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

rized 70 make that statement Now. win saw frankly
that the Senator had ntmated to me wish that that
| statement should be appended If had supposed he
wished IT. II It had entered into my mind that he desired
me TO append such statement it would have been done
promptly. But why, Mr. President should it be done
Ihe Senator says he did not rise to correct me- because
Southern friends.
MIR BELL | said because chose to do it when
could explain my reasons.
Mr. BADGER. Precisely. Then the Senator chose to
to do it when he could explain his reasons How con-
sstent would It have been for to put a note to my
speech and excepted the honorable Senator from Ten
nessee out Of the unanimy of the other Southern Wing
Senator's unless he had also appended there the expana
tion Of his reasons think therefore, the Senator'S
complaint on that subject is entirely without foundation
All have further to say the subject is that having,
in making this statement sincerely believed that was
speaking just much the sentiments Of the Senator from
Tennessee as was speaking my own, have no idea,
whether mistaken not about the Of the
Senator from Tennessee have no idea how because the
Senator from Tennessee thereafter to the conclusion
which, understand him, he had not formed then, TO
vote against this BILL retroactive effect be given to
his subsequent determination to impose blame for
statement made in good faith upon me, who could not
know what the ultimate conclusion ut which the Senator
would arrive might be- and who not being OF the
doubts and difficulties he then had, led to conclude,
both from his vote in the Senate and from what had
Cd at that meeting that he like the rest of had made
up his mind to for the bill But sir leave 1t to the
judgment Of the Senate whether under the
had not the fullest authority do not the fullest
sent at the time the request made but the fullest
authority under the circumstances in which placed
for announcing that united to man in support
Of this measure?
Mr., BELL. Mr.. President, appeal to the Senate
whether the honorable Senator, by his statement
does not undertake to affirm that present when the
proposition made that he should be authorized to
nounce that the South unit the bill
Mr.. BADGER. said distinctly that certainly would
not make such statement against the Senator's denial
Mr. BELL. There is not man who saw me there.
do not choose to let 1t stand my denial The Senator
from North Carolina with his usual ingenuity and diaec
teal tact while he has intended apparently to exonerate
me from the charge of being when the resolution
was adopted to authorize him to make the statement
which he did at the close of his speech has attempted to
asen the impression the minds of the Senate and the
public that was just as much bound as If had been
there That he is capable of such course who
has any thing to do with him in controversy doubt
sorry the honorable Senator has taken occasion
revive sentiments which had been eradicated from my
breast.
Mr.. BADGER. 7 did not know there wereany feelings
to be removed, unless they sprung up yesterday
Mr.. BELL. will 60 and explain. Sir have
garded the Senator from North Carolina my friend but
from his course now can have future claims upon
him as friend and have been mistaken in supposing
that he my friend. If he had been my friend
he would have asked my views before he made the deca
ration in his speech, unless he certain that
present at the time the proposition made, that he
should make the which he did. ask the
Senate if am not authorized to to this conclusion?
The Senator's language to this effect: that being
by and not dissenting and the object being to ascertain
what the of the Southern Wings in regard to
the National Intelgencer he could not doubt if
proposition had been made that he should state it in the
Senate that there in the PROPOSE
ton He said he did not want that proposition to satisfy
him. But standing in the relation Of friend to me- and
nothing had transpired at the meeting than what
done in relation to the Inelgencer and taking
in the meeting it his duty to have consulted
me before he made the announcement in the Senate,
when he could have done without any inconvenience?
After informed him. the conclusion Of his speech,
that he had authority to commit why did he not
seek to do Justice? He says he did not believe that
was in any doubt or anxiety of mind evidently an at
tempt to be contemptuous, SO far as he could by his
manner
Mr.. BADGER. You are mistaken; I did not mean any
contempt ut all
Mr. BELL. No. sir; tn, honorable Senator has too
much tact TO express it. told the honorable Senator he
not authorized to make any such declaration to in
clude When Senator makes such o statement to
his whom he regards his friend ought
he not to do justice In form Ought he not to have
how he could do it before he published his speech
ought he have qualified his statement before he
committed it to the press
From the ingenious wording of the remarks of the hon
orable Senator do not know whether he supposes
responsibility to rest upon account of the meeting
which reference has been made Yesterday and to-day
have explained that considered that there could have
real purpose demonstrate against the Of
the Integencer that had such conceptions of my
part The honorable Senator from Georgia says that he
had idea but that such purpose entertained and
that it be made public that it the intention
of the meeting that it should be made public No, sir;
had idea that the Wings Of the South would assemble
under the circumstances to make formal declaration to
the editors Of the ntegencer that they misrepre
senting Southern sentiment to demonstrate against
their in any form whatever did they carry
into effect make any further attempt to effect such
purpose.
told gentlemen distinctly that that was my ground
did suppose that the object avowed meant to be
carried out had no idea but that there object
behind what expressed If the question had been
propounded to me, to the meeting, when present.
meeting whether the Senator from North Carolina should
be authorized to make the statement which he did make
should have felt compelled to make response. do
not remember the date of that meeting, but do
know that under the most solemn pledges to some
of my colleagues in the House any conclu-
sion in favor of the bill during the first half of the month
Of February.
have no ground of complaint against any gentleman
who takes the position Of alienation from me- of nonin
tercourse, of having friendly relations because of the
course which have taken in regard to this measure.
have nothing to ask of them. am convinced now that
ought to have made my dissent from the statement Of
the honorable Senator from North Carolina public, and
not to have relied him to do any justice, much
less of kindness to me.
Now the Senator from North Carolina will allow me to
say that could for his this
subject and the public know, very much aston
shed when he announced it in the speech often alluded
They taken by surprise when he announced him
self in favor of the Nebraska bill do know tie fact
because had intercourse with the honorable Senator
any time the subject; but highly honorable gen.
emen any in this land declared to me- but few days
before the honorable Senator from North Carolina made
his Speech that he against the Nebraska bnot on
tie Indian question alone but against the whole
The honorable Senator will understand that do not say
/ 49, L. 49, A-Atz