The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-02-26
Hous. or RGraEsEsrLIiyss' ), 1910

no0'A February -, 1857
49,. r,,ro.s. / regret that am compelled TO
ask the privilege OF making ~ al an nDr,na;, ~
your columns which ,S Ms morning. Irefer to the
making 10 .ae petriken, of Pennsylvania, TO with
REFUSAL ol ..ouesl his motion to lay on the table
draw, az ny eqeosuring Mr.. Duncan, of Ohio, for
the purpose Of allowing ne ~ place myself i,gn. De-
lore ns been msrepresenied in the debate on that
winch ,,an-a refusal which, much TO my surprise,
resol Immediately followed by withdrawal Of his
maIion, 10 give another member an opportunity TO
~. q speech against the resolution.
The Communication of Mr.. Duncan to the Globe,
hich had been made the foundation OF the proceed
inc against him. embraced several letters from mem
hers of the House. in reply to his inquiries addressed
TO them stating that On Inc occasion o. MI. S,anys
lain abolitionists before his election, was seen
0promptirg Mr.. s. by pointing out to him certain
parts Of that letter to be read BY him to the House"
The effort of Mr.. Duncan, in his communication
to the Globe to use this tact TO create an impression
thai there was conspiracy between Mr.. Stanly and
myself to use Mr.. DIS letter against him, was fol-
lowed up by him in his remarks in the course OF the
debate Yesterday in which healleged that this prompt
ing it has been called, was the result Of aprecon-
cert between Mr.. s. and myself. similar attempt
10 show connection between us in this matter was
made in an editorial article in the Globe accompany
ing the publication Of Mr. Duncans speech, to which
Mr. Stany's was reply, in which i was said that
~ was seen IN LtDx CUHpcfS Win MI Dtdliy ~
time of his reading Mr.. Duncan's letter.
The purpose of these coincident attempts to con-
net Mr. Stanly and myself in this matter, | we'll I'M
derstand It is 10 excite against him the feelings OF
his saveholding constituents upon the assumption
that he is secretly plotting with an "abolitionsl to
put down the great anti-abolionist, Mr. Duncan, Of
Ohio felt il due, therefore, 10 Mr. Stanly TO ex-
plain my agency in regard 10 the use which was
made OF Mr.. Duncan's letter, and to show that the
insinuaton of the Globe and the assertion of Mr..
n fnun lie II xutn nnxv mr..
coed to do.
Mr.. Duncan in his speech to which Mr.. Stanly
replied, had taken occasion to speak in terms OF
strong denunciation Of abolition and aboitionsts.
perceivetha in the report Of his speech in the Globe
that part is entirely omitted. was much surprised
at his denunciations, recoecting as did, the letter
of his to the abolilioniss to which have alluded,
in which he INDUCED in language of most unmea-
sured denunciation OF slavery as IL crisis in the
Southern States-language stronger than any that
though frequently denounced as an incendiary abo-
litionist, have ever used.
Intending to take the floor upon the general ques-
ton under discussion after Mr. ID. should have
finished his speech and deeming II not inappropri-
ate to confront him in this matter with the letter
ferred to, went to my lodgings while he was yet
speaking, and drew from my file Of Nies's Register
the No. containing the letter. with which returned
to the House. When entered the Hall Mr.. d.
had closed his Speech and Mr. Stanly was on the
floor replying 10 him. went TO my seat, which is
near that of Mr.. Staniy, w'th the intention Of OBJ
tanning the floor when he should have finished not
knowing that he had taken it under pledge to Mr..
Petriken to renew motion for the previous queS-
ton made by Mr.. p, and which had been withdrawn
at the request of Mr.. Sanly. Soon after ! took my
seat, Mr.. S. came to that part of his remarks in
which he alluded to Mr. Duncans letter to the aboli
onist and expressed his regret that he had not the
letter TO read to the House. Upon hearing this,
drew the paper containing MIR. d. letter from my
pocket, and handed il to MIR. s. pointing out to him
the page on which il might be found. Afler he had
read the paragraph in which Mr.. D. denounced
slavery il exists In the Southern States directed
his attention to that in which Mr.. d. gave an AFR
mature answer to the question" Are you opposed to
the admission OF any new State into the Federal
Union whose Constitution tolerates slavery I" and
that in which he replied to the question with regard
to the right Of the People to petition for the aboi
ton of slavery and the slave trade in the District of
Columbia.
This was my whole agency in the matter. I OBJ
tanned the letter. for the purpose of furnishing it
to Mr. Stanly, but to use it myself furnished it to
him without any preconcert between u.s. and indeed,
without any previous knowledge by him that had
ought to add that, understanding from Mr.. Dun
can that he deemed it unfair to have part Of his
letter read and not the whole handed him the paper
containing il, that he might use it on some subSe-
quent occasion in the House. for the purpose Of read
ing the remainder. afterwards asked him ii he
intended to the letter in the way had intmated
to which understood him to reply that he did not.
This is the explanation which intended TO have
made in the House this morning. intended, also,
to have said that have just seen the Globe issued
this morning, in which, under the head Of "Dr. Dun
and his assailants it is said that 'the attempt
was made yesterday by the friends of Messrs.
Sanly, Southgate and Slade to revenge the quarrel
by resolution and abusive speeches in the House,"
and intended to have added that, wantonly and un-
Justly as had been assaed by Mr.. Duncan, in his
communication 10 the Globe, had no "quarrel"
with him whatever; that had not been in the least
disturbed BY his abuse Of me, and that entertained
no feeling of revenge towards him or any other
human being.
| am, respectfully yours,
WILLIAM SLADE
P S.-Will the publishers of the Globe and Madi-
Sonian do me the favor transfer the foregoing TO