The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-05-04

Now sir ask you-- ask the House, particularly the
wing part OF it-how they can claim 10 be the hnallty
party when two test voesone in caucus and one IN the
Househave exhibited that the whole whg streng h In
Congress favor OF the compromise measures, as they
now are, is only tweniy-seveni AN
MIR. OUTLAW. ! had the honor ot presiding over
that meeting; but am not able TO state distinctly the
number present. did count the persons who
were there The gentleman who acted as secretary Of
that meeting directed 10 ascertain the individuals
who were present, and he informed me he had done
Upon The motion 10 lay the resolution upon the table,
there large vote, though am confident the gentle
man from Massachusetts Mr.. FowLER] Is mistaken
when he says there ooe-third There was consid
erable number who did 10 lay the resolution upon
the table; but upon the adoption OF the resolution,
state-and am all who were there present will
confirm my stalemen--if there more than four
i've opposed 10 that resolution, they made convenient
10 keep that opposition TO themselves They dld not de-
clare upon that occasion about TO state further
that, when the resolution adopted. the honorable
gentleman from Massachusetts, [Mr. FOWLER. !. and the
honorable gentleman from Pennsylvania, lMr. Srr'
yEssl and perhaps one or two Others retired IRON the
Mr. POLK cannot allow the gentleman to occupy
any more OF my lime.
Several VoIcss Oh, let him finish.
MIR. POLK. Very well.
MIR. OUTLAW. was going on further 10 state that
when the resolution was adopted the honorable gentle
Bile gentleman from Pennsylvania MI SrrvEss,l and
perhaps Others retired IRON the meeting My
impression is that there were about hiiy members
present. though cannot state positively as fact the
number present, because | did not count them.
Mr.. FOWLER ! wish 10 aid one single word. II
was the understanding, the suggestion oil the gentle
man from Kentucky. [Mr MAasaALL.l that the vote TO
lay on the table should be the test vote. think he will
agree with me as TO that, And that vote being taken,
several gentlemen told me that they did not vote on the
passage OF the resolution, az the test had passed.
5 Mr. MARSHALL. OF Kentucky. concur in the
statement made by the gentleman iron Massachusetts.
My statement in the caucus was that the men who would
lay iha, resolution the table and who could not
for u, had no business in a wbig meeting.
Mr. POLK am sorry to be creating SO much contra.
dcton en- the other side OF the House, but there
10 be difference Of opinion 10 the action OF the whg
caucus, want to know, gentlemen, where - your
recordi II stated by the gentleman from Massa.
chuselts Mr. FowLsa that you took the yeas and nays
where is your recordl
Mr. FOWLER. That is mistake. ! stated that
there division.
Mr. POLK You stated that there was a division by
yeas and nays and you reported the Congress
sona Globe OF the rst day OF the session. The record
is correct, know.
MIR FOWLER had no intention Of saying that the
yeas and nays were taken meant say that the ayes
were called, and that the were called That what
| meant
Mr. POLK. The gentleman from Massachusetts. 4
know his language carefully because he would
not do an injustice friend foe. lie IN the
habit OF allowing his passions lead him off into deca
rations that are strictly in conformity with tru,h and
he said upon the first day OF the session and s 80 report
ell by those gentlemen there Voinng TO the official re-
portsrs) who always report correctly,
.sI will frher say that In lay the resolutions
nron be table winch was on division by ayes and no.
Judge onethfd In avor OF laying them upon
the table,
Mr. FOWLER Very well that was true | did not
mean that the yeas and nays were called.