Washington sentinel., 1853-11-11


south-that the gentleman from North Carolina
in his eye, Mr. VENABLE,l had said that he was
pledged not 10 vote for any Wimot proviso man
for Speaker, and that hewould turn round and vote
for him. Now, these gentlemen had asked him
u (Mr. b. no questionsas TO what his course would
be bun they expressed the fear which they enter
Il tanned, that, should he be elected Speaker, he
would organize the committees on the District Of
Columba, on the Judiciary, and on the territories,
in such manner as that they should be made mp
OF southern men; that the views and opinions OF
the party which these gentlemen represented
would be stiled in committee; and that there
would be no opportunity of presenting their views
in committee, and no opportunity of bringing them
before the House.
In reply TO the expression of these fears he had
stated 10 these gentlemen that he had not made
any pledges to any Individual as to the committee
upon Which he should be placed. The gentleman
i from Pennsylvania and the gentleman from New
York, had frankly and openly expressed their de-
sire 10 him not to be placed on either ofthese
mitlees All they had asked; all they had ex-
i pressed desire 70 have--was, that the commit-
tees which he had designated should be so con-
stituted as that every section of the Union might
be fairy represented; The Wilmot provso men,
and the anti-Wimot proviso men. He had stated
TO these gentlemen that he would constitute
these committees that all sections OF the Union
should be represented. This much he had stated,
4 and by that position he would abide now. They
had asked fair representation of all interests and
all opinions---nothng more. III he had desired TO
put into the hands of these gentlemen that with
which they might go forth and break the heads Of
those who differed from them--if he had desired
10 furnish opportunity and cause of complaint
against the south, his policy would be, 10 const-
tute these committees of southern men, and 10
take these eight QreesoiD gentlemen and put them
away on the corners Of some unimportant COM
mittees
On the subject of slavery in the District OF Col
umbia, he would ask permission TO state to the
House the ground which he had taken before his
constituents, when he was candidate for q seat
in this House. sfs
Mr.. BURT interposed, and said that the gen
tleman from Indiana Mr. BRowNl would allow
1 him to suggest that he had yielded the floor 10
him in order TO give him opportunity OF pro-
ducing the correspondence which had been re-
ferred to. He (Mr. BGRT) wished to see that cor
respondence lCres from all quarters" Give us
the correspondence"-al let him explain" the
4 letters &c.l dad fb.e af
Mr.. BROWN, (continuing) He would, he said,
introduce the letter in few moments but. before
doing so, he desired to make very brief expana-
ton of the position he had occupied before his
constituents. Cries OF Go on"-s the letters, =
&c.l @
j Mr.. BROWN resumed. His competitor for a
seat in this House was wing, and strong adj
| vocate of the Wilmot provso. He represented q
district where there was large number-some
i persons said as high as three four hundred-oi
freeso votes, out and out. He did not get these
votes because he would not go so far as his COM
petitor had gone. That gentleman had taken the
ground that General Taylor, by his letter, was in
favor of the Wilmot proviso, and that if he did
sign a bill incorporating that proyiso, il would be
because the dongh-faces would prevent its going
to him. All said was, that although / believed
il TO be unnecessary. and although | had hereto
fore always been opposed it, and did not expect
i to vote for it--yet, that saw no objection 10
poking the Wilmot provso to Old Zack, and see-
ing what he would do with it, He (Mr. b. was
very anxious TO the question settled; although
i as he had stated, he himself would always oppose
the proviso sga
The question came up on the subject of slavery
in the district of Columbia He had said that he
was democrat-that he did not wish to interfere
with the question-but that, if the people of the
District of Columbia thought proper TO give their
surages in favor of the abolition of slavery within
its limits he would have no objection TO give them
an opportunity to vote upon the question as had
been done in Kentucky and some other States of
the Union.
With the permission of the House, he would
now read the letter.
i During these remarks, and during almost the
entire day, great confusion and excitement pre-
vailed through the House, rendering an accurate
statement OF the proceedings and debates exceed
ingly difficult. Members did not keep their seats,
but gathered in large bodies round the member
who held the floor, enhancing greatly the ordinary
difficulties ofthe reporters duties.
Il Mr.. BROWN was about to commence reading
a letter which he held in his hand.
Some members on both sides Of the House, who
had retained their seats called upon the members
in the aisles to take their seats.
The CLERK seconded this request but with no
great success.
Mr.. BROWN commenced reading his letter OF
reply to letter which had been addressed TO him
by Mr.. WILMoT.
Demands were made in different sections Of the
House that the Clerk, and not the member, should
read the letter.
Mr.. BROWN expressed confidence that he
could make himself heard all over the House.
A call was also made for the reading of the letter
TO which this letter was reply, but Mr. Brown
stated that he had not copy Of that letter wifi,
him.
Mr.. B. said, that before he read the letter, il
might be requisite for him to say, that he had said
TO these gentlemen as he had said 10 southern
gentlemen, that if a proposition were made, by
way OF amendment to Territorial bill, TO extend
slavery, he, as a representative from free dis
triot, could not vote for il. And southern men
had replied that they did not expect ask any
such thing
Mr. b, was again proceeding to read the let
Some time was lost in the effort 10 restore order
and induce members to take their seats.
Mr. MCLEAN urged upon the House the pro-
priety of giving the gentleman its silence and al
tenton. tsts
Mr. BROWN now turned to Mr.. WILMor and
invited that gentleman to state the substance OF
the letter he had sent to him, (Mr. b. bE # Fs
Mr. BAKER suggested that il would be impos-
sible on account ofthe ill-heath Of the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr.. Brown, THAT the House should
distinctly hear him read.
Mr.. BROWN expressed his confidence that he
could read the letter as that il should be heard
in every part of the House. if members would only
take their seats.
Mr.. WILMOT now rose and addressed the
clerk.
Mr.. BROWN yielded the floor for the moment.
Mr., WII4MOT said that he had held a conver-
saton with the gentleman from Indiana, Mr..
| BRowN,I Of which, with the permission Of gentle-
men, he would state the substance. He, (Mr. WI
expressed TO that gentleman the conviction, which
he honestly entertained that the public voice, i'm
respect TO the great question which now agitated
this country would be stfed in the committees OF
this House. All that he, and those who were as
| sociated with him, asked, or desired, was a fair
opportunity TO give expression TO the great public
sentiment of the people of the country. They
wanted, and they asked, nothing more. All that
he and his friends had desired at the hands of the
gentleman from Indiana, Mr.. BRowS,l was that
| III he ShOuld he elected SneaEer of this Honsa ba