The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-04
: THE Gwm IND W1lsoN dFsAuR,

WASHINGTON, june II, Is5s.-The correspondence be-
tween Senators Gwin and Wilson, given to the public
has given rise to much criticism upon the apparently III
diculous position into which both these gentlemen
been placed by their difficulty on the floor of the Senate
The published correspondence does great injustice to the
California senator
The California appropriation ms had all been support
ed and voted for by Mr. Wilson, Ab regulating the
pay of surveyors in California was under consideration
and Mr. Boderck stated the floor of the Senate that
labor and living were cheap in California in the At
anue States This statement, though ooatradcted by
Mr. Gwin, made the preext by Mr. Wilson for a yio-
lent TRADE against California whom he represented as
haying both arms in the treasury and endeavoring TO
absorb the whole public of the country Mr.
Gwin asked If the senator from Massachusetts, had not
supported all the appropriations for California Mr. w
answered that he bad until light was given him by
Senator Broderck MIR Gwin rejoned that such course
was 'demqgcgim. Mr.. Wilson inquired If the remark
was applied TO him. and Mr. Gwn making answer Mr.
w. said he would sooner be charged with demago
than aeaiigg Mt. Gwin sprang 20 his feet and asked If
the senator from Massachusetts intended to apply that
epthet to him. Mr. w said he had no explanations TO
make, whereupon Mr.. g. pronounced him "a liar,
ard, and slandeous taducer of character n Here ended
the affair on the floor of the Senate Early the next
morning Mr. Gwin, not receiving any message from Mr.
Wilson, selected Senator Fitch of Indiana, his friend
and despatched challenge, which Mr. Wilson declined
accepting. This closed the correspondence and as there
had been no explanation apology for the language
used by MIR. Wilson, the eve of having
another Gaming affair" Precauon had been used to
prevent sectional bias being given to the difficulty by
the selection Of senator from free State to bear the
challenge say were about having another Gaming
Affair." when Senator Seward the friend OF Mr.. Viii
son. undertook to bring about settlement by ample
apology from Mr. Wilson Mr. Seward called upon Mr.
Gwin and begged that he would suspend any action until
he tMr. Seward) could make effort to settle the
difficulty amicably. Mr.. Gwin consented to grant
two hours for the purpose OF receiving apology from
Mr. Wilson. Mr. Seward at drew up the paper and
its terms being satisfactory Mr. Gwin and his friends
on To 70 clio af,,ra
The latter asked time to show it to other friends
and the enemies of Mr. Gwn succeeded in inducing Mr.
Wilson to refuse his signature Mr. Seward regretted the
result but determined not to leave any effort untred
arrest street fight He sought Gen Davis senator from
Mississippi and late Secretary of War and begged him to
SEQ Mr. Gwin, and get him to modify if possible his de-
mand for an apology. Cen Davis undertook the task,
but he first sought interview with Mr. Wilson, to learn
his views. Gen. Davis suggested the propriey Of Mr.
Wilson fixing some hours between which he would be
upon the bank of the canal and ready to defend himself
This could he done without any formal challenge. Mr.
Wilson asked what would be the probable result of such
meeting. 'Iha death Of or both of the partics
responded Gen Davis Mr. Wilson at declined that
mode of settlement and asked what Mr. Gwin proposed
doing. @ i doubt not said General Davis -" be will
attack you sight and in rencontre of that kind he viii
have every advantage of you, accustomed he has al
ways BEEN to the hazards OF frontier life. MIR. Will
then expressed himself ready to make any apology
which might be agreed op by Mr.. Davis, Mr. Seward,
and Mr. Crittenden and Immediately addressed note to
Mr. Gwin to that effect which is published with the
respondence. Mr.. Davis then held an interview with
Mr. Gwin and asked him il he willing to nrust his
honor in his Gen Daviss hands Mr. Gwin said he
was but that any settlement contemplated must be
speedily made Gen. Davis said "You know Wilson
will not fight, and we must have more Gaming af-
fairs, Your reputation for bravery is not involved !;
that has been established five different occasions You
afford to be generous and hope you will leave the
whole settlement to the persons indicated by Mr.. Will
son. Mr. Gwin assentcd to the arrangement and hence
the adjustment published in which Mr.. Wilson disa-
applying the offensive term to Mr. Gwin personally
but only intended it referring to extravaganza egsa
ton for California Mr. Wilson rather unfortunate
in The selection of words to express the idea Of exray
CANT legislation " and the history of the transaction
shows that the Massachusetts, General won but fe la
rels in the quarrel which he provoked.