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

tors well as Wing have conversed freely with
raj Democratic Senators, who could have political
interest in msrepresenng Northern sentiment and in
cuded in the number, supporters Of this bill.
dislike say any thing that would be offensive to the
Senator from Illinois, Mr. DOUGLASS for he has treated
with uniform courtesy in the progress of this
in the Senate but he viii allow say that know of
but few Northern Senators who have trod reluctantly
in his footsteps in giving their support to this bill but
few who have not apprehended danger to their position at
home ia consequence of their As Southern
and wishing see every conservative and national
at the North sustained, sympathize with them. think
this cross should not have been laid upon them.
Well sir under these circumstances and with these inn
pressions met my colleagues of the House. had been
arranged, to consider the had understood from
the first they disposed to pursue to consider and
weigh the consequences of separating from the of
our other colleagues and from the Southern members
generally on the hand and what our duty to the
country in view of the mischefs which threatened
upon the repeal of the Missouri compromise required
of us on the other.
It is due to my colleagues that should state in refer
any impression which has prevailed that my lead
the question in the Senate had controlled their course
that found them decided in their views and opn
ions than myself One of them declared that he
would regard the repeal of the Missouri compromise
violation Of his honor Southern man. and that he
would lose his right before he would sustain il by his
vote. He did not consider the acquisition of slave
State west Of Missouri sufficient indemnity to the
South for the sacrifice Of its character for good faith and
the loss of confidence and raterna feeling which would
take hold the public mind at the North. Another
OF colleagues was equally strong his convictions
Of the dangerous and unhappy results Of the measure
and in his disposition to oppose it, but did not express
them in the same forcible language Still another
Of my colleagues though not determined in his opin
ons the time believed that opposition to the
measure ut whatever hazard to himself what patri
otism demanded of him. Thus, sir, my colleagues in
stead Of being prompted to the which they after
wards pursued in relation to this BILL may be truly said
to have given increased confidence in my opinion
to the evils likely to flow from its passage and have
inspired me with stronger sense Of what public duty
and obligation demanded at my hands such question.
now revert to the grounds Of the attack which has been
made upon my course connection with this measure in
the Senate My colleague in the House, Mr.. CHURcH-
in order to establish the charge that had at
time approved the repeal of the Missouri compromise,
produced what purported to be certified transcript of
the proceedings of meeting of Southern Wing Senators
in relation to the Of the Intelligencer at which
was present and was he stated, appointed chairman
Of committee to wait upon the editors Of the Intelligent
and demonstrate against their course, being mop
position to Southern interest the Nebraska bill He,
at the time, in confirmation of the inference that
was in favor of the Missouri compromise pointed to the
circumstance that the Senator from North Carolina Mr.
BADoER,) after that meeting had declared in his
speech the Nebraska bill that he wasauhorzed say
that the Southern Wing Senators united in support
of the measure and that was sitting near him at the
time, and did not dissent from his statement.
have already stated, specifically and truly what
nexion had with that meeting, what regarded the
true object OF the movers in it, and how treated it,
believed that the avowed purpose Of the meeting
intended to be carried any further, the event
showed Ne step taken by the committee after the
meeting adjourned; no inquiry, mention was
afterwards made of it, reference to it, until my
colleague brought it to public notice in the House. the
basis of an attack upon me.
But when the Senator from North Carolina days
after the meeting made the announcement stated by my
colleague in the House, my conjecture to the object
of that meeting fully confirmed did not rise in
my place and contradict the statement of the Senator
from North Carolina for disposed to wait my
time in coming decision upon the question and to
declare it when could state my for it. took
care however, say the Senator from North Carolina,
Immediately after he had concluded his speech, that he
had authority to commit to the support of the BILL
But the Senator from Georgia yesterday, in renewing
the attack made upon in the House, in reference to
the proceedings of this meeting of the Southern Wing
Senator'S brought forward additional matter Of charge
against me- connected he asserted with that meeting
That Senator stated that the proposition authorize the
Senator from North Carolina to the Senate
this bill was the main object of the meeting, and
understood authorize such declarations that the
public might know how the South regarded the measure
before the Senate And he further stated that was
when the proposition made and did not dis
sent from it and when in the course of my remarks
yesterday commenting the course of the Senator
from North Carolina in making the announcement which
he did at the close Of his speechprofessng to be my
friend and yet assuming to speak for me- without con-
sutng though sitting by his sde him, during
the whole discussion the bill in questionhat Senator
to explain, and rearmed what had been stated by
the Senator from Georgia. but in detail stating that
was present when he authorized to make the an
nouncement Of which complained and though he could
say that expressly asserted yet he felt authorized
infer that concurred he heard response in OPP
position to it. 1 branded this charge then,
brand it now, untrue, utterly untrue, and now pro-
nounce there not the slightest foundation in fact for
this statement So far as concerned neither
present when any such proposition made nor did
hear that such proceeding had taken place until
asserted yesterday by the Senators from Georgia
and North Carolina
Sir when this new version Of the object and the pro-
ceedngs Of the meetings referred stated yes
terday impressed with the idea that there must
have been conspiracy, in quarter or other to
bring forward these charges against and must state
that at this moment the whole proceeding in the House
and in the Senate bears upon its face the stamp of
gulary concerted conspiracy Whethert was SO or not
whether there premedtated and arranged plan
design that to be assaulted by the Senator from
Georgia in the Senate any where else will not affirm
do Tot believe that oil the Senators present at the
Southern Wing meeting could have been privy to any
such scheme.
The honorable Senator from Delaware (Mr. CLAYToN)
yesterday with view, he said to make
PLANTATION which he thought would reconcile all differ
between and the honorable Senator from North
Carolina and he commenced by stating that all the Wing
Senators united in favor Of the repeal of the Mis-
souri, compromise. There stopped him. That was
enough when he undertaking establish the point
state whether that his idea whether he meant say
that he understood that in favor of repeating the
Missouri compromise?
Mr.. CLAYTON. Such was my understanding.
Mr.. BELL. pronounce any statement that ever was
in favor Of repeating the Missouri compromise come from
what quarter it may, utterly false Yes sir in
tmated any such sentiment The honorable Senator from