Year: 1859

vor of this course, I drew from the treasury the amount equal to my mileage as allow ed by the law, upon presenting the audi tors warrant for the amount, as presume the auditors accounts will show.

 In addition to this, when the resolution was introduced into the House by MT. Vaughan, 1 believe, which read in sub- stance thus:

 Resolced, That this is a continuation of the same session; and that members are entitled to their per diem during the recess and the speaker be authorized and hereby required to sign certificates for the same" Some gentleman, (probably MT. Oates himself, called for division of the reso- luton, and the vote was accordingly taken upon the two distinct and separate proposi- tlons embodied in the resolution. That clause of the resolution declaring it to be a continuation of the same session. I voted for; the latter clause, declaring that mem bers were entitled to their pay during the recess, and authorizing and requiring the speaker to sign for the same, I voted against. l voted against it because knew that the speaker was opposed to signing the certificates thereby required. He had expressed his convictions that he believed we were entitled to mileage for travel to and from home during the recess, but not to per diem pay.

 It was generally understood from ire quent assertions of his own, that he would sign for mileage, which he had done in number of instances, yet could not from consciousness of his duty, sign for any thing more. Knowing this to be his position, notwithstanding this clause of the resolution expressed in part my convictions as before remarked, yet was unwilling to compel him to certify to facts, which he honestly believed to be incorrect. And as l believed that there was higher and more appropriate tribunal before which this question could be more properly adludica- ted, 1 voted against a resolution, the pas sage of which l knew would either compel him to act very inconsistent,y, or to resign his position. An examination of the iourn- als, 1 dare say, will show this to be cor rect.

 l make statement of these facts. not that l believe that they will be found in the least interesting-knowing that it could possibly be a matter of but little concern to any one to learn what my position and conduct were on that occasion. But I do it to convince MT. Oates, as we'll as those under whose observation this may perchance fall, that my writing the letter in compl- ance with the request of Mir. Duval, could not have proceeded from the causes which he has assigned. Since drew from the trea sury the exact amount of money for which he would readily have signed, and since I voted heartily against the resolution which caused his resignation, he ought to have known that his allegations as far as they were intended to apply to my case, were wholly inapplicable and unjust. It must appear evident that 1t could not have been done to prevent any enormitv of mine from being made public-in whatever he might conceive that enormity to consist. Thought l was apologetic in submitting to Mr Du- val's request in communicating to him the facts which l did, as the nature of the case would admit; or at least as much so as my mastery of language would allow. But Mir Oates says retailed his priiyote con versatlon. He says he expressed himself time and again in private conversation, that consulting his private wishes and individual interests, he would be glad the legislature would take recess; and always in the same conversation he says, he expressed him self that as a public officer of the State and a representative of portion of the people he could not vote for it. He thought pri. vate interests subServient to public welfare

 Now with all deterence to Mir. Oates, must say that his conversation to me ex. planatory of his views upon the recess, lei 1t be ever so private was nothing more nor less than what he expressed to all tho members of the House in a similar conver sation; and it was nothing more nor les than it was generally by them under stood to be.

 His conversation together with his subse quent acts, plainly revealed the fact tha while he was anxious for the recess and used means to bring it about, he wa determined to throw the great and over whelming responsibility connected there with upon the shoulders of others. Hi response to MT. Gray's charges, be it eve so ingenious and plausible will show upol d critical eXamiation, that such was hi whole aim and tendency. And as to re tailing his conversation, l must say tha when Ar. Oates states, that in the samc conversation with me in which he expres sed himself eager for the recess, that h, also stated that as public officer of tn, | atn ho nt1II .1, thought private interest subservient to the public welfare, etc., he is certainly mista ken. Such was not the tenor of his con versation with me; though 1t may have been expressed by him to others. If sucI were his views, many occasions during tho discussion upon the propriety of taking { recess presented themselves, wherein ht might have given evident indisputablt proof of his sacred regards for the public welfare, above private and individual in terests. Mr. Oates frequently yielded hi. stand as speaker of the House, and fulmin ated in tones too earnest and plain to ad init of any misapprehension, against mea sures proposed. the adoption of which could not have entaied the one-tenth of the in Juts upOH tllt iCldtC, tlItll was Dy the recess and it's consequences. These consequences too, were repeatedly predicated, during tn. discussion by those who opposed the re cess who composed a majority of the House; and to these predictions Mir. Oate never once in public capacity offered one argument or objection. He unaffected in private conversation high regards for the public welfare; he entertains elevated, sub llmated views of the duty of public off. cer and representative of portion of thc people, but let slip this golden opportunit, of proving this devotion.

 The position which he occupied as spea ker of the House and the influence whicl he Men wielded with the members, wouIC easily have enabled him to defeat the reso lution which proposed adjourning the legis lature for three weeks right in the very midst of business, and which caused the defclt Tn the treasury of the eight or ter thousand dollars, about which he tells you there IS now such universal wailing anC gnashing of teeth among the people from every portion of the State.

 He consoles himself with the idea tha