The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-16
CONGRESSI ONAL.
REMARKS OF MR.. JOHNSON
OF TENNESSEE,

IN the Hopss Of Representatives, F.Lruny 2, 1886
In reply to a personal explanation Of Mr. BArLr
Of Virginia.
Mr.. BArLY having concluded
Mr.. A. JOHNSON, amid some questions OF or,
der, &C., rose and asked leave to make personal
explanation, which was granted by the general con-
sent Of the House
Mr.. J. commenced by saying the member from
Virginia, MR. BArLy,l in making his personal ex-
planaton-whieh might be more properly called a
studied reply TO his speech ofSaturdsy lastset out
by saving that far as il refers 10 him, 80 10 a
tissue Of misrepresentation from beginning 10 emo
unintentonal I suppose" Mr.. ]. said IL the gen
eman would point out that portion ofhis speech In
which he had miSrepresented him, and prove to him
that il was a misrepresentation, II would afford HIM
treat pleasure to make the correction but 80 far
7 The gentleman had produced no proof but his own
broad assertion. The gentleman had read some ex-
tracts from his speech TO show TO the House and the
country that he had been misreprescnted. Now he
Mr. J) could not see how, or in what particular,
| he had misrepresented the gentleman. Among the
extracts read was the following
There had been attempt during the progress OF this
DISCUSSION TO excite the peculiar Of the country
non Virginia MIR B.rLyl In addressing the COMMITTEES on
A.subieet Without relying on argument-without rely
M facts they exist in the history OF this negotiation
M gentleman had attempted, he Qhr ~ believed to
excite prejudice existing In the minds Of his constiuen
.D ssS Of s Strct 0 What position Ssd be- tsEsni He
IA 20 make the Impression on the mind Of the
country that there was particular leader and ehsmPoh "a
SEPARATED from the policy Ad down by the ADMINISTRATION
had attempted TO exoneGte himself from the meons'''
,ncy and difficulty in which be was involved
And with reference to il the gentleman uses the
following language: "Now, sir, there is not solita-
~ statement in this extract which is not inbound
d."
Now, as the gentleman had disclaimed all in,en-
ton of prejpdicng the minds Of his own constiiu-
sncy, he (Mr. j. disposed to exonerate his in
tent or motive hut in exonerating the intention IL
did not do away the effect it was calculated to have
upon the public mind, or change the substance or
facts contained in the extract Just read. In this
oonnexon Mr.. J. would call the attention Of the
House TO one extract of Mr.. B.s speech; and then
the country might Judge as to the intent, motive,
and effect It would have upon the public mind. The
gentleman said
The QUESTION ia merely one of expediency. which In.
wolves principle. and about which gentlemen may well
aaer This Is not party question, ~ the gsn'lemsn
and for one, will not follow his lead"
1.-THE gentleman [Mr. BaYLYl was satisfied with
the facts and arguments he had presented to the
House and the country, why make the allusion or
charge that the gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr..
ApaMs was the leader of the democratic party upon
this question. Was il intended for nothing was
Intended to give the question strength, to strike
popular prejudice which rests upon the minds Of
his immediate constituency, and throughout the
southern portion Of the Union, by associating the
name Of the gentleman from Massachusetts Mr.
ADAMS with the question the leader Of the party5
Let the country judge.
Mr. J. continued by asking il Mr.. B. had not
separated from the policy laid down by the admin
isration upon this important question:" The reso-
luton adopted by the democratic convention which
st at Baltimore in May, 1874, declared in emphatic
terms "that our title to the whole Oregon territory
H. clear and UNREASONABLE. The President of the
H.. Ga.
that our ''title is maintained by rrefragabe facts
and arguments" Mr.. BAVLr, in his argument, UNI
derakes to prove that the administration is error
and that title is Of doubtful character beyond
| ~ degrees of north latitude. The administration
recommends to Congress the propriety of giving the
notice in the following words: 'This notice it
would in my judgment, be proper to give, and
recommend that provision be made by law for Civ
ing it accordingly, and terminating the convention
Of the 9Th August, 1897" Mr. BAYLY says No;
opposed giving the notice. and will vote against
it, Yet, Mr.. B. tells US he has not separated from
The administration" A review, then, Of the passage
read by Mr.. BAYLY, torn as il from its context,
showed that the position taken by him (Mr. J.) in
it was than sustained by all the facts alluded
to. Now, sir, there is not solitary statement in
the extract read by Mr. BAyLY, but what is found
ed upon the facts as they really exist and as the
country will bear witness.
The member from Virginia, failing to extricate
himself from this inconsistency, involves himself in
another difficulty equally unfortunate in point Of
fact. He told the House the other day in quite n
oeigerent tone, and in menacing altitude, pointing
to Mr.. ADAMS, "that this not party question,
1t was Mr.. ADAMS, the member from Massachu-
sets, is the leader Of the party, and, for one,
will not follow his lead" Mr.. J. asked, how does
this bold assertion compare. with the facts1 At
the opening of this session Of Congress, the Presi-
dent ofthe United States las he, Mr.. j., had just
'hown) had recommended that the notice be given
TO terminate the joint occupancy; and upon that por-
aon Of the Presidents message, the chairman of
the Committed on Foreign Affairs reported the
luton now under consideration. And the notice, in
some shape, will be sustained by the democratic
party with few exceptions. And now, does the
fact that Mr. ADAMS falls in and gives this measure
Of the administration his support, Justify Mr. BAyLY
in saying that Mr.. ADAMS is the leader Of the party
and himself in going against the policy of the Prea-
den,, which is nothing but the creed laid down by
he democratic convention IN lS4f Mr.. J. would
not press this point further at this time.
But (sad Mr.. J the gentleman complains OF
another portion of my remarks, which he has read
to the House--viz: ...
The gentleman CONTINUED Mr. J) read the extract from
me speech ofMr ADAMS and the inference was clear mat
ne intended TO make the impression on the minds oil This
House and the country that made upon the question
notice when that gentleman was distinctly opposing the
h unless the notice included in IT. and when they
came to take the speech Of the gentleman from Massachu
they found there was no discrepancy between the
two"
Iii true Continued Mr.. j. that the gentleman
was speaking Of war Immediately preceding the
reading of the extract Of Mr.. ADAMs'S speech
made at the last session Of Congress. lie was ar
gulng that war was consequence resulting from
giving the notice; and, after reading the extracts
from Mr. ApAMs's speech to sustain his position,
he closed the book, and said "that these were MIR.
AD.Ms'' views then; they are my views now
And at tina point Mr.. ADAMS rose to his feet, and
asked Mr. ,BArLy if that speech was not made upon
The bill to establish Territorial government and be-
lore the notice had been offered as nm amendment to
NE bill, or become part Of the biP To which
Mr.. BAYLY replied, it was upon the notice. Mr.
ADAMS then desired TO explain, but was perempto-
nly refused by Mr. BAyLr Mr.. ]. then reafirmed
that the speech from which Mr. B.YLY read the ex-
tracts was made against the BILL as being most like
y to produce war, on account Of a coming in con-
lct with the provisions Of the convention of 1927
The speech would show that Mr. ADAMS was in fa-
yor Of giving the notice then witheh the passage Of
NE bill. He is for giving the notice no,c Mr.. T..
replied to the speech Of the gentleman as il was de-
Nsred in the House, not as il had been published;
or there were some things said in the House which
DO not appear in the published speech, and there are
III m n - A II