Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-12-07
THE CONGRESSIONAL WHIG CAUCUS.
Correspondence Of tie Neso York Express.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I'd

bling for common purpose present common front
against common enemy; but, much to the amaZement
of all those IN the secret the Hon Mr. Ioobs, OF
Georgia. struck note that startled the attention OF all
such as might have been expected from Mr.. Giddings,
OF Mr.. Paey or some such fanatcs-but never from
a Southern Wing The Caucus was organized as fol-
lows:
On motion of the Hon. MIR. Schenck, Of Ohio, the
Hon. CharesS S. Morehead, of KY, was elected Chair
man. and on motion of the Hon. Mr.. White. OF New
York, the Hon. James Brooks, of New ork, was made
Secretary.
AS soon as this organization took place, and after a
short preliminary address, setting forth that he had well
considered what he about and that, matter OF
duty he could not avoid and would not withdraw it,
Mr. Toombs, OF Georgia, offered the following resolu-
ton:
Resolued That Congress ought not to pass any law
prohibiting slavery IN the territories OF California or
New Mexico, nor any law aboishng slavery IN the Dis
trict Of Columbia
No had the Secretary read this resolution than
an intense excitement aroused,-but 1t did not eX
press itself action, or in violent words,-but discus
sion ensued and as understand the camest and coolest
in manner, taking all things into consideration, ever
not at first certain what MIR. Toombs after-what
he meant-what was intended by him and his asso-
cates,-but it soon became manifest that unless the
Caucus took in this, its own e-brand and adopted
as its own, Mr. Toombs and Co. would take up their
beds and walk.
Mr.. Stanley, of North Carolina, the first to start
in opposition, for, Southern man, as he well said
there could be doubt what he thought these sub
meand he, therefore, moved to lay the resolution
upon the table.
The motion was seconded by several gentlemen but
before the vote was taken, great many speeches were
made. What these speeches were and even who were
the speakers, unable to say with any accuracy but
rumor repetition announces them,-and the city is
full OF BOTH all tongues being busy in the matter and all
attention being directed to the subject.
The first Northern man who had anything to say
was the Hon. Mr.. Duer, of New York. He
prised to find here an effort to found party upon an
n1usixya clauer tect Who n he
North had discaimed any such test and repeatedly de-
clared that it considered it National not Sectional
Party, and were unwilling to found party such
test. 1t was well known that the Wings differed on
the subject of slavery, as they did upon many other
things as which they had not agreed to act together,
and as National Party they did not expect
individuals to think alike such exciting questions.
Mr.. Conrad, of Louisiana and Mr. Breck, of Ken
lucky opposed the resolution They agreed with every
word OF it, but it was not necessary to compel every
body to agree with them especially upon matters that
might never come up for legislation When they did
up then it was time to resolve; but before we
agreed upon Speaker and other officers and when we
only assembled to select Them it was no time to lay out
chart for legislation 1t sufficient try and agree
after it was found, first that there disagreement,
and then necessity for agreement.
Mr.. billiard, of Alabama, the first gentleman
speaking, who seconded the views OF Mr. Toombs. II
it was agreed he asked, that the Wilmot Proviso
part OF the Wing creed, and that it was not Wing
policy to abolish Slavery in the District Of Columbia,
why not say So and start in caucus with such declara
ton.
Other gentlemen followed, among them Mr. Evans
Of Nd who was in favor OF the resolution but opposed
to any action upon it there,-and Mr.. Baker, OF Hi
nos also opposed TO all such action and not left at ber
ty any where for such resolution, either in the
Caucus or in the House.
Mr. King of New Jersey also expressed opposition
to the passage OF the resolution here was no time to
be distracting ourselves when we had common enemy
to face.
Mr. Owen of Geo, warmly urged the adoption Of the
resolution 1t necessary, he said to settle these
We're settled. We must understand ourselves and each
other.
Mr. Stephens Of Geo. pressed the adoption of the
solution in something like the tone of argument
It was unnecessary now he urged for Northern or West
ern Wings to be pressing the Wmot Proviso upon
Congress. California about to present constu-
ton which would them the necessity there, and
spare them from inctng upon the South any suchmor,
tlfcaon. When this territory about to be acquired
by unconstitutional war he opposed the war; in COM
mon with nearly all the Wing party, among other things
because it must lead to the acquisition OF territory in
which if slavery were admitted or excluded, it must eo
pard the peace of this Union AS he foresaw the very
state of things the inevitable result of war; existed
AS to slavery in the District OF Columbia matter in
principle to the South, of the utmost imporance-a
he had to say, and he said not this in threat but in
row. and for nfomaton that if attempted and persist
ed in by the men who now had power-tha is the nu-
merical majority in this Union-the Union must and
would be dissolved. The Union could not be held to-
geterit vast not in the power OF its best friends in
the South hold it together- slavery in the District
of Columbia abolished by the action OF Congress
Mr.. Stephens begged Northern gentlemen to express
their views
Georgia, asked for the expression fopinon from North
en gentlemen he should have his AS the abolition
of slavery in the District OF Columbia, he had with
colleague of his publicly expressed his opinion at large
public dinner in the City Of New York that it was
not expedient to press any such efforts So far on
this point he agreed with the resolution for the time
being and as to the application Of the Wilmot Pro-
viso to California, he could necessity for that
now nasmueh as California had passed such prohi-
bition of slavery for herself 1t thing however,
agree to this, but another thing altogether to pledge
what they would not do. lMaryland abolished slave
ry the gentleman from Georgia would not object
to its abolition in the District of Columbia Why, them
pledge ourselves for all time to negatiye Then as to
California or New Mexico, first, il might not be neces-
sary to'legisate at all next effort might be made
there enslave Indians, Sandwich islanders, or Mex
cans, make them work in the mines To all that
species OF slavery the whole country opposed Why
then require pledge from the Wing Members of Con-
gess who might even be IN the minority, that they
would not pass any law prohibiting any OF slavery
Mr. Clngman, of North Carolina was favorable 10 |
the resolution, and should vote for it pressed so to do
he regretted its introduction, and hoped Mr. Toombs
would withdraw it.
Mr.. Toombs said he had we'll considered this whole
matter, and under circumstances should withdraw
it. He hoped to see it met, fairly and manfully
Mr.. Ashmun of Massachusetts,, remarked that |
though he was in favor OF the Wimot Provso and of
aboshng slavery, wherever could be consttutonally
abolished, yet he not for making any such thing
test for the National Wing Party, and when in Massa-
chuses such thing had been attemptedat the Spring
field Convention, he, in common with Mr.. Winthrop !
and others, had successfully resisted any such new in
terpolaton into the Wing creed
Mr.. Schenck remarked that he would as soon vote
against the converse OF this proposition against this
the whole subject was irrelevant in his opinion, and
ought not to he introduced into Wing caucus.
MIR. Conrad begged Mr.. Stanly to withdraw his mo-
ton, and to lay upon the table, which he did when he
substituted for motion postpone. This amid cries
OF question, question, was carried, nearly the whole
caucus rising for the posponement, and only eight in the
negative, being three gentlemen from Georgia, Mr. Hill
lard OF Alabama, and four Others whose names have
not yet been able to ascertain.
When this vote was announced, Mr.. Toonabs of Geo |
and left the ROOM and aoith him fourother gen
tlemen, who subsequently followed by Mr.. Hill
sentaton but that he should take pleasure in voting for
Mr.; Winthrop, for Speaker.
This Hegira Of the five six members from the Wing
caucus OF course created an intense sensation 1t was
only SnOken OF however s.an unlnrtunate SO