Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-04-25

were so changed in the House, that il be-
came very unacceptable TO large majority,
and had no prospect ol finally passing !;
that, in This stale Of things, aud after what
| was called The Force Till had been consider
! ably discussed in the Senate, Mr.. Clay in
troduced what is commonly called the Com
promise bill and upon its second reading
il had been referred to a select committee,
composed of seven members. This COM
mtIee il was my duty, as presiding officer
to appoint. Before the members were
named, received anole from the President,
requesting me TO 90 TO his house, MS he
wished TO see me. | returned for answer,
that while Senate was in session it was out
ol my power to go; but as soon MS il ad-
jowned, would call on him. | felt the
high responsibility which rested on me in
appointing the committee; the fate Of the
bill, in a good degree depended upon il +;
and if the bill failed, we would probably
be involved liz most Epainiu conflict.
endeavored 10 make the best selection
could, by taking some tariff men, some an
| ti-tnrih, one nulifer, and Mr.. Clay himself
hoping that il II majority Of u committee,
in which all interests & views were repre-
scented, could agree on any thing, it was
likely, it would pass. Taking these pri1ci-
pies Tor my guide, wrote down tie names
Of seven members, Mr.. Clayton, Of Dele
ware, being one and Immediately before
we adioined, handed the names to the Sec
rotary, with directions tn put ilem on the
journal, and in the course of the evening
waited on the President. soon anei We
met, he mentioned he wished to see me on
the subject OF appointing committee on
Mr.. Clay's bill, to ask That Mr.. Clayton
might Tot 5e put on it as he was hostile
To the administration, and unlriendlv To Mr..
Nc Lane, he feared he would use his en-
deavor 10 have preference given to Mr..
Clay's bill over that ofthe Secretary Of the
Treasury, or words 10 that effect. obser-
we'd, in answer, that it would always give
inc great pleasure 10 conform tu the wish eS
of my political friends, whenever could do
so with proprieiy; but that the Treasury
bill had been SO altered and mangled, and
that, as | understood, in good degree, by
The votes Of his own party, that il had but
! few friends and that we seemed TO be on
| the eve of civil war, and that, Tor the sake
| ofaverting such a calamity, | would further
| all in my power any measure, come from
whom ii might which would give peace tn
the country and that any bill, having tina
| Tor lis object, was estimated by me a meas
TIRE Gbore party; and any man who was The
author off was welcome to all the credit he
| could gain by il. Bat, at all events, ii as to
late TO talk on tie subject, as had hande,
the names Of the committee To the Sccreta.
ry before we adjourned; and that had 9
very high opini'1 Of Mr.. Clayton's talent,
and liberia feelings. had put him on tie
committee, without knowing lie was person
| ally nnkind 10 the Secretary OF the Jrcasu
ry. He then asked me if'l c,u'd not sc
| the Secretary of tie Senate that evening
! and substitute some other name Tor Mr.
| Clayton's, belole II e journal YVES made up
| told him could not--in my Judgment il
would be wrong and then the Interview
! terminated"