Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-12-11
To tho Honorable the Democratic Members Of
TIE Hnnse nf Renresentttires:


ing, at the earnest solicitation of my friends,
submitted to mea copy of statement, Indirect
Iy affecting my character, which statement he
intends to lay before you this evening, Ireply:
FTrSt.-I have no knowledge OF the facts al
luded to, other than that in his paper.
Second.-So far as the inference is sought to
be drawn from his statement that any person
approached him in an improper manner with
NV authority or knowledge and in my behalf, L
hereby most Solemenly deny, and earnestly pro-
test against any such inference on the part OF
any gentleman, based as it is, thus far, on
naIneeSs Ruthor and am utterly Mt loss to
imagine who the individual is to whom he al
ludcs
If the Hon. Sherrard Clemens, or any other
membGr, has any charge to make against me,
touching the public printing or otherwise, and
which shall be made TO assume tangible form,
susceptible of disapproval, l hold myself ready
to els prove it to the satisfaction of every I'M
prejudiced and honorable man.
do most solemly assert that have never di-
rectiy or indirectly, either in person or by any
agent offered any pecuniary or other cOnSidera-
ton to any member of Congress, to secure their
vote for me for the Office of Public Printer
This declaration I wish to be understood as full,
clear and explicit, without any mental or other
reservation, denying and defying the proof in
any manner or shape whatsoever.
Relative to other charges of plumber and cor
ruption-emanatng, as they heretofore have,
from the hungry leechcs who infest the lobbies
of the House, too lazy TO work, too proud to
beg, and too cowardly to steal openly have
not heretofore deemed them worthy my notice.
But finding their assertions have produced all
impression upon some members who arc person.
ally unacquanted with me- now challenge and
defy any and every one of them to substantiate
even the least of their allegations against me.
In conclusion, as l am not personally aC-
quaintcd with Mr.. Clemens, | would take this
Tel,, 10 IL
personal favor if he would communicate to me
privately, if he does not wish to do SO publicly,
the name of the individual who thus dared TO
approach him in my behalf
With great respect c. WENDELL.
Now, Mr.. Speaker, up to this moment, do
not knew Cornelius Wendell. have had no
conscious conversation with him at any period
of my life. do not know him even by sight;
and in this whole affair, from its commencement
to its close aver here on my responsibility in
the dread hereafter, that have had no purpose
to accomplishment l have had no end to sub
serve-eXcept the duty which conceived was
due to myself and to my country. Acting on
this line of duty, and on this alone, have con-
ceiyed it incumbent on me, in the position in
which have been placed, to eliminate this ques-
ton of all matters touching myself personally;
and to that end, since last evening when re-
tired from the Democratic caucus, had made 1t
| my purpose to prosecute the necessary lnquir-
les with reference to the person referred to IN
the paper that has been read. 1t will be re-
membered that the occurrence took place on Sa-
turday last. i intimated it to colleague, who
| is now in my eve, and to him alone. | came to
the Democratic caucus that evening, fretting I'M
der the emotions which the proposition itself
produced; and, actuated by the convictions of
my heart, when the name of Mr.. Wendell was
presented, stated in the hearing of every one
who was then present, that Mr.. Wendell was at
least most unfortunate in his friends; for, how
ever it might be with him, corruption at least
attached TO them. Is or is not that the state
tuent in substance which made, at the time
to which l refer? call on the gentleman from
Virginia-my colleague-wh sat by my side,
| to say whether that is not the substance of what
said
MK Hurx1Ns.-I recollect that that was the
substance.
Mr. CLENENs.-After Saturday the events are
sufficiently explained in the correspondence.
have conceived it my duty, acting in the path
to which have referred to see whether the per-
son referred to in the inclosed statement would,
or would not, stand up to what lie said. | am
satisfied that there is disposition or his part
to skulk behind my body from the disgrace in
which he has voluntarily involved HIMSELF and,
although he has forfeited all claim at my hands,
! there is something due to his family and to his
connections; and-nnprincipled scoundrc as he
| isl profess that am not here TO stand as his
protector, but to act shield for those who
are innocent and to protect them from the cf-
fects Of his acts.
Under these circumstances, then, conceive
it to be nothing more than apublc duty to say,
weighing calmly and impartially everything
connected with this. the most diSagreeahle sub
ject of my life, take this occasion to avow
that under all the CT ,cumstances, and as my
mind is at present inclined, take the statement
of Mr.. Wendell in preference to that OF the per
son referred to in so far as Mr.. Wendell denies
| all completely in or knowledge of, the PROPOSE
ton which was made to me.
shall 90 no further than that I conceive it to
be an act of simple duty; and do this act of
Justice to a man whom never saw in my life,
simply because do not desire hereafter, come
what may, to let the reflection rest on my con-
science of having, either knowingly or unknow-
ingly. done an act of injustice to man who may
possibly be innocent
THR navigation season at St Paul, this year,
extended from May LIST to Nov. 14th-198 days
the shortest season on record. The number
of steamboat arrivals was 1927, an increase of
lS9 over last year. The thermometer at that
city on the 23d stood a. Il degrees below zero.
WHY is an overloaded gun like an Office
- 80, =. :.