The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-01-10
LAST WEEK IN CONGRESS.

The most noticeable event in the Senate, last
ident's Message, on a motion to reconsider the
vote ordering it to be printed.
1t ridiculed the belligerent tone of that docu.
ment in relation to Central American affairs
alluded sarcastically to the policy Of successive
Administrations, which had been to bully and
back out before Great Britain, to cut Off on
our Northern frontier, and add on at the South
and commented in severe and eloouent terms
upon the Pro-Slavery portion of the MESSAGE
We shall print the speech next week.
In the House, the business of ballotinp f,r
Speaker has gone on with no change in the r..
lations of parties, interrupted occasionally nv
suggestions and discussion. An attempt was
made at one time to bring about union octha
Administration and National Know No,bic,
votes on Mr.. Boyce, of South Carolina. by a
proposition from Mr.. Walker, TX. NJ of Ala.
bama, to choose Mr.. b., Speaker. An amend
ment to substitute the name of Banks. and an
other to substitute that of Pennington for that
OF Banks, were moved At first, the Admin;.
tration men were disposed to sustain the move.
ment, voting against the motion to Law the
proposition and amendments on the tabl-
Had this motion failed, the probability is tina,
enough of the two Pro-Savery factions would
have voted with the friends of Pennington, 10
substitute him for Banks, and then, trusting Z,
the disorgahization and discOrd produced in
the ranks of the supporters of Banks, they
would have united to vote down Penningto,.
and elect Boyce.
1t was a pretty maneuvre but it failed.
Mr.. Orr, Of South Carolina, holding back until
all the members had voted, rose to saw. that.
having examined the vote, he found that eight
members Of the American Party had voted to.
lay the subject on the table. This showed that
their votes could not be calculated upon for
Mr.. Boyce, and he should therefore vote to Law
on the table. Forthwith, the Administration
men took the hint and changed their votes.
more rapidly than the Clerk could write, from
no to aye-so that the proposition was laid
upon the table.
1t will be observed, by examining the record,
that the Banks men stood firm up to Saturday.
and that Messrs. Dunn, Haven, Harris, Scott.
Moore, and Edwards, continued to vote for
Pennington
Friday, Mr.. Dunn appealed quite eloquenty
to the one hundred and five supporters of Mr..
Banks, to give him up, and permit Mr.. Dunn
and his associates to select a candidate for
them. He proceeded ON the assumption that
the supporters of that gentleman were actuatei
by personal considerations, and his remarks
were calculated to arouse a Jealous feeling Of
as if her representatives were
determined to monopolize everything.
We need hardly say that there is not man
in the House who supposes that the votes
thrown for Mr.. Banks are given from personal
considerations-who does not know that his sup
porters act from principle and settled policy
hat the Massachusetts representatives have no
more to do with his nomination and continued
support, than the Anti Nebraska representa-
lives of other States-that no one voting for
him thinks or cares about the claims Of Massa
chusetts, or any other State. Among the firm
est friends Of Mr.. Banks, stand the Western
men, who, in this balloting, involving direct
struggle between Liberty and Slavery for the
organization of the House, emulate their East.
ern friends in ignoring all sectional considera
ions. How strange that Mr.. Dunn, elected as
In Anti-Nebraska man, pledged by his election
70 secure, if possible, the organization of the
House to the friends OF Liberty, should at such
A crisis put forth an appeal calculated TO arouse
jealousy between the East and the West
He was handsomely and powerfully answered
~ Mr.. Knowlton, Of Maine, and Mr.. Howard,
Of Michigan.
Mr.. Galloway, of Ohio, during the proceed
ngs last Thursday, made his first speech in the
House. 1t was in reply to the charge of See
ionalism, so constantly brought against the
republicans. 1t was short, pertinent, and ef
ective, fully vindicating the Nationality Of him
elf and friends.
The same day. Mr. Giddings, in reply to a
charge, oft-repeated, that he had in
us place counselled the slaves to rise and
butcher their masters, triumphantly acquitted
himself. His few remarks we print in full.
We should have thought Mr.. Orr too high
minded a man to give countcnance to such an
mputation.
Saturday discussion sprang mp on Know
\ Nottingham, Mr.. Broom, Of Pennsylvania, re-
marking that it had become manifest that no
organization of the House could be effected eH
,ept on the American basis. He earnestly
invited all who had been elected on the "Amer-
can" principle, but who had been disloyal TO
t in the House, to meet their responsibility
IS " Americans" This drew out Mr. Stephens,
# Georgia. who denounced the prescription OF
he Know Nothings, especially their war ON
catholics Mr.. Eustis of Louisiana, (K. NJ
greed with Mr.. Stephens in opposition to rei-
ous prescription, and announced that in Lou
siana the Order had repudiated the anti Cath
Tic test
Monday, after few unsuccessful ballotings
he discussion was renewed on Know Nothing
Sun, especially on the anti-Catholc portion Of
g creed. Mr.. Smith, of Alabama, tx. NJ
ustained it, and denounced the Catholics gen
rally, while Mr.. Walker, of Alabama Messrs.
'ayor and Eusts, Of louisiana (all X. N.sl
enounced all prescription on account Of reI-
ion, and indicated the Catholics. The dis.
ussion elected no fact, except that the Order
divided on a fundamental part of its creed;
ut it served to show that the House of Rep
is better qualified to discuss pol-
al than religious questions. Ignorance, boil
and shallow sophistry, character
zed the debate.
Four ballotngs took place, and it will be Oh.
I4I.,4 e tba cfM NJ