The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-17
was an advocate of the constitutionality of the


Wilmot proviso?
Mr.. Houston, of Alabama, suggested to the
gentleman the propriety of reducing his ques-
tions to writing. that there might be no cavil
on the part q candidate or any party.
Mr.. Zollic Expressed his readiness to re-
duce his questions to writing. In continuation
of his interrogatorisA he desired to know if he
was not right in surprising that the gentleman
from Illinois advocated the doctrine that the
Constitution did not carry Slavery to or pro-
tect it in the Territories of the United States.
and propounded to him several other questions
relating to the subject of Slavery.
Mr.. Richardson wished it to be understood
that he was ready to meet every question the
gentleman had propounded to him.
Mr.. Zollicoffer moved the following resolu-
ton:
Resolred, That in conformity with the funda-
mental principles of great Republican Gov.
eminent, such as that of the United States of
America, it is the duty of all candidates for
political positions frankly and fully to state
their opinions upon important questions in
volved in their election, especially when they
are Intercepted by the body of electors whose
votes they are seeking.
The question was then taken on the adoption
of the resolution, and it was decided in the af.
firmative by the following vote:
YEAs-Messrs. Aiken, Allen, Ball, Banks,
Barbour, Barclay, Barksdale, Bell, Bennett of
Mississippi, Bingham, Bliss, Bocock, Bowie.
Boyce, Branch, Brenton, Burnett, Cadwalader,
Campbell of X ,ntucky, Campbell of Ohio, Ca
ruthers Caskie, Clingman, Cobb of Georgia.
Cobb of Alabama, Colfax, Cox Craige, Cullen,
Cumback, Damrell, Davidson, Davis of Mary
land, Davis of Massachusetts,, Day, Dean, Den
yer, De Witt, Dickson, Dowdell, Dunn, Edie,
Edmundson, Edwards, Elliott, Emrie, English,
Etheridge, Eustis, Evans, Faulkner, Florence,
Foster, Fuller of Pennsylvania, Fuller of Maine,
Giddings, Gilbert, Goode, Greenwood, Hall Of
Iowa, Hall of Massachusetts,, Harlan, Harris of
Alabama, Harris of Illinois, Harrison, Herbert,
Hickman, Hoffman, Horton of Ohio, Houston,
Jewett, Jones of Tennessee, Keitt, Kelly, Ken
nett, Kidwel, Knapp, Knight, Knox, Lake,
Letter, Letcher, Lindley, Lumpkin, H. Marshall
Of Kentucky. Marshall of Illinois, Maxwell, Nc.
Mullen, Mcqueen, Miller of Indiana, Millson,
Millward, Moore, Morrill, Mott, Nichols, Nor.
ton, Oliver of New York, Oliver of Missouri,
Orr, Paine, Parker, Peck, Pelton, Phelps, Por-
ter, Powell, Pringle, Puryear, Quitman, Reade,
Ready, Richardson, Rivers, Ruffin, Rust, Sabin,
Sanddge, Savage, Scott, Smith of Virginia,
Stewart, Swope, Talbot, Tappan, Taylor, Thor
ington, Todd, Trippe, Tyson, Underwood, Vail,
Walk, Wade, Wakeman, Waldron, Warner,
Washburne of Wisconsin, Washburne of Hi
nois, Watkins, Welch, Wheeler, Whitney. Viii.
liams, Winslow, Woodruff, Woodwork, Wright
of Mississippi, Wright of Tennessee, and Zolli-
coffer-l55.
; NAYs-Messrs. Albright, Bennett of New
York, Benson, Bradshaw, Burlington, Burlin.
game. Campbell of Pennsylvania, Chaffee
Clawson, Comins Cragin, Durfee, Flagler, Gal
loway, Granger, Grow, Haven, Holloway, Hor-
ton of New York, Howard, Hughston, kelsey,
|
nington, Purviance, Robson, Sage, Sapp, Sim
mons, Stanton, Stranahan, Thurston, Wal
bridge, Washburn of Maine, Watson, and
Woods.
During the call of the yeas and nays, many
members explained the reasons which governed
their votes, and discussion of some length re-
suited, touching the subject of Slavery and
other questions.
On motion of Mr.. Orr, at 5 o'clock, the House
adjourned.
Saturday, January II, 1856.
SENATE
The Senate did not sit to-day.
HOUSE.
The Clerk called the House to order at IL
o'clock, and the Journal of yesterday was read
The Clerk stated that he had ascertaned
since the adjournment of yesterday, upon a re
examination of the vote of Wednesday night
last, on the motion Of Mr.. Sage to lay upon the
table the resolution of Mr.. Sneed, requesting
Mr.. Orr to preside as temporary Chairman un
til Speaker should be elected, that the an
nouncement Of yeas 100, nays l0l was CHROME
Gus, and should have been yeas 100, nays SO
The resolution was consequently laid on the
table, and the subsequent action of the House
should not have been taken. With the consent
of the House, the Journal would be corrected
accordingly.
The suggestion was agreed to.
Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, moved that the reso
luton combining debate to ten minutes be sus
pended until Wednesday next, unless other
wise ordered by the House. He submitted this
motion to enable the candidates to define theil
positions, in accordance with the resolution
adopted yesterday,
After brief debate, Mr.. Campbell withdrew
his motion.
Mr.. Bingham, of Ohio. then submitted the
following queries, which he trusted would bt
distinctly and clearly answered by every candi
date before the House:
al. Do you hold that the Constitution of the
United States extends to, and is of full force
within, the several Territories thereof?
90. Do you hold that the people of any o.
said Territories have the right to make any Law
within said Territories, whereby any person
therein shall be deprived of life or liberty, ex
cept as punishment for crime upon due convic
ton?
50. Do you hold that the people of the Ter
ritory of Kansas have the right under the Con
stitution, to prohibit Slavery within said Terri
tory at all times, both before and after their or
ganizatioH into State?
"a. Do you hold that the people of said Ter
ritory, under the Constitution, have the power
and the right to legalize Slavery within sale
Territory by legislative enactment, and the
. further power and right thereby to protect anC
maintain Slavery therein, by making it pena
offence for any person within said Territory tt
, speak or write against such system, or to ait
or assist any man held as slave within sale
Territory to escape therefrom, with the intent
to secure the personal liberty of such slave?
as. Do you hold that. under the Consttu
ton, person held to service or labor within
said Territory, escaping therefrom into AM
State of this Union, can be reclaimed under thu
Fugitive Slave Law; or, is such person within
the extradition clause of the second section o
the fourth article of the Constitution?
&c. Under the Constitution of the United
States, can the people of any of its Territories
rghtfully or legally establish any but Repub
| licau form of Government therein and do you
hold that to be a Republican Government which
converts the majority of its subjects into chat
tells, and subjects them to the absolute despot-
ism of the minority"
J Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina, also presented
for the consideration of the candidates, the fol-
lowing interrogatories:
~ Are you in favor of restoring the Mis-
(: souri, restriction, or do you 60 for the entire
prohibition of Slavery in all the Territories Of
: the United States2
80 Arc x,o,,