Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1848-07-01
THE WILMoT PROvIsO, &c.
In SENATE-JusE %, ls47.

In SENATE--JUNE D. lS47.
The Senate having under consideration the resolution fixing
the day for the adjournment of Congress
Mr.. MILLER, Of New Jersey, addressed the Senate
follows
the time for the adjournment Of Congress- might have been
considered without being mixed up with the politics Of the
day. Surely agree upon adjournment, however
may differ upon Presidential candidates But the Senator
from Mississippi (Mr FoorE) says he will not consent
adjournment until sufficient given discuss what he
calls the great issues before the public. He wants time TO
examine the respective creeds Of the great political parties
To talk them over to hammer them out = to
hbt them to the people 50 plainly that when look FIST
upon this and then upon that viii be able Judge between
them Now, for my part, willing TO stay here this
hot weather Tor any such idle purpose To enter into such
field of controversy would be TO convert this Congress into
long Parliament endless in talk and rutless any good
results to the country But the Senator determined to
know before adjourn, something about the Wing
creed and asks explain and define by speeches
and here. For my part do not think that the Wing
creed has been reduced the point where becomes
sary define its position Ii IS old poyerb, That good
wine needs no bush"
Mr. Foors Will the gentleman allow refer him to
that passage Of Scripture which says, Do put wine
Into old bottles"
Mr.. MILLER Yes sir but the Senator will find that
old bottle strong to hold the wine until the 4th
of March, when shall be very happy drink glass with
him he will need little exhilaraioa about that time We
will take i. at the White House.
But the Wing creed, needs Congressional certi-
fcae give character currency. II is not like
new publications. the day which require the endorsement
legislative subscription introduce it into noticef No. sir
creed standard work. the people have read the book
before to-day. 1t needs notes nor comments from
But the Senator insists upon trying the issue here At @
loss know precise issue intended The Sena-
tor however, has with his usual fankness told what the
issue is II is the Wmot proviso The position Of the two
candidates upon this question he wishes to investigate He
wishes compel show hand upon this point Now
il is rule pleading that be who tenders issue to bis
opponent should be that the peadngs his part
all right Is the honorable Senator that the opinions
of Gen. Cass certain ard fixed upon the question of the
Wmot provso Is he ready to make true issue upon
that point know that the last expressed opinions Of
Gen. Csss against she provs but also know that within
years past he the open and strenuous advocate OF
that that he during the last two sessions OF
Congress known many Senators here There evidence
written and written upon this point and the Senator
has provoked the trial OF this ISSUE feel due the
sion call the attention OF the country to certain facts which
took place in the Senate the first and second sessions Of the
last Congress These facts still within the recollection
many Senators who hear The debate which called
them forth was one Of considerable excitement and have
doubt the which about to make will be reco
leced by many who present that occasion Part OF
what shall state will be found in the debates and public
prints Of the day. and part owing the hurry and confusion
attending the last days of Congress not fully reported
will proceed with the statement.
At the r session of the twentynn,h Congress the two
million BILL called, TO the Senate from the
House with the Wmo provso in IT, On the last day Of the
session, (Oh Of August 1885, and about half hour be-
fore the time fixed the adjournment Of Congress- the bill
up for consideration when the Senator from Alabama
mr. LKwIs) moved strike the provso The Senator
from Massachusetts Mr DAvIs) took the floor against the
minutes before the adjournment No taken upon
the question: and the bill lost for Of dme
upon IL
AS soon as Mr. Davis had taken his Gen. Cass came
to this side OF the Senate and with much earnesness
sad in the presence Of Senator'S that he regretted much that
Mr. Davis had by bis speech prevented the from being
taken that be (Gen Csss) and every Democratic Senator
from the free States would have voted sustain the proviso
that Mr. Allen would have led Off and all the would have
followed be very sorry that they bad been deprived of
the opportunity of voting upon that would have settled
the question, and Gov Davis responsible for defeating
that result
These expressions made deep impression upon my mind
at the me and impression increased when after the
adjournment Congress- saw in several newspapers publish
ed at the North Democratic and Wing, Unjust charges made
against my honorable friend from Massachusetts Tor having
defeated the provso when all knew that the object Of his
speech was to sustain that measure.
The day. on his way home in the cars Gen. Cass
spoke Of the subject frequently and publicly in the presence
Of seyea gentlemen the effect and expressed much
disappointment at having been able 70 record bis vote in
favor OF the proviso He afterwards expressed the OPT
mons IN New Jersey, and also, have been informed, In
New York but Of this have personal knowledge.
At the next session Of Congress- March l. ls47,) the
three million bill came before the Senate bot without the
Wilmot provso in it, The Senator from Vermont (Mr.
UPaAm moved to amend the bill by inserting the provso,
when Mr. Cas and, in speech Of length.
opposed the amendment This speech Is reported and
refer Senators 70 it. Recoectng what had taken place Of
the previous session. and expressed my aston
ishmen at the course of the Senator from Michigan direct
y at varancc with his sentiments declared at the last session.
when the same before the senate also stated
what had taken place that OCCASION and repeated what
understood Gen. Cass have said in the Senate, have
before stated and then called upon him give the Senate
and TO the county his for this sudden change in his
opnons upon subject of so much importance
Zen Lass 10 reply to me, commenced by saying that
he was surprised at tho extraordinary Of the Senator
from New Jersey, In calling him account for hisopinon
but said he was prepared for il and then took from the drawer
OF his desk manuscript speech memoranda, which he read
to the Senate He did deny the statement made by me
but sa IN substance that he had not changed his opinions
expressed the session before upon the subject Of the poviso
but that that was not the occasion the bill in which to
apply the povso That the oec, Of the bill then before the
Senate was to enable the President conclude treaty Of
peace with Mexico That he did wish to DO any thing
which might delay peace. That would be Of to at
tach the povso to this BILL but that the question should be
reserved until We acquired the territory Il question Of
time with him. That his was the time nor the OCCASION