The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-13

nc tSl TeCclseu letter rom the BcHtleuldn from
Alabama, (Mr. HUBBARp,) who propounded Ger
tain question He (Mr BRowN) took him 10 the
| record, and pointed to the speeches delivered ON
| several occasions, and to the votes. lie was not
then, nor did he desire to be- considered candidate
Tor Speaker After he had received 90 votes of the
House, the gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr
| WILMoT,) with whom he had long been acquaint-
| ed and the gentleman from New York, (Mr. ID. p.
| klNG,) with whom he had served IN Congress, and
with whom he had generally voted, being on the
| Democratic side of the House, desired TO have a
conference with him. When he had the confer
cnce, he found that the objection which they had to
voting for him was, that he selected aus the ia
vorite OF the South The gentleman from North
| Carolina (Mr. VENABLE) said that he would not
vote for Wilmot proviso man for the Speakership,
and yet he voted for him, (Mr. BRowN.) The gen
tlemen above named had no personal objection to
him. They desired not to ask him what his vote
might be, but that be would organize the Commit
tees for the District of Columbia, the Judiciary,
and on Territories, in such manner as would
| give to all fair expression of opinion. He told
them that he would not make pledges as to who he
would place upon them. The gentlemen said that
they did not desire to be placed upon either OF
the committees; all they desired was that the com
mittees should be constituted that all sections
should be representative North and the South.
the Wilmot proviso men, and the anti Wilmot pro-
| viso men. He informed them that he would so con
sttute the committees TO satisfy thcmj they ask
| ing nothing more than what was fair and equal
representation. On the subject of the abolition of
| slavery, he
MIR. BURTsaid that he had yielded the floor to
see the correspondence He wished to see it now.
| MIR. BROWN. have it,
MIR. BURT. Read it.
| MIR. BROWN remarked that he represented a
district where there were but few Free Sellers.
Their votes he did not get. His competitor took
the ground that General Taylor in favor of the
| Wilmot proviso. All that he (Mr. BRowN) said
upon the subject was, that he was always opposed
to, and did not expect to vote for it in Congress-;
and on the subject of slavery in the District of Co.
lumbia, he did not desire to interfere, because it be-
| longed to the people interested He would now
| read the correspondence.
| [Gcntlemcn crowded in the direction of his scat,
and there was much anxiety manifested to hear
| Mr. BROWN. | desire to read the correspond
ence. [Several voices: s'Let the Clerk read it'll
| Mr.. WOODWARD. l presume the gentleman
will indicate what portion he is willing shall be
| read.
Mr. BROWN. All oft ["Let's hear u will
state what it is. The letter merely asks me in what
manner would constitute the committees, Gt was
after the conversation that the letter writ
| ten } and stated that would do so in a manner
| which should be satisfactory. This was signed by
| Mr.. WILMoT alone, and not by the other gentle
men, Istated TO them what had said to those rep
| resenting southern gentlemen, that II a bill were
introduced to extend slavery, representing the dis
| trict did, could not vote for it. The southern
| men remarked that they did not expect me to do
| il. will now read.
s'DEAR Sir: In to yours Of this date, ]
have to state that will, should be elected Speak
| er, wilP'-
Mr.. MoLANE. hope that the House will ex-
hibit magnanimity by giving attention.
The CLERK requested gentlemen to take their
| seats.
Mr. DUER said that, owing to the ill-health of
| the gentleman from Indiana, it impossible to
hear him; and Mr.. BRowN called on, from all
directions, to take place in front of the Clerks
desk.
Mr.. BROWN. can be heard here, at my seat.
/ will be glad if the gentleman from Pennsylvania
will state the substance of the letter which he wrote
to me- 1t a brief one.
| Mr.. WILMOT. Having a conversation with the
gentleman from Indiana, told him that believed
that the voice Of the country had been stited in the
committees of the House. Au we asked was fair
ness, and opportunity to give expression to the
public will of the free States; wanted and asked
nothing more, and that we did want; and he said
that if he should be elected Speaker he would con-
stitute the committees III such manner as to ena-
BILE to be heard. Further, we did not stipulatc
as to the members to be appointed. Nothing of the
kind. We desired to be placed on the committees
the abest men of the House, and the best men; so
that the voice of the South might have full scope,
and that Northern men should be heard and that
the committees should not be packed. addressed
him note asking him II, In organizing the COM
mittees, he would afford full and free expression
to the sentiments Of the country. That was, sub
stantially, the only interrogatory propounded.
He satisfied that the sentiments of two-thirds
Of the people of the country should not be smoth-
cred.
MIR. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. wish TO know
from my colleague whether, from his conversation,
he had reason to believe that the committees would
be formed of ma ority of those in favor OF Free
SoiE
Mr.. wILMoT. had reason to believe that a
majority Of the committees would have placed
on them majority of fair northern men. Laugh
ter Nothing more; and that was an inference
drew from the conversation. ] have not the letter
Mr.. INGE. What do you mean by fair northern
men?
| ttvIr II =
mttee from political considerations, attachment
to party and especially to this Administration, and
who would not be asked to smother the expression
fthe people Of the North.
Mr.. INGE. ] understand, by fair northern men,
those committed TO the Wilmot proviso
MIR. WILMOT. Not by any means.
MIR. STANLY. What then?
Mr.. WILMOT. Those who arc resolved that sa-
very shall go further believe that the people OF
the country are opposed TO the slave traffic. Vir.
GINA will not tolerate it; Maryland will not oler
ate il. Why is it carried on, in the face of the
world, in the District of Columbia, | believe the
people are opposed To it,
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania. would ash
whether my colleague has copy of that letter.
want to know whether there is any thing more il
the correspondence than there in the CORE
spondence with Mr.. WINTHROP two years ago
when my friend and others would not vote ioi
him.
Mr.. WlLMOT. In my conversation with tho
gentleman from Indiana, urged that as wer,
IN a minority, sui, according 10 the usage OF al
deiberative bodies should be on the committees
The English House Of Commons would grant it, anC
did give the minority opportunity to be heard
have not copy Of the correspondence. can only
state that il brief and that the genucmans an
swer will disclose the substance Of my inquiry.
There were cries. "Read the letter" ''the let
tcr!''l
II was read as follows
"WAsHfsGToS, Dec. II, lS49
, 'Hon. DAVID WILMor.
"DEAR SrR: In answer to yours Of this date, | viii
, state that, should be elected Speaker, will
sttute the Committees the District Of Columbia
on the Territories, and on the Judiciary, in such
manner shall be satisfactory 10 your friends anc
TO yourself am the representative of free State
and have always been opposed to the extension o
, slavery: and further, think that the Federal Gov
, eminent should be relieved from all responsibility
Of slavery where they have the constitutional power
TO abolish il. WILLIAM J. BROWN"
Mr.. BROWN proceeded to state his views II,
G thought that that was fair and liberal. For one
he would never favor the constitution Of commit
tees in such manner as 10 smother questions be
, fore the country. Let them be brought to light
and let the whole Of the peoples representative,
l NJ We al has al IA,