and that he is able to render entire satisfaction to any deliberative body,where talents of a high order, joined to a gentlemanly

The next morning I heard of my worthy friend in one of the lowest doggeries of this city, gloriously drunk, and hallooing, "hurra for Van Buren!" Being deeply mortified at the result, and knowing that I should be bored to death by my brother editors, who enjoyed the joke amazingly, I ordered my horse and buggy, and left the town, fully determined in my own mind never again to employ a Stenographer to report a speech for me.

ents, or forfeit that confidence which they have reposed in us, by lending ourselves here to the accomplishment of political or party ends, either present or prospective.

Now sir, I do not pretend to know what course my honorable colleague has taken in those informal meetings of the party, out of doors, alluded to on yesterday. by the honorable gentleman from Tippecanoe; (Mr. Pettit.)

nor have I any desire to penetrate the secrets | He desired to know whether the gentleman's of that inexorable inquisition, where the bud- remarke were in order? Cries of go on, go on ding hopes of some of the young democracy-hear him out. were cut down so ruthlessly and withered in an hour. I do not know what agency, if any, my democratic colleague had in these ultra movements of the party; but this I do know, that his constituents and mine will be gratified to learn that the weight of his influence was thrown against the attempt made to rear the standard of political intolerance in the organization of this body, by which the few whigs upon this floor were virtually disfranchised in the election of our officers.

Mr. GREGG continuing. Doubtless the gentleman from Allen is becoming a little restive. But I hope he will bear it patiently. When I was interrupted, Mr. President, I was going on to remark, that when I see gentlemen rising on this floor, and hear them talk about forming democratic constitutions-when I hear them talking about employing none but democratic printers, at democratic prices-which being interpreted means 25 per cent, above what it is intrinsically worth in short, sir, when I see Honorable gentlemen who have filled high places in the councils of the nation, rising upon this floor, and with unblushing effrontery proposing to take the election of our officers from this body where it rightfully belongs, and comcabal out of doors, wholly unknown to our laws and political institutions; when I see such things as these enacted in the broad light of day, I confess, sir, that it stirs the old Adam in me-it warms up my whig blood, as of yore --and I feel somewhat as did Fitz James when he encountered Rhoderick Dhu and his clan upon the mountain. But I trust that the effervescence of party, which has manifested itself here, will soon subside, and we shall hear no more of it. And although some of the old Hunkers of the party may endeavor to keep the political cauldron boiling, still I hope there may be found among the young democracy a sufficiency of genuine salt to preserve this body from political putrescense.

And why was it necessary for the Democratic party to meet in secret conclave, in their star-chamber court below, to determine who should or who should not be candidates before this Convention? The whigs did not pretend to offer a single candidate for any office what-mit it to the arbitrament of an irresponsible ever, not even as a hewer of wood and drawer of water. They were perfectly willing to concede to you all the offices of honor and profit which it was within the power of this Convention to bestow. Nor were they found acting with any degree of concert, as between the various rival candidates of the democratic party who were pressing their claims upon our consideration. Then why drive this unpretending minority into a position of political antagonism? Why treat them as though they had no political rights upon this floor, but were mere interlopers, having no interest in common with our democratic friends in the election of good and faithful officers? Why, I say, thus needlessly arouse their just indignation and resentment, by forcing them into a position where they must necessarily feel and acknowledge their political inferiority ?-Nay, that is not exactly what I mean-but their numerical weakness on this floor, for that is all the inferiority they are willing to admit. The whigs of this body, sir, claim to be your equal in intelligence your equal in patriotism-your equal in a high and holy regard for the best interests and honor of our common country-your equal in all the essential elements that go to make up the man. In short, sir, your equal in all and everything but mere brute force. And let me admonish you, that before this Convention closes, you may have occasion to learn that they are fully your equal in a proper vindication of their rights upon this floor.

Sir, I came up to this Convention, determined to forget, as far as it was possible for me to forget, that I was a whig. I came here determined to forget that I ever had been a warm political partizan -and to know nothing save the great and paramount interests of the people about which we have assembled here to deliberate. But, Sir, when I am met at the very threshold with the rallying cry of democracy --when the bibroch of party is sounded in my ear. (Mr. BORDEN rose to a question of order.

