The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-28


and whether any additional compensation is given
| for said duties. And that the President commune
cate whether any agent or other person has been
| appointed by him, or any other Executive officer to
proceed to California or New Mexico, TO aid or add
wise the people in relation TO the organization of
State government If 80, the name of the person.
[Other inquiries in relation to the subject
| embraced in the resolution which concludes by
calling for copies OF all instruction and correspond
| ence
Mr. WINTHROP insisted on the rue-that
resolution calling upon the Executive for informa-
ton must lie over one day He said that il was de-
| sirable TO consider matters first communicates and
therefore renewed the motion To print fifteen thou
sand copies of the Presidents annual message and
the accompanying documents. On this motion,
with view to avoid debate to printing the
| sage in French Dutch, Spanish, and what all, he
| called for the previous question.
I The demand was seconded; and under its ope-
| ration, the resolution agreed TO-
| Mr. BURT said that he would offer resolution,
| necessary to complete the organization. IL
| read "That the Speaker do now appoint the stand
ing committees of the House."
| Mr. SACKETT offered amendment having in
| view the election of the committees.
| Mr. ROOT said to the gentleman that it was now
too late to do this. The Speaker is not there by my
VOTE he added but by the vote of his friends and the
connivance of his political enemies. He has been
placed in that chair by majority of the House; by
a larger majority than any Speaker has received
since have been here. The resolution of the gen.
| tleman from North Carolina (Mr STANLY) gives
MN the De5t title. "A speaker thus selected, ana
thus confirmed, may be trusted with the appoint
| ment of the committees. If gentlemen have any
scrupes they ought to have thought of them before
I We would bring ourselves to ridiculous and sim
| gular pass if we take the appointment from you,
sir.
1.-THE following is merely brief sketch of what
took place.l
Mr.. GIDDINGS. ] rose to carry out the idea of
my colleague, (Mr. RoeT) There is some misap-
prehenson and misrepresentation abroad, and in
the public papers; and wish to make CORE ction
| When the plurality mode by which you hold your
seat Mr.. Speaker, was agreed to, every Wing
! foreknew the result and when they voted for the
rule they voted for your elevation. They knew it,
and told them of it. [Laughterl / did not inn
pose on them the expression OF this result, but my
| experience told me the result which would follow
| Every body knew that one hundred and sixteen
| members had been elected by Democrats, and the
| Wings could claim only the one hundred and four
| teen.
Mr. WHITE. would ask whether the member
| suggested any other mode of organization?
| Mr. GIDDlNGS. did; asked gentlemen on
this side to take up northern Wing, or any Wing
who is in favor of the Wilmot proviso. We could
| have elected him the second ballot
| Mr. SCHENCK. / ask my colleague whether he
had not an opportunity to vote for such gentle
man, as between Mr.. WINTHROP and Mr. COBB?
| Mr. GIDDINGS. ] voted for such candidate
in the gentleman from Pennsylvania, (Mr. WILL
Mr. SCHENCK made a remark which we did not
hear with disnctness believed to be repetition of
| his question
| Mr. GIDDINGS The House will see the posi-
ton in which am placed. [Laughter.l dol not
| know that had the opportunity. / know that Mr..
| WINTHROP did put on the Committee on Terrific
| ries majority Of members who refused to report
the Wilmot proviso, until they were forced to do
Mr.. SCHENCK. My colleague inferred opposi-
ton TO the Wilmot proviso. / ask in opposition to
that inference, whether Mr. WINTHROP did not
move the Wimot proviso to the Oregon bill, and
which my colleague and you, Mr.. Speaker, helped
| to vote into that bilR
| Mr.. GIDDINGS. Two years since, when the
| gentleman from Massachusetts, was proposed as the
| Wing candidate for Speaker, there were PROFOUND
cd TO him certain heterogeneous, and he refused
TO tell what his sentiments He referred TO his
past votes and public acts; and now, when he
| again brought forward candidate, ! had no
means of knowing his opinions but by his past votes
| Mr.. WINTHROP, (Mr GIDDINos yielding the
foor.) gentleman, a colleague, (Mr. Paltrey,)
wrote to me, asking whether | would appoint the
| committees in certain manner AS to what my
opinions are, they are on record The gentleman
will find them scattered all along for the last ten
years. and he will find some things palmer than he
thinks can be found. ! will not answer interroga-
tories will not stand always ready to answer the
interrogatories of any man. But deny that col
league called upon me to ask my opinions Ire
fused to tell him how would appoint the commit
| tees.
| Mr.. GIDDINGS. On that occasion we wanted
to know what would be his policy. The gentleman
refused 10 tell what it would be-whether in favor
| OF the Wilmot proviso against it; whether in
favor of the slave trade against it; whether in
favor OF the coastwisc slave trade, against II.
He refused, suppressed, and withheld his opinions;
and under such circumstances, we refused to vote
| for him. And my colleague asks whether had
not had an opportunity oiyo,ing for Wilmot pro-
the chair, the records show what his policy was.
He placed men upon the Committee on the Terri
tories who refused to report the Wimot proviso
until ordered 10 do so by vote Of the House.
| Mr. 1 md, a,,l, -
TO say that the Speaker of the last House Of Repre-
| sentativcs appointed Committee on Territories
| who refused to report territorial bills containing
the ordinance of 1857 in them, until ofdered to do
so by vote of the House. ! ask if he makes that
| statement
Mr.. GIDDINGs. ] will change my language,
| and say " neglected"
| Mr.. ROCKWELL. II is true that a portion of
! the committee opposed the insertion of the ordi-
nance, but it is not true that the majority failed TO
| report the bills with the proviso in them
| Mr.. GlDDINGS. The records show the fact that
they neglected to report the bills until ordered by
| the House. No time can change the records Of the
House. They did not report until peremptorily
| ordered.
MIR. WILLIAMS called Mr.. GIDDINos TO order,
| on the ground of irrelevancy.
| The SPEAKER said that if the gentleman was
called to order, he could not proceed.
Mr.. GIDDINGS Docs the gentleman want 10
! prevent me from replying 10 my collcaguel
Mr.. WILLIAMS ] insist on my point of order.
not proceed. General consent il requisite ["Go
| on" /" object" 81 objcct"l
| Mr.. GIDDINGS Haven't | got a friend here
who will move for leave for me to go ON
| Mr.. MoMULLEN ! move that he have leave 70
| proceed. [Laughter.l
The motion was agreed to, and
| Mr.. GIDDINGS, resuming, said: am glad that
| gentlemen intend to stand up 10 the mark. have
another question TO ask of the gentleman from Mas
sachusetts whether he did not sedulously so ar.
| range the Committee for the District of Columbia
as 70 give them the power TO report against the
| traffic? They saw mournful procession Of fifty
&o slaves ON Pennsylvania avenue, and there
were your committee, who knew the facts, looking
on. At the next session, the same gentlemen who
protected the slave trade placed upon tho
same committee You, Mr.. Speaker, could have
done no worse Laughter There is a hope that
| you will do better. tRenewed laughter.l / want
| the country to know that the Wings went into the
contest with their eyes open, and put you in the
chair, II the Wings on this side Of the House had
voted for M. Strong, they could have elected him
| Mr.. WINTHROP. ] will only say single word.
The gentleman has made a speech, the echo of
which has not yet died away, accusing ne Of being
altogether hostile To the northern sentiment; and
fbe 9th