The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-08-26
ATTEMPT TO GAG HORACE MANN.

In the House, on the 18th instant, while the
Navy Appropriation bill was under discussion,
a debate took place, which is thus reported:
Mr.. Mann, after abiding to Cass, Buchan-
an, and Douglas, and their splendid bids to the
South for the Presidency, proceeded to speak
of the Wing and Democratic National Conven-
tons. and to condemn their action on the slavery
question, which he said was an outrageous and
cruel attempt to silence the voice of mankind
on subject most important TO the human
heart They might as well have tried to force
the oak back into the acorn, or drive the spirit
of the nineteenth century back into the dark
| ages a. to silence discussion on this subject
He then proceeded to condemn slavery in the
strongest terms, depicting the degrading evils
and enormous crimes attached to il, when
MIR Polk asked him to paint Il picture of the
negroes in the Northern States.
| Mr.. Mann. will at another time.
| Mr. Polk insist upon it now. The re-
marks are unworthy of a member on this floor,
and therefore | ask that he give it now
Sensation, and cries of Order order
Mr. Mann. The gentleman must not forbid
our discussing slavery.
Mr. Polk. brand as a SANDER that which
you are guilty of uttering
Mr. Mann. 1t is not for others when gem
tleman obtains the floor to dictate the topics
on which he shall speak
Mr. Polk, who was seated on the opposite
! side of the Hall, cried out "You have perpe-
trated a foul Islander ON the South"
Cries of "Order'' and much excitement
| Mr.. Harris of Alabama, rose to question
OF order. The gentleman was assalling an ex-
listing institution of the South-an institution
sanctioned by the Constitution
The Chairman (Nlr. Ficklin) decided the
latitude of debate in Committee was broad,
and the gentleman was in order
Gentlemen were now standing i'm all parts of
the Hall
Mr.. Polk would ask whether it is right
for the gentleman thus to assail the institutions
of the South, in which many of us are interest
ed, when he does not hold himself responsible
for the insult
Cries of g Order, and banging of the Chair
mans gavel
Mr.. Mann. | hope this interruption will
not come out of my time
Mr.. Fowler. ! rise to cay, that when the
gentleman from Massachusetts, in the posses
sion of his prerogatiye, has the floor, he should
be permitted to go on, and the House should
sustain the Chair
Mr.. Polk When gentleman propagatcs a
falsehood on one half of the nation, he should
not be allowed to 90 on.
Mr.. Meade. | ask for the reading of the
3lst.rule.
Mr.. J. w. Howe. | ask for the reading OF
the two platforms Laughter
Mr.. Meade. The two platforms and the 3 st
rule prohibit the discussion of the question be-
fore the Committee, for it is not germane to
the subject pending
The Chairman said, if his decision was not
satisfactory, an appeal could be taken from it,
Mr. Campbell, of Ohio, said some gentlemen
who had spoken about everything else could
appeal.
Mr.. Polk. | take the responsibility, and ap-
peal from the decision Of the Chair and hold
the gentleman from Ohio in the same contempt
| do the gentleman from Massachusetts. say
to the gentleman from Ohio, hold him -
the remaining part of the sentence was
drowned in cries of "Order, order"l
The question having been taken, the Chair
man was sustained in deciding the gentleman
from Massachusetts in order.
Comparative quiet ensued, when Mr.. Mann
resumed and concluded his remarks, showing,
among other things how badly Messrs Fill
more, Cass, Buchanan, Webster, and other dis
tinguishcd men, had been treated by the South,
notwithstanding their submission TO the slave
power He also expressed his surprise that an
attempt had been made to gag him down be-
cause he spoke the words of truth