Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-12-21

v1D WLMoT had written him letter, to which he
had given an answer. The following is the CORES
pondenee: s.r af-.sjs.3a Basa
-t' DECEMBER 10, 1849
DEAR SIR In the conversation which had with
you this evening" you were free to say that if cleo
ted Speaker of the House of Representatives, you
would constitute the Committees on Territories the
Judiciary and the District of Columbia, in a manner
that should be satisfactory to myself and the friends
with whom have had the honor toact. / have COM
municated this to my friends; and if reply to this
note. you can give them the same assurance, they
will give you a cheerful and cordial support.
Respectfully yours, - s.
Hon. VIM. J. Brown. ..s..as:a Gr4
WASHINGTON, Dec 10, 1849.
"DEAR SIR: In answer to yours of this date, will
state that should be elected Speaker, will consti
tute the Committees for the District of Columbia for
Territories and the Judiciary in such a manner as
shall be satisfactory to your friends and to yourself
am representative from free State, and have al
ways been opposed to the extension of slavery in any
shape. | think that the General Government should
be redeemed from the responsibility ofslavery where
they have the constitutional power to prevent it,
(Signed, SCI w. j. BROWN.
Mr.. Brown endeavored to explain this, by saying
that, in the conversation to which Wilmot's letter
makes allusion, he had merely said that he would
constitute the Committees in question in such
ner as to give to each party its relative weight in
accordance with its numerical strength in the House,
He said that he opposed to the extension of sa
very but also opposed to the interference of Congress
The explanation seems to have been complete fail
ure. To say that the Southern supporters Of Mr..
Brown indignant, would but family express the
torrent of burning denuncaton which was poured
upon him from all sides. Gentlemen, both from the
North and from the South, were betrayed by the
heat of excitement into expressions OF mutual eal
ousy, which, in their cooler moments, they cannot
but regret The dissolution of the Union was talked
of as lightly though it involved no weightier con-
sequences than would the splitting Of county or the
building of new courthouse.
Mr. Brown having withdrawn his name, the House
adjourned, in great confusion.
On Thursday, 18th instant, progress made
towards an organization. Both parties being with
out any regular candidates. the votes cast pref
ty much at random. The highest number of votes
received were, for Cobb, 40; Winthrop, q. r
The discussions on Thursday were characterized
by great excitement. Mr.. Toombs of Georgia, made
most eloquent Southern speech, and Mr.. Baker of
Illinois, an equally eloquent Northern speech. Mr.
Meade of Virginia., having made a speech, in which
Mr. Duer, of New York. who denounced him as dis
unionst. Mr. Meade said, 1t is false; it is false
it is false" Mr.. Duer replied, You are liar
Mr.. Meade, who was about ten feet distant, sprang
towards MIR. Duer The members rushed to the
spot, and scene of the utmost confusion ensued.-
The Sergeant at Arms however, proceeded immedi-
ately to the spot with his mace of Office and pre-
vented any outbreak of violence. Mr. Duer apologi-
zed to the House, and the matter has since been ami
cably arranged. .-a..a
On Friday, 18th instant, no progress was made to-
wards an organization, although several ballotings
were had, and the final vote for Speaker stood Win
throp q; Potter %; Wilmot g. billiard Stanly
40 Linn Boyd 80; Stevens, of Pa, u; Strong 2;
Howell Cobb l; Schenek 1; Outlaw q Morehead 6;
McGaughey l; Robinson l; Baker l /; Julian 2; F.
P. Stanton Duer 8 H. Mann l !; McClcrnand l
Durkee l.
great many propositions were offered for putting
an end to the present position of affairs but all with
out exception, voted down Mr.. Ashmun, of Massa-
chusetts, moved that plurality rule be adopted, by
which the person receiving the highest number Of
votes should be declared duly elected provided such
number be not less than onethird of the whole
Der of votes cast. Mr.. Woodward moved that Linn
oRS%H>SA
should be elected Mr.. Williams introduced reso-
luton providing that after each ballot for Speaker
the candidate having the smallest number of votes
should be dropped, and so on until Speaker should
be chosen Mr. johnson, of Tennessee introduced a
resolution similar to that of Mr.. Woodward. Con:
siderable desultory discussion was had, which was
put an end to by the adoption of the following reso
luton which was offered by Mr.. Dimick:
Reolred That this House proceed to the election of
Speaker and continue its efforts to such election without
debate from any member of this House until neceton eff
feeted. rz-Ea ,=-s 4ifs f-H =.- 7a
After this, several ballotings were had, with the
result which we have announced above
On Saturday 18th instant there was three ballots
had. Upon the final vote, Linn Boyd, of Kentucky
received Sc votes; E. Stanly, of North Carolina, &c
/ Thaddeus Stevens, of Pennsylvania, 81 Ed. Pot,
ter of Ohio, 10; Robert C. Winthrop Of Massachu.
sets, 10; and II scattering. s1,der .--5s =
The proceedings on Monday present no new fea
ture. Some three four ballots were taken, with
about the same result as on Saturday. Mr. Boyd
received 81, and Mr. Winthrop 81 votes, out of 22s
votes cast ON the final ballot the remaining votes
were distributed between thirteen or fourteen
candidates Mr.. Stanly, of North Carolina, with
drew his name before any votes had been taken, Is
on previous days, many different propositions were
introduced, but uniformly voted down.
proposition introduced by Mr.. Thompson, o
Kentucky, providing for the appointment of a com
mittee of sixteen members selected in equal
tions from the Democratic and Wing parties and
from the slaveholding and non1slaveholding States
whose duty it should be to consult devise and repor
to the House, the mode by them deemed most prac