The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-20


elected as an Abolition candidate only, if elected,
as demonstrated in his short explanation made
yesterday; and then he went on to make an
AntlAbolition speech.
MIR. Washburn, of Maine, contended that the
gentleman from Alabama had proved that the
only national party in the hall is that support
ing Mr.. Banks. He (Mr. Walker) said Mr.
Washburn had proved that the Democratic par
ty was Southern only and had also declared
that his party had made the question of Amer
icanism subservient to that of Southernism.
Mr.. Washburn continued, argued at length
to show that the Democratic party had sacri-
need Its positions on every issue to its subservi-
ency to the South, in common with the nation
al Administration. The Anti-Nebraska party
were, therefore, the only truly national party,
standing out as they did against making the
whole Government subservent to the interest
OF the cause of human bondage. Nearly all the
free State people were in sympathy with the
Anti Nebraska party here.
Mr.. Orr asked Mr. Washburn. whether. since
his election, the State of Maine had not at the
polls repudiated the Republican party.
Mr.. Washburn thought not; the Maine
Liquor Law had decided the election.
Mr.. Orr asked if the legitimate deduction
from this explanation was, that Mr.. w. held
that the people of Maine cared more for wills
key than for freedom? general laugh
Mr.. Orr continued to "spear' questions at
Mr.. Washburn, concerning the tenor of his
own speeches and those of Senator Wade, Mr..
Banks, and other Republican leaders, to show
from Mr.. W. answers that they made the con-
test as far as possible Oh the Republican party
question, and were fairly beaten on it,
These questions, and the answers to them,
created great merriment on all sides.
Mr.. Campbell, of Pennsylvania, addressed
the House in vindication of the nationality of
the American party Of his State, saying, how
ever, that his district and himself were opposed
to the Nebraska bill. Pennsylvania had pre-
scented a conservative Anti Nebaska Represent
alive, Mr.. Fuller, but finding it impossible to
elect him, he and his colleagues had gone over
to MIR. Banks: first, because he was the repre-
sentative of the Anti-Nebraska sentiment, and
next because he was consistent american"
Mr.. Jones, of Pennsylvania, was again on
the floor as the Stars report went to press, ar
guing that Mr.. Campbells views of the charac-
ter of the Know Nothing party of Pennsylva-
MIA were the reverse Of those enforced by Mr.
Allison.
The foregoing is quoted from the report of
the Washington Star. We subjoin the follow
ing, in continuation
Mr.. Etheridge, of Tennessee, having arisen
to move an adjournment, lat two o'clock,)
Mr.. Smith, of Virginia, interposed, and OBJ
tanned the floor under promise to renew the
motion after making a few remarks but he
proceeded to deliver a speech of about forty
minutes length, in the course of which he de-
nounced the great body of Northern Know
Noihings-" all except few glorious exam
pies "-as Aboltionists and Disunionists. Mr..
Banks especially came under his denunciation
in this particular, and was contrasted, as the
candidate of sectionalists of the North, with
Mr.. Richardson, the mover of the Nebraska
bill in the House, and its great supporter, whom
Mr.. Smith declared to be the friend of the
Union and of peace.
Mr.. Smith denied being a Know Nothing,
and said that he was elected with a clear I'M
derstanding of this fact on the part of his con-
stituents. He would not quarrel with the Know
Nothings in Virginia because their platform
was sound in its Jefersonian Democracy. He
was Democrat ever, and would support moth
ing in conflict with it.
In reply to question proposed second
time by Mr.. Giddings, Mr.. Smith stated that he
had not voted for Mr.. Wise, nor for his oppo-
nent, which course, he alleged, was satisfactory
to his constituents. He arraigned in the Sc
verest terms Senator Wilson, of Massachusetts,,
as an Abolition coniormst to Know Nothing
ism, which he was ever ready to betray and
which he had privately contemned to prove
which, Mr.. Smith read some vague newspaper
statements.
Mr.. Smith further attempted to act in good
faith with Mr. Etheridge, and to close by moving
an adjournment, land thus stave off reply y
But Mr.. Giddings desired to obtain the floor,
and, the House refusing to adjourn, he proceed
ed in an able and earnest manner to defend the
of,
patriotic purposes, and quoted the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution in sup
port of its principles.
Mr.. Letcher, interrupting Mr.. Giddings, read
resolution reported to be adopted upon Mr..
Giddings's motion in the Republican caucus, to
the effect that the Republicans in the House
would support no candidate for Speaker, who
would not in spirit of frmness and liberality,
in the appointment Of committees and other
wise, do all in his power to promote inst legis-
lation and the despatch of business.
Mr.. Giddings replied that he had; it was the
parliamentary rule, and he had urged it; and
he wished to know whether Mr.. Letcher would
require such conduct in the Speaker of his
choice. Mr.. Letcher avoided a reply. Mr..
Giddings put the same question to Mr.. Smith,
of Virginia, who had Intercepted him, and Mr..
Smith also refused to respond. He then adj
dressed an interrogatory OF like tenor to MIR.
Richardson who significantly said that he was
candidate for the Speakership, and Mr.. Gid
dngs was not.
Remarks having been made by Mr.. Letcher,
respecting the cxtorting OF pledges from candi-
dates Mr. Campbell and Mr. Banks severally
declared that none had been required of them,
and they had given none.
Mr.. Giddings also denied that any pledges
had been asked of either of the gentlemen, to
his knowledge; and then continued at length
upon the general subjects of the Slavery issue,
being frequently interrupted and Intercepted
by his opponents,
He was speaking when our report closed, at
half past three o'clock.