New-York daily tribune., 1858-02-23

received by me night before Last, and I endesvored
yesterday TO obtain the hoorto reply 70 t. take the
earliest opportunity 10 respond to H. am informed
that the Hon. Joseph Burns Of Ohio had been ouen in
his condemnation OF the Lecompton Constitution and
that after the vote upon raing the Select Committee
for investigation upon that subject which oee ssJn
lie he voted against the friends Of the resolution he
Mr. Burns said that certain Executive patronage or
appointments TO Cfice were 20 be az his disposal
lis is the substance, according 10 my Information Of
The Gdlnisi ions made by Mr.. Burns 10 an
honorable member Of this House, upon being
inquired Of how he came to give such vote
In calling the attention of the House, the other day.
20 the subject out Of which this ster has growp,
was actua,ed by no feelings Of personal uhkininess
toward sny one, end especially toward Mr.. Burns,
whom | 90 lot know by sigLi. The charge that
made on Friday last was that believed the ENecu.
tive Department was attempting 20 influence the votes
and action OF members OF this House by Improper Of
fers OF the patronage Of the Government and cannot
consent tbst attention shall be diverted from the real
and important questions 10 any incidental side ssue
that may spring Of il. This opinion vas founded
upon various circumstances which had transpred and
of which stated hen the resolution offered
for Committee Of Investigation. For reasons then
expressed, thought these circumstances aud reports
Involved the dignity prerOgstyes and independence
Of this House, and that essential that the House
should institute an investigation, in order that
those who had been implicated might haVe
picon, if innocent, and that this House might
assert s Constitutional rights and independence.
So far as had given any currency or countenanes
to these reports by bringing them 70 the at o
the House / should have felt myself bound 10 make
the most ample reparation in my power II the chages
contained in tbose reports had been found to oe
grounoles But 20 far have been able TO invest
gate the case of Mr.. Burns the Information Jusunes
the charge made here on fnday Iasl' no nouE, ; VI
This House and justice to its members, IN my OPINION
nou demand an investigation OF the actS IN ths ana
in every other of similar character tost may
come to light; and in the hope that the House VIII
have off rod ia
Mr. Sneaker The Administration have the majority IN
This House and it is for that majority TO decide
whether these charges shall be investigated or smoth-
cred.
adjourn.
for a moment, / will renew the motion TO adjourn.
Mr. TAYLOR of New-York withdrew the motion to
adjourn.
Mr. BURsETr-I do not intend to occupy the time
of the House but for moment or two. The reason
wi hy objected to personal explanation by the gen.
teman from New. York was, that well understood
" hat was to follow it. | dm opposed TO gentlemen
bringing their personal difficulties upon the floor of
this House. II man denounces me as slanderer
end charges that | have traduced his character, L
know how to meet that sort of charge; Will never
seek 10 stab him indirectly. will meet him face to
face to settle as all such questions ought to be set
tied by honorable men, | knew this thing was to
come up under the guise of privileged question.
knew that effort was to be made, under the pre-
tense of question of privilege, TO raise committee
to investigate charge made against member OF
this body, who, in private letter, addressed to the
member from New-YoIk, told him: Sir the charge
you made on last Friday is false and slanderous in
its character, and hold myself responsible for
" what say The gentleman who wrote that let
ter is absent. The gentleman from New-York, in
stead Of responding to the letter addressed to him as
an individual it should have been replied to, brings
it into this House; and, without any action on the
part of the gentleman from Ohio, and without his
consent, makes it public. IL was private letter TO
the gentleman from New York, who made the charge,
declaring that the charge false and slanderous.
and that for branding it he was responsible. In
stead of responding to that letter the gentleman from
NewYork comes here aSd spreads it upon the record
and makes it part and parcel OF our proceedings.
Then, he claims the right to make personal eIpls-
nation to me that private letter. am always ready
to give every fair and full opportunity to vind-
cate himself from charges OF public character.
will hesitate by my vote, to vndicate the char
acter and reputation of any member upon TINS noor
but will never permit any man. by my vote, TO raise
committee without good cause, to blast and ruin the
character and reputation OF one OF my peers In the
response read by the gentleman from New-iork 10
this House. what is the charge! The charge s, thet
in private conversation with some honorable MEM
Der upon this aoor Il do not know who) the gentleman
from Ohio admitted that he was TO have control OK
some Executive appointments. Admit that the meui-
Der understood the member from Ohio to make such
an admission it is well known rule of law that such
testimony s of the weakest character. In what
can il result Here stands the assertion OF one
member upon one side who is entitled to credit thatthe
charge is false and ssnderous and on the other, the
gentleman from New-York does not take the RESPONSE
bilty of saying that he has any knowledge of the
fact charged He does not come here and say that he
knows this man to be guilty Of these things, and for
that reason demands investig alton. No, Sir he
says no such thing but he becomes the accuser. So
long as have seat upon this floor will never give
any aid or countenance to such system Of warfare
against any man. This much l wanted to say in win.
dicatcn Of my position in obecing to the personal
explanation Of the gentleman from New-York. l did
not want these private matters between the gentlemen
brought here. knew that it not with the consent
of the gentleman from Ohio that it DONE In full
il'n.ent Of my promise to the gentleman from New.
York, renew the motion that the House adjourn.
The motion agreed to; and thereupon lat 4:l0
O'Clock p. n.y. the House adjourned until Tuesday
next.
If anybody supposes that the Hon. Mr..
BURNS would like to have this matter Investigated,
we would thank him to urge that gentleman to make
the motion. 1t is not likely to be resisted on tie
Anti. i.Lecompton side of the House. And il any
one supposes Mr.. BURNETT of Kentucky knons
no better than to represent this as personal matter
between Messrs. Hoard and Burns, b. does that
gentle mans understanding gross injustice.