Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1855-09-15

Did the Pierce Administration Bargain
for the Catholic Vote
Mr. BARRNGERs STATEMENT coNrRoyERrED, AND
Mr.. RAYSER SUBSTANTIALLY SUSTAINED
ny THREE WITNESSES.
Senator Houston has recently said:
"The selection Of the Presidents Cabinet al
though Il was highly exceptionable to the Demo
cratic party, they made an effort to swallow it.
General discomfort was growing up in the country
This feeling was aggravated by report that an
agreement was made between Catholic bishop
and General Pierce, conditioned that Gen, Pierce
was to receive the Catholic vote, and in the event
of his election situation in his Cabinet should be
given to a member of the Catholic denomination.
As this was published and not denied, 1t was be-
lieved."
This is a grave charge, repeated by mem
Der Of the United States Senate. lie says it
was published and not denied"
In commenting upon this extraordinary
charge, Mr.. Rayner, Of North Carolina, added
a circumstance, tending in his opinion to con-
firm this imputation. He stated that Mr..
Barringer, then American Minister at Madrid,
had informed him that before you Mr.. d.
had received any information in regard to
Mr.. Pierce's Cabinet, before it was known in
Madrid, and was a matter Of doubt and con-
lecture, he 1.-THE Nunciol stated to you [Mr. b.
that Campbell Of Pennsylvania, Catholic
was q member of it,
From this statement he drew the inevitable
inference that the Pierce party had bargained
for the Papist vote.
In due time, however, Mr.. Barringer writes
to Mr. Rayner that he has been mistaken in
his statement He thereupon repeats his own
recollections of what he said upon the occasion
referred to, and adds "The whole amount of
it is simply this, that he the Nuncio) happen
ed to receive this information as to the forma-
ton Of the Cabinet short time before did,
and before it was generally known at Madrid
who constituted its members"
But he goes further and gives his own in
ference from the conversation with the Nun
clio, as follows:
/ answer, unhesitatingly, that my opinion
has not changed, and that l certainly think
the communication made to me by the Pope's
Nuncio affords proof of such a charge or
understanding. Whether there be other allega.
tons and facts, circumstantial or direct, which
may be presented to sustain this charge or not ]
am not aware. And, as an honest man, am
bound TO presume innocence until guilt is shown
in all cases, and especially in matter affecting SO
deeply the honor OF the country as well as the high
parties Immediately implicated.
Such an absolute reputation both of the
language reported to have been used by him,
and the inference deduced from it, had Of
course placed Mr.. Rayner in painful position.
A question Of comparative accuracy Of recol-
lection, if not a positive question of veracity,
was raised between himself and gentleman
high in position and estimation. He was ex-
posed to direct charges Of the most insulting
character by those who had no more charity
| than to make them, and he stood before the
American people in the attitude Of having
rested grave imputation upon the testimony
of a witness who testified exactly the other
way on the day of trial.
Happily for Mr.. Rayner, others came to his
rescue. Four gentlemen, two of them mem
bers of the Carolina Senate, one of the House
of Commons, and the fourth President of the
Raleigh and CASTOR Railroad Company, have
furnished statements which we have published
in full.
Mr. Houghtons recollection of Mr.. Barrin-
gers statement was this:
CARTHAGE, "a Aug, 1855.
My DEAR SIR: In reply to your letter, asking
me IL heard the Hon. ID. M. Barringer last winter
while at Raleigh speak of a communication made
to him at Madrid by the Popes Nuncio / state
that did, and the following is the substance Of
what Mr. B. said:
"He remarked that before It was known in Mad
rid who were the members Of Mr. Perce's Cabi
net, the Nuncio said to him, that he 1.-THE Nunco,
did not know who were members Of the Cabinet
but of one thing he felt certain, that member Of
the Roman Catholic Church had, or would have,
Il am not certain which, seat in the Cabinet"
] have no recollection that Mr.. Barringer men,
toned the name of Mr. Campbell, rs the person
spoken Of, or referred TO, by the Nuncio; but my
impression is, that Mr.. b. himself mentioned the
fact of Mr.. Canpbelrs appointment as evidence Of
previous understanding between the Democratic
/ party and the Roman Catholics, by which Their
votes had been secured for Mr.. Pierce.
The subject Of conversation was the alleged bar.
gain, and understood Mr.. Barringer as referring
to the statement of the Pope's Representative as
evidence Of its truth.
Mr.. Singlctary seem thuss'to have had another
conversation with Mr.. b., with which he did
not however, charge his memory, and which
he is " not able to recall in full" 1t is obvious
that his memory is either incoherent or Mr.
Barringer has displayed aremarkable versatility
OF inference in regard to it.
! RALEIGH, Sept. 2, 1856.
Hon. X. RAYSER-Dcar Sir: The statement
made to me by Mr.. Barringer was in a casual con.
vcrsation, with which did not charge my memo
ry, and am not able TO recall II fully II agreed
| substantially with the statement he now makes.
understand him as intending TO convey the idea,
that IL was suspicious circumstance in connexion
with the charge against the President or his party,
offs bargain for the Catholic vote and remarked
that did not think IL amounted to any proof OF
such thing. Upon which he replied promptly,
that he did not mean to make any such charge
but merely mentioned il, and IL might pass for
what IL was worth. / think he also disclaimed
any belief in the charge that had been made.
Here Mr.. Singletary says that the statement
made to him by Mr.. b. "agroed substantially
with that he now makes, and Mr.. s. under