The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-12-27

Mr.. Richardson, of Illinois 70
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania 81
Scattering G
Whole number of votes given 2l8
Necessary to a choice 10
No candidate having received majority of
the whole number Of votes given, there was
consequently no election.
Mr.. Barclay rose to make a personal explana-
ton growing out of the remarks made yesterday
by his colleague, Mr.. Campbell. He desired
to know if he was correct in understanding that
his colleague had in those remarks placed him
upon the Free Soil platform?
Mr.. Campbell replied, that he had not charged
his colleague with being Free-Soiler but had
merely said that, according to his understand
ing, the gentleman was elected as an Anti-Ne-
braska Democrat and that the Democracy of
Pennsylvania had gone into the arms of Free
Solism.
Mr.. Barclay would state, that when the Ne
braska bill was introduced into the last Con-
gress, he opposed it in his district, because he
believed it to be a mere abstraction because
he believed Congress had no control over the
subject of Slavery because he believed II
unnecessary and uncalled for. Notwithstand.
ing these views, during the late canvass in his
State he took the distinctive ground that, in the
event of his election, if bill should be in.
trOduced in the House to restore the Missouri
compromise, he should from the first to the last
cast his vote against it and he would here
declare that, should such n bill be presented
during the present Congress, he would be found,
with the solid column of Democracy, casting
his vote against it.
Mr.. b. then referred to the fact that some of
his colleagues, who had heretofore voted for
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania, now supported
Mr.. Banks, and desired to know whether there
was any difference between the views of the
two candidates named, with respect to the Kan
sas and Nebraska bill. If he had understood
correctly, the honorable gentleman from Mas
sachusetts took no higher ground upon that
question than his colleague, Mr.. Fuller and
yet gentlemen of the South, who had declared
that the Democratic party were sectional in
their feelings, were casting their votes for Mr..
Fuller. IL they could thus consistently vote for
Mr.. Fuller, why could they not support Mr.
Banks?
Mr.. Whitney then entered into defence of
the American party of the North That party,
he remarked, had been stigmatized as identical
with the Free Soil organization; and it became
him, as the representative of the sentiment of
Americanism in the North, to deny the allega-
ton. The American party, in its intrinsic
character, stood aloof from all the sectional
questions of the day.
Mr.. Trafton desired to know if he had un-
derstood the gentleman from New York to say
that he represented here the American party
of the North?
Mr.. Whitney replied, that he claimed to be a
representative elected by the National Ameri-
can party in his district in the North.
Mr.. Trafton. But the gentleman has made
the broad statement that he represents the
American party at the North and, as he has
gone over his ground, and stated the particular
points of his creed, desire to call his attention
to some other points held by that party at the
North, or wish him to retract what he has said.
| hold in my hand the platform Of the Ameri-
can party Of Massachusetts
Mr.. Whitney. BEFORE the gentleman pro
ceeds desire to ask him whether il is the
platform of the boilers or Of the legitimate
American party?
Mr.. traitor. This platform is the platform of
the American party in Name New Hampshire,
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and in how many
other States ! am sure | cannot tell, and these
States are all in the North-that's the point.
With the gentemans permission, ! will read
Mr.. Whitney. | shall be pleased to hear
what the platforms of those States are.
Mr.. Trafton then proceeded to read the plat
form in question, which embraced extreme
views in opposition to Slavery; but before he
had proceeded far
Mr.. Whitney thought enough had been read
to indicate the views contained in the plat-
form.
Mr. Cumback desired to know Of the gentle.
man, if the New York State Council, imme-
diately after the adjournment of the Philadel-
phia Convention, did not, i'll council at Bing-
hamton, declare, in positive terms, that they
were opposed to the repeal of the Missouri
Compromise, and that Slavery should have no
advantage from that repeal?
Mr.. Whitney replied, that he was himself
opposed to the repeal of the Missouri Compro-
mise, as in his opinion was every man who
loved his country.
Mr.. Cumback desired reply TO his ques-
ton.
Mr.. Whitney replied, that the Binghamton
Council did pass resolution denouncing the
repeal of the Missouri Compromise as a viola
ton of the public faith, and declaring that Sla-
very should receive no advantage therefrom.
Mr.. Cumback. How do you stand upon that
platform?
Mr.. Whitney did not respond.
Mr.. Fuller, of Pennsylvania. am not in
the habit Of being very much disturbed by what
is said either for or against me but, inasmuch
as it was indicated this morning, by one of my
colleagues, that my position is misunderstood,
desire to avail myself of this opportunity, with
the indulgence of the House, fully and frankly
to declare it.
1t is said that the difficulty which lies at the
foundation Of all our troubles here is the one
question of Slavery. desire to declare here
that l am opposed to its present or future agi-
tation, and for the reason that, in my humble
judgment, no possible good can result from it
that its discussion here must result as it has al
ways heretofore done, in evil and mischief-in
creating popular discomfort, individual distrust.
sectional alienation and division. l desire 10
leave the question of Slavery Just where the
Constitution has left it, Applause with the
people who tolerate it, who determine. control.
and regulate for themselves. Renewed ap
plause. | viii not NEEDLE OF interfere with It.
would disturb no existing regulations. If it
be an evil it is their evil; if it be blessing, it
is their blessing. l make no aggressions upon
the rights or feelings of any man or Of any sec
ton, nor will | submit to any invasion of mine.
Applause.
With regard to the past legislation of Con
gress, there is no difference Of opinion. | am
f.o., a. Al. n Al,