Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1854-04-05
CONGRESS:

clency Bill. Afterwards Mr.. Mason moved that all
prior orders-the Homestead and Pacific Railroad
bills-be postponed and that the Senate proceed to
the consideration of Executive business
On this motion quite spirited debate ensued,
which lasted more than an hour, during which the
merits of the homestead and other bills were discuss
ed The motion finally prevailed, and the Senate
went into Executive session and spent some time in
the consideration of the Gadsdcn treaty.
In the House, on the same day, q most animated
and sometimes personal debate took place between
MIR. Cutting of New York, and Mr. Breckenridge, of
Kentucky. Mr.. Cutting is " Hard " or Hunker
Democrat, and it was on his motion that the Ne
braska bill was referred to the Committee of the
Whole. He rose on Monday to reply to former OBJ
servations of Mr.. Breckenridge, and to defend him.
self against the charge of having "cast one arm
around the measure friend, and with the other
plunging into its heart the murderous stiletto" He
spoke with some warmth and ability. The following
is the concluding portion of the debate
Mr.. Breckenridge then proceeded to review the
course of Mr.: Cuttirg in referring the bill to the
committee of the whole, and the effect of that mo-
ton, in placing it at the foot OF the calender where
it may never be reached until the end of the session.
The gentlemans arguments arc better suited to a
court of law than a dcliberative assembly How came
the national gentleman from New York to be found
in open union with the enemies of the bill-with the
abotionists and fIeesoilers this ioore How came
he to receive their congratulations and why do their
presses take him up the hero of killing the Ne
braska bill? lie can never rub out from any plain
mans mind that the effect of mis- motion was to kill
the bill. | believe the administration honestly in
favor of the bill, and | will support them that
point, but if the administration were against it
would nevertheless be for it. and they should never
drive me from my position.
how
ton than any other | them nothing ex-
ccpt what is due to all engaged in the execution of
the laws. am sustained by the majority of my
constituents, the peers of Presidents and Cabinets
(Sight applause.
SO far from driving the gentleman from the sup
port of the BILL it with the profountiest regret
and modification that saw his course His SYM
pathies with the IIards, and hence the pain
and wounds, especially Of the South when they
him turn sharp and enter into alliance with
the very worst of political aboltionStS in the House.
which every with five grains of sense knows
was to Kill the bill. do not suppose he has author
ty to speak for any but himself.
The gentleman said was the last man whom he
expected would make assault on him. because in
the day of my greatest need, the " IIards" came to
my aid. This inucndo is so deep that l do not un-
ccrstand it. | ask for explanation.
MIR. Cutting-Ihc explanation will be given. l
am informed that during the canvass in Kentucky,
it being intimatcd that funds wanting in order
friends in New York made up subscription of some
Sl,5o0 and transmitted the funds to Kentucky to
be employed for the benefit of the gentleman, who
is now the peer of Presidents and Cabinets. Laugh
Mr. Breckenridge Proudly and defiant-And
not only the peer Of the President and the Cabinet
but the peer Of the gentleman from New York in
every respect iAppause or the Democratic side of
the House.
Mr. Walsh-I believe have as good a right to
speak for the 'hards' of New York any gentle
man in this hall or out of it. | have stood and
semmed the torrent of treason in the North, when
those who have attempted to speak for them have
skulkcd from the threshold of the places where the
meetings have been held, and | do not want an i'm
putation o. this character to 90 out unexplained to
the world. When we caEe here we protested against
the administration interfering with the local affairs
in New York and my colleague states that a
portion Of those who sent him here nterered in the
same way in Kentucky.
Mr.. cutting.-Is that all the gentlempn rose for !?
Mr.. Walsh-That's all-Tll be on hand by and
by though. laughter
Mr. Breckenrdge-I do not want scraps of telc-
graphic dispatches for my speech He denied all
! knowledge of any money having been sent from New
York. Thirty thousand dollars spent to defeat
him, and spent in vain, for headded here | am.
was elected by larger majority than all W all street
could control in my district Applause Mr.. b.
then proceeded with cons lerabe severity to the al
lusions Mr.. Cutting had made to furnishing money
for his election rcmaring that he would never asso-
ciate politically with gentleman who would make
4 remark of that sort
! Mr. Cutting then took the floor, repeating his
charge that Mr.. Breckenridge had ma de most un-
parliamentary and personal assault Oil him.
Mr. Breckenridge again de.licd that he had called
/ in account his intention and motives and challenged
him to point out the occasion when he had said it
! was his intention and motive to destroy the bill.
M Cutting. submit it to the committee wheth-
er the whole tone and scope of the genteman's re-
marks was not an attack on my motives for making
! the motion did, The facts arc before the commit
| tee scorn his imputation ! stand here not his
SUPERIOR but his equal if not so lofty, that of the
| gentleman stand here the representative OF a
constituency of whom am the impersonaton. As
far as concerns myself when he imputes objects and
| purposes hurl back the imputation with the in
dignation it deserves. .-a-
Did not state my views? How does the mem
Der undertake to assert that prof fessed friendship
for with view.of killing it by sending il
to the foot of the calendar, and when said the com
mttee of the whole had under their control thu
House bill which they intended to take up, he re-
treats and escapes and skuks behind the Senate bill
at the foot of the calendar?
Mr. Breckenridge hastily and in earnes
tone-I ask the gentleman to withdraw that las
word. [Sensation.
Mr. Cutting-with cmphasisII will Withdraw
nothing. WhatI have said was said in answer t.
the most violent and personal attack made OF
any gentleman on this floor.
Mr. Breckenridge-When the gentleman says
skulk he says what is false, and he knows it. Grea
excitement and cries of order.]
Mr.. Cutting. do not answer remarks such a
the gentleman thought proper to employ. They be