Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-12-04
PARTIES AT WASHINGTON.

PARTIES All WASHINGTON.
In another article, we copy from the Southern
Press, reliable account of the extraordinary pro-
ceedngs of the caucus of Democratic members
of the House of Representatives that met at
Washington Saturday night 1t appears from
that account that some of the southern Democra-
tic members declined to attend the meeting. These
were evidently the extreme Southern Rights MEM
bers, and we are informed through private
sources, that the reason of their non attendance
was the fact, that it was we'll understood in Wash.
ington during the day that resolution declaring
the principle of adherence to the Compromise
measures would be offered. Among the non-at-
tendan1s, we hear were Messrs. Millson, Caskie
and Bocock, of Virginia. Mr. Meade and Mr..
Holiday did not reach Washington until Sunday
evening.
The important fact is now irrevocably before
the country, that at a meeting of the Democratic
Representatives, at which eighty-nine were pre-"
sent, resolution to stand by the Compromise
was laid on the table by decisive majority and
80 direct test was the vote upon this question
considered that such Democrats as Bayly, Polk,
and Jones left the assembly. With this prelimi-
nary dCtlOll, tie DeuIUCidtIC party went DIS d ult
into the House of Representatives on Monday,
and there elected the nominees chosen by the
caucus, after it had been left in the hands of the
ant-Compromise anti Slavery Northern Demo-
Gratis
What, on the other hand, was the course of
the Wing members? They assembled on Monday
morning before the meeting Of the House, and,
~ III lie h.
way left the meeting, adopted the following re-
lutien
Resolved, That we regard the series of acts, known
as the adjustment measures, as forming in their
tuaI dependence and connection syslem OF conpro-
mise the most concillaory, and the best for the
tire country that could be obtained from conflicting
sectional interests and opinions; and that therefore
they ought to be adhered and carried into faithful
execution final settlement in principle and sub
stance OF the dangerous and exciting subjects which
they embrace"
The reader will observe that the resolution is
in the phraseology used by President Fillmore in
his first annual message.
With this programme of principles, announced
on either side, rejection OF the Compromise by
one party, and adherence to it by the other, the
HOUSE commenced its organization. The cleo
ton of Speaker being the first thing in order,
South, who was one of the small squad of dis.
senting Wings, nominated Mr.. Thaddeus Ste
vens, of Pennsylvania, another character of the
same strike. Then debate sprang up which
we regret that we cannot insert in full Mr..
Jones, of ennessee, one of the seceders from the
caucus, (bnt not a secessionist,) announced that
he should vote for Mr.. Boyd because he was "a
tried and true Compromise and Union man. Mr.
Carter, of Ohio, a rabd anti.slavery member, said
he should support Mr.. Boyd simply because he
was ''the nominee of the Democratic party."-
Mr.. Stanly then put some pertinent inquiries
concerning the proceedings in caucus Saturday
night. Mr.. Jones thought the Wings might well
attend to their own concerns. Mr.. Brooks, OF
New York, then said, "He had the pleasure to
inform the gentleman from Tennessee that this
morning the Wings of the House assembled in
large numbers; and, by decided and emphatic
expression of opinion, had acquiesced in the CON-
promise measures" And Mr.. b. commented
strongly upon the different positions occupied by
the Democratic members.
Mr. Meade assumed the task Of defending his
party. He first asserted that the Compromise
resolution was passed by the Southern Wings
united with a small fraction of Northern Wings.
This Mr. Brooks denied, and he stated that "a
lsrge ma ority Of the caucus were from the
North" and out of about eighty Wing members,
'the number present was between fifty and sixty"
He read the resolution as above, and said there
were "but four or five opponents, to it," Mr.
Meade tried vainly to work out sum proving
the truth of his first assertion, that the majority
were Southern Wings. He went on to speak Ct
the resolution as political trick to catch South
ern votes-a happy commentary truly upon the
fruiress effort of Col. Polk and Mr. Bayy to get
a similar resolution through the Democratic eau
Gus. He said he repudated all Northern Demo-
Gratis "who were opposed to the Compromise
what then OF Southern Democrats who, like Mr..
Meade, are in the same category?
Mr.. Richardson OF Illinois, made hard pass
at MIR. Brooks for lodging the final vote on the
fugitive law; and that gentleman frankly met
it by confessing his fault and pleading penitence.
He stated, however, that he had given ten dis
tinct votes in favour of the measure.
The discussion was continued by Mr. Cabell
in a speech Of which we copy the whole report,
as it presents one very important aspect of the
present Po'i''oh vi paiNeS III congress, ana
proves that Southern Wing, who went to
Washington prepared to sacrifice party afilia-
tons in order to take his stand distinctly upon
the Compromise and the Union, and even ex-
pected the Democratic party of the House to be
more favourable to. the South than the Wing par
ty, found the Wings on the true ground and the