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

ticsm may rage and run for a time and however deep
the feeling Of opposition to this measure among the more
conservative class of Northern citizens may be- will cause
them gradually to die away and give place to sounder
patriotic and nober appreciation Of the blessings
Of Union. That is my hope.
Mr. TOOMBS then rose and addressed the Senate Mr.
President sad he the Senator from Tennessee has oc-
cupied the attention Of this body for some three hours or
in vndcation of his course in reference to this
bill To much Of that speech have no reply to make
He to suppose that he is entitled to some sort Of
explanation of my action in bringing his public course
upon public measure to the notice OF the country Such
IS not my purpose and for which, 1T ID suc1en
to say must be very obvious Senator's The facts upon
which did arraign the Senator's action upon this ques-
ton were public notorious and stated with precision
Against of them has he slightest particle
OF evidence upon Of them has he taken issue The
Senator has introduced in his reply to me controversies
with two other gentlemen member of the other House
and another Senator shall only alude to the contro-
versies with them to the extent be necessary for
the calculation of the facts alleged by me.
Mr. BELL Did not the Senator himself bring forward
the matter about the caucus?
Mr.. TOOMBS. did; and as this embodes the only
point which the Senator in his whole speech, attempts
to make me- will proceed to reply to it. He terms
private meeting aud condemns the publicity which
have given its proceedings. will proceed to show
that that meeting called for public purpose that
the publicity of its proceedings necessary the
complishment of that purposes and that such publicity
upon the very point complained of by the Senator, 1.-THE
position of the persons present on this bill actually
ordered by the meeting ITSELF in the most authoritative
and appropriate That these facts may be made
fully to appear will give history of that meeting SO
far as understand it.
The Senator from Tennessee imagine that the
meeting originated in conspiracy against him that
somebody desired take him there for the purpose Of
enrappng him. 1t be his opinion that
trying to nyeige him voters sometimes caught
the husngs. entertained such opinion of the Sena-
tor The meeting held for public and patriotic
and not for personal and private object The Senators
commonly known Southern Wings had representa-
ton of their opinions this bill in the press of this city
The National Intelligencer, which most generally
garded expressing the opinions of the Wing party here
had taken strong and decided grounds against the Kansas
Nebraska BILL In the opinion Of the Senator from Della
Mr. CLAYToS) and Others the of that paper
not only calculated to iDure the measure in public
estimation but, from its position as the supposed organ
of the Wing party calculated to misead their party
friends to the position OF such Senator's the BILL
The meeting therefore called to take for
couneracting these consequences There present
at that meeting all those commonly known as Southern
Wing Senators except three In the remarks of the SEN
from Tennessee reply to his colleague in the House
Of Representatives he states that there secretary
to that meeting. This is true But he is mistaken in
saying there chairman. was called to the chair;
and, after time spent in consultation, introduced
resolution in furtherance Of the objects Of the meeting
That resolution was adopted without any dissent did
hear the Senator's Mr. BELL voice against It, do
not know that he voted have given word spoken
by him at any time know nothing of the conversations
which he has repeated and if did should not refer to
them have spoken of the Senator's public action with
his fellowSenators public questions OF which
curing in the Senate and other portions in meetings Of
the friends Of the bill. The resolution in these
words
Resose That we disapprove of the course of the
Integencer upon the Nebraska BILL and that in opin
on does not truly represent the opinions Of the Wing party
of the South"
1t would be difficult for the Senator from Tennessee or
any other person show how the objects of the meeting
have stated them, any other legitimate object,
could be attained by pocketing and keeping this
resolution butt sir this part of the does not rest
inference argument, but upon fact Feeling it to be
not only my right but my duty to the resolution
whenever necessary for public purposes, Immediately
after its passage down the of the Senators
present. (beow the resolution which is before me-,
called the attention of the meeting to it. called over the
roll for the given ut the time, that might have
use the future for the Of those who concurred
in it. AT that roll call fnd from the roll before
me- that Messrs. BELL GEYER JONES, CLAYTON BADGER,
DIXON DAWSON, TooMBs BESJAMIN and PRATT were pre-
sent absent Messrs. PEARcE, MORTON, and THOMPSON,
Of Kentucky. 1t unnecessary to pass resolution
that the Integencer did not opinion, represent
the Wing sentiment of the South and that
of its course, for Information. We knew that
already but it not known to the public and there
fore this appropriate mode of expressing these
opinions that they might given the public. Taking
this view of the matter, spoke freely upon all proper
occasions of our proceedings, as know others did.
substantial account of them appeared within day or
two afterwards in morning paper. would have given
copy of the resolution to any gentleman who desired
Several did ask for one and, among others, the
gentleman from Tennessee, (Nlr. CHrRcHwELL) whose
the meeting shortly after the which have
referred took another mode of dsabusng the public mind
the position of its members the Nebraska bill,
should have the resolution the press in the event
that the committee which appointed to the editors
of the Integencer had failed in its objects This brings
me to the main ground the gentlemans complaint both
against me and the Senator from North Carolina. Just
before the meeting adjourned it suggested that as
must be several weeks before all of would have ON
opportunity of speaking in the Senate the bill,
thortative annuncation of position upon it in the
Senate would promote the objects of the meeting This
was agreed to without dissent, as far l heard or
know whereupon the Senator from North Carolina (Mr
BApGER requested to state, in substance that the
Southern Wings unit in favor of the bill.
The Senator from North Carolina, (Mr BADGER, hav
ing the floor for the next day. made the to
the public in his Speech requested The statement
was present when it made, but he did utter pub
lcly word in opposition and never heard that the
statement of the Senator from North Carolina did not
truly represent the position of the Senator from Tennes
see until heard of his vote against the bill when it
passed this body The Senator from Tennessee has made
distinct denial of the authority of the Senator from
North Carolina speak for him. know the Senator from
Tennessee present at that meeting; know he was
present when the resolution which have given pass
ed How long remained after that do not know nor
at what time he left but know that the Senator from
North Carolina requested to make the announcement
which he did make by the caucus.
The Senator has spoken Of conversations with other
Senators on this subjects he has abored hour by hour in
the recital of the hroes and agones under which he Ia
bored to bring his mind conclusion on this bill
hold in my hand the report of the remarks which
made Yesterday That report confirms my recollection OF
do clin tn ole