Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-03-30

not make any statement about the conVersa-
ton unless it was called for. Now tor the
facts. The time he could not fix ana did not
remember. Some time early after the com
mencemeut of Congress be met Mr.. Morris
on the street in company with another gen
tleuan, member of the House. lie intro
duced him to the member, when some CONVEX
sation ensued, which he did now remember
Mr.. Morris then requested him to call at his
room, as he desired 10 talk with him. lie
was on his way to the War Department, and
on his return he called. and they bad the con-
versation. He did not pretend to give the
whole conversation, but they commenced
talking about the position taken by the dis
tinguished senator from Illinois and his col
LEAGUES in the House on the Kansas question.
lie understood Mr.. Morris to state distinctly
that, upon conference, the friends OF Judge
! Douglas had agreed and determined that
Judge Douglas should pursue the course
which he had taken Oh this question, and
that il was the only means by which he could
| sustain himself The gentleman from lllI-
nois we'll understood that he was the friend
of that senator. They had both conversed OF
making some arrangement by which the dem.
ocratic party could stand as unit. During
that conversation there was statement that
one reason why Judge Douglas felt himself az
crieyed was, that there had been 40 effort by
the present administration TO destroy him, to
break him down, and that his friends had
been neglected 10 appointment, and the
claims of Illinois overlooked, and that they
did not intend to stand it. lie did not know
that he gave the language or the conversation
in full. lie did not pretend to do 1t; but no
had given the su6stauce-the facts involved
| in that conversation.
MIR. MARSHALL, of Illinois, said he had
nothing to do with the question OF veracltv,
or whatever it might be called. On yester'
day, when the gentleman from Virginia made
the charge, he stated that he never heard OF
such thing in any manner or form. lie
repeated it here to-day upon authority that
no such Conference in any manner, shape,
or forr was ever held by the delegation
lie stated it distinctly and emphatlcally that
no such conference was ever held by the Hill
nois delegation The charge was wholly unau.
thorzed by the facts, that Judge Douglas
had indicated to Mr.. Calnoud the plan for
admitting Kansas under the Lecompton con-
stituton.
Mr.. SMITH said the only question of fact
now was that in reference to the conversa'
ton be held with Mr.. Morris. Upon that
fact be had nothing further to say. 1t was
said BY the gentleman that this conversation
occurred in his room, in the presence of his
! family. That was true, and be went there
with view Of consulting with him about the
claim of the old soldier; ard they branched
off into general conversation after that SUB
iect was disposed Of 1t was not held direct
ly or Indirectly with an understanding OF con-
| fdence on the CONTRARY, be and the gentle
man agreed that when public men coDversed
upon public subjects it was subject upon
which all might speak at will and pleasure.
! lie had not understood the gentleman from
kentucky as declining to permit the use OF
his name; if he had so understood him, he
should not have referred to him, and he made
this explanation so as t. have this matter un-
dcrstood, aud be did 80 because be held 1t
to be duty to tho country, if he could, to
trace up by any proper and legitimate means
the secret motives Of public men.
Mr.. MORRIS obtained the floor.
Mr.. WElGHr, of Georgia. called for tho reg.
ular order Of business lie thought they bad
| better stop Eere i'll UIueI W heSP shSNA ttOH
running into personalities.
Mr.. FLORENCE, OF Pennsylvania, moved
that the House adjourn; which motion was not
agreed to-
MIR. WRIGHT, at the solicitation of friends,
then withdrew his call for the regular order
of business.
Mr.. MORRIS then proceeded. lie had not
sought to implicate the gentleman from
Virginia in any private conversation, and he
did not know that the substance of what had
been said disagreed with what he had stated.
He did not think it very material, at all
events. The gentleman had announced to
the House his settled purpose to use oil prl
vate conversation, where he thinks that the
public service requires it. lie did not know
where the gentleman drew the distinction.
Mr.. SMITH denied that he said that he
would use private and confidential converse
ton for public use. He had said this: that,
without the Injunction of confidence, he
would regard no conversation upon pubic
affairs as private.
Mr. MORRIS said that the gentleman was
very watchtul over the interests OF the coun'
try. lie DEPRECATED the course marked out
by the gentleman from Virginia as calcula-
ted to do great injustice to friends.