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

quit had given no intmaton Oh MS intention
TO offer such resolutions. So TAR as can learn, no
wing senator, except Mr. Critiendsn, ever saw Mr.
ColSuitt's resolutions until the 25th Of February,
when they were laid before the senate for the first
time, and ordered to be printed, and thon Mr. Crit
enden moved 10 print them, and alleged that he had
not examined them fully concur In the testimony
Of Mr. Schnable, Mr. Medary, and MIR. Turner,
the only witnesses referred TO by Mr.. Robinson, the
publisher Of the "Daiy Times" " 90 lar a. regards
his (Mr Robinson's) statements Ia committee TO
alleged admissions Of mine. They all swear posi-
lively in direct dsproof Of his allegation IL Is per-
fectly true that never had any conversation with
either of them on the subjects WHICH they were call
ed upon to prove my admissions. When first
saw Mr. Schnabe in the commiliee room, 1 had
forgotten that had ever seen him before, 80 slight
had been my acquaintance with nun l had never
had any conyersation with him about Mr.. Paken-
hams dinner, or the Oregon question. The same is
true Of Mr.. Medary, and Mr.. Turner OF Ohio
They were both strangers TO me, and they have both
sworn truly, that they never had any conversation
with Inc in their lives on any subject have no
recollection Of having seen either Of hem before
they appeared 10 the COMMITTEES room, summoned,
they then were, to prove the stAieoents OF the
editor OF the "Daily Times" | never told any Of
these gentlemen, or any other person whatever,
that at dinner given by the Britifh ministsr
attended by me, moses were eoun "a" on the
Oregon question, or any other quest p, or that
there was any conversation aboJ "A en bA-I-.
If there ever any enumeration or strength
OF senator's on any question touching Oregon
made al the British mioistsr's by any persons
whatever, it was entirely without my knowl.
edge. | suppose there were dozen persons at this
only dinner at Mr.. Pakenham's which | ever at
tended, several of whom appeared 10 be strangers
to each other. Mr.. Corwn and myself went IN the
same carriage. We left at a very early hour, and
returned home in the same carriage together.
IL ,ly a., - a.. Ne Del. nhapn aft
all that has transpired, that on every occasion
upon which have had the honor to meet him, his
conduct has not only been gentlemanly and honora-
BILE, but he hiss been prudent and remarkably
guarded and reserved on all subjects connected with
the Oregon controversy Amidst all the difficulties
of his position and while dsposing the courtesies
which properly become his high station, it has been
a common remark about members Of Congress with
whom have conversed that he has never exhibited
the slightest indlscretlon, or exposed himself TO
charge Of the slightest improperly; and have yet
to meet with the first gentleman, either in or out OF
Congress, who has hesitated when speaking Of him
to express the highest estimation Of him as gentle
man and an honorable man.
know of no caucus held by wing senator's,
or other senators, with a view 10 discuss Mr.
Colquitts, resolutions, or any other propositions
Of COMPOUNDS. All those senators who have acted
with me on the Oregon question, have steadily con-
Sdered and treated a national question, and not
party question. Their avowcd object always
has been TO enable the administration settle it
soon possible the best terms for the country.
have no recollection now of having heard Of more
than two consultations by the whig senators about
Oregon. The first Of these on the twelfth Of
February last, when some Of them assembled in
room Of the Capitol to consult as to the course
which should be taken in the discussion Of the
question Of notice they afterwards informed me.
was about to make a speech on that day on the
- 81. r
Der who had taken the floor on that subject. They
sent OF their number TO advise with me- and told
him | had resolved not to discuss the question Of
title up TO $40 40 in open session at that time This
he said met with their views. Nothing was said
about compromise, or should have heard it. The
other occasion on which a consultation of whg
senators held, was, think, on Tuesday, the
oath day of February last, when, although did not
attend the meeting, yet know, from what some Of
them told me Immediately afterwards, the question
they discussed was, whether it was not most
prudent in the present supposed perilous condition
Of public affairs to postpone the whole subject Of
Oregon for several weeks" So far from deciding at
that (Which their last consultation or meeting,
to push MIR. Colqutt's resolutions to send to Eng.
land by the steamer which to leave this country
in a few days, they communicated their wish to
me that the whole subject should be postponed for
at least fortnight. found also that Mr. Dayton
had been instructed by them to move the postpone
ment, who made the motion accordingly on the 25th
of February, but withdrew only because he found,
believed he had ascertained that it would be OPP
posed by all the democratic senators, and that we
could not carry it.. At the time of this last consul
tation of the wing senators which has been held
Mr.. Coquitts resolutions had not been offered in
the Senate know of no secret caucuses between
the wings and any other senator's know of no meet
ing held any where, secret or otherwise, attended 10
| consult about Oregon with whig senators, or any
| n re- por have | he rd
consultation held among the senators on the
night of Sunday, the eighth nstant in reference tc
| the Times newspaper, nor have | any belief thai
such caucus consultation held know Of
no act done, word spoken, by any American sena.
tor in reference to Oregon which could possibly
subject him in justice to the gross abuse Of the
newspaper called the "Daly Times" or any Of its
charges of corruption.
JOHN M. CLAYTON.
| The Hon. John Davis, senator from the State
of Massachusetts, appeared, and having been duly
sworn, deposed as follows, to witt
The subscriber having been summoned to appear
before the committee appointed by the Senate Of the
United States to investigate certain charges Of cor
ruption preferred against members of that body, by
a newspaper called the "Daily Tines" and having
exhibited to him written paper filed by Fl. H
| Robinson, in which he states that he expects to
prove by the subscriber and several other senators
therein named, "that several caucuses Of whig sen.
ators were, at different times, held, at which the
compromise of the Oregon dispute was debated in
several various shapes" The subscriber makes
answer thereto follows, to wit:
| He knows no reason why Mr.. Robinson should
entertain the beefthat snch facts could be proved by
the subscriber az he has no knowledge Of any eau
Gus meeting of wing senators, or others, al
which the compromise of the Oregon dispute was de,
bated or considered in any shape whatever
The subscriber finds also further statement Of
said Robinson, in which he AYERS that he expects
to prove, by the same senators, "that propositions
were made to a portion or all ofthem, to compro
mise the question, by Messrs. Calhoun, Coquit
McDutie, Haywood, and Bagby, or by either Of
them" and he answers thereto, that he has nc
knowledge of any such propositions made by any
Of said gentlemen. None made to the sena
tors; and if any was made to others, he is igno,
rant of the fact.
He would further add, that he has known Of but
two caucuses meetings Of wing senators since
the commencement Of the session Of Congress, the
last OF which was about three weeks past; that he
was present during only part OF the time; thai
they we're held in the Capitol at midday, inst be-