The North-Carolina standard., 1849-12-19

and some member of the Freesoil party In which Mr..
Brown had pledged himself, if elected Speaker, to
constitute certain Committees in such manner as
would be satisfactory to the Freesoers. Mr.. Bayly
replied in the negative, and asked Mr.. Ashmun for
his authority. MI. A. gave common rumor." Mr..
Bayly then turned to Mr.. Brown and asked him if
any such correspondence had taken place, when the
latter t' shook his head.''
Soon after Mr.. Root got the floor, when he was
interrupted by Mr.. Bayly for the purpose of making
an explanation Mr. Bayly said he thought it due to
himself and the House to say, that since he was last
up he had had conversation with the gentleman
from Indiana, and that he was mistaken in saying that
no correspondence had taken-place between him and
the Freesoiers. Such correspondence had taken
place, but the letter would be produced and would
speak for ITSELF
Mr. Brown rose amid great excitement to explain.
He did so at some length He said when he came to
Washington he had not the remotest idea that he
would be taken up as candidate for Speaker. He
had entered the and voted for the nomnee and
afterwards gave him his support until he was aban-
doned. When it suggested to him that from his
position he could concentrate the Democratic vote,
and must be candidate for Speaker, he surpris-
ed. He then explained his position towards the Free
Soil question, and read his letter in reply to COM
munication from Mr.. Wilmot which he stated that
elected Speaker he would constitute the Judiciary,
District and Territorial Committees, to allow of
fair hearing upon the Free Soil and all other questions
After stating that Mr.. Brown was known by the
Frecord of his votes in the House to be sound upon
the Slavery question, and that he had been voted for
upon this ground by Southern Democrats, well as
upon the strength of personal assurances to the same
effect during the present session, Mr.. Bayly said
that if he had known any thing of the fact just disclos
ed no earthly consideration could have induced him
TO vote for that gentleman. He said that when Messrs
Stanly and Ashmun made their remarks in relation to
this matter, he was highly indignant, as the House
saw at the time. He thought their insnuations most
unfounded and ifliberal; but he rejoced that they
were made, and he thanked them for them. They
had led to disclosure to which the country was en-
lod bpf al 1NoJ I,o1 40
to the House from load of obloquy.
He was followed by number of Southern gentle
men, all of whom spoke in indignant terms of Mr..
Browns conduct.
Mr.. Venable said he desired to relieve himself from
the charge of occupying false position. He had,
day or two snce declared that he would in no event
vote for freesoier abolitionst. After this he
had repeatedly voted for tke gentleman from Indiana,
Mr.. Brown, of whose soundness, on the question
of slavery, he had entertained doubts. The dis
closures of this morning had led him to different
conclusion, by placing before the House facts of
which he (Mr. W was uninformed. 1t appears that
the gentleman has been in correspondence with the
gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr.. Wilmot,] the
putatve father of the Wilmo Proviso, with pledge
to organize the committees the District of Colum
ba, the Territories and the Judiciary satisfactorily to
those who were known the ultra free-soil party,
(Mr. Wlmot and his friends.) The opinions dis
closed by that gentleman Mr.. Brown] in his vindi-
cation this morning. to-wit his opposition to the
tension of slavery, and willingness to refer that
subject in the District of Columbia to a vote of the
inhabitants. render it impossible for him (Mr. Vena
be) to have voted for the gentleman from Indiana
Speaker. From that gentleman he had received
letter. during the late presidential canvass, expressing
his opposition freesoilism in every aspect he
understood it; and before he voted for him Speaker
he called upon that gentleman, and asked him if his
opinions had undergone any change He replied that
they had not. With these assurances, he voted with
pleasure for him, a sound from free State
another demonstration of southern that they had
no desire to make this geographical question. When
the correspondence announced this morning, he
(Mr. Venable) demanded, in common with many
others, that it should be read 1t has been read and
either the facts which it dscoses, or the opinions Of
the gentleman made known in his vindication, he
would not have voted for him as Speaker. The vote
was given under msapprehension of the facts after
due diligence to discover them. To be deceived pre-
suPPoses no derection of duty if an honest effort has
been made to obtain possession of the truth.
Mr.. Robinson of Ia. defended his colleague, and
explained that his understanding of the pledge given
by him was that in constituting those committees he
would place upon them majority of Free State men
not that they would be Free State in favor of the
Wimot Proviso.
Mr.. Dunham also explained the position of his COL
league. He defended him against the charge of de-
ception made by Southern gentlemen. He believed
that his colleague intended by the pledge nothing
more than that the committees would be constituted
Soil men. !
Mr.. Kaufman told Mr.. Durham that Mr.. Brown
was not charged with abolitonism, but with dupci-
ty and in the midst of much excitement and confu-
sion, the House adjourned.