Washington sentinel., 1853-11-11

< Great laughter over the hall, and applause IN
Mr. Wii.MoT, (con.inuing) Fair northern
men-I say nothing more and this is the result of
inferences drawn by myself from the conversa-
tions, and not from any express declaration on the
part ofthe gentleman from Indiana
lSeveral voices Where are the three aces
Mr.. STANLY addressing Mr.. WILMoT) asked
if il was not possible for the House 10 have
copy OF the letter Of the gentleman from Penn
syvaniai .t8Afk
Mr.. WILMoT have not got copy of the
letter.
x Mr.INGE desired TO put question TO the gen.
tleman from Pennsylvania.
4 Mr., WILMoT expressed his readiness 10 an
swer
Mr.. INGE. I desire 10 know what the gentle
man means by the expression fair northern
men 90
Mr.. WILMoT. Men who should NOT be pu,
upon the committees from political considerations
or attachments 10 party, and especially to this ad
ministration men who would not give their aid
TO stife the expression Of the sentiments of the
people of the north; that is what mean.
Mr.. INGE. Then do NOT understand that You
mean men committed TO the Wmot proviso?
Mr.. WlLMOT No; no further committed than
far as their actions and known opinions might
be considered as committing them.
Mr.. STANLY was understood Ohough scarcely
heard amidst the coniusion) 10 inquire of the gem
tleman from Pennsylvania Mr.. Wilmot,l what
that public sentiment was 10 which he alluded?
Mr.. WILMOT. II is that slavery shall go no
further
In reply TO another question from Mr. Stanly
Mr.. WILMOT said, that believe 10 be the sen
timent of ftwoihirds Of the northern people, as !,
have stated;
( Mr.. w. was understood also to express his be-
lief that the people of the north were opposed to
the slave traffic in the District of Columbia pre-
csely as the people ofsome Of the southern States
were opposed TO il within their limits, and had
made laws prohibiting H.
u Mr.. STEVENS. Has the gentleman no copy Of
the letter?
Mr.. WILMoT said he had no copy.
Mr.STEVENS desired to know whether the
correspondence did not show just the same state
of things as was known TO have existed between
certain gentlemen and Mr.. Winthrop, previous to
the election of the last-named gentleman as
Speaker Of the thirteth Congress And he wished
TO know, also, whether there was any secret ar
ticle? s3a
Mr.. WILMOT. There was no secret article.
Mr.. STEVENS again desired to know whether
anything had taken place more than that which
took place two years ago with Mr.. Winthrop,
when certain gentlemen of this House would not
vote for him as Speaker? stSW ~
MIR. WILMOT again briefly explained the con-
versation and remarked that minorities however
small, were, in accordance with all usage, entitled
TO be represented. Such was the usage of the Brit
ish House Of Commons l3
He repeated, that he had not a copy Of his let
ter. He could only state the substance Of i brief
ly, as he had done. The answer Of the gentleman
from Indiana, Mr.. Brown,l if the House would
listen to the reading of it, would disclose, substan
tally, the purport Of his (Mr. VS. inquiry.
Mr.. BROWN resumed the floor
The CLERK made an effort to restore order in
the Hall. .,,,.
\ Mr.. BROWN. will read the letter, and then
make brief explanation.
Mr.. B. read the letter, which is in the following
words: d
yU.S n.
DEAR SIR: In answer 10 yours Of this date,
will state, should | be elected Speaker of the
House OF Representatives, ] will constitute the
Committees on the District Of Columbia, on Terri
tories, and on the Judiciary, in such manner as
shall be satisfactory 10 yourself and your friends.
am representative from free State, and have
always been opposed to the extension Of slavery,
and believe that the federal government should
be relieved from the responsibility of slavery,
where they have the constitutional power to abol-
ish IL. lam yours, truly,
Hon. DAVID WlLMoT.*
The letter having been read
Mr.. BROWN proceeded to say: Now, l desire
to say, that in the conversation which Il had with
the gentleman from Pennsylvania
MIR. FOWLER interposed to request that the
letter might be again read, as he had not been able
to hear il.
Mr. BROWN said he had read the letter once
He desired TO proceed with his remarks.
Mr.. STANLI inquired what was the date OF
the letter
The reading Of the letter by the Clerk was
now called for, and it was read by him from the
desk - sst8at FtF @g gef f4 s5s3 st
4 Mr.. BROWN proceeded TO speak.
Mr. BUTLER, Of Pennsylvania, asked him TO
yield the floor for moment.
Mr., BROWN declined.
ISome time was spent in efforts to restore or
Mr. BROWN then said that he would detain
the House but very few moments longer. II was
proper to say that he thought that the gentleman
from Pennsylvania Mr.. WMMoTl had been ex-
tremely fair and liberal in his course of conduct.
II was also due to himself (Mr b. to say, that, for
one, he could not consent that the committees of
this House should be 50 constituted as 10 favor
one section OF the country al the expense TO the
detrment of another, or SO that the voice Of any
portion OF the people, on any great question, should
be stfed. Let that question, in all its aspects be
brought TO the light, and let the whole ofthe peoples
representatives. act and decide upon il. He had
stated in the conversation, that there was grave
constitutional question pending Mr. Van Buren,
hadexpressed his beliefthat Congress had the pow
er 10 abolish slavery in the District of Columbia;
but he had also said that if bill having that object
in view should be passed, he should feel himself
compelled to rao IT, He (Mr. b. desired TO see
placed upon these committees the ablest lawyers
Of the south, so that the subject might be fully and
fairly investigated. He was no sectional man;
Speaker Of this House, he would have constituted
the committees in such manner as 10 give satis-
faction both to the north and south. He would
have upon these committees the ablest men, both
from the north and the south.
Mr.. b. here paused, and expressed the hope THAT
the House would come TO order.
After brief space he proceeded: a
lie would now take occasion 10 tender to his
friends in this House his earnest and sincere
thanks for the manner in which he had been sIis-
tained and for the very fattering vote which he
had received. He desired further, TO say, that he
wished TO withdraw his name.
[Some clapping Of hands, and other marks of
satisfaction
Mr.. BROWN, (contmung.) There may be some
clapping yet on the other side Of the House There
tcW be some clapping yet on the other side Of the
House before we have done. They are not ex-
actly out OF The woods yet. would scorn to oc-
cupy that chair under circumstances in which my
action is liable 10 misrepresentation, have al
ways opposed the agitation OF this question look
upon slavery as one of the compromises of the
Constitution and whilst there is one drop of blood
in my veins / will stand by that institution and
sustain il, as guaranteed TO the south by the Con-