Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1844-06-27

1 the office of President. To fact, did not
then, nor do now, believe there exists
the remotest probability Of such national
infatuatiou and folly. !, was my impress.
sion that the ticket formed at Baltimore
| of sPolk and Dallas" was the result of
distracted counsels and angry feelings,
and was intended solely TO prevent dis.
solution OF the Democtatic party. Every
thing tina, heard around me was caicu-
lated TO strengthen that opinion; and the
conversation to which | alluded 10 my
speech was not among the leas, oftbe
signs which indicated the weakness OF
James X. Polk, and the impossbility of
his election; and hence thought proper
to refer to that conversation on the floor
Of the House. Did violate any conf.
dence in the disclosure of that converse
toni Did transgress the laws Of cour-
tesy or violate any rule OF propriety in so
dolngl And was |, under the ercam-
stances OF the case, under any obi cations
10 give the name Of the Democratic mem
Der from New York whose conversation
with MIR. BLACK substantially related
10 tho House Let the facts OF the case,
which, as now state them, no one will
question or deny, decide the whole con-
troyersy.
1t now becomes niece ssary, in my own
defence, to make known the name Of the
member from New York to whom | allud
ed in my speech; otherwise would rot
ever now, give 1t to the public, notwiih-
standing the public here know his name
already and have no reason TO believe
that he cares fig if il should be made
known 10 the whole world. II was RIcu-
ARD d. DAVIS TO whom ! alluded, be.
tween whom and myself there never ex.
listed any confidential intercourse or any
confidential conversation. The CONVEX
saton between him and Mr.. BLACK took
place in my presence in Glbbs's barber
shop, which is under the same roof with
Gadsby's hotel, and one Of the most pub
lie places in the city of Washington. MIR.
DAVIS and Mr.. BLACK were talking Of
the proceedings Of the Baltimore Conven-
ton, and of the nomination of Mr.. Polk.
The convention was very animated one,
and not 10 that spirit Of harmony which
usually characterize the interchange OF
opinion between two brothers OF the same
political church.
At that public place, and in tone Of
voice loud enough to be beard by every
one in that large room, Mr.. DAVIS, one Of
the most able and influential Democratic
members from the State Of New York,
declared 'that the Democratic pomina-
ton al Baltimore ought to meet with no
respect from the country, and that James
K. Polk could not get one electoral col
lege, unless it was that Of South Carolina,
and that would depend upon the caprice
of John C.. Calhoun"
AS a Wing was gratifed TO hear such
a declaration of opinion from such res
pectable source and did no, then think,
nor do | now believe, that any candid
or sensible man viii say that any person
within the hearing Of Mr.. DAVIS at the
time had not a perfect right to report,
when and where he pleased, the opinions
which Mr.. DAVIS there expressed. A
man may make known and publish his
opinions by different modes-by letter
mot confdentiaD through the columns Of
newspaper, by speech, or by declara-
ton Of them in public places and. when
published by either Of the modes specif |
ed, his opinions become public property,
TO be used by any one at his d secretion.
Before tn time ofthe convention allud- |
ed to, had heard, from various quarters,
that Mr.. DAVIS had expressed the same
opinion about Mr.. Polk and his nomna-
ton and, since the publication Of the
card in your paper have been told by a
member of Congress that Mr.. DAVIS had |
expressed to him, substantially, what | |
stated in my speech that had heard him |
(Mr. d. say in the baIber's shop to Mr..
BLACK.
1t u.s. therefore. idle, preposterous. and
false TO allege that this conversation be.
tween Mr.. DAVIS aud Mr.. BLACK was conf
dental, and not intended for the public ear.
Messrs. ANDERSON g. Co have thought |
i. their privilege, and perfectly consistent
with high breeding and the courtesies of
polished society, TO make a publication
which, by implication and indirection,
might be constructed as a charge against
mo for making statement "utterly dest-
tute oftruth." | owe it 10 candor TO say,
that | do not believe that either Of the
gentlemen intended to charge me, in their
card, with falsehood for, if entertained
even a suspicion of such design on the
part of all or either of them, | would not
resort to the columns Of newspaper to
vindIcate my honor. Not one Of the
gentlemen had the least reason to believe
that alluded TO him in my speech and
feel certain that each one was so inform
ed by Mr.. BLACK before the publication
OF their card. At least, they could. on
application to him, have ascertained The
nGme Of the Democratic member from
New York 10 whom | alluded. Mr..
BLACK is a Democrat, and in daily utter.
course with the gentleman and, when
made my statement Of the conversation
between him and Mr.. DAVIS, he walked
across the Hall to where | was speaking,
and asked me to repeat what had SAID
in relation to the conversation between
him and Mr.. DAVIS, which did IN the
hearing of the House; upon which Mr..
BLACK bowed assert and returned to his
scat, and continued my speech. Binder
such circumstances, where was the oblI-