New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-12-23

II has been asserted that Mr. GERRTT SMITHS
speech of Tuesday last the first instance in which
the House of Representatives has listened to an Anti
Slavery argument without interruptions and other in
ciyilities Without meaning to detract anything from
the merit of Mr. Smiths very successful debut in
Congress it is only proper to state that this is err
roneous The House of representatives has long been
accustomed to great latitude and freedom of debate on
The topic Of Slavery well on other topics Ever
since the time of JOIN QUINCY ADAMS, and the re-
election of Mr. GDDNGs, it has been virtually estAb-
shed that eny man with brain enough to think, and
soul enough to utter his thoughts, could be heard on
that voor-not to mention those TO whom both brains
and souls are wanting. Who does not recollect the
many telling speeches which within the past fifteen
wears have been made there by the amented statesman
Of Quincy. as well as by tie distinguished member
from OhO-and made too, in most cases to tOlerably
patient auditory We remember also a more recent
speech By Mr. CLEAyELAND OF Conn, in which the pa
institution and its polticaluses were denounced
with most passionate and indignant eloquence, but
which Southern members listened to 10 rap attention
to the end Nor is the scsthng speech oTnADDEUs STE
VEINS to be orcOen-One OF the keenet and strongest
ever heard in Congress in which he bitterly exposed
the degradation of the Old Dominion aud her declyed
First Families the one turned into vast nursery for
slaves and the others into professional breeders aud
vendors Of negroes No doubt Mr. SMITH has "a ad
vantage over al these gentlemen in that he takes up
the subject in more philosopbic and religious method,
rot as combatant in the of politics. but rather
as Christian morslist guided by the pure light of the
golden rule. He is perhaps more conciliatory in man-
ncr and spirit even while radical and uncompro-
Of load oh nj
freedom in the House have been in times past He
has also another advantage in coming Into Congress
after the right Of free discussion has been indicated
ard confirmed there by the ab0s Of his predecessors
and no one we are sure, desire more than he that
they should have all the credit that belongs to them.
Besides. without any excessive Partially for the
American Congress do no hesitate to say that there
is no other legislative body in the world where extreme
and conflicting opinions expressed with such free
do or listened to with such courtesy 1t is like the
country at large in the recognition OF each mans right
to lis view, and to state his reasons for holding
it, whatever they may be. In the case OF Mr. Smith
this established comfy was only striking because it
was somewhat more perfectly exhibited toward menu
Der whose manners and bearing must always command
respect and kindness wherever he appears But it is
due to Congress that the country should know every
one Of It's virtues aud prominent among these is the
tolerance of opinion and of the most frank aud unre
strained uttcrunce thereof In this sense it is a
good school man mag enter either House a
fanatic ready to tar and feather, or burn
at tie stake any hereto, political or other ;
but fanatic, except in rare instances Of in
sanity, he will lot leave IT, After two sessions
he sheds such worthy characteristics and learns that
every question has many sides and that it is useless
meet facts and arguments with anything bat facts and
Arguments in reply. He may talk terrible Otherwise
for private consumption at home but at Washington he
must listen Ike gentleman to what other gentlemen
have 10 say To this Slavery is no exception. II is
subject which viii be discussed in Congress aud else
where long it exists is nature is agitation and
I'll the compromises in the universe cannot lay it 10
rest Such being the case We may well rejoice that
this momentous controversy is be carried by body
which thoroughly respects the right OF al its
hers 10 be heard, as does the American Congress.