The daily union., 1856-01-13
In CONGRESS OF THE u. STATES
Thir,y-Fourth Congress First Session.
SATURDAY, JANUARY IL, 1856.
The Senate did not sit TO day.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Tho House met at IL. m.

ille journal of yesterday was read and approved
The Clerk stated that be has ascerained since the ad
eurnent OF yesterday upon reexamination Of the vote
Of Wednesday night last ON the motion of Mr.. SAGE to
lay upon the table the resolution OF Mr. SSEED requesting
Mr. OER 10 preside temporary chairman until Speaker
is elected that the of yeas 100, nays lol,
erroneous and should have been yeas l00 nays 98
The resolution was consequently, laid upon the table and
the subsequent action OF tie House should have been
taken; and with The conseEt Of the House. the Journal
would be corrected accordingly
Leave was granted.
minute ue until Wednesday next in order TO give the
candidates for Speaker iu time The questions
which would be put them under the resolution adopted
yesterday.
After some conversation, Mr. CAMPBELL withdrew his
motion
Mr.. RICHARDSON obtained the floor
Mr. BINGHAM Of Ohio submitted the following ques-
ioDs which he desired the gentleman from Illinois Mr.
RcHARDsoSl 10 answer:
l. Do you hold that the constitution Of the United States
extends to- and is Of full force Within the several Terrific
ries thereof?
Do you hold that the people of any of said Territories
have the right to make any laws within said Territories
whereby any person therein shall be deprived OF life lib
Sicion r.
DO you bold that the people of the Territory of KAN
cas- hare the right under the constitution prohibit sa-
yery within said Territory oil times both before aud
after their organization into Staie7
g. Do you hold that the people of said Territory under
tho constitution, have the and the right egaize
slavery within said Territory by legislative enactment
and the further power and right thereby protect and
lnertin making penal offence
any person within said Territory speak write against
its system, or TO aid or assist any held a slave
within said Territory to escape ihererom with the
20 secure the personal liberty OF said save2
5, Do you hold that under the constitution, a person
held service labor within said Territory escaping
thcelrom into any State Of this Upon be reclaimed
under the iuRvesa,e law Ia sueA pcyson within the
exadion clause Of the I'd section of the Ah article Of the
constitution
G. Under the constitution of the United States can the
people OF any OF its Territories rghifuy legally estab
sh any but republican brm Of governme. therein and
do you hold that 10 be republican government which
converts the majority OF its subee into chaels and sub
Jeets them to the absolute disposition Of the minority
Mr. RICHARDSON. In reply to the Hrst question of
the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. zoLuicorrEn have
70 ssy voted for the bills orgeuz ng the Territories Of Ne
brasa and Kansas because thought them lust 10 all and
dended that vote before my constituents upon tha;
ground. intended then and intend now that the pco-
pie who go there or who have there shall decide the
question OF slavery for themselves and so far as coud
admit them States with without slavery as the pe
pie should decide la with northern and southern
gentlemen have said that In my opinion slavery wonld
never 20 there but have never here elsewhere urged
that a. why voted for that BILL voted Tor the
bill because u was just right and proper and wanted
nothing 10 defend my self repen, here an argument
have made over and again before my constituents
and u Is this II majority Of the people OF Kansas OF
Nebraska are In favor OF slavery tuey win have if
majority are opposed to H. then they will have H. This
is the practical result Of every theory advocated by the
friends OF the Nebraska and Kansas bill gave NV sane
on to this principle supporting the territorial hills OF
1850 and have uniformly supported the since
whenever presented for my action and shall continue 10 do
in all future that may arise II principle living
at the foundation OF all popular that the peo
pie Of each separate distinct community shall decide for
themselves the nature aud charac. of the institutions
der which they shall live and by this principle am pre-
pared 10 live and die therefore voted for the Nebrsk
and Kansas bill neither as pro-slavey antslavery
measure, but ss measure Of equs right and justice the
people OF all sections Of country Win the
Clerk read the next question:
The Clerk read the secoud question, follows
"Am right in supposing that he advocates the cons-
tutouaiiy OF the Wllmot proviso that IN 1860 he OF
posed s application to the Territories acquired Mex
leo ouly upon the ground that II puascss,aru inas-
mach The Mexican local laws in those Territories already
abolished siopy which ought be sufficient for all free
soil men and that he committed himscf the position
that territorial bills (en upon the subject of slavery
and leaving the Mexican laws operste) defeated
he would vote for bills with the Winot proviso in them
hr. RICHARDSON. The next question requires a more
extended reply In 1903 acquired Louisiana; il was
slave territory In 1920 divided by line Of 80 deg 30
nin that territory north of the line IL be In
ls45 we annexed Texas that Stare territory ,ve d
vded that by extending the line Of deg min throug
that north TO be free In 84s acquired TERRITORY from
Mexco; that was free voted repeatedly to ertend the
line west TO the Pacific ocean voted for that line
with few representatives from the North and the whole
body OF southern representatives When gave those
did not believe then, do believe now that violated
the constitution Of the United States IL You have mower
under the constitution exclude slavery from half Of
Territory think you have power to exclude from ALI
though such aD exercise would be unjust and wrong
have never therefore, voted TO exercise that power except
upon The principle of compromises. Ia this connexion
desire 10 read from speech OF mine delivered this bali
April 8 1880 and make word or two Of comment upon
iti
There Il, regret to @y willingness ppon the part Of