Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-12-20
Coalition in Congress..-"D Done
BrOwn.v

10, for Speaker Dec. 18th, WIN. J. BRowN @
Indiana (ocoioco) caufe within two votes of al
election, and that Development" speedil,
followed Which bowed up The almost lucky gen
tleman "sky high sir sky high, STRIP w,
had copied tho telegrap tc account ere the ful
report reached us, and we End that it by nc
means reveals fully tho rickery of WIN. J
Brown or the easy virtue of ocofoco FREQ soil
ism. We copy The material facts.
Mr.. Wilnot was the organ Of the free soil
party who was first put upon the stand as a wit
ness:
Mr. WiLMoT. Having a conversation with
tho gentleman from lDdana, | told him that |
believed that the voice of the country had been
sfied in the Committees oil the House. A Il we
asked was fairness, md opportunity 10 give
expression to the will Of the Free States; we
wanted end asked nothing more, md that we did
want and he said thai if he should be elected
Speaker, he would constitute the committees in
such a manner as To enable us TO be heard. Fur
Their, we did no, stpuate 10 The members TO
be appointed. Nothing Of the klnd. We de.
sired 10 be placed OF the Committees the nblest
men Of tic House, ard the best men 50 That
the voice Of the South might have full scope,
and that NCrhen men should be heard, and that
tho Committees should not bo packed. | ad
drtssed him u note, asking him, If, in organizing
ihC Committees, he would afford n full and free
CXnessiOn Of the sentiments of the cuuu,ry.--
Tint was substantially the only interrogaory
propounded. He was satisfied lha, the scnti.
menis OF two-thlrds Of the people of the country
should not be smothered.
dir. STEVENS OF Penn.--I wish to know from
my colleague, whether, from hi, con, rrsa,on.
he had reason 10 believe that the Committees
wonld be formed Of ,ajorliy OF those in favor
OF Free Soil?
Mr.. WILMoT.-I had reason to believe tina, n
majority OF the Committees would have pla ccJ
on them minority of lair Northern nen.-
tLau2hler.l Nothing more and that was an
inference drew from the conversation. have
not the letter.
Mr. lNGE What do you mean by fair North
ern men?
Mr.. WfLMoT--Men vim would not act in
COMMITTEE from political considerations or pqrlv
attachments, mud especially to this adniinis,ru-
ton, aud who would not be asked to smother the
expression Of the people of the North.
Mr. lNsE.-1 understand, by fair Northern
men, those committed to tho Wlmot proylsa
Mr.. WiLMoT.-.Miby any means,
Mr.. STANLY.-What Then:
Mr. WILMoT. Those who are resolved that
Slavery shall go no further. ! believe that the
people OF the country are opposed to tie slave
traffic. Virginia will not tolerate it--Maryland
will not tolerate II. 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 Penn.--I would ask whether
my colleague has copy of that letter. | want
10 know whether there Is any thing more in the
correspondence than there was in The cores |
pondence with MIR. Winthrop two years ago. |
when my friend and others would not vote for !
him.
Mr.. WiLMoT.--In my conversation with the |,
gentleman from Indiana. | urged that az we are |
III minority, still, according to the usage of al |
de!lbera,ive bodies, should be- OIL the Com |
mi,ees. The English House OF Commons would |
grant it, and did give the minority an oppor,un-
" to be heard. | have not copy Of tho cores |
pondence. can only stale that Ii was briei, |
and that the gentlenians answer will disclose !
the substance Of my inquiry
There were cries: "Read The letter." {" III.
leller."l
1t was read as follows:
WASHINGTON, Dec. IL, 1910.
Hon. DAVID WILMoT,- Denr Sir: In am |
swer 10 yOuts of tits date, | will state that !
should be elected Speaker, | will constitute |
the committees on The District of Columbia, on
'he Territories and on the Judiciary, in such |
manner as shall be satisfactory 10 your friends |
and TO yourself. am he Representatives Of a |
free State, and have always been opposed to the |
extension OF Slavery; and further think that The |
Federal Government should be relieved from al
responsibility Of Slavery where they have the !
constitutional power 10 abolish it,
WILLIAM J. BROWN.
Nr Brown backed up Mr.. Wilnot as follows
Mr. BRowS proceeed to state his views. He
thought that that was fair and liberal. For one |
he would never favor the constitution of Com.
mlttecs in such manner as to smother ques-
lions before the country. Let them be brought |
TO light, and lot the whole of the peoples repre-
sentatives act. lie had always opposed the ex-
tension Of Slavery, while he was disposed to let |
the subject reet us he found it in the Constl,u-
,On.
so Mr. Wi'mot did not ask majority of the
committees IN favor of free soil -" not by any
means'-but he did ask ga majority offair Nor
ihern men," Now Mr.. Winthrop did at the last
session give ga majority OF lair Northern men" |
on all the committees having Slavery in charge,
yet the free soilers refused to vote for him.
Their willingness to vote for locofoco pledg.
ed 10 do no more than that and at the same
time personally opposed TO the Wilmoi proriso las
Mr. Winthrop is not) sufficiently demonstrates
that free soillsm Is entirely subordinate to loco
focoism We shall not be surprized ct any act
OF treachery to free soil from such men. But
10 the other side of the story. Mr. William, J
Brown had very easily conciated the favor Of
the vlrtuous Mr.. Wilmot-but this was no,
enough: he had also 10 win the votes of the
Slnvocrats, or fail. So let US see Mr. Brown ON
the Slavocratc track:
Mr. Boyley Of Va. being called on, deemed it
due to the gentleman from s. G. and to himself
TO state all that he knew about the matter When
the name Of the gentleman from Indiana was
first presented, he was inquired of by a great
number OF gentleman as to Mr.. Browns ylews.
He stated that he served with him in the TWEEN
iy-eighth Congress, and no man presented iair.
or record than he did that, in I845, he voted a.
gainSt the resolution of Mr.. Winfhrop, at that
time, 10 Incorporate The Win,ot propiso IN he Or
fgon bill ; that be knew Mr. Brown while he
held an office in Washington, and believed hun
10 be opposed to The Wilmot proviso. II was
suggested to have conversation with Mr.. Brown
lie tMr Buyley) said that he thought that he
could pledge himself that Mr. Brown was oppos.
cd to tho Wlmot proyiso, and Mr.. Brown told
him that he ,cas safe in doing &c. lie owed i,
10 himself iurher TO cay, although he felt indlg-
nant at the Time, IN consequence of the insnua-
ton Of Mr.. Stauly, because il was foo ,,nuo,,I,