The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-24
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EAAAWENOn d. IUE HyAIvA
WASHINGTON, January a2, l8As.
me Sotfher~ Co~vertio,s-7ne Adoption of Mr..
calhos~'s Marifesto.
The third of the Southern caucuses WAS bsId !,
the Senate Chamber to night Some seventv
southern members were In attendance
Mr.. Metcalfe in the chair. Proceedings of Lao,
meeting read by Mr.. Venable, secretary.
Mr.. King, Of Alabama, presented the new ad.
dress, written by Mr.. Berrien, of the committee
appointed to prepare 1t for the caucus.
This address adopts, bodily, the recapltuIatlou
OF Mr. Calhoun's address presented and recon.
united at the last meeting. This recapitulaton is
summing up OF the aggressons of the North upon
the institution Of slavery In the South. To this
extent Mr.. BerrIen adopted the address OF Mr.
Calhoun; but no more. Mr.. Calhoun closes with
an appeal to the vigilance and union of the South,
IN the protection and v,ndicaton of their rights
uhoer the constitution. Mr. Berrien, in lieu Of
lhis appeal, addresses himself to the whole Union.
gressons OF the North
Inc question was upon the adoption ofMr Ber-
riehs ADDRESS, or rather upon the alternative of
choosing between IT and the address of Mr. Cal
hOun.
A long desultory discussion sprang 40. in which
disunion, treason, slavery, abolition, an indeoen
gent GENT Southern republic, the dependence Of the
&c:, were freely interlarded.
The wings, between the two addresses prefer
red that OF Mr. Berrien-the democrats that of
Mr.. Calhoun; there were, however, some twenty
wings present, who would have preferred to drop
the whole business, and adjourn, sine die
In the debate. Messrs. Bernen, Of Ga; Bayly, of
Va; Jefferson DAVIS, of Miss Rhet, of S. C.;
Bedinger, of Va; Mason, of Va; Iverson, OF Ca;
Texas; Metcalfe, of Ky; Gayle, Of Ala; Stephens,
OF Ga; and Others took part
The address of Mr. Bernen, was rejected ~ to
The address of Mr.. Calhoun, subject to trifing
notifications, was adopted 36 to 49,
The resolutions from New York, on the slavery
question, had their influence on this decision.
The address and proceedings will be published
IN few days. OF the speeches made tonight.
those OF General Houston and Mr. Metcalfe were
the strongest for the Union, while those of Messrs
Bayly, Bedinger, and Mason, Of Va, and Rhett.
OF the benefits of a separate Southern republic
Mr. Berrlen distinguished himself in support of his
address to the whole Union, and Mr. Gayle, Of
Ala, was IN favor of everything
The reporters were excluded, though one or two
renamed at the keyhOle. In ordinary cases, we
would condemn such eavesdroppins; but although
In this instance, as In others not exactly suited to
the taste OF your reporter, he does not consider 1t
objectionable In this business the part of those
who listened at the door. In such caucuses, we
should consider any means of obtaining Hearing,
as perfectly honorable and praise worthy. w.
[Correspondsnoe Of the Phils. North American
WASHINGTON. Jan. 3D. o'clock, A. M.
The Southern caucus assembled last evening at
the hour designated The attendance was not 20
large as on the former occasion, number of tho
wings having refused to be present. The meeting
after being organized, was opened by the reading
of MIR. Berrien's address.
This was followed bya spirited and vehement
discussion. Mr. Mason led oil, IN opposition to the
address, which he characterized as petition and
not declaration OF rights Mr.. Bayly followed.
ina speech laudatory Of Mr.. Calhoun's manifesto,
which ne insisted took the true ground Mr.. Cen
try commended that no action was necessary, and
adduced cogent reasons IN vlndication Of that
opinion. Mr.. FOote sustained Mr. Berrien and the
viewsembodled IN his address Mr.. Hllliard adj
vocated postponement Of the whole subject till
after the 23d of February.
At thus period, Mr. Stephens introduced mo-
ton, declaring that it was inexpedlent to adopt
any action. Mr.. Bedinger and MI Iverson resist
ed this proposition, and advocated with great
warmth the original address. In consequence of
remark made by Mr.. Nerson. MIR. Morehead IN
CURED OF HIM whether, in case the Wilmot Pro-
viso prevailed, ne was In favor of dissolution Ts
this question MIR. Iverson answered " Yes" and
his sentiment was warmly appIauded by portion
of the IOcOfOc0s.
Mr. Rhett regarded the paper presented by Mr..
ed to the exigency which existed. South Caro-
lima, he said, had taken her ground, and she could
not be forced to retreat The time for action had
come; and he was prepared to engage in it in
whatever form 1t might be necessary. The reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Stephens was laid on the
tablf-ayes, So; nays, 10. Considerable and very
animated discussion followed; and Mr. Berren's
address was rejected by vote Of ayes 26, nays s.
Mr. Calhoun's manifesto was then taken up and
adopted-ayes 30, nays 49, On this final vote but
a single wing (Mr. Gayle, of Alabama) voted in
the affirmative. Many of the loc0tocos refused
to vote at all, and some Of them voted nay.