Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-14
RKMARRs OF MIR. BOTELER OF vIR-
GINA.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, LAST
RERI ARNS
TIL RSnAY


THURSDAY.
Mr.. BOtelCr received the unanimous consent OF the
House TO make personal explanation. lie said that
his attention has been srrested by paragraph iG pa
PER published in the District in which he IS represented
stating that the motion which ne had submitted few
days after the opening OF the session. calling for COM
mittee Of from each State IN the Union, 10 take into
consideration the perous condition OF the country, that
that motion submitted by hin at the instance of the
Republican party. NV he cid not choose to have any
such Misrepresentation 20 abroad uucontradcted with
reference 10 his action the matter referred lie
did choose that It should 90 forth the public hut
especially 20 tie people who bad intrusted him
With the care of ;he interests and honor in this House
thar ne had acted the instance Of members of the
Republican PARTY His political career was dear to him.
and be MAS NOS vli1g, humble as he was, that that
re- should be tainted either directly OF Indirectly by
anv iusiauatiOns Of this kind. lie had made that
ton entirely his own individual responsibility
as member from the Commonwealth of Virginia.
he had made 10 after consultation with gentlemen on the
democratic side OF the house, aud with gentlemen be-
longing 10 th southern oppOstOu-the party 10 which
he had the honor belong He found that several 9th
81 gentlemen had similar propositions to submit to the
house az that time. The gentleman from North Carroll
nc a distinguished member from Tennessee aud Mr..
John Cochrane had preplred similar propositions. He
conferred with hes gentlemen, and they had cOncured
with him in the proprety of Offering that resolution
lie claimed the privilege Of making that motion because
he came from the yerv distict-Harpers Ferry-which
had suffered the hands of those who belonged to
the anrilay,ry aggressive party in the north He had
slbm "a tn motion with the especial purpose Of Offer
ing 70 gentlemen the other side an opportunity 10
declsrc 20 the House and the country, whether they
meant 20 tend the South the olive branch cf peace
the sword o. war He made the uoiion, not in any
craven spjjt 10 hold flag Of Truce, but that the
other side might show whether they prepared TO
30 Justice Tor the purpose Ci saving the Unjcro bring
rce 10 face their representative men that commit
tee and 20 lCaru whether they meant to he what
thew would make the South believe. He con
! fsS.l. however that he disappointed with the
action OF chat committee. He disappointed in the
men selected % compose that committee He was dis
appointed at the time the committee rad taken TO re-
port II had every opportunity given it frr conference
but nothing had been DONE Oae month hsd elapsed
and an this time the corrt-y had been anxcusly watch
ing and ,Vreclc though in vain the result Of :heir
| ac'ion The members composing it had been excused
from serving the floor and yet with all these oppoi
tuns, cnl with a thsse Incentives TO prompt aud harl
moniou action, they bad vet made no sign, nor even
promised 10 bring up repcrt He must openly &C
know edge tht this tsitCg with the best Interests
/ of the country. lie Lot one OF those who yet
4 Spsired OF the country. he relied on the heroic
maxim which gave to ancient Rome the empire Of the
woild-'ucver desplir" But he must say that for the
rast week the hopes he had entettICd OF good TO arise
from that committee had been diving out and now hs
could assure them that unless they did up with
report az once, and cier some measure of relief
% calm the agitation which distracted the country
another wees allowed 20 elause it would be too late
for the in reduction Of any OF the friends Of
the cOuutry TO save the Union.