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

10 pindieais the character and honor Of the Senate
ageinsi the charges Of corruption published IN aneirs-
paper printed IN Washington city, called the "DG.iy
Tines" on the 5th, 9Th, l0th, and LIN irstaIu, oah
po,cer 10 examine riinessss, and 10 send for persons
and papers
[coscLupEDl
Mr. L. Dayton, a senator from New Jersey, re-
ferred 10 as a witness by Mr.. Robinson, editor of
the Times newspaper, depossd as follows, to wit:
That he has no knowledge of any fact, matter, or
thing, which directly, or indirectly, prove or
sustain the charges against senators now under lnyes-
legation. That so far as he knows, or has heard,
or has 10 believe, the entire publication tend
inc 10 mpeach the conduct Of senator's ~ untrue.
And he further saith that the last wing caucus, or
consultation, OF which he has knowledge, was, as
he thinks, on Tuesday, the Oath Of February last.
Thai X was then and there suggested that the most
prudent course OF proceeding under all the crcum-
stances was to postpone, for the present, the fur
Their Consideration of the Oregon question. That in
conformity with that suggestion, he, the witness,
was requested TO move said postponement for the
space Of four weeks and with that understanding
the meeting broke up That he, the said witness
afterwards, upon further advisement, resolved 10
limit the motion 10 postpone 10 two weeks instead
Of four, under the impression that thereby said
motion would command more votes. That neither
at said meeting, nor at any other meeting, far
he knows, was there any understanding agree
ment TO sustain the resolution Of Mr.. Coquitt, OF
pone was Withdrawn. That the opposition of Mr. Cal
houn satisfied the witness that the motion to postpone
would not receive the support necessary TO its pas
sage, and 1t was therefore Withdrawn. The witness
further says he knows of no such dinner at the
British minister's is referred To. That he knows
Of no such consultation with the British minister
by wings, as is referred To. That he knows of no
caucus at which the British minister attended, or at
which anybody did attend but wing senators. That
be knows Of no caucus on Sunday night last, such
as is referred to- That he knows Of no caucus or
consultation on this subject, the object intent Of
which was to embarrass the administration. That
far as he had knowledge, the wings Of the Senate
have viewed this question as national, and not an
aparty question:
The honorable Spencer Jarnagin, who has been
referred 10 by Mr.. Robinson as a witness, after
being duly sworn, deposeth as follows, to wit:
l regret Mr.. Robinson has thought proper to pre-
sent me as the witness by whom he expects to
prove anything tending TO sustain the charges he
has made against certain members Of the Senate
have no knowledge of any fact circumstance
which WILL in the degree support the charges
against senators published in the Times, nor have I
any idea of what is expected to be proved by me,
further than what learn from the statement made
by Mr.. Robinson. He says he expects to prove
by me, that was present at caucus of whig men,
bers, at which the Oregon discussion was of such
character that became disguised and left before the
adjournment. II such be his expectation, he has
certainly given credit to information upon which no
reliance should have been placed. Since | have had
the honor of seat in the Senate, | have attended
many consultations OF wing senators. Such meet
ings have been common among the wings, and I
believe with the democrats; and | cannot tell to
what meeting Mr.. Robinson refers. The last meet
ing or caucus attended was held in the Capitol, on
the morning of the Oath Of February, 1886. This
is the only one of which | have any knowledge at
k,.h a. H.
question. On the morning the Hon. John M. Clay
ton was to make his Oregon speech there an in
formal meeting for the purpose of prevailing on
Mr.. Clayton not to discuss the respective rights of
England and the United States to the Oregon terri
tory; and the request was made of him. The meet
ing to which have referred, held on the Oath of
February last, called, as understood it, for the
purpose of comparing opinions upon the subject OF
the notice to be given to England, so as to presen,
the largest vote possible for the notice. if passed
was soon discovered this question did not partake
of party character, and that each senator present
seemed disposed to act upon his own high RESPONSE.
bility and sense of duty, without regard to party
considerations; and the result of the meeting that
Senator Dayton should move that the matter be
postponed for thirty days, which subse.
quently changed to two weeks, to give time to
senators to well mature their opinions. On the
24th Mr. Dayton did not get an opportunity to
make his motion but on the next day. the 25th, he
made it. 1t opposed by Mr.. Calhoun, and
withdrawn by Mr.. Dayton. Mr.. Colquitt then Of
fered his resolution, and Mr.. Crittenden moved to
postpone to the nextday, and that the amendment
be printed; which was agreed to. never consd
cred this meeting, or the proceedings thereof, any
secret and often spoke of them, and stated should
attend no more meetings on the subject, believing
they would be of no use. This is the last caucus
by the wings of which have any knowledge.
have not even heard Of any caucus by the whigs o,
by any number of them, since the one have refer.
red to, held on the Gath of February last viii
take occasion here to say, l have no knowledge Of
any meeting by the wings at any time for the pur
pose Of embarrassing the administration, or defeat
ing the Presidents recommendations. know of nc
conference nor conversation with the British minis
ter, by any senator, at any time, on the subject o
Oregon. know Mr.. Pakenham never attended an,
meeting at which was present. ] never heard o
his presence at any caucus at any time held by any
party
The Hon. ID, R. Atchisen, who had been referred
to by Mr. Robinson as witness, after being duly
sworn, deposed as follows to wit:
Mr.. Jarnagin and myself had a conversation 10
gether in relation to the probable action Of the Sen
ate upon the various propositions to give the notice
to annul and abrogate the treaty Of 1927 between
the United States and Great Britain in relation L
the country west Of the Stony mountains. In III,
course Of the conversation told Mr.. Jarnagin tina
the democratic members Of the Senate or q portion
OF them, had upon several occasions met In caucu,
to determine, if possible, what form Of resolution
should be sustained by Them but that we could com,
TO no agreement. Mr. Jarnagin told me that he hac
met in caucus with the wing members of the Senate
the object being to ascertain what course was ex
pedient for them to pursue in relation to the sam,
subject that il was soon found that they could no
agree, and that he withdrew from the caucus. This
think, the substance Of all that wac said upor
that subject. never held, to my knowledge, any
conversation with the editor Of the "Times," or AMI
person connected with that paper in relation to tn,
Oregon question Indeed, cannot say whether
have had even passing acquaintance with Mr.. Rob
inson, the editor of the Times cannot say tina
would know him, or that | ever had seen him
d. r. ATCHISON.
The Hon. Daniel Webster, who had been refer
red to by Mr.. Robinson as witness, after beins
duly sworn, deposed as follows, to wit
know Of no meeting of wing members Of III,
Senate at the Capitol on any Sunday, and no meet
ing at any time at which the British minister wa.
present, or anybody else but wing senator's know
Of meeting Of wing senators at the house of tn,
British minister at any time. know Of no confer
enoe between the wings Of the Senate and the Brit