Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-09
CONGRESsTONAL.

1 HOUSE.-MI. Clemens obtained permission to
make pr onal explanation; he read letter
t (rom his colleague, Mr.. Faulkner, asking him to
| state the facts upon which he, in the Democrat
| ic caucus, based his conclusions with reference
to the statements impeachng Mr.. Wcndelfs
character, Mr.. Clemens inreply, agreed to Mr..
| Faulkner s suggestion, to submit to Mr.. Wen
die, in order TO give him an opportunity for
I vindica:ion, written statement, of Which he
| read duplicate, describing the circumstances
under which he was, on last Saturday, approach
cd by person, who said he was interested in
procuring the Office of Printer for Mr. Wendell
and that pecuniary consideration could be Sc
cured for Mr.. Clemens mother, in one of the
two contingencies, viz. first, that he should
cast his vote for Wendell, or secondly, abstain
from voting at all Mr.. Clemens in replyto this,
pointed the Ina;I to the act Of Congress- pro-
viding pains and penalties for such corrupt APP
pronches and told him he had mistaken his man
| Mr.. Wendell in his reply sOleIDnly protested
against such charges based on n nameess au-
tlorty, and says il the charges We're properly
preferred he would promptly debate them, he
had never directly or indirectly employed any
person or agent to procure votes for him.
Clemens having finished reading the CORES
pondence, he said he had never seen Wendell to
his Knowledge, and had no purpose to accom-
plish, other than the full discharge Of
his public duty; he was constrained from expos.
| ing the name of the scoundrcl WHO approached
should not be confounded with his guilt He
accepted the statement of Mr.. Wendell, so far as
the denial of all completely or knowledge of.
such proposition was concerned.
Mr.. Smith of Virginia offered resolution
| providing for the appointment of committee
to examine into the subject of the public prin-
| ting the printer to be postponed until their
report shall he made. He said it was believed
that an enormous corruption was connected
with the subject and hence tue necessity of an
Investigation
The profts aecrning were propably 100000
and the printer who might be elected to-day
could get a quarter of million for his contract.
| Mr.. Clingnan moved to select printer first
and then afterwards investigate.
| MIR. Houston, who. had moved to proceed to
election Of printer, expressed his willingness TO
agree to the last proposed method.
| Mr. Smith, of Tenn, said, an fast friend
| of Mr.. Wendell and state on his authority that
he abides by the action of the caucus, and sup
ports its nominee
Mr. Keitt said he did not so into caucus, but
would vote for the nominee, because that gentle
man had him.
The debate was here interrupted by the re-
ception of the Presidents Message.
After the reading of the document, Mr.. Bo-
cock appealed to the House to complete its or
ganization by the election ola public printer
After this had been done, he would willingly
join with the other members u ferrcting out the
extravaganza and corruption which is charged
to exist in this department.
Mr. Grow advised the House 10 commence tho
reform in the Governments printing depart
mcnt by curtailng the enormous expenditure
which had created our Government into rival
with all tile Book establishments in the coun-
4 try. hooks were sent out by Congressional au-
I thority which We're really not worth the paper
on which they were printed. Without concu-
ding the subject, the House adjourned.
! SENATE.-Ehe message received and read, Mr..
/ Douglas submitted motion for printing tho
usual number of copies of the message and
documents and 10000 copies thereof forthe use
| of the Senate He remarked that he concurred
cordially and heartily in the views Of the Presl-
dent therein expressed with the exception OF
! that portion relative to Kansas and the action of
the llecompton Convention, and at an early day
would express his views and give his reasons
why he believcd-the people of Kansas had not
been left, us organic act declared, perfectly free
| to form and regulate their institutions in their
! own way.
Mr. Gwin offered as substitute, that all
printing be reported by the printer TO the Senate
ut the last Of the session.
| Mr. Stuart, Of Michigan, concurred i'll Mr..
! Douglas views respecting the Lecompton move
ment, and at a future day would speak on the
subject and insist, to tue extent of his ability,
that the people of Kansas should be treated like
all others and the fullest opportunity toregaate
such Institutions as they wished 10 live under,
| Mr.. Davis concurrcd in the views of the Prcsi-
dent concerning the Kansas question, and should
await the promised remarks of Mr.. Douglas be-
fore he expressed his own views.
Mr.. Bigier gave notice that he should defend
the position assumed by the President to tho
best OF his ability and respond to Mr.. Douglas.
Mr.. Douglas accepted Mr.. OWNS substitute.
AIr. Hall spoke in opposition TO the Constttu-
ton formed by the LecomptOn Convention, ar
guing it would pcrpetuate slavery in Kansas,
no matter whether the people either rejected or
accepted the slavery clause.
! He said he would be glad to IL car supporters
of the President explain his position for it
seemed to him that the message was very lame
and impotent in its arguments on Kansas aud
that something more would be necessary to
satisfy the public mind than was contained in
the document itself He trusted the debate Of
| this point would not be delayed long, for before
we are aware of it there might be civil war i'll
Kansas.
After reviewing other parts of the message he
said he hoped he should be understood, that on
affairs when Congress was substantially unani-
NOUS, that the world would be assured the gov
ernment Of the U. S. would not suffer its fame to
be furnished, its power insulted aud the lives of
its citizens destroyed by an enemy, eutrenchcd