Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1842-02-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
January 2Sth, IS42.

inc tiOnSe OF representatives, on the mo-
ton Of Mr.. Marshall to censure Mr.. Ad-
ans for contempt to the House, in pre-
senting petition to dissolve the Union of
these States, the acknowledgements were
made by my colleague, Mr. Bolts, and by
myself:
Mr.. BOLTS. ~ Talk about cen.
surfing the gentleman from Massachusetts Look
ct the other end Of this avenue. There they
found man standing at the head of the right
arm Of the defence Of this nation-he meant the
Secretary Of the Navy-who, the last time he
had had a conversation with him on the subject,
was an open, avowed, undsgused advocate Of
the immediate dissolution of the Union
Mr.. WISE. deny it.
Mr. Bolts. What authority have you? Do
you keep a record Of The conversations OF the
Secretary Of the Navy!
[Cries Of 'order," "order,"
Mr.. WISE said he hoped his colleague would
not FL into fame. He did not mean to offend
him; but to say this, that he did not believe any
man as authority, from conversation, from read.
ing, or any other source, for saying that the pres.
ent Secretary Of the Navy ever went for the
unqualified dissolution OF the Union. If he
ever advanced this idea Of dissolution he (Mr.
W. undertook to say now in his place, and
would risk it on his authority, that, if he ever
avowed such doctrine, it was on qualifications,
conditions, and reasons which the Secretary could
defend.
Mr.. Bolts said he had been induced, for
some time, to regard his colleague as the keeper
Of the conscience Of the King, but had not con.
sdered him the keeper Of the consciences Of all
connected with the King. Nor did he recognise
his right TO say what was the opinion expressed
by one OF the Secretaries Of Mr.. Tyers admin
istration. He (Mr. B. asserted on his own re-
sponsiblity that he had expressed such an idea.
He had talked with him for hours; and when the
Secretary of the Navy denied it, he (Mr. 3. }
would prove his statement. You said (Mr. B.
addressing himself to Mr.. Wise) have no right to
deny it,
Such is the report of the Intelligencer
Of to-day, and believe it is very accurate.
These remarks, you will, see. deeply in
volved you personally and your sentiments
and expressions on most important and
delicate subject, and were made under
most interesting circumstances, and in a
most distinguished place to attract atten-
ton. And, you will also sec that, in the
denial of the assertion of Mr.. Bolts, that
you were, in your "l0St conversation" with
him, "an open. drOUed RdiSguiSed advo-
cate of the immediate dissolution of the
Union" | assumed serious responsibility.
This responsibility | should not have as
sumcd, had you not been an absent
friend had YOU not been long my neigh
Dor; had you not been until very lately my
constituents had not had every opportu-
nifty, public and private, to know your
opinions and your mode Of expressing
them on the subject referred to, and had
you not printed and published those opin-
ions under almost every form of address.
essay, pamphlet and book. Indeed, had
Mr.. Bolts relied Oh your publications. for
his proof of the grave charge he uttered
on the floor against you, should have left
it to reference to those publications for
its refutation but he relied on "convcr-
sation," "for hours" by you. with him held
when or where he did not say, for the ma
ture and character Of which no reference
can he made that | know of but to you
or him. Therefore it was that ! undertook
TO say that Mr. Bolts must have been mis-
taken, and TO affirm what did, that YOU
never could have advocated, openly ac0,r-
cdiy and uRdiSguiSediy, the immedi0ie dis
solution of the Union" ,citFom gualifcQ-
t!on condition, or contingency
VIII you please say in reply whether !
ventarod to assume too much in your be-
half; and whether did you injustice in
this denial which have made on my own
authority!
Very truly, your friend,
HENRY A. WISE.
Hon. A. P. CpsHuR.
n. B. Ny intention is to publish this
letter and your reply.