Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-01-05
DEBATE
in THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

luton, offered by Mr.. BUnT, viz
Resolved That the Speaker do appoint the standing
committees of the House. Il,
And an amendment, proposed thereto by Mr. SAcKErT,
that the committees be appointed by the House under the pro-
visions of the seventh rule of order ~.
Mr. ROOT begged leave to gay to his friend from New
York mr. SAcKETr that he rather too late in the day
that he should have thought Of his proposition when they
were adopting the system of plurality The Speaker
was not in chair by his mr. R) vote; but that he
there by Of his political friends with the connivance
of his political enemies, and that he was confirmed there by
the vote both friends and enemies. He he Speake had
been placed there by the majority of the Houseby larger
majority than any Speaker had received since he (Mr.
had been member Of this body and he (he Speaker no
doubt regarded the resolution Of the gentleman iron North
Carolina (Mr SrAsLr his best title to his seat Now
Speaker thus elected and thus confirmed might certainly
in his (Mr RS humble opinion, be trusted with the APP
pontmen OF the committees gentlemen had any diicul-
ty scupes vesng the appointment of the committees
in the Speaker they should have thought oft before
came with bad grace he (Mr would never distrust
the Chair If any candidate for the Speakershp pre-
sented who competent discharge the high duties
the Chair he (Mr would not vote for him and he might
have sufficient for voting against him other grounds
than that competency But after making Speaker by vote
so nearly unanmouswith about thirty dissenting votesa
the Of the House saying that the Speaker there right
iy that he the most proper to be there the House
would present themselves in strange and ridiculous position
if they took from the Speaker thus elected the pow
er of the appointment of the committees of the House.
Mr.. GlDDINGS said he simply TO carry still further
the views to which his colleague had alluded He
through Taylor papers of the North the Sellers
charged with elecng the present Speaker. He desired to
say House and to the country that the Speaker held
his resulting consequence OF the plurality rule, which
forced upon the House by most Of the Wing party aided
by small portion Of those belonging to the other side of the
House. Every rejecting must have foreseen that re-
sul-at least appeared him. All conscious that
lie members held their seats by aid of Democratic votes
There were IA only elected by aid of Wing votes Of these
1.-TWO were absent (Mr. KING of Georgia and Mr. GENrRY
leaving but liz who had been elected by aid Of Wing
Those therefore, who voted for the plurality rule must have
clearly the result He had himself pointed many Of
the Wing party to it. ........ .a
Mr.. WHITE inquired if the gentlemans sagaciy could
point any other mode of organizing the House than by the
plurality vote @
Mr. GIDDINGS replied that the Wing party had it in
their power at any time elect the gentleman from Penn
sylvana the opposite side of the House, (Mr STRoNG
or any Democrat known be in favor of the provs
or they could have elected any Northern Wing who was
openly committed to that He had himself, and
other FeeSolers had voted for the gentleman from Penn
sylvania (Mr STEVENS, and had the Wing party united
upon him he would have been elected almost any ballot
Mr.. SCHENCK desired the floor to ask question. He
wished inquire Of bis colleague whether he had OPP
pouny to for Northern Wing who committed to
the proyiso
for the gentleman to whom he had alluded
Mr.. SCHENCk desired to inquire whether he had not
opportunity of choosing between the Wing nominee and the
gentleman who was elected p
Mr.. GIDDNGS said ne regretted that his colleague mr.
ScHENcK had pressed this question upon him. He had not
intended to make persona auson the honorable gentle
man from Massachusetts, (Mr- WISTHRor,) who had for
merly occupied the chair But his colleague had pressed
him into position which compelled him to refer to that gen.
tleman which he intended 10 do with perfect respect
known the House and to the country that the
assembling of Congress in l847 he and two other gentle
men, Who with himself had previously acted with the Wing
party refused for the gentleman that time nominal
ed by the Wings. learned and honorable gentleman from
Massachusetts, (Mr. PALFnKr) with his appreciation, had
propounded to the candidate nteogaoes concerning the
policy which he would pursue in relation to certain commit
tees Of this body, if elected The gentleman refused an
the teogaories, but referred to his past acts and
proof Of his future These not salts
factory to him. to his two friends, and they declined
ing for him. He however, elected, and presided this
body for two sessions of Congess. He said his colleague
asks he did not know that that gentleman in ia
of the Wmot Fovso Let his official acts the
question. They stool record The Committee Ter
ores arranged by ths Speaker had refused report bill
containing the Provso u perempOry ordered to do by
Mr. ROCKWELL asked e the gentleman from Ohio in
tended say that the Commee on Territories refused to
report bill containing the provisias of the act of 1857
Mr. GIDDINGS said perhaps his snguage was too strong
gentleman from Massachusetts then occu,yng the Speakers
chair had also refused say what he wou do in regard to
arranging the Committee on the Dstrict Columbia as
give expression the sentiment of the against
the slave trade ...'. .. ~.
Mr. SCHENCK said his colleague had inferred, -om the
arrangement of certain committees that the gentleman
Massachusetts, wasopposed TO the proviso He wished tu
que whether his colleague did not know that that gentle
man had moved the provso TO the Oregon bill
Mr. GIDDINGS called the House to witness that he had
sought this personal controversy But his colleague
had pressed him into this NATTER he compelled
upon defence and in making that Defence he would be
constrained refer the gentleman from Massachusetts,
more freely than be had felt any inclination to do 1t
true that the gentleman from Massachusetts, had moved the
roviso years since the Oregon bill but said he
men change their opinions and acts when raised exalted
stations Before he should close his remarks his colleagues
question would be answered.
He was referring, when last interrupted to the arrange
hat
during the last Congress- appeared have been sudousy
arranged protect the Infamous commerce in human
flesh carried this city. This committee had before them
the petitions of the North They had witnessed the heart
rending scenes which ranspired the Avenue in the
month of May, ls4s, when that mournul procession Of
ywo slaves had been marched along that Court street of
Washington by the great slave dealer Hope H. Slater. He
could not say that they personally present. and actually
witnessed that revolving spectacle but they knew all
the disgusting facts, and did the then Speaker But
all these scenes aided by the sentiment Of the North and
by the voice of humanity, could from that committee
arranged they by the late Wing candidate for Speak
era report against the slave trade, word of
proof against that traffic, for pursuing which the eastern
shore of the Atlantic hang unsued to human
association. ...
But this not all. The gentleman at the next session
again formed the committee OF nearly the members
Indeed he sa he did recoect there any change
And the slave trade again protected by that committee.
Now (said he) this gentleman is again brought for
ward the Wing candidate for Speaker and gentlemen
again called choose between him aud the gentleman
now occupying the chair He said God forbid that he should
attempt make selection between them He spoke with
perfect respect for both those candidates but he did be-
Ieve that member that floor, man in the whole