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

Washington, and believed him TO be opposed to dle
Wilmot proviso was suggested to have con- ON
versation with MIR. BRowN. He (Mr. BAyLy) said
that he thought that he could pledge himself that
Mr.. BRowN was opposed to the Wilmot provieo, and
MIR. Brown told him that no was sale In dong SO.
He owed il 10 himself further to say (although he
felt indignant at the time, in consequence of the in
situation of Mr.. STASLY, because it too I'M
worthy suspicion 10 be entertained) that he was
exceedingly Indebted to the gentleman from North
Carolina, and the gentleman from Massachusetts.
Had he known of the correspondence he would not
have voted for MIR. BRowN
Mr.. HARRIS, of Tennessee, desired, if he could,
to change his vote for Mr.. BRowN, on the journal,
as he had voted under misrepresentation of the
facts. That gentleman had pointed TO the record
with one hand, while he had acted in contrary
direction
Mr.. BURT had but word more to say. They
were assured that the honorable member who had
been made so conspicuous on this OCCASION was
committed against the Wimot proviso. He had
assurances of il yesterday, but not from Mr..
BRowS and he ventured TO say that if they had
known of that correspondence, there not
southern man but would have regarded it an in
suit to have been asked to vote for him.
Mr.. INGE moved that the House again proceed
to an election.
Mr.. STANLY said that he was satisfied and
wished to withdraw the resolution.
Mr.. BROWN. One word. have to say that
stand by what remarked to my southern friends.
If proposition to prevent the extension OF
slavery in a territorial bill would vote against it.
Mr. VENABLE said that some few days since
vote for Free-Soer Abotionist, and the
same or the next day he voted for Mr.. BRowN II
was but just to himself to place himself clearly and
fairly before them He was led to the conclusion to
which he came by a conversation with MIR BRowN.
During the Presidential canvass he received letters
from him, in which he denounced Free Soilism and
Abolitionism. He had asked the gentleman whe-
Their he still held the opinions, and he said that he
had not changed them Mr.. VENABLE voted for
him under the full conviction that Mr.. BRowN
thought that the Wilmot proviso was unconstitu-
I'D nyrnrx form 40 Ga1H
openly, before the world that if he had known that
Mr.. BRowS made pledge in favor of the Wilmot
proviso, nc would not have voted for him. He had
voted for Free Soiler, not knowing him to be SUCH
Mr.. ROBINSON, of Indiana, to the defence
of Mr. BRowN. He regretted that there such
ground swaziland unnecessary excitement; that
there was disposition to hunt down his colleague
and TO do him injustice. Mr.. BRowN had taken no
| position inimical to the honor of man. Was any
thing derogatory to him developed here? Was it
in the letter to the gentleman from Pennsylvania?
Was in the fact that he is opposed to the further
tension of slavery? Southern gentlemen require
non interference "A large portion OF the North are
opposed to the Wilmot proviso, but none are in
favor of the extension OF slavery. He knew that
Mr.. BRowN's constituents at home believed him to
be a non-interterence man. Again-the letter says:
81 will constitute the committees satisfactorily to
you and your friends This alone is susceptible
of the construction of pledge TO the gentleman
but it is not in connexion with the conversation
Messrs. BRowN and WnMoT only asked fair rep
resentation of all parties on the committees; no
thing more. There was, 1t appeared, letter writ
ten to MIR. BRowN by a southern man, and the
swer of the inquiry made a sine qua non; and
yet the gentlemen from the South disagreed to that
in answer to Mr.. WILMoT. There much
confusion that the reporter will not vouch for the
absolute correctness of this notice of Mr. ROBIN
SONS remarks.
Mr.. BURT repeated, that when MIR. BRowN was
placed prominently before the House cand-
date for Speaker he an honorable man, had asked
him to make no pledges and he had said that Mr..
BRowS, if he was an honorable man, would give
none Mr.. BURT adhered to this Certainly, the
gentleman did not assert that he (Mr. BuRT) ad
dressed Mr.. BRowS letter.
Mr.. ROBINSON. Not at all.
Mr.. WOODWARD. l of those who
asked for his political creed. l understood that he
gave no pledges how he would constitute the COM
nittees. thought il an honorable one
Mr.. HUBBARD, of Alabama, said that he
the one who addressed Mr.. BRowN letter. / only
required non -interference-no more. He preferred
a man from the North, to offer something on the
altar of our common Union. He addressed him
letter, and Mr. BRowN pointed to his course, and
Mr.. HUBBARD satisfied. He said that
deserved the Speakership who should tell how the
committees would be constituted. When Mr..
BRowN told Mr. HuBBARD that he candidate,
he thought that that gentleman should have fur
nshed him with a copy Of the letter which he adj
dressed to Mr.. WILMoT.
Mr.. STANTON, of Tennessee, did not regret
that this transaction had come to light. He felt
as one who had supported that gentleman, that
weight rested on him. However in this he was not
alone and it for the purpose of throwing il off
that he asked the privilege Of word Of explana
ton. II simply TO say, like the gentlemen
who had addressed the House in reference 10 the
matter that he had assurances that Mr.. Bows
was opposed 10 the Wimot proviso Under this
belief, he had no idea that the gentleman was
entering into a coalition with or giving pledges TO
the Free Sellers. He had voted and continued
TO vote for him, TO ''the bitter end" He felt, in
common with the whole South, that he owed debt
Of gratitude to those gentlemen who arrested the
election by breaking party ties, TO bring about an
|
Mr.. McMULLEN remarked that this the
first time he had ever attempted TO speak word
in an assembly of a deliberativc character. Anx-
ious he to organize he had his fears to the
gentleman from Indiana. Last night Madam
NOR mentioned the intelligence to-day communi-
Gated to the House. He claimed II TO be his privi-
legc to interrogate the gentleman, and know from
him his position. ! called, said Mr.. McMuen,
upon the gentleman from Indiana this morning, not
feeling quite satisfied in my mind TO his views
upon The great question which agates the country;
and told HIM That il was rumorcd, and that he was
charged with having given pledge TO the Free
Soil party of the House in relation 10 the organi-
zatlon of the committees, and that VIC wanted to
know if it. were true. He stated TO that no one
! had called on him upon the subject and that he
had made no pledge 10 them, or of any kind
ccpt that Inc had said that, in constituting the Com
mittees on Territories and Committee the Dis
trict OF Columbia, he would place the gentlemen
of this House where he thought they should be
placed, and that he would be governed in regard
TO the selection Of the committees, by the standing
pleased hear this and then asked him if he had
given pledge to the Free Sellers that they should
be placed ON the committees named he answered
no left him satisfied that could vote for him.
told my colleague, Judge BAYLY, that he need not
have any fear fthe gentleman from Indiana having
made any such pledge as he had been charged with
making. regret the necessity for my having felt
( compelled by what had taken place TO make this
: statement regret that have been thus called out
TO state this conversations but justice TO my colleague
and myself, and desire that the whole matter
might be known, has induced me to occupy the
time Of the House so long.
Mr.. THOMPSON, Of Mississippi, rose 10 move an
adjournment, but withdrew it at the request Of
Mr.. WIN. j. BROWN, who said there is nothing
in the least inconsistent in what the gentleman from
Virginia has just stated as having taken place in
the conversation between US, and what have stated
20 the House. never made any pledge as to where
| would place the Free Sellers in making up the
committees; and If ] had been elected Speaker of
this House, would have composed and made up
the committees that no could have the least OBJ
lection to them and feel very confident that they