The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-18

for some weeks OF the pending measure, u su0h
postponement could be carried. At the tune OF ihis
| meeting, knew nothing Of Mr. Colqultts ihei-
ton 10 present any proposition to the senate nor
was any conversation had on that subject al inc
meeting. know nothing Of any letter to the New,
| ark Daily Advertiser, or the contents thereol'
have, of course, conyersed with different senators
on different sides of the house, at various tunes, on
the proper mode Of proceeding IN regard to the cues
1 ton of notice never had any conference or con-
sultatou with the British minister ON that subject,
either with or without the presence OF any other In
| dividual. DANIEL WEnoi En-
| The Hon. John MCPHERSON Berrien, who had
been referred 10 by Mr.. Robinson as a witness,
after being duly sworn, deposed as follows, TO wit
am ignorant of any meeting of whig senators in
| relation to the Oregon question, other than those
which will hereafter state, having been held at any
time at the Capitol at the house Of the British min
lster, anywhere else, or Of any such meeting at
which MIR. Pakenhsm, or any other than wing
senator was present Being referred To the state
ment OF II. II. Robinson, that he expects to prove
by me, among Others shat secret eaucuses of the
whig senators were at different times held, at which
the compromise of the Oregon dispute was debated
in several various shapes" that propositions were
made to portion or all of them-the senator's emu
merated by him--by Messrs. Calhoun, Colquitt,
MeDufie, Haywood, Bagby, or by either Of them
! have To say, that can give no such testimony
that know no such facts; and thza, so FAR as my
knowledge or belief extends the statement is en-
trey and absolutely false. The meetings Of wing
senator's, to which have referred above were held
at the Capitol, two several mornings, Immediately
before the meeting of the Senate the FIRST, as be,
leye on the 18th February last, at which the only
question considered was the propriety Of Mr., John
M. Claytons entering into the debate at the time,
and resulted in agreement TO recommend TO him.
if he did So not discuss the question Of title. The
second was held on the oath Of February last; and
the only question then considered the proprie-
ty of moving in the Senate postponement Of the
resolutions in relation to Oregon for four weeks, or
thirty days, which Mr.. Dayton was instructed to
make, and did make on the following day, reducing
the time 10 two weeks | add that Mr.. Colquitt's
resolution never, at any time, considered at any
meeting of whig senators within my knowledge,
and that was ignorant of the terms Of that resou-
ton until it was presented to the Senate.
JN0. MCPHERSON BERRIEN.
The Hon. Willie P. Mangum, who had been re-
ferred to by Mr.. Robinson a witness, after being
duly sworn, deposed as follows, to witt
Willie P. Mangum, one of the senators from
North Carolina, having been referred to by II. II.
Robinson as witness to prove that secret eau
cuses Of the whig senator's were at different times
held, at which the compromise Of the Oregon dis
pnte was debated in several various shapes, depo-
seth and saith, that he has no knowledge OF any
such meeting or meetings. That he knows Of on
meeting or caucus in which the merits Of the Ore
gon question, any resolution relating 10 II, has
been dscussed that proposition or resolution on
the whig side of the Senate touching the merits
has been the result Of any caucus agreement or sug-
geston. That nothing in regard TO the Oregon
question has been considered, within his knowledge
except at two meetings at the first on the day
the Hon ]. M. Clayton spoke, the wings met to
consult whether he Mr.. c. should not be request
ed not to speak on the subject or, in case he did,
that he should be urged not TO discuss the title.
The result of that consultation was to request Mr..
Clayton not TO discuss the title to Oregon. The
second---I believe the 24th Of February, l646-was
to consider of the mode Of treating the question as
to time, which resulted in instructing Mr.. Dayton
to move postponement of action for thirty days.
Upon Informal consultation afterwards, Mr. Dayton
| moved the postponement for fortnight which mo-
ton was Withdrawn before a vote was had on it.
| know OF no meeting or caucus Of the whig sena-
| tors at which Mr.. Pakenham, or any other than a
whig senator, was present know of no meeting,
| caucus, or consultation among many or few of the
| wings which had for its object to embarrass the
President in the djustment OF the controversy with
Great Britain, to open directly indirectly any
consultation with Mr.. Pakenham, or any other or
| others in his behalf l know Of no meeting IN
which Mr. CoIqutt's proposed amendment was
considered by the wings ] know Of no meeting
since Mr.. Colquu introduced his proposition, nor
did know what it was likely to be, further than as
he indicated publicly on the floor of the Senate
| know Of no agreement of the wings as body
touching the Oregon question, except as above
stated in respect to the instructions to Mr.. Day
4 ton; nor do | know Of anything occurring in those
| consultations that | regarded necessary to keep
| secret. | know of no meeting at the British min
ster's residence at which the Oregon question, OF
| any thing relating to it, was to be discussed
nor do believe that any such ever occurred
| WILLIE P. MANGUM.
The Hon. Thomas Corwin, after being duly
| sworn, deposed as follows, to wit:
| have been present at several meetings of whie
sena tors in the Capitol during the present session
| never saw the British minister there or heard O
his being there. One objectn holding these consulta
tons together to endeavor if possible to unite il
some mode of treating the Oregon question: then ant
now pending which should give most efficient aid tc
the administration in any effort to bring the controver
sy to just and amcable settlement | never heart
Mr.. Colquitt's resolutions discussed at any of thes
consultations. Whenever have been at any o
these meetings, the subject of a postponement o
the vote on the pending question was, believe, thu
only one on which there seemed to be general con
currence of opinion. do not believe there hal
been any such meeting of the whg senators sine
Mr.. Colquitt offered his resolutions to the Senate
i know Of no meeting of any of the whit
senators on Sunday evening, as published in tn,
"Tmes" nor do believe any such was held.
have dined with Mr.. Pakenham but once during
this session; heard no conversation the Oregon
question: nor 90 ! DeileVe any such was moved by
any one. think Mr.. Archer and Mr. J. M. Clayton
were the only members of the Senate, except my
self, who were there that day. have had M
conference with the British minister on the subiec
Of our relations with Great Britain, nor do know
of any such conference between him and any sen
ator. THOS. CORWIN.
Robert P. Anderson, Zone Of the messengers o
the Senate,) a witness, being produced, duly sworr
and examined, deposeh and saith:
That there was no caucus held in any chamber
or part oethe Capitol on Friday, the 9th of Februa
ry last either by wing senators or any other sena
tors. That Mr.. Pakenham, the British minister
was not within the walls Of the Capitol that day, o.
if he was, did not see him, or hear of his bens
there. All the time, from nine O'Clock in the morn
ing until the close of the day, it ia my duty to b.
in the Capitol, and attending to my business as
messenger of the Senate. | should suppose
should have seen Mr.. Pakenham as soon as an,
one, had he been in the Senate on that day. Wher
the Senate is in session, there is always place as
signed for foreign ministers to sit in, and wines,
the debates. Foreign ministers very frequently
come to the Senate to hear interesting debates, al
well as to the other House Of Congress, and hav
always been accustomed TO do so. | never saw