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

with my fellow citizens everywhere in q pairi-
otto effort to bring back this country to that
state of good feeling and social harmony which
once existed and which ought never to have
been disturbed. believe there can be no doubt
regards my sentiments upon this subject. II,
however, there be any, am willing to stand up
in this grand inquisition, and submit myself 10
the grand inquiSitor. Laughter and applause.
Mr.. sherman. Would you be willing to al
low the institution OF Slavery to obtain an ad-
vantage or gain ascendeucy by reason Of the
repeal Of the Missouri Compromise?
Mr.. Fuller. | respectfully answer, that will
leave 1t to the people-to the people who toler-
ate it. l say distinctly. that if Kansas presents
herself for admission, shall vote for her al
mission without reference TO that question.
Loud applause
Mr.. Sage. desire to know Of the gentleman,
whether he is in favor against the restoration
Of the Missouri Compromise?
Mr.. Fuller. assert that | DO not seek 20 dis
turb that question. If the Missouri Compro-
mise could be restored, should certainly be i'm
favor OF its restoration. l say will not disturb
it.
Mr.. Sage. ! again put the question, whether
the gentleman would vote for restoration Of
the Missouri Compromise line, or whether he
would oppose it.
Mr.. Fuller. Whenever that or any other
question shall arise in this body, shall vote
according TO my own convictions Of duty. APP
plause.
Mr.. Sage. The gentleman said that he held
himself ready to answer any question which
might be put TO him. put question to him,
ahc leave It for the country to judge Of the
Irankness Of his answer.
Mr.. Fuller. The gentleman is entirely n
liberty TO put questions to me. but he must be
content with what he gets in reply. Cries Of
good and "csll the roll"
Mr.. Iraiton. ] wish 20 ask the gentleman q
question, which relates to the great doctrine Of
"Squatter SOVEREIGNTY rs allusion has been
made to it. ! desire to ask the gentleman
whether, if Utah should seek admission into
this Union, with a Constitution tolcratin- nolv.s-
amy, he would vote for her admission with
polygamy? Cries of call the rollV1
Mr.. Todd ] desire 10 say, for myself and
the colleagues with whom have acted since
the first day of the meeting Of this body. that
we came forward and voted for our COLLEAGUE.
Henry NJ. Fuller, under the impression and
behei that he was sound on the Nebraska
question; and all that desire To say now is 10
put myself right before my constituents Had
known that my colleague entertained the senti-
ments which he has avOwcd here today. NV
right hand should have withered before would
have supported him. Loud applause
Mr.. Kelly then replied to the remarks Of Mr..
Whitney, and denied that the Know Nothing
party OF the North was national in It's feelings.
The House then proceeded to the Sixiv-sixth
vote for Speaker
MIR. Walker, when his name was called. cy-
pressed wish, before casting his vote. to ask
! OF the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA a SINGLE
question, viz: Whether or not the gentleman
from PennSy lyania would vote for the repeal
OF the Kansas and Nebraska act or. To employ
The language of the gentleman from New
! ork, Mr. Sage, would vote for the restora-
ton of the Missouri Compromise line
Mr.. Fuller. have already said. that If
had been a member of the last CONGRESS-.
should have voted against the Territorial leeis-
lation then enacted; bpt am willing now to
abide by the laws as they are and. resisting the
aguauon, snail vote against the restoration
Of the Missouri line. Great applause
And now, iellow-citizens, one moment more
OF your indulgence. | have been CHARGED with
being an obstacle in the way of the Croaniza
ton OF this House. My position. humble as il
IS, has been magniied into this inheritance
have never desired and do not nov, expect An
election. have never asked for nor declined
1t; l have gwen no pledges TO obtain II.
Thankful, grateful indeed am for the exnres
slons OF confidence and Of Kindness which /
have receved but / should be vastly more
Pieased II the suiirages have obtained should
be gwen Tor an ADLER and worther man.
MT. Walker. Before casting nv vote. feel
1t due to the gentleman from PENNSYLVANIA TO
STATE Una! Ily question was not the result Of
any distrust l felt rs TO his views. But. when
heard gentlemen who had been voting. with
me- Tor hln, casting their SURFACES for different
members OF thls House, upon the failure. |
presume, as they supposed, Of nv friend from
Pennsylvania to answer the question categcri
cally propoundrd by the gentleman from New
ork, Mr.. Sage, felt called upon to mt The
question direct to him to which he has lust
responded. ! am content 10 vote "a I have
heretofore done, and in casting that vote
feel that l am standing by the Constitution
and the laws of tho land, | therefore vote,
again for Henry NJ. Fuller. Applause.l
Mr.. Trippe. l desire to change NV vote
from Mr.. Iollicoller to Henry NJ. Fuller. Re.
newed applause.
MIR. Ready. desire TO say that have been
casting my vote for nearly two weeks Tor Henry
Nj. Fuller. | did 50 in the assurance that he
occupied position OF which could fully an.
prove, IN reference To the question which 50
much divides tho country and gentlemen mon
this foos. When he was Intercepted 10 iay.
bg the gentleman from New York. as In
whether or not he would vote TO restore the
Missouri restriction, / understood him to evade
direct answer, and. under that impression
and belief, when my name was called. east
my vote for another gentleman. In response
to the interrogatory since put 90 him by the
gentleman from Alabama, understand him 10
have answered, distinctly and categorically.
that ne would vote against the restoration of
the Missouri restriction. | therefore ask to
Change my vote for Henry VI. Fuller. lAp-
plause.
MIR. Lake had cast his vote on the last ballot.
as he had been in the habit OF doing recently.
for Henry NJ. Fuller, Of whose consistency and
conformity to the Philadelphia platform he had
believed he had abundant evidence: but. when
the gentleman failed to answer the question OF
the gentleman from New York, he thought il
threw some doubt upon the evidence which hal
been exhibited to him, and he felt reluctant
and unwilling to cast his vote for a gentleman
who was not willing to express his sentiments
upon that great question. When his name was
called, he therefore did not vote for the gentle.
man. lie was, however now perfectly satisfied
that the gentleman stood erect upon the plas,
form OF his party, and he would therefore ask
to change his vote, and cast it for Henry ".
Fuller. Applause.
Mr. Ball had voted for Mr.. Fuller, with the
understanding that he would vote against the
admission of Kansas with a Slavery Constitu-
ton. Like him, (said Mr. b. was in favor OF
the compromise measures Of 1850, and came
to the last Congress opposed to the further
agitation of the slave question. AS the gentle
man says he would have done, did-voted
against the repeal of the Missouri compromise.
and l have never seen any eause TO regret that
vote. | believe today, IN the language of the
State Council OF New York, that Slavery ought
not to receive any ADVANTAGE from that v;olo