Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1849-12-22
rnocEEnlNGs on eONeREss.

One of the most exciting and remarkable days
! ever witnessed in Congress, has ended with de-
! yeloPments which are painful and Illuminating
/ to record No mere political triumph can Oh
! literate the stain which attaches to its events,
! as no atonement on the part Of the offender can
restore the inward reputation of the body when
he SO shsmefully dsgraced
II apparent as soon as the House con
! vened this morning, from the air OF satisfaction
exhibited by our opponents, they were confident
! of victory, and held the fate of the day IN their
! own hands. This conscious tone oil power IN
| duced the suspicion that there had been loul
! pay in some quarter, and much interest was eN-
cited as to the course of the faction holding the
! balance ofpower. The proceedings were open
! ed by q statement from Mr.. Cobb, of Alabama,
I who read from an article in the CatOn IN which
he was assailed for refusing to support the can
ddate of the party. He Informed the House
/ that his vote could not be influenced by any
such system OF dctation; but in less than
hour afterwards he succumbed, and kissed the
( rod which smote him.
! Mr.. Wilmot then rose and returned thanks TO
the friends who had conferred upon him the
marks of their confidence and esteem, by sup
porting him as a candidate for the SpeakeIship,
but he thought the time had come when 1t was
proper for him TO withdraw, and he hoped their
votes would be cast in some other direction.
This movement produced much sensation on the
floor and in the galleries, which were throngcd
with anxious spectators. The balloting then
commenced, and every vote was watched with
attention. Mr.. Allen, Mr.. Durice, Mr.. Gid
dings Mr.. 7. King, and Mr.. Wllmot, success
siyely voted for Mr.. Brown IN the order OF their
names. When this fact was disclosed, sever
al of the southern Democrats held back, and MIR.
Seddon and Mr.. Bocock, of Virginia, with Gen.
Wallace, of South Carolina, withdrew from the
support Of Mr.. Brown and voted for Mr.. Boyd.
/ When they retired MIR. Cobb, ofAlabama, came
TO his relief, and has vote was received with
much applause, under the impression that 1t
tI-.xl
that Mr. Brown had received but III votes, be-
ing two short of the number necessary to a
choice.
/ At this stage Of the proceedings, Mr.. Stanley
proposed the appointment Of a committee con-
sisting Of three members from each of the great
parties, for the purpose of reporting officers to
The House Mr.. Bayly, OF Virginia, opposed the
motion with considerable feeling, and express
sed the readiness of his party TO proceed, with
the assurance that they were able to effect an
election. Mr.. Ashmun interrupted him, by IN
! quiring whether pledges had not been given BY
the candidate on the other side. Mr.. Bayly
promptly repelled the imputatlen, and denounc-
ed il as unworthy. Mr.. Ashmuu replied, that
there was perhaps correspondence, as he had
( heard rumors to that effect. This was denied
with equal positiyeness by Mr.. Baylv, who
seemed 10 treat the statement a. gross and uu-
inst reflection Mr. Root followed in one OF his
clever speeches, but waI interrupted by MIR.
Baylv, who wished to withdraw the denial he
had made in regard 10 the existence OF cor
respondence, having been since informed that
/ letters had passed between different members
on the floor. Amidst much excitement, occa-
stoned by this admission, Nr. Brown rose 10 ex-
plain what had occurred, and 10 deny that any
bargain had been made. 1t was evident, from
1 the first moment Of his appearance on the floor,
that lac was convicted and detected IN an al
tempt at imposition. lis whole manner be-
trayed his fears and the certainty Of hls expo
sure.
After a confused statement of his opinions in
reference 10 slavery be said he was prepared 70
exhibit his answer to certain inquiries which
had been propounded TO him by the gentleman
from nsylyania-Mr. Wilmot. Here there
was a general call for the letter. After pre-
tending to search for MIR Wmot's interroga-
tories he found them missing, and then called
Upon him to state their substance 10 the House
before he read his reply. Mr. Wilmot respond
ed, by saying he had held a conversation with
MIR. Brown in regard 10 his prospects for the
Speakership, and among other things, it had
been suggested that the support Of himself aud
bis friends could be obtained upon condition
that the free sentiment of the country, which
had heretofore been stiled, could have express
sion upon the Committees, by the selection Of
fair Northern men. To this effect he had ad
dressed him note, after receiving satisfactory
assurances in his interview
Mr.. Stevens, Of Penusy lyauia, inquired Of MIR.
Wilmot, whether il was understood that in con-
ern men should be allowed To which he an
swered in the aIirmatiyei when there was
general exclamation from both sides Of the
House.
Mr. Brown resumed the floor and cndeavored
TO extrcatc himself from the accumulation of
embaTrassments. lie proceeded 10 read his re-
ply, which bound him to organize the Commit
tees on 1errtorieS the Judiciary and the Dis
trict of Columbia, satisfactorily TO Mr.. Wilmot
and his friends, and expressed the conviction
that it was the duty Of Congress to arrest the
extension Of slavery, wherever it had the con-
sttutional power The reading of the letter IN
creased the confusion, and Mr. Brown sat down
amidst sneers and derision from all quarters.
ii was now evident the tide had turned, and
he who bat few hours before the layorite
of fortune, was TO be discarded as an outcast.
The Southern gentlemen who has voted in com
pany with Mr.. Giddings and Mr.. Wilmot, found
il necessary 10 define their positions and TO justi-
fy themselves before their constituents. Mr..
Burt said he had supported Mr.. Brown without
pledges, because he did not think an honorable
man could exact them from candidate for so
digDfcd office, nor an honorable man would
consent to make them. This hit did not seem
to be particularly relshed by Wilmot or Brown.
He had believed The gentleman, while North
ern man and holding Northern sentiments, to be
conservative on the question Of slavery, and
not aggressive in his inclinations, and therefore
had supported him. But he would call on the
member from Virginia, who had more intorma-
tion on the subject, to state what he knew. Mr..
Bayly said that Mr.. Brown assured him he was
opposed 10 the Wilmot Proviso. He had served
with him in the 28th Congress, and believed the
vote which he then gave against the prohibition
Of slavery the Oregon Bill, with his recent
assurances, formed the ground upon which he
stood Had he known of the correspondence
with the member from Pennsy ylyana, he not on
Iy would never have voted for Mr. Brown, but
he would have regarded it as an insult TO have
been asked to do so.
Mr.. Venable volunteered to state that, in a
very recent conversation on this subject, Mr.
Brown had expressed his decided opposition TO
the Wimot Proyiso in every form, thereby con-
! irming the general pledge which had been given