The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-03-06
CONGRESS-.
THIRTY-FIRST CONGRESS SECOND SESSION.
G.. G..

la the Senate, Tuesday, 25th, the bill establish
ing an asylum for disabled and invalid soldiers
was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading
Little more beside this merely formal business
was transacted.
Tuesday, the House passed the Civil and Di-
plomatic Appropriation bill, after brief, very
insufficient examination. Several attempts to
engraft on it amendments changing the present
tariff were made, but were ruled out of order,
and the decision Of the Chair was uniformly sus-
tanned
Wednesday, the Senate took up and passed the
resolution authorizing the President of the Uni
ted States to send national vessel to bring Kos
suth and his companions in exile to this country.
The bill for the reduction of postage was con-
sidered, and finally passed by vote of 80 to IS
all the nays being from the South, and only nine
or ten of the yeas.
The Military Asylum bill was passed 40,
nays s.
The Post Office Appropriation bill from the
House, after being amended, was read third
time, and passed
The bill providing for the payment of Mexican
instalments was under consideration in the House
Mr.. Allen and Mr.. Ashmup were each allowed
twenty minutes for explanations and comments,
concerning the charge made by the former against
Mr. Webster, the evening before We present.
in another place, on our first page full report Of
the debate between these gentlemen Tuesday
evening, and An abridged report Of the debate
between them Wednesday morning
The bill was at length passed as originally re-
ported.
The Army bill was then taken up II was de-
! bated by Messrs Giddings, Levin, &c.--the de-
bate at one time turning upon the charges made
| against Mr.. Webster
Mr. Levin defended Mr. Webster in an earnest
manner from the attacks which bad been made on
that gentleman, pronouncing the accusation of
Mr.. Allen this morning false one. Posterity
will remember MIR Webster, and erect to him a
monument, not like that on Bunker Hill, which
he has rendered immortal by his eloquence That
will moulder and decay. Times finger will wear
away the surface and base and it will fall, and
not fragment remain to mark the spot where it
| stood but 1t shall be monument more noble in
structure and admirable in its proportions. The
monument will be erected in the hearts Of the
| American people to the noble, lofty, self-sacri-
| icing spirit which induced him in the hour of
common danger TO step forward and sacrifice
everything in defence Of his native land.
| MIR Giddings congratulated the country on
the fact that those who call themselves Free-Soil-
ers on this floor are not the agitators neither in
the other branch of Congress. Gentlemen may
rise in both Houses, and denounce the Free-Soil-
ers from week to week and from month to month,
to put down the agitators, when, in fact they say
nothing But an intelligent people and commu-
nifty will understand this defamation and SANDER
which is perpetrated from day to day everywhere;
and the gentleman from Pennsylvania, who seems
to have foreign mission or secretaryship in his
eye, had taken occasion to pounce on them
MIR Levin said that be would have no office
except that which springs from the people.
Mr. Giddings replied. All Offices spring from
the people, and the gentleman will take anything
he can get Laughter He then came to the
defence of Mr.. Allen, who had made a charge
against Mr.. Webster, and said that an opportu-
nifty should be given to Mr. Allen to prove the
truth Of his allegation. From what had been said
by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, the army
was to cut the throats of the people, and to put
down freemeu of the North. He then denounced
the Fugitive Slave Law, spoke Of it being odious
to nine. tenths Of the Northern people He would
say here and everywhere unhestatingly, that no
| freemen are bound to assist in the execution of
the law. ID was matter which lies between
themselves, their conscience and their God, and
he extended to the freemen of Massachusetts his
| thanks.
Mr.. Mason asked whether he approved of the
| Boston mob.
Mr.. Giddings did not know what the gentle
man meant by mob but be would say this-if he
had been colored man in Boston, as he is white
man, and Southerner had come to seize his
brother, sister, or any relative, his life.blood
should have flowed before he would have remained
passive. He then noticed the remarks Of Mr..
Clay in the Senate, spoke a kind word for George
Thompson, and referred to the remarks OF Mr.
Houston to-day in defence OF Mr. Webster.
Mr., Houston. What am to understand
Mr.. Giddings That the allusion to the gen.
tleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Allen was such
as cannot approve. Laughter
Mr. HOuston IL IL of VERY LITTLE c0nceFn 10
me whether you approve 1t or not.
Mr. Giddings. 1.-THE gentleman had been dis
posed to meet the question openly and fairly, he
never would have said what he did.
Mr.. Houston. The gentleman knows very
well that when obtained the floor Twas confined
to five minutes; and it was not my purpose to
assail the gentleman from Massachusetts,. |
should do what did anywhere and be happy to
afford him an opportunity to respond took &C.
charges against the Secretary Of State, and char
scterzed them in the terms they merited fthat
Is an assault, hope to be ready to sustain IL.
Mr. Giddings The gentleman volunteered
defence. Will he stand up now and say that the
charge is not trne2 No. But he attacks the
gentleman from Massachusetts,, and calls him
calumniatorl
Mr.. Houston: spoke to the judgment of the
House and the judgment of the country When
any gentlemen here, In any mode, or elsewhere,
prefers charges, 10 not the duty incumbent on him
70 ask Tor an investigation, not those who consent
to traverse and deny them1
MIR Giddings The gentleman from Masss-
ehusetts INF Allen) did invoke nvestig stion, and
the gentleman from Delaware did not come for
ward and give him the privilege Of proving the
truth Of charges Il 10 cowsrdly
Mr.. Houston. hurl back the charge of COW.
ardioe with scorn and contempt 30 far from OPP
posing the gentleman from Mssssch usstts. I An
for giving him all the opportunity which he
seeks.