Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1850-01-07
: Icorresponasnce Of the Plain Dealer,l

Correspondence Of the Plain Dsaler.l
Columbus in C0mm0lIoH The last Flare
up-PariicllarS Gf the Agreement, be-
tween swift and Biake-Payne's witt
eriDg speech Blake disgraced.
COLUMBUS, an, =. 1850 )
Ma. EslroR:-I have just returned from
the Senate Chamber, in which have wit.
messed ono of the a,os, poinful scenes OF
The session. Indeed nothing, arm told,
which took place during The exciting scenes
ol last winter, begin to equal it.
You have already been informed that
Mr.. Blake wns elected Speaker by the vote
OF Mr.. Swiit-he having received satisfac.
tory assurances that johnson would be re-
tained in his seat until the final trial of his
right. In other words. that Mr.. Blake &C.
ceded TO the condition expressed in Mr..
Swill.s letter, declining being candidate
fora Speaker, in which he declared he
would vote for any one for Speaker, irre-
epective Of party. What, then, was the
surprise Of Democratic Senators when, TO-.
day, Mr.. Bake recognized Broadwel as
in his seat, and ordered the Clerk TO call
his name. You can imhg.ne, but cannot
describe the disorder that occurred.
1t Appeals that MIR. PAYNE Of our coun.
ty, was the one who negotiated the arrange
ment with Mf. Blake, whicn resulted in
his election as Speaker. Under the cir.
cumstances he felt called Upon 10 disclose
that arrangement. This he did in one oi
the most sea thing SPEECHES | have ever
heard from human lips He stated. thai
Mr.. Blake called on him, unsolicited, to
see if some arrangement could not be
made TO org snizs the House The result
Of that interview, and ono or two more, held
soon atier was the reduction to writing Of
some terms Of an agreement, which were
submitted io.hlr. Swift for his consideration,
MIR. Swift declined personally 10 negotiate
with Mr.. Blake, but requested Mr.. Payne
and Mr. Blake to meet the next morning
at M. Hamlin's room. In the meantime
Mr.. Swift called on Mr.. Hamlin, and re.
quested him 10 assure Mr.. Blake that he
would vote for him Tor Speaker ifhe would
agree to recognize Johnson in his seat -
Messrs. Payne and Blake accordingly met
a, Mr. Humlin's room, and at their request,
he dew up the following agreement, and
signed it us a witness. l give you the very
words Of it:
".uemorandam nf an agreement for tie pur-
pose et fleeing ar organization cf the SENATE.
eft is sagreed-FIKsr: MIR. johnson shall re-
tain his seat as Senator until his final right to
seat shall be determined after the Report Of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections.
"a Free Soil Senator to be elected Speaker.
"Mr. Knappto be elected Clerk;
"We will give our votes, if necessary, to carry
out the above Arrangement.
December 20, lsA9.n =
Mr. Blake read this over, and pledged his
honor to carry it out, if elected Spe .ker.
The agreement was not signed-Mr.
Blake saying be did not think i. bes, TO
sign papers of,hat kind, but requested Mr..
Hamlin to sign il, as witness, which he
did, in the presence of him and Mr. Payne
Mr. lIamiin was requested to snow the wri-
ting TO Mr. Swift, and if he. agreed to it,
l. keepit il his possession. il was accord.
ingIy shown 10 Mr. Swifi;-ne agreed 10
it, and voted for Blake for Speaker. He
was elected, and on the second ballot voted
Tor Knapp Tor Clerk.
From that dny TO this, Johnson has been
recognized as Senator-lnade motions, vo.
ted, his votes have been recorded, and the
Journal read and approved-no objection
being made. W hat, then. ask, was the
as,onishment Of all, when Broadwell, to.
dav, demanded fright 10 vote as Senator,
and that righ, was recognized by the Spea-
ker! = - :.
Mr. Blake justified his conduct upon the
ground that the Democrats will not per.
init him 10 appoint the committee on Privi.
leges and Elections But itappears that
he was told by Mr. Payne, at the time the
agreement was made, that the Democrats
would endeavor to take that commiuee
from his hands, and would take advantage
OF every other parliamentary iule to keep
B caldwell from his seat. 10 which Mr.
Bake replied, ''he did not care, out Mr.
Payne must moi expect his wee"
Again, il is said, he jnstifes his course
upon the ground that he was told by a
Den ocrat that MIR Johnson would not vote
in his own case, but Ire now thinks he will
This is no excuse. He does not pretend
he was told so by Mr. Payne or Mr. Swift.
He should have made it condition Of the
agreement that MIR Johnson should moi
thus vote. He knew tha. the very reason
Mr. Swift voted for him in preference to
Mr. Randall was, that Mr. Randall insisted
on that condition, while Mr. Blake did not
/ have no remarks TO make upon .hi
event. The violation by Senator Of his
honor and plighted faith, and the utter pros
tralion Of his Influence and character, ane
the disgrace which they bring upon the
State, are TOO painful events for though, or
comment. 5i's
By this move nothing will be gained by
the Wings Knapp will not call Broad
Wells name. The Speaker calls it, bu
Knapp does not record his vote, and hi
name will not appear in the Journal
There seems to be hut little chance for nm,
fiLegisla,ion this winter. Sill, let US hop
thai the Constitutional bill will at least b
passed in some way, and the State be save
| from ma archv X