Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-10

Mr. BADGER. Probably that was it.
Mr. CLAYTON Let me-interfere between my friends.
Mr. BADGER. Not yet. / am willing to make any
statement about the language, because as said did
not expect to be called upon but only say remark
Of that kind made by my friend which attracted
attention. because had supposed was speaking, net
only by his authority but at his instance in making
remark.
Mr. BELL On what occasion?
Mr. BADGER. This very occasion now referred to.
Mr. BELL That is what supposed, and consider
it full confirmation Of my conjecures IN regard TO that
transaction
Mr. CLAYTON. win my friend now give the floor
for moment?
Mr. BELL Certainly.
Mr. CLAYTON These are my friends and think
understand exactly the state Of the case There is
Misrepresentation between them, and am anxious to
rect H. There is whatever for any feeling be-
tween Them and when made the explanation which
am about to make think they will both agree that
netner OF them has any occasion whatever to complain
of the other.
) Mr.. BADGER. have feeling whatever about it..
Mr.. CLAYTON The facts were these. The Southern
Wings in this body were unanimous in favor Of the
peal of the Missouri compromise They had consulted
with each other not in caucus we understood from
private conversations with each other that all thought
that the MISSOURI compromise line ought be repealed
Mr. BADGER That we all in favor Of the pro-
vision it stood in the BILL That is what understood
Mr. CLAYTON. Then the Inteligencer paper took
ground hostile to the position
Mr. BELL must stop the Senator from Delaware l
cannot admit his statement. We should get into
quarrel
do not wish to get into quarrel with my friend from
Tennessee.
Mr. BELL The Senator says we were all agreed that
the Missouri compromise should be repealed That is
the statement of the honorable Senator frDeiararo.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Did not the honorable Senator him
self take that ground in his speech
Mr.. BELL. j never did.
Mr.. CLAYTON. Then / entirely misunderstood the \
honorable Senator, and beg his pardon.
Mr.. BELL. know that the honorable Senator from
Delaware did not intend to misrepresent me.
Mr. n nj nil ~
Mr. BELL. But the honorable Senator from North
Carolina, though it easy for him to have
tanned my opinion spoke Of the opinion Of all the South
ern Wings. He did not ask me about it.
Mr. BADGER. / thought had the Senator'S autho-
rty already.
Mr. BELL From any thing ever said?
/ Mr. BADGER. Ihave already said we had meeting
at which the Senator from Tennessee present. and
when suggested this there general expression Of
appreciation that Should
Mr.. BELL. Do WHAT
Mr.. BADGER. That should state we were oil agreed
in support of the bill
Mr. BELL That all the Southern Wings were agreed
upon it?
Mr. BADGER. Yes. That is what understood It
was meeting of Southern Wings
Mr. BELL. / could not make such declaration.
Did the honorable Senator from Delaware hear such
Mr. CLAYTON. was proceeding to explain, but the
Senator would not permit me.
Mr.. BELL pronounce that there was no such ques-
ton put The honorable Senator from North Carolina is
mistaken. .5AER
Mr. BADGER. do notsay there was any question put.
Mr.. BELL. Nor it asked in my hearing
Mr.. BADGER. As we were breaking up, the sugges-
ton thrown out that it uncertain in the country
how Southern Wing Senators stood this bill; and
then suggested that was to make speech, it would
perhaps be well for to take the occasion Of saying
were all agreed think my friend from Louisiana MR.
BENJAMIN. at that meeting, and he say whether
am right or not There was general declaration, By
all means do it
Mr.. BELL. Then was not at that meeting.
Mr.. BADGER will not say the Senator from Ten
nessee was there; but thought he was
Mr.. BELL. Now, sir, the honorable Senator from
North Carolina could easily have ascertained my sen
ments at any moment.
Mr.. BADGER thought knew them already
Mr.. BELL. say that such question that stated
the honorable Senator asked that meeting when
II present If it were it out of my hearing
before referred 70 the Of Of colleagues
in the House MIR. CHuRCHwELL) this subject. My
colleague stated that the chairman of the commit
appointed at the meeting of the Southern Wing Sena
tors and asl was present and did not object he very
naturally and nationally inferred that favor of the
repeal of the Missouri compromise that time as upon
other superstition would have undertaken such com
missono demonstrate with the editors Of ndepen-
dent journal against their the Nebraska BILL
therefore have feelings against him on that ground
but have some fault to find with him the ground
that found fault with the honorable Senator from North
Carolina.
The honorable gentleman to whom allude had nv con-
fdence and was we'll informed my views and opin-
ions the subject of the Nebraska bill from the time Of
its introduction in the Senate He proessed to be nv
Of the bill in the Senate and conferred with frequent
the before the meeting of the Southern Wing
Senator's and afterwards In Of those conferences
he pleased to say that he had confidence in my
Judgment questions of this description than in that Of
other public he knew and that he should defer
very much to my views, though he did not say he would
be guided by them.
Some few days week after the discussion the
bill commenced he to my seat in the Senate while
the debate going on, and asked me had made up
my mind on the question. replied that had not. He
then said that he going home for his family and
the people would be making inquiries of him as to my
course the subject he wished to know what say
them, and he wished to know his own account then
told him that would decide my course until he
returned unless the bill should be brought to vote be-
fore he got back. During his absence in my converse
ons with other colleagues of mine in the House, told
them repeatedly that if took ground in opposition to the
measure thought might rely having our colleague
Mr. CHURcHwELL) with me and / told them con6den-
tally the grounds upon which my confidence based
After he returned met him and told him that had de-
termined to oppose the BILL and then asked him what
he thought he should do. He said he would his
decision as long he could perhaps until the close Of
the debate in the House.
do net think that would be mistaken in stating that
not more than three four days week elapsed from
that time until he made his speech in the House, without
my having somo conversation with him. the
he proposed to take the Nebraska BILL and was left
in doubt to what il would be until the evening before
he made his speech, when he informed that he would
vote for the bill. said to him, You surely not
sincere ?' He replied that he was.
At this point the honorable Senator yielded the
citaton Of several Senator's and the Senate adjourned
Mr n. tka Aor uyanA hfa arJ~