The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-05-12
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 10, 1862.
To the Editor of the Republic

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, May 10, 1852.
To the Editor Of the Republic:
SIR: A friend has called my attention to an
article in your paper of Saturday last, which
makes such reference to me as justifes my ask
ing some space in your columns. The article |
refer to has been copied 1T tho request of the
Hon. Ben. Edwards Grey, from the Louisville
Journal. In justice to my friend from Ken
lucky, Col. Grey, think it right to say that
know that in asking its republication he was not
at all influenced by any desire to give currency
to that comparatively small portion of it which
referred especially to myself. Though none
who know the character of the Louisville Jour
nal would regard me as under any obligation to
notice any atteck which it might contain, or to
have any controversy with its editor, yet your
having republshed it, and at the request, too,
Of highly respectable member of Congress,
places the matter in a different light. | avail
myself, therefore, of the occasion thus offered,
because ! desire to present some points con-
nected with the action of the late Wing Con-
gressional caucus, which are not only necessary
to my own defence, but may also be of interest
to the public.
Waving, therefore, the consideration of the
general topics which have been so fully discussed
in the address of the seeding members already
published, will confne my remarks to a brief
statement of some Of the essential points In
the first place, did not leave the caucus sim
ply because it refused to adopt the precise reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Marshall or by Mr.. Gentry.
AS stated, these propositions did not in my
opinion, go as far IS they should have done /;
and, therefore, proposed an additional one by
way of amendment. also reminded the pre-
siding officer that in the caucus held for SINH
lar object four years ago, at which the same
gentleman, my colleague, Mr.. Mangum, presided,
the question as to whether there should be any
national convention at ALL was entertained as the
preliminary proposition, and that there had been
much discussion, and various suggestions reat-
ing TO that single question; and that in fact on
the first evening of our meeting no other sub
ject was taken up for consideration and that it
was not until some weeks after we, by a vote of
the caucus, had settled this as preliminary ques-
ton, that the time and place Of holding the
convention were fixed. also argued that if, in
accordance with this former precedent, such n
question was now entertained we might either
determine to recommend that there should be
no convention at all, or recommend it with quail
i6catons or conditions. Though the chairman
stated that he well remembered that such had
been the course of proceeding at the time re-
ferred to, yet he declined to follow that prece-
dent. 1t was because he decided that he should
hold out of order any proposition except such
as related to the time and place, which decision
was sustained by the majority, that declined
to take further part in the proceedings of the
caucus.
My reasons, as briefly given and already pub
lished, were as follows. Icopy them from the
Southern Press of April "a:
Remarks of Mr.. Chngman in the Caucus
Mr.. President, if the same indulgence is extend.
ed to me that has been given to other gentlemen
during the discussion of this point of order, ]
can say all desire to say TO the meeting Iii
the more necessary that should offer a few
words, because, though agree substantially
with those gentlemen, yet neither of the propo-
sitions submitted by my friend from Kentucky,
mr. MARSHALL, or by my friend from Tennes-
see, (Mr. GErrRy,] precisely meets my own
views. II is we'll known that not only voted
against most of the compromise bills, but that
have also voted more recently against the reso-
lutions approving them: To prevent misrepre-
sentation. therefore, and in order that my posi-
ton may be properly understood, have pre-
pared proposition, which l intend to offer ~