Before leaving this subject, allow me to make a single suggestion to our democratic friends, and that is this. They should by all means hold another grand pow-wow in the court room below, in order to settle the important matter as to who should wear the collar, and take precedence in the order of business here. Upon this subject there seems to be a very active rivalry going on, especially between the gentleman from Tippecanoe, on my left, and the gentleman from Allen, on my right. It is therefore highly important, if not necessary to the future harmony of this body, that this question should be settled at once. Let us know upon which of these rival candidates for honors present and prospective, the mantle of greatness is to fall. (Mr. Pettit remarked that he surrendered to the gentleman from Allen.) Well, sir, I think he has somewhat the advantage of you, if the frequency of his appearance upon the stage is to form any criterion by which we are to judge. In the light of the great future to which we are looking, he will doubtless have the advantage of you. For when the antiquarian shall take down from its shelf the ponderous volume containing the debates of this Convention, and begin to turn over its ample leaves in search of the great man of this body who figured most

Mr. KELSO said, he believed the proposition now before the Convention was to dispense with the services of a Stenographer.He was inclined to the opinion, however, that the gentleman from Jefferson, was more in jest than in earnest in offering this resolution. He could not believe that a man of his well known ability, and sound understanding, and experience, would, for a moment, desire to dispense with the services of such an officer in this body; and more especially, after the appointment had been directed by law, and made in conformity with that law. He apprehend

But, to return to the question under consideration. I believe, sir, the adoption of the resolution I have had the honor to present, will meet with the entire concurrence, not only of my immediate constituents, but of the whole people throughout the State. I honestly believe, sir, with me, they will regard the employed that the gentleman wanted, merely to get a ment of a Stonographer here as a useless expenditure of money, and the publication of the debates of the Convention in an embodied form, as the consummation of human folly. Neither the one nor the other is at all necessary. For, as I before remarked, the newspaper press of our State, having able and efficient reporters here, will be competent to the task of keeping the people posted up in regard to our doings, and I, for one, am willing to trust my reputation in their hands.

sly hit at the democratic members in this hall, and sought, rather ingeniously, to whip the democrats over the shoulders of the Stenographer. He did not blame the gentleman, for he had certainly been treated somewhat badly, he would confess, in the matter of the appointment of officers of the Conventionnot having been allowed to have the selection of a single officer. On that ground, he was willing to accord to the gentleman, all the satisfaction that he could derive from administering to the democrats a sound castigation.He confessed they deserved every word of denunciation that the gentlemam had bestowed upon them.

Now, said Mr. Kelso, a word in regard to the Stenographer. I am in favor of retaining that officer. I believe that we ought to have his services, and I regard it as a wise provision of the Legislature, that his appointment was provided for. The gentleman seems to think that by retaining that officer, we shall prolong the session of this Convention. I want that officer to remain here for the very opposite purpose; for I think the gentleman from Jefferson will want very few of such cayenne pepper speeches published as the one he has just made, and this, perhaps, will be the last one he will make, for I have no doubt that when he sees what he has said, published, he will be rather ashamed of it. He has done more in that speech to stir up party feeling and set the cauldron, that he speaks of, boiling, than any other gentleman in this Convention. He may have done it, however, without feeling the force of what he was saying. Now, my opinion is that when we know that our speeches are to go forth to the public, we will be a little more careful what sort of speeches we make.

But it may be argued that the publication of the debates of this Convention will be found eminently useful for future reference, in order to explain the meaning of certain provisions of the Constitution, which, to some, may appear dark and ambiguous. Why, sir, I would as soon think of looking into the Koran of Mahomet, or of consulting the sublime and beautiful vision of John in the Isle of Patmos, for an elucidation of the meaning of the ten commandments-a code of morals that adapts itself to the capacity of every mind, and fully explains itself without the aid of a commentator. And so I trust it will be with the instrument that may emanate from our hands. Not that I would compare the frail works of man with the perfect works of the great Law Giver of the Universe. Not that I would be so irreverent as to compare the crude and imperfect Constitution which we may deliver to the people,for their future governance, with that divine and perfect Constitution delivered to Moses amid the thunderings of Mount Sinai. No, sir, this would be like bringing down the full orbed glories of the sun to the common level and lustre of a farthing rush-light. But, sir, speaking relatively, after the manner of men, and comparing things temporal with temporal things, may I not hope that our Constitution, when fully I insist on retaining this officer for a further digested, will be found so perfectly free from reason. It is provided by law that the instruall ambiguity as to require none of those facti-ment which is to be the work of our hands is tious aids to render it intelligible? May I not to go forth to the people; and that they are to hope we shall all labor, with one mind and one pass their judgment upon it, to decide whether spirit, to make it, as it should be, so perfectly they will accept or reject it. It is necessary, plain, and simple, and consistent, in all its therefore, that the people should be advised parts, that any child may understand it? And from day to day of our proceediugs and of all he who thinks it will be otherwise pays but a the arguments advanced here, for or against poor compliment to the common sense under-such propositions as may be presented to us; standing of this intelligent body. so that they may, when the constitution is pre

Mr. OWEN said, he should not have added a word to what had been said by the gentle- Now, I am not in the habit of recommendman from Putnam, were it not that an arguing a thing because others have done it; on ment had been made against retaining the the contrary, I generally have some good reaStenographer who had been appointed, on the son for what I propose. But I know of no ground of expense. The gentleman from Put- State in which a Convention has recently been nam had very properly stated that the Steno-held, which has not provided for the reporting grapher was a commissioned officer of the State, and that he was here in virtue of his commission. He conceived they would have as good a right to dismiss the Secretary of State or any other officer, authorized by law,