The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-21
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE.

OF
The following gentlemen appeared in their seats this
morning, viz From the State Of Virginia, Z. ". HU-
BARD From the State OF Ohio ISAAC PARISH
The journal having been read
Mr.. GILES asked leave OF the House to Introduce a
resolution:
Objected TO.
Mr.. RATHBUN moved that the special order OF the
day. (he bill for the admission of Iowa into the UnOn)
be postponed until tomorrow which motion was re-
jected
Personal EXPLANATION
Mr.. GENTRY here rose and said: Mr.. Speaker, rise
To privileged question, rather to question which
has been generally considered equivalent to that
desire TO make very brief expanaton-the first have
ever made on this floor.
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Tennessee ask
leave OF the House to make personal explanation Is
there any objection?
Several voices Il object"
The SPEAKER. 1t is objected TO-
Mr. GENTRY. What is the effect?
The SPEAKER. 1t will prevent the gentleman from
making his explanation unless the rules be suspended
or the special order be postponed.
Mr. SCHENCK. Would it be in order TO move to
postpone the special orderi
The SPEAKER The House has Just resolved not to
postpone the special order
from Ohio should move postponement till Tomorrow
Mr. SCHENCk then moved TO postpone the special Or
der till tomorrow, In order 10 allow the gentleman from
Tennessee to make personal explanation.
The question put, and the SPEAKER decided that
the noes appeared to have it,
division was then called for; and before a count
Mr. TIBBAT'TS inquired if the motion was to post
pone the special order for an hour!
The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Ohio, at the
suggestion of'the gentleman from Illinois, moved to post
pone till tomorrow
Mr.. SCHENCK then withdrew his call for the yeas
and nays, and modified his motion postponenen Of the
special order for an hour.
The motion, as thus modified, then put and agreed
Mr.. GENTRY then rose and said In the Union" OF
the eth instant there article which think does me
| al linda ia than
words:
''Nlr Gentry, of Tennessee in his speech of yesterday
in the House, reported in the National Inelscnccr
stated that the Secretary OF State had thu same time
declared that he would lose his right b.foe he would
sign treaty recognising the parallel Of 40 degrees the
I'VE are authorized say, that neither at the time re-
lefred TO- nor at any oer tune, did Mr. Buc hanan make
any such unqualified declaration the here ascrbcd
to him lie did however, repeatedly say from the
whom, from their Official position in Congress, he fell
himself at liberty to tho subject that he never
viously expressed will Of wohirct OF the Senate The co
ordinate branch OF the trcay-nalng under the
stution."
This article, Mr.. Speaker charges me with doing linus
ce to the Secretary OF State by nissatemen of matter
OF fact hold myself incapable of doing any man wifu
njustice and therefore claim the right OF setting my
self right this subject. The first remark have tc
make is, that correctly reported in the Unon anr
incorrectly reported in the NATIONAL INTELLcENcEn
The Un'on has thought proper to use the incorrect
preteXt Tor charging me with Misrepresentation In the
Union am reported TO have said
g They all remembered that it was rumor jus
before the oet OF the President submitted Sen
ate that the Secretary of State said the wh
saked themselves the right all of Oregon he wouC
sooner lose his right arm than sign such IL treaty"
That's what | said Mr.. Speaker; and repeat that i
is literally correct | am unwilling to place distinguish
ed gentlemen the disagreeablc position or making
statements OF what has been sad what has not beer
sad and therefore shall put myself TO that trouble
have not sought to obtain from any gentleman whc
knows the precise state of the facts declaration the
subject but desire to say here that if it were necessar,
to vlndicate my character for veracity this floor
could procure statement from responsible source tina
the Secretary Of State did make such an assertion as
ascnbed TO HIM, and without the qualification con
nected with it, But II is not at all necessary for my pu
pose to obtain such n statement The explanation oil
the Unon, made by authority of the Secretary of State
admits all that Is necessary for me- and is not at all ii
conflict with the statement which did make referred
to the denunciatons OF distinguished senator at the
other end of the Capol-when was suggested by Mr.
Haywood, of North Carolina, that the President was ia
vorable to adjustment the basis of 40 degrees,
who talked about the "forked lightning" and condem
nation to namy deep that the hand of resurrection
would never reach him" might have referred to wha
gentleman from Illinois said here, who when he told
you OF his pilgrimage to Tennessee and his speech il
view of the Presidents mansion TO his neghbOTs anC
relatives stated that he then and there referred to the
fact that the Baltimore convention had declared for 81
deg 40 min-that the President in accepting the nom.
nation, stood committed on that question: that in his nau
gura address he stood committed that in his message he
stood committed on the question ! might also have
referred to the violent denunciaon which he hypothe
cally Illuminated against the President in the view oil
lis being at all possible thing that he could agree to
settlement on 40 degrees The existence of that rumor
as stated, was known to large majority of this House
if not to all II was the common talk in the streets and
boarding houses and who can doubt that the President
and his administration did give these distinguished gen
the administration planted itself immoveably that