The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1849-12-24
From the Washington Union.
I .ETTER EROM MIR. BROWN.


myself, that you publish this communication.
After | had received So votes for speaker, on
Monday last, and after the House had adjourn
ed, was sent for to 20 to the room OF men,
her. When | arrived thee. learned that it
was for the purpose fhaving conference with
Mr. Wlmot, Of Pennsylvania, who SOON alter
came into the room. He informed me that
they were satisfied with the position of MIR. Pot.
ter, or Ohio, and had been ready to vote for him
if the time bad arrived when their votes would
have made choice; and that they were willing
to vote for me if would agree to give them .tar
committees on the District of Columbia, the
Judiciary, and on Territories; that neither him.
self nor the gentleman from New York, (Mr.P.
King,) desired to be upon the committees; that
all he and his friends asked was, that the ablcst
men of the different parties, and both sections
of the Union, might he selected; bnt they asked
that they should be impartial and unprecedented
upon the question Of slavery; that their fears
were tha, might so constitute these commit.
Ices. as 10 sife what he regarded as public
sentiment of a majority of the country. sta.
ted to him in reply, ,ha, regarded his request
as reasonable and That, if elected, should con-
stitute these committees Of lair and impartial
men, that whatever might be my views upon
any and all question, | would not use my power
as Speaker in such manner as to prevent any
important question from being fully presented
and discussed in The House. MIR. Wilmm ap.
pearcd satisfied and left me.
| knew The reason why | was n'errogated.
had always been regarded as entertaining
feelings more friendly to the South than ma
iarity Of the Representatives from the North.
As member ofhr 29th Congress had adso
Gated the application of,he Missouri compro
mise to the Texas bill, and voted against the
application ofthe ordinance to the Oregon bill,
because it was north Of that line. For four
years had been Assistant Postmaster General,
and had neither voted at an election nor beeh
member of Congress, and hsd no opportunity,
ofrecordins my vote upon these exciting ques.
ions. I'd not, therefore, object to placing
nv verbal &. ciarations upon record.
i'll had been elected, | feel confident that
should have organized these committees in such
manner as no southern man, drmocrat or
whg, would have complained Of Intended
to constitute 4he,n Of fuir anil impartial men.
who would have thoroughly investigated and
reported upon all constitutional questions. with.
ont regard to sectional or party bias. | was
lnterroga,ed by a number Of somhern m'n, To
all Of whom said that had always been OPP
posed to the Wilmot Proviso. was friend
and supporter of General Cass, and in nv can
vass for Congeess was opposed by Wimot
Provso whis Of the Taylor school. Twas call.
ed a Calhoun southern man-advoca,ed the
doctrines of the Cass Nicholson letter, with the
acceptions Of his views as to The constitutional
power Of Congress to lsgislaie for the rerrilo-
rirs. That power have never doubled Com
gress possessed. Bnt was in favor Of leaving
The question Of the institution of slavery to be
settled by The people who ieht inhabi' the ter
rilories. In other words was for non interfrr
ence. But whilst these we're my views, and
Wills, was willing to let the people determine
this question for themselves, under no circun.
stances could vote for territorial bill having
, in it a provision to establish the institution oi
slavery. have re peatrdly said that although
| deemed The Proviso unnecessary and useless
| should have no objection to see bill. with its
provisions, presented to Gen. Taylor for his
signature; as at the North he has been rrgar
ded as iavoring the measure. and at the Son'h
opposed to it, slated to several southern gentle
men that my mind was no, clear as 10 the con.
s,u,ionaI power to abolish slavery in the Dis.
,rn.. oc Columbia. was anxious, that il the
oro.,;,, wor s.~itated this winter, that d 1cpor,
miab, be made from, an able committee ofIesal
gentlemen.
Mr.. Van Buren, believed that Cuagr'ss pos
srssed that power, and yet the south v'ted tor
him. | have always taken the open ground
that Congress should not interfere with the
institution of slavery in the Districts d Coum.
ba without the consent of the Inhabitants. II
Congress possess the power to abolish slavery
in the District and the people consent, no one
should object. The question of tie power OF
Congress is a judicial, and nota legislative
question. In writing this letter Committed an
error, but have made no declaration to these
men in relation to the committees except that
they should be fairly constituted. made no
declaration to southern or noahern men but
what shall be fully sustained ls my votes, i'll
have an opportunity before Cnsrrss adourns.
have been consistent and ny future conduct
shall prove it. desire to seelhe House organ.
lied, and am read y to vote or any Democrat,
without inqniring whether he lives in the north
or the soulh-wheleer he i for or against the
proviso. One thing our s'l'hern Democratic
friends should remernber-hat in the north the
sentiment against the r1ielsion of slavery is al
most universal: and five nre required to be
come the advocates nflhi' extension, our places
will be filled with whig. In this corresp"n'
dence consulted none 1t my friends. alone
am responsible. mad no pledges 10 any one.
Nv letter was ioundrdon the verbal convcrsa
lion with Mr.. Wimol, which is fully sustained
NV his spcecb. w. ]. DRowN.
WASHINGTON, DeG ~, lS49.
Ep1scopAL CHunH.-Thc bishops OF Ma.
ryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, New
| Ioreoy ,rd Wssten New York. have, 1t is sta.