Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-17

resolution before the House. Without entering
into details he would stale thai he understood the
candidate of those who call themselves Repub-
lcdns 10 have placed himself on the extreme and
most odious ground that had ever been main
tanned in this country by any set OF Abolitlonists-
The equality Of the white aud black races.
He had understood that candidate, IN respond
ing 10 the questions as 10 The superiority oil the
white or black races, TO express his willingness
TO have trial, in inIelleci IN moral worth,
but 10y some other test which he had proposed
He had understood the gentleman not only 10
assert that The black was eqna 10 The whae, put
that he was anxious for an amalgamation OF the
two races in order 10 ascertain when In Tue END
would prove superior 10 the other. lie was gran,
Z fed 10 know that certain gentlemen VINO mad
heretofore voted for the gentlemen from Massa-
chusetts were disguised with any such doctrine !;
and although they mig ht agree with MN In some
OF the politics Of the day, yet were not prepared
10 go that length. and We're extremely anxious
10 get him out of the way as candidate. lie
willing 10 give them an opportunity TO do go.
When The gentlem IN undertook 10 assert the most
odious, offensive, and TO him (Mr. ca the most
disgusting doctrine discussed IN this country
and that. TOO with sGeer and jest, as " II
afforded him matter of amusement, he thought
il lille singular that The gentleman did not ex-
plsiu that other expression attributed to HIM,
il let the Union slden When the gentleman
spoke OF a dissolution of the Union rs though he
were speaking Of a drunken man siding into the
gutter, he looked as II he entertained but ittie
respect for the Constitution hut when he capped
the climax by declaring that The white and The
negro We're equal and that he was in favor oil an
anna gamaion of The races he did not wonder
that gentleman Who bad heretofore voted for him
wore shocked and Disguised. lie repeated, he
would give those gentlemen any reasonable time
in which 10 obtain another candidate but could
not under present circumstances vote In favor oil
the plurality rule.
MIR WASHBURN, of Maine, had yielded the
floor TO the gentleman from North Carolina upon
the question that he desired TO submit some re-
marks with reference TO his position upon the
question Of the plurality rule. He would not have
done so, however. had he known that 1t was his
purpose TO make the remarks that he had sub
nitcd, which he thought the gentleman and the
House must consider disngenuous and unfair.
He tMr. w J had not understood The gentleman
from Massachusetts, nor he could hardly imagine
that the House had understood him, to speak
with levity use language from which the gen
.leman from North Carolina had drawn was de-
ducible
Mr. CAMPBELL, of Ohio had no intention 10
d. cuss 5 the gentleman from North Carolina
had shown his Willingness 10 do, the principles
which had been proclaimed by The various candi-
dates for The Speakershp He should, however,
like 10 do and compare their declarations with
their platforms some suitable occasion. But
he had risen for The purpose of explaining the
reason why he had heretofore and why he should
vote against The plurality rule. This neces-
sity seemed 10 have been devolved upon HIM by
charges in the newspapers and perhaps inuendoes
in reference 10 the candidate for whom he had
been voting
He happened TO be a member Of The House in
$40 when, for The first time in the hisioy OF this
Governme MT, there departure from the sys
lem which they now pursuing lie was
Young member at that Time, and Well recolected
that his venerable colleague mir GIDDiNGs) and
some seven eight others held The balance OF
power in The House. After they had voted for
three weeks various Efforts made 10 enact
The plurality rule, which finally succeeded. He
remembered that the little minority contended
al The line that npon the great question OF the
organization of The House they and their con-
stitueuis were DISTINGUISHED by the adoption OF
that rule, and insisted that so long as they were
wiling To lake The responsibility OF standing out
for their candidate II was unjust on The part OF
The Ilou,e 10 dlsfranchise them. Although he
disagreed with lhtm and voted constantly for MI
Winthrop Al ainst the honorable gentlemen from
Georgia (Mr. Cobb nevertheless he concurred
with them upon that principle, and uniformly so
voted throughout that ever-memorable contest for
The Speaker, hip. He did so upon principle.
During the first week Of this controversy, when
he had the honor of receiving very handsome
vote-a portion OF which, according 10 his col
league fMr GlnpiNGs,l was merely given by way
OF letting him up and letting him down again-lt
was proposed 10 him. abont the third day OF The
voting that the matter could soon be settled by the
pluralty rule He condemned,it and said that he
desired the adoption Of no such rule that he was
upon the record in 1919 against II that he had
opposed il upon principle, and was against u
now.
He had sought this occasion 10 make known
these reasons 10 the House and the country, that
the tongue of SANDER so far as he was concerned,
might be stoned. lie demanded the previous
question, in accordance with promise made 10
Mr. WssHBURN when he took the floor.
Mr. BANKS then asked and Obtained the con-
sent Of the House 10 make a single observation.
discl ian (ssid Mr. b the opinions imputed 10
me by The honorable gentleman from North Caro-
lima upon the subject 10 which he has referred.
r, Mr.. CLINGMAN had no desire 10 do injustice
10 the gentleman from Massachusetts. When
the gen leman as asked il he believed in The
equality Of The white and black races he bad IN
dersiood m 10 say that where there were Two
races in contact IL was principle that the more
powerful one would absorb the weaker, and that
he vas willing await the development OF time
10 ascertuin whether the white race would absorb
the hlack or the black absorb the white He had
understood the gentleman. therefore, as looking
10 this test. though he did not know whether he
had said that he ia favor OF seeing the ex.
pefimrut made. He thought the House would
agree with him that that the legitimate con-
siruction 7uf the genteman's language, ard he
had never supposed that The gentleman enter.
tanned any other opinion. He should be very
happy 10 hear The gentleman explain his position.
Mr.. ORR, OF South Carolina, called the atten.
ton OF The gentleman from North Carolina 10 The
following extract from The speech OF the gentle
man from Massachusetts, as re ported IN the Globe:
EWheiher the black race Of this continent, or any
Other part Of The world is equal 10 the white race
can only be determined by the absorption and dis
appearance Of one or he other; and propose 70
wait until the respective can be properly
subjected to this philosophical test before give
decided answer n
Mr.. CLINGMAN thought that the extract ac-
corded precisely with what he had stated. He
confessed that il had surprised him that person
with the education and allainmenis Of the gentle
man from Massachusetts should have expressed