Washington telegraph., 1850-01-02


in the Hall OF Representatives was ex-
ceedingly rare and interesting after the
termination of the fortieth ballotting for
Speaker, when Mr.. VIM. J. Brown. Of
Indiana, came within two votes OF an
election. After the vote was ascer-
tanned, Mr. Stanley offered a resolution
that the Numbers of the Democratic party
appoint three of their number, to confer
with an equal number of members of the
Wing patty, relative to the choice of
Speaker. A motion was Immediately
made on the Democratic side of the
House. tolay the resolution on the table.
In reply 10 the motion Mr.. Stanley, in
| timated, that there was something rot
ten in Dnmark" and stated that "ne
blushed fq the Democrats" upon which
Mr. Bayl, of Va, and other members of
the Democratic party became exceedingly
Indignant that charge of unfairness
should even be animated against their
candidate. 1t appeared, however, on
further investigation, that the Honorable
| (9 gentleman from Indiana had been
playing double-pointing his Southern
friends to his former votes, and stating
that he had made no pledges. while at
the same time he had secretly pledged
himself to the Free Soilers, that if elected
Speaker he would so constitute the com
mittees IN the Territories, and the Dis
trict of Columbia. as to be satisfactory
TO them. When it was discovered that
he had been in correspondence with the
Free Soilers much excitement was man.
ifested, and the corresl ondence loudly
called for. Mr.. Brown attempted to ex-
plain, but the e'letter-read twas heard
from all quarters. Mr. Wilmot then
read the following:
''WAsHINGToN, Dec. II, lS49.
"Hon DAVID WILMoT,
"DEAR SIR: In answer to yours of this date, |
will state that, should be elected Speaker, will
constitute the Committees on the District oil Co.
lumha, OH the Territories, and Oh the Judiciary,
in such manner as shall be Salts actory to your
friends and to yourself. am the rep. esenlatve
of free State, and have always been opposed TO
the extension of slavery and further, think that
the Federal Government should be relieved from
all responsibility OF slavery where they have the
constitutional power to abolish 1t
WILLIAM ] BROWN"
After the reading of the letter, Mr. |
McMuIIen, of Va, stated that he had |
that morning called Oh MIR. Brown, aud |
that in reply to an inquiry, as to whether
he had given pledge to the Free Soilers,
MIR. Brown stated that "no one had call
ed on him upon the subject and that he
had made no pledge to them, or Of any |
kind, except that he had said, that in
constituting the committees on Territories |
and the committee on the District of |
Columbia, he would place gentlemen of
the House where he thought they should
he placed, and that he would be governed
in his selection by the standing and
ability of gentlemen.
When the investigation was through |
and every one satisfied of Mr.. Browns
duplicity and double dealing, he with
drew his name as candidate for Speaker.
Some of the members who voted for him |
requested the privilege of withdrawing
their names, SO that they might not APP |
pear upon the journals as having voted |
for a Free Stockholders acknowledged |
that they had been deceived into his
support, and expressed their satisfaction
that the opposition had brought about
an investigation, before he was elected, |
which he doubtless would have been
had the investigation not taken place. |
While these explanations were being
made, Mr.. Brown stood in the midst of the
assemblage like canine whose caudal ex-
tremity had been cutoff or driven in
The mere selection of such man as
VIM. J. Brown, for the Speakership, over
unexceptionable gentlemen Of the same
party, was in itself sufficiently disgusting,
but his position after the disclosure OF
his secret coalition with the Free SoIers,
was enough to make decent man throw
up his boots. If his constituents are not
ashamed of him they are hard faced set
of christians.
CURIOUS AFFAIR "A female boarding
school on the frontier of Poland, in the
town of Kalisch, has been put under ar
rest for insurrectionary movements II
is announced to the highest tribunals at
Warsaw that there has been detected a