Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1858-07-02
PERSONAL EXPLANATION.
Speech of Hon. Il. III. Shaw,
OF NORTH CAROLINA.

In the House Of Representatives. Aoy
81, 1853.
The House being in the Committee of
the Whole on the state Of the Union
Mr.. SHAW said:
Mr. CHAIRMAN [ am very reluctant in
obtruding myself on the attention Of the
committee at this late period Of the ses-
sion, particularly on question that IS not
Immediately before the committee. But |
feel that the proYocation under which L
now speak must be a sufficient apology IN
the estimation Of every gentlemen III this
Honse.
tt will be recolleefed, rhsapsssasys se.se.
gentlemen present, that some time since 1
I addressed the commttte~on the question
of the admission of Kansas under the Le-
compton constitution. I think I can ap-
peal to you, Mr.. Chairman, and to every
gentleman who heard me on that occasion,
in proof of the declaration [ now make,
that, from the beginning to the end Of that
speech, / treated my colleague from the
fifth congressional district OF North Caro-
lima, ME. GHNER, TO whom l then re-
piled, with the utmost courtesy. What,
sir, has been the course of my colleague (!
Mr.. GILMER. VIII my friend allow
me to ask him question right there? I
sents me in his speech as being opposed to
the admission of Kansas as slave State
using the words, g ''otherwise as a slave
State!''
Mr.. SHAW, Of North Carolina. | will
answer the gentleman on that point, be-
fore | resume my seat, as | should have
done if he had not called my attention to
the subject.
ask again, what has been the course Of
the gentleman towards myself? Why,
sir, on the evening of Saturday week, my
colleague came into this Hall after [ had
left it, (having been here many hours,)
and announced that it was his intention
to address the committee in reply to me,
but, with an affectation of generosity, of
liberalitv, and Of magnanimity which I
believe never found a lodgment in his
heart, he pretendended that he could not
do so because / was not present. Sir, if
the gentleman had desired me to be pres
ent when he made his speech, L would
have been small tax upon him to have
indicated the fact to me. On the follow
ing Monday evening, after the House had
resolved itself into Committee of the Whole
for general debate, it being understood
that no business was to be done, having
seen my colleague take his hat and leave
tnG 1IttIl, anu DCliIS WCeti1Cd dliNt SAlIStttol-
ed by continuous session of'sevens or eight
hours, I followed his example, and retired
to my hotel. He returned and made the
assault upon me, to which it is now my
purpose to reply.
It was not till the next morning that Il
saw It reported in the Globe that he had
given notice on the previous Saturday
night of his intention to reply to me, and
this was the first intimation I had of his
design. repeat, if he had had a desire,
or the least disposition, to have me pres
ent when he made that reply, why did he
not state it to me, SO that | could have
been present2 But,ssir, while protesting
regret on account of my absence on that
occasion, he went SO far as to say that in
making the'speech which I.1did -enr the
goth of April, had studiously and inten-
tionally waited till he had gone to North
Carolina-and for what2 In order that1
might take advantage of bis absence to do
him injustice. Now, sir, tell the gentle
man, what / believe. he feeles and knews,
that there is nothing abeat hin, physically y