Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-24
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

some time spent Lnereln the SENATE ADJOURNED.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,. 7"
Mr.. CHURCHWELL, by permission of the House, made
personal explanation, growing out of speech made
by Senator BELL in reference the Nebraska question
This speech has, presume been withheld for revision
as it does not appear in the official report. ..
Mr.. CAMPBELL. l ask the consent Of the House to
make personal explanation
There being no objection, Mr.. CAMPBELL proceeded.
Mr.. Speaker, in the OF my FIVE years service
have never before asked the consent of the House to
make any personal explanation Grievances of purely
personal nature have always seemed to better settled
outside this hail. But sir, l am induced this morning
to change my usual policy, because there is perhaps
pernency in my doing just now, the gentleman from
Tennessee having brought before the House matters
nected with his speech on the Nebraska question.
shall bring to the notice Of the House remarks
personal to which purpor have been made by the
honorable gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. CHURoHwELL
upon this floor the subject of the Nebraska bill 1t
is with great regret that feel it advert
any Of the which took place during that
memorable struggle So far as any personal difficulty
which may have been connected with during that srug
gle is concerned very happy to say to the House
that had only oae, which, to the stereotyped
preston, has been amcably adjusted, on terms, be-
eve entirely consistent with the honor of both parties
Laughter
But hold in my hand the speech of the gentleman
from Tennessee who has just taken his seat find that
am alluded to in that speech as an "Abolitionist"
Now, sir, listened to that speech with great attention.
and did not hear my name mentioned at all. will
read the extract and then will ask the honorable gem
eman whether he uttered these remarks upon the floor
of the House. whether he followed the somewhat usual
custom in the House, and inserted them in revising the
notes for the purpose of perecng his argument? He
says: s@..
Soft will be by this vote that both the Wing sena
tors from Tennessee Mesrs. JONES and BEL voted the
repeal while four of my colleagues (Messrs CrLLoN ErHE
RIDGE TAYLOR and BUGG) in this end of the Capitol
found voting with such Aboionss GIDDINGs and CAMP
and with the Freesoilers against it."
Now, Mr. Speaker, ask the gentleman whether he
uttered this Language upon the floor Of the House
not i....#.. III ... .f ", ...
Mr.. CHURCHWELL My recollection does not serve
me whether l used those words in the hall or not but
am responsible for them. "o IT,.
Mr. CAMPBELL. Yes, sir; have no doubt the gem
teman is responsible have question Of his respon
sbility at ALL The nterrogatory propounded was this
Did you utter that language this floor The gentleman
evades the question, and says he is responsible.
Mr.. CHURCHWELL. viii the gentleman yield to me /?
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Not unless the gentleman can an
swer my question That is the purpose am driving at
Mr.. CHURCHWELL. Then the gentleman will allow
me to answer? ..,..*. ~ @,... .....& .>-t
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Certainly
Mr.. CHURCHWELL. My colleague (NIr. SMITH tells
me that he heard me the language referred to-
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Then I have to say, Mr. Speaker
the gentleman has done injustice and thereby think
he has done injustice to his colleagues. do not care
what position the gentleman may give me where his
speech will be circulated but little for the name
whether the gentleman calls Aboltionst or Free
soier, Wing Democrat, in Tennessee | have always
avowed here, sir all proper occasions without fear
think may be permitted to say, my principles in relation
the institution of slavery and every other great ques
ton which came before this House. .. eas --.....
And have this to say-and say it in connection with
another passage of the gentleman's speech to which
VIII call his attention in moment-that know very
great effort was made the Of the last Presidential
election to brand the supporters Of Gen. Scott as Adolf
tioniss throughout the South and well
that the gcntemans colleague (Mr CuLLoM and myself
fhp pyn IF that rbara
published in this city, in the organ of the Admins
tration the Union newspaper base and infamous for
gerry over my signature in which it alleged that
knew from private conferences with Gen Scott that if
elected he would his influence repeal the fugitive
slave law. know that that document, thus published
that forgery thus issued from this city and that press
my name was circulated broadcast throughout the
State of Tennessee and appeal the gentleman from
Tennessee Mr.. ZoLLIcoFFER whether such the
fact ?. ..... ......
Mr.. ZoLLICoFFER, lin his seat) That is true
Mr.. CAMPBELL. / discovered the fact but few days
before the Presidential election, my home in Ohio;
and Immediately telegraphed to all the leading Wing
papers in the South that the paper forgery Among
other gentlemen, think that teegraphed to the gen.
tleman from Tennessee, (Mr. ZoLLIcoFFER)
Mr.. ZOLLICOFFER Tin his seat) That is true.
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Having thus created the impress
son by this forged document, in the South that am
an Aboionist, the gentleman comes here and assumes
that am such, and Classics his colleagues with me in
order that they might be affected by it in Tennessee
And it is not my own account, sir said before
that make this correction but for the reason that am
unwilling that any friend foe of mine shall have nius
tice done him by Of this kind if can prevent it,
Mr. CHURCHWELL. Will the gentleman allow me
moment?
Mr.. CAMPBELL. OF course
Mr. CHURCHWELLs If l mistook the gentleman's
position presume it is for him to define now what his
position really is do not desire to msrepresent the
gentleman. If misunderstood him. would be glad to
know where the Misunderstanding was judged of the
gentleman by his associations this floor and by his
votes finding him always voting with the Abolitionists
think had right to view him as such.
Mr. CAMPBELL. wish to correct the gentleman
not charging that he has made wilful misrepresen-
taton but am charging that by these statements and
by this particular association he has done gross Injustice
to his own colleagues Now, sir, my antecedents and my
principles are known here, and you may call them what
you please.
My antecedents these: My first vote was given for
Henry Clay. voted for him always when he was can
didate, and used all my energies and power and not
little money, to secure triumph for him. My last vote
upon the Presidential question was given for General
Scott and in the meanwhile never voted any other than
a Wing ticket.
Mr. CHURCHWELL. Will the gentleman allow me to
ask him question? Did he not against the fugi-
tive slave law
Mr.. CAMPBELL. Did not vote against the fugitive
slave law? To be sure did, and so did every Wing
from the North upon this floor except three might saw
in relation to the measures of 1850 that great many
Southern men voted against the admission of California
now come to another part the gentemans speech and
to which wish to invite the attention of the gentleman
from Tennessee. In speaking of the speech of his col
league Mr. CuLLoM upon the Nebraska BILL and of those
who had congratulated him, he says such men as (r6
pINGs, of Ohio, did So" -
desire to ask my colleague NIr GIDp1SGs) whether.
at the time the gentleman from Tennessee Mr. CuLLoM)
made his speech upon the Nebraska BILL he did come up
and congratulate him?