Col. S. A. Young rose and informed the Convention, that he had information that a letter had been received by a member of this Convention, Mr. Field, from a distinguished politician, advising and urging him, that unless certain resolutions were adopted by this Convention, to secede from the Convention and break it up in a row; and he wished this matter investigated, and the facts properly brought out.
Mr. Field required of Col. Young to give the name of the distinguished politician who had written the letter, and whether he referred to him.
Objection was made to the Convention hearing anything further of the matter complained of by Col. Young.
The President decided that Col. Young was out of order, there being no proposition before the Convention.
Mr. Moss, of Clay, moved that the Convention proceed to inquire into, and investigate the matters charged by Col. Young.
Gen. Clark moved to lay the motion of Mr. Moss on the table.
Mr. Field desired to make an explanation. He had called for the name of the author of the letter; did not get it; could not get him to say he was the member of the Convention alluded to, as having received the letter, but, from rumor, supposed he was the Field alluded to, and Maj. J. S. Rollins the alleged author of the supposed letter. He had a private letter from Maj. Rollins, which, amongst other things, spoke of this Convention and its objects, but in terms of approval—giving his opinions and views in strict accordance with the platform of, and principles adopted by, this Convention, and denied that there was one word of truth in the charge that Maj. Rollins advised a secession from the Convention, or to break it up in a row in any contingency. He said the letter of Maj. Rollins was at his office, and, although a private letter, any gentleman who desired could see it; that he had intended, if the investigation proceeded, to show it in Convention, and appealed to a number of members of the Convention who had seen the letter, to say whether he had not given a true statement as to its contents.
Col. Doniphan, Mr. Sawyer, Mr. Grover, and Mr. Moss, who had seen the letter, confirmed the statement of Mr. Field, as to the contents of the letter.
Col. Young acknowledged himself satisfied, and expressed his gratification that the rumors on the street to Maj. Rollins' prejudice were so fully proven to be false and groundless, and said his object in bringing this matter up was to do but an act of justice to his friend and neighbor, Maj. Rollins.
The motions to lay on the table and for investigation were withdrawn.