Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-17


gentleman has frankly made expected nothing less
from him. distinguished he is for his general urbanity
as well as his sense of justice.
Next sir, i desire to aude very briefly to the incl
dents which have been so much commented on in the
progress of this discussion by honorable Senators who
have acted with me this side the chamber. The dis
cussien has been exceedingly painful to have felt
panied that my political friends should misunderstood
each other with reference to which think and
have thought from the beginning is easily susceptible Of
explanation, without leaving for the slightest
ecton ON the honor OF man who has been engaged
in this controversy But the excitement Of the honora-
BILE Senator from Tennessee when for the purpose
Of endeavoring explain this matter such that he
would not yield the floor to permit any else to
proceed; and consequently the has ensued which
the Senate has witnessed The explanations since made
have rendered it unnecessary for to say all that in
tended of this matter But may properly state in re-
gard to this meeting called caucus held by the South
ern Mhg Senators in February last that and prior
that date personal and political friends called my atten
ton to the articles in the National Integencer which
denounced the repeal of the Missouri compromise My
attention repeatedly called to them by other persons
until at last it suggested to me that to effect
Outstanding with friends who edited the paper, some
consultation should be had the subject with those Be-
majors who, as Wings, were to be affected by the nfu
ence of the paper. Forming small division of the Sc
nate less than third Of the body it very desirable
for to act together in regard the principle contain
ed in this bill Upon comparing opinions with those
with whom conversed did not suppose there any
doubt the Southern Wing members Of this body be-
ing unanimously in favor Of the justice Of repeating the
Missouri compromise line though its expediency at this
time might not be so apparent do not propose now
to 60 into discussion Of that question; stand com
mted the record the whole subject. My opinions
have gone before the country fully in favor Of the justice
of repeating the eighth section Of the Missouri act but
not in the mode adopted in this bill and all the prnc
pies which have acuated me from the introduction Of
this the present time fully disclosed in
the remarks which had the honor deliver to the Sc
nate o former occasion.
There was but single paper advocating Wing princi-
Piles in this city The opposite party had several There
were according to my count thirteen Wing Senators
from the South in this body and six only from
the North. 1t seemed to the gentlemen with whom
conversed that it but fair that opinions should
be heard by the editors of that highly respectable paper
the National Integencer who supposed were acting
in the dark without knowledge Of our opinions And
thought it proper that those opinions should be
municated to Them for the purpose Of ntimdating
overawng controlling the paper in any form what
ever; nothing further from my thoughts but
to enable them to comprehend the position Of the
jorty Of the party whose principles they had espoused
and had advocated and maintained with signal ability
from the very origin of the party This was deemed but
an act Of justice to them as well as to ourselves
Well, sir, that day, the 10Th of February, the
amendment of the Senator from Illinois (Mr DouGLAs
to the bill then pending before the Senate adopted
which provided in lieu of provision in the original BILL
that the Missouri compromise act Of 1920
Being inconsistent with the principle non-intsrventon
by Congress with slavery in the States and Territories
cognised by the legislation Of 1850, Commonly called the
compromise measures hereby declared imperative and
void it being the intent and meaning of this act not
egsate slavery into Territory State to exclude 1t
therero but to leave the people thereof perfectly free to
form and regulate their domestic institutions in their
subject only to the Constitution of the United States
This amendment was adopted by vote in the Senate
of yeas &c. nays TO- In favor of this amendment
corded that day the vote of every Southern Whg SEN
ator We assembled in pursuance of suggestions which
had been made to and which had made others, in
room here at the Capitol. Our meeting lasted but a
very short time Perhaps fifteen minutes was the extent
Of the duration Of all the conference had Gentlemen
o1hnr
interview for have misunderstood another when
there were many views connected with this great
to be presented and when coming in and
others going out concur in the statement made by the
honorable Senator from Louisiana, (r BENJAMIN, that
this considered by of confdenal consulta
ton It was the impression which made my mind.
supposed the proceedings to be considered
fdentia as In other meetings of similar character
never had nhiantnn myself the statement Of mat
tiers that connected with that meeung,
not have spoken to others Of them consistently with my
views Yet there nothing said or done there
which might not have been promulgated to the whole
world; and there nothing said done there which
could have caused blush the cheek of any who
present. say there was effort there was no in
tention, control the National Intelgen
1t desired that our opinions might be commu
ncated to the editors Of that paper leaving them per-
fecy independent and free to pursue such course OF
action as to them would seem proper committee for
this purpose was appointed and, believe the honora
BILE gentlemen who present left the with the
impression that the committee would wait upon the ed
ings Of the meeting to them. I have doubt that was
their thought
With regard to the question whether the Senator from
Tennessee present ut the time when the matter
ferred to by the Senator from North Carolina was ex
pressed have knowledge but do not believe he
tell at what time the honorable Senator pre-
sent when he left the and am bound of
without the slightest hesitation, to accept his state
ment that he not present when proposed that
the Senator from North Carolina should to the
Senate in his speech the next day flor then he had
taken the floor for the purpose Of speaking the next
day. that the Southern Wing Senators unanimous
in favor of the principle which had been denounced by
the Inteigencer that Isl the repeal Of the Missouri
promise line.
have no doubt that every man who has been
ed in the debate has stated conscienousy his
vicons in relation to every thing that occurred there
The discrepancy which has arisen between their state
is such would be often found to exist between
the same number Of assembled in hurried inter-
view for the length Of time in reference any other
matter of equal Importance. Sir know very well that
il went abroad that met for the purpose Of overawng
and denouncng the Integencer and controlling its inde
pendent operation free press, but there is not
word of truth in that statement No in that meeting
harbored any such idea If any did did not understand
him. should have at refused to with him.
But after the meeting had adjourned when the commit
tee began to talk together upon the subject the thought
occurred to them, and freely expressed by the
bers of the committee of whom the honorable Senator
from North Carolina was one that it measure of,
to say the least, doubtful expediency, whether they
should proceed without further consultation with friends
to perform the duties Of the mission with which they had
been entrusted.
Mr. BADGER Will my friend from Delaware, at this
point, allow to remind him that suggested,
son why thought it was wrong, and why would not
concur in it. that it impossible to prevent such pro-
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