The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-12-03
Meeting OF the Wing Members OF the House
OF Representatives.


OF Representatives.
Ia pursuance Of the CALL meeting of The
Wing members Of the House of Represents
tives was held on Monday morning, December
LIST, at The Capitol, between fifty and sixty
members being present.
On motiop Of Mr.. MARSHALL, of Kentucky.
the meeting was organized by the appointment
of Mr.. OUTLAW, Of North Carolina, as chair
man, and Mr.. MooRE, of Pennsylvania, as Sc
cretary. The chairman having stated that the
meeting was ready To hear any proposition that
might be offered, Mr.. BRooKs, of New York,
said that he supposed one of the main objects
OF the meeting was TO consult as to the pro
priety Of making nomination for Speaker Of
the House, and remarked, that in view of
the large majority against them, his opinion
was that it would be incxpcdient to make such
nomination, but that each member should be left
to exercise his own judgment when the time for
action arrived. The views of Mr. BRooKs seeming
to be universally acquiesced in by the meeting
MIR. WILLIAMS, Of Tennessee, said that, if there
was no further business before the meeting, he
would suggest the proprcty of adjourning, and ac
cordingly made the motion, which he subsequent
ly withdrew at the request Of
Mr.. EvANs, Of Maryland, who said that he
hoped the meeting would not adjourn without
taking some action upon a subject Of grave and
momentous importance 10 the country and n
question which they would inevitably be COM
PEELED to meet, here or elsewhere-which subject
was the Compromise measures Of the last Con-
gress, and which measures he understood had been
summariy rejected by the Democratic party on
Saturday evening last. He earnestly hoped that the
representatives Of the Wing party there assembled,
majority Of whom he pleased to see were
from the non-slaveholding States, would not hest.
tate or fater in their duty to the country at this
important period, but that some gentleman pre-
sent would offer resolution upon this subject for
the consideration and action of the meeting
MIR. HAvENs, of New York, said that he was
there for the first time in the capacity of a repre-
sentative in Congress, and that he came there not
only rs a Wing, but as a Union Whig-a Compro-
mise Wing; and in that spirit and feeling he had
prepared resolution embodying in substance the
principles of the Presidents Message upon this
subject, which he would offer for the consideration
Of the meeting. in the following words:
''Resolved, That we regard the series of acts
known as the Adjustment measures as forming in
their mutual dependence and connexion system
oil compromise the most conciatory and the beat
for the entire country that could be obtained from
conflicting sectional interest and opinions and
that, therefore, they ought to be adhered to and
carried into faithful execution final settlement,
in principle and substance, OF the dangerous and
exciting subjects which they embrace"
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania, in a few remarks,
said that he considered resolution of that kind un
necessary and injudicious, as it was the rocl,
upon which the Wing party had split two years
ago; and he therefore hoped it would not be passed
Mr.. FOWLER, OF Massachusetts said that he
would not consent to be bound by the principles of
that resolution, and in order to teEt the sense Of
the meeting upon it, he would move to lay it on
the table.
Mr.. MARSHALL, Of Kentucky, said he was not
particular about forms, and he was willing the test
should be applied in the form suggested by the
gentleman from Massachusetts. Indeed, he thought
il would probably be the best and most effective,
since he Understood that it was the same form in
which the test had been applied in the Democratic
caucus. 1t would eminently well to indi-
cate to the country the real position of gentlemen
when the matter presented to each party came in
identically the same form. And since the Demo-
cratic party had voted down similar resolution
he thought it became the duty Of the Wings to
take their true position and, if the views of the
gentleman from Massachusetts to prevail,
the path of duty was plain to him.
Mr.. WILLIAMs, of Tennessee, then moved the
previous question.
Mr.. STEVENS, of Pennsylvania, said he hoped the
motion would be withdrawn to enable him to
amend the resolution; which refused.
The vote was then taken upon the motion to lay
upon the table, which motion was lost by decided
majority, when
Mr.. STEVENS of Pennsylvania, Mr.. Fowler Of
Massachusetts, and one two other gentlemen
whose names were not known TO the officers of the
meeting, withdrew.
The motion was then put upon the original reso
luton, which carried with but two or tht ee
dissenting voices and, motion of Mr.. Will
LIAMs, the meeting then adjourned.
DAVID OUTLAW, Chairman
Henry ID. MooRB, Secretary