Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-11


and his own and other remarks consequent up
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
MR. CLEHENs-I beg leave now to submit the
following correspondence, which sufficiently eX-
plains itself:
WAsurxGroN CRY, DECEMBER G, 1857.
Dear Sir: had left the caucus last night a
few moments before the incident occurred to
which now take the liberty of inviting your
attention learn thatin the course ofyour re-
marks upon the proposition to postpone the
nomination of Public Printer, you were under
stood very broadly and distinctly to intimate
that you were possessed of some facts calcula-
ted to impeach the integrity of Mr.. Wendell the
present incumbent of that Office, and although
several times Intercepted, that you declined to
disclose to the meeting the facts upon which
YOU based your conclusions as to his character
As the caucus will reasSemble tomorrow night
for the purpose of acting upon the only untin-
ished business, the nomination of a Public Print
er, allow me, as one of your colleagues, to in
ouire what arc the facts upon which you have
made this attack upon Mr.. Wendell? l wish
them for the guidance of my conduct in the
choice which shall be called upon to make be-
tween the competing candidates And permit
me further to suggest the propriety OF your au-
thoriZing me to submit your reply to Mr.. Wen
dell, that he may have an opportunity of max
may require. In making this last suggestion, /
am not acting at the instance nor as the friend
of Mr. Wendell for have had no conversation
with him on the subject, nor have l as vet at
any time decided to give to him my support rs
Public Printer. But think some such course
on your part would be fair, manly, and just
due to your own character, due to your asso-
ciates in Congress, and especially due to an in
dividua' who, whatever may be his errors, did,
TO my certain knowledge, in the presidential can
vass of 1856, signalize his zeal for the success
of the Democratic party by acts of extraordi-
nary liberality and public spirit.
Yours truly, CH. JAS. FAULKNER.
Hon. SHERRAgD CLEMENS.
Mr. CLEMENS, (resuming)-To this letter of
my colleague gave the following reply:
Dear Sir-Your letter of yesterday was left,
in my absence, in my room.
After nights deliberatiOn upon the Onl ); sug-
gestion in it which it is requisite for me now to
notice, have concluded that under the cirCum-
stances, it is more manly to apprise the Printer
of the House of the nature of the accusation
which shall bring against him.
As you have voluntarily proposed to be the
medium to accomplish this object, empower
you to submit the enclosed Statement, in wri-
ting, (Which 1 shall lay before the Democratic
caucus tonight to him, and, under no circum-
stances to any other person.
shall be obliged to you to return to me the
said statement, with this letter, in time for the
meeting this evening Very truly yours
The statement enclosed in this letter was as
follows:
.Statemeat prepared to be submitted to the Deps-
ocrHtic caucus or members Of the House Of
Representatives., for the Thirty Firth Congres,
at the adjourned meeting, Dec. {, 1857.
After what occurred in the Democratic caucus
on Saturday night last, had a right to expect
that I should be called on. in some authoritative
form, for the facts upon which the statement
then orally made was predcatcd. l proceed,
therefore, to detail them in writing. I have
hitherto Systematically refused to answer any
personal Undergraduates upon the subject, for
the simple reason that l had the right to place
the whole affair in written language, beyond
misconstruction or misrepresentation.
1t may be we'll to state, in the outset, that
am not acquainted with the present Printer OF
the House, and do not even know him by sight.
On Saturday last, the 9TH day of this month,
was accosted by person with whom l have
had an acquaintance of some years standing
At the close of somewhat protracted CONVEX.
sation, he informed me that he was interested
| in procuring the House printing, during the
present Congress, for Cornelius Wendell of New
York, at present Printer of the House.
He suggested that q specific consideration
could be secured to my mother, dependent upon
one of two contingencies: First, That should
cast my vote for SAID Cornelius Wendell, in the
election for House Printer at the present ses-
sion; Second, That I should abstain from voting
by abSenting myself from the House at the time
of the vote.
Without dilating upon my emotions at such
an overture, it is sufficient to say, that re-
ferred him to the sixth section of the act of Con
greSs Of February 90, 1858, by which the pro-
posed crime was punishable; l told him that he
had put himself in my power; that he had mis-
taken his man; that the intimation of such a
thing was gross personal insult to myself; and
that should exact from him the amplest rep
aration.
lie became deeply agitated: supplicated my
pardon in the most fmpassioned terms; said that
he had been mistaken and misled; that he knew
had the power to ruin him, and all connected
with him, and beSeechcd me to spare him the
infamy which would attach to the exposure of
his name. At present, have nothing further
to say, except that he never has been, to nv
knowledge, citizen of Virginia; and that in this
whole affair, have acted on my individual re-
SponSibility alone, and that the course have
taken has been prompted entirely by the duty l
owe to the Government whose officer am.
This statement l am ready to verify in the
most solemn of all forms.
SHERRARD CLEMENS.
My colleague then addressed the following