The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-01-24

was held on the night preceding the day the report
! was made it must have been on Sunday even ng and
he desired further say that such caucus was held
al this any other time, to his knowed No COM
munication was impaired TO him, from any source
that caucus held directing report contrary to
that which made in this he next charge
was that, at the opening of his plan to the Wings In
caucus, majority of them declared that they would
sustain this measure Of the President but, at this
stage the leaders took their stand and denounced the
Administration and said that il any supported
the President he would be traitor, and should be
presented such to his country. With reference to
this, he had knowledge that this proceeding
took place; if it did, he challenged any individual to
rise in his place, and say that 1t was fact The
third charge was, that at this stage OF the proceed
ing letter read, advising that it was the duty
and policy Of the Wings to defeat this of the
Executive and let the country suffer- casting the
sponsibilty on the shoulders Of the President an
that if the public should have the Exchequer given
| to them, they would have measure Of relief, and
the Wings would be Invested Of their political CAPT.
tai. He would remark that he knew not what Mr..
Clays sentiments in relation to this subject and
had never heard that Mr.. Clay had expressed
| them in letter. No such letter was ever d O.
duced at any caucus Of the Wings or to any member
of this House. He had no information as to
Mr.. Clay's opinions on this subject, except that
which he inferred from the character of the gentle
man, and from no other source. Having denied any
knowledge OF the caucus which, it is alleged, took
place, he asserted that so far as related to the
Wing party, the contents of the articles which had
been read were unequivocay and absolutely false.
If any member on this floor knew this statement to be
otherwise, he Mr. F3 desired that he would rise
and give the Information. 1t was due to the Com
mittee of WAYS and Means, and to himself, to say
that they took up the subject wholly independent Of
all others. So far he was personally concerned,
when he commenced the investiQa he did with
strong desire that they would be able to recommend
this plan or something SIMILAR to the House and the
country and 1t was only after full and fair exam-
nation OF its principles that he felt 1t to be his duty
to recommend its rejection. He did not know that
ne should say anything upon the subject than,
that, If any member of the Committee of Ways and
Means had any information diff rent from that which
ne had, he hoped that he would rise and give it to
HIM and to the world. He was willing that any mem
Der should rise, even if he belonged to the selfsyed
Democretic party, or to what was called the
|" Guard"
Mr. WISE inquired whether he understood the
gentleman from New York, by the last alluson,
which was gratuitousy made, to mpute to him. or to
any other member of the "Guard," as he was pleased
to call those who supported the Administration on
this floor any part lot in these publications of the
"UniOn" and the "Madisonian -
MI. FILLMORE begged leave to say that he
would not suspect them Of such dsgracefdf conduct.
MIR. WISE thanked the gentleman for the dis
clalmer. For his own part, he knew nothing about
the publication more than the gentleman from New
York did, He had seen it, for the first time, in the
Madsonian OF this morning. He was asronished-
would have been asonshed at the fact there stated
HoWcScI Httic lounodtiOn tnerc was LOT the state
ment at the present time-yet, looking to the past
he did know, and gentlemen themselves had conce-
ded to the country, by the adoption of the report
VIII Oh they did adopt by vote of about 100 to &c.
during the last session. Tin which they set forth the
fact on another OCCASION with reference not to the
Exch quer, but in relation 10 Fiscal Agent) a eau
Gus, caucus nothing but caucus by its machinery
did conrive out of this House the legislation Of Con-
gress. The caucus sent deputation to the Presi-
dent TO know what his will was in order that thew
might IapU Of fh~;r
por)-he meant the report of the gentleman from
Massachusetts-Or conform their &C ion in compli
ance with the Executive will. He would now say,
on this matter, that he congratulated the gentleman
on the admission that if the statements read were
true, the conduct therein alleged would have been
disgracefu He congratulated the gentleman
that he had awaked to true sentiments on
this subject; that if did undertake
to dictate to this House what its legislation
should be- that it would be disreputable to the stand
ing committee and the chairman, and the party to
which he (Mr. was connected to be guided by what
was determined by caucus. He did not wish to
interfere with the time of the House and he would
not have said one word had not the gentleman from
New York alluded to him and the five others who
acted with him on this floor. He should now con-
cude by moving that the House resolve itself into
Committee of the Whole, for the purpose Of taking
up the bill reported during the last session by the
opportunity of discussion After the oommittee
shall have reported TO the House, they ight deter
mine who are for and who against action.
i Mr.. }. K. lNGERSOLL, by leave, presented two
memorials from Philadelphia one in favor of the
Excbequer scheme as recommended by the Presi-
dent, and the other from the Chamber Of Commerce
of that city, asking for con nuation of the coast
survey.l
The special order announced-the report
from the major ty and minority Of the Committee Of
Ways and Means on the subject of the Exchequer.
:. Mr. CUSHING moved that The special order be
postponed, Tor the purpose Of going into Committee
OF the Whole on the Exchequer bill.
ALLEGED RIGHTS OF coLoRED sEAMgN
MIR. BOLTS moved, privileged motion, re.
consideration Of the vote by which the House order
ed to be printed five thousand extra copies of the re-
ports from the Committee on Commerce the me-
mortal OF Benjamin Rich, j. Ingersoll Bowdnch,
Henry Oxnaud, s. Appleton, Abbot Lawrence, a
one hundred and fifty others, citizens of the United
States, some of them owners and masters Of vessels
setting forth that colored seamen seized and i'm
prisoned in certain Southern ports to the prejudice
of commerce and contrary TO the privileges Of citi
zens, and praying relief II simply enough for
him to say neither of the reports had been read to the
House, and no members, except those on the CON-
nittec, knew any thing about them He wished to
examine the subject before giving the Congressional
sanction by ordering extra number Of the reports
to be printed. II, examination, he should find an
argument on side the other calculated to aay
excitement he would have objection to the publ
cation but il there was any thing TO naame the pub
lie mind he should, Of course, oppose the printing.
Mr. WINTHROP would only say that the motion
TO print five thousand extra copies Of these reports
came from the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr.
Rayncr) who submitted the minority report and the
gentleman seemed to have great confidence that this
report would settle the question and aay some of the
excitement which the gentleman from Virginia appre-
hendcd
Mr. CALHOUN moved TO lay the motion 70 recon-
slider on the table
Mr.. WISE remarked that, in Is 6, the Legislature
OF Virginia passed law prohibiting free negroes from
emigrstng to that State, and those manumitted from
returning. 1t seemed that, under this act some CO.
ored seamen had been arrested and be wanted to
know whether thee resolutions, and the report of
fho de. 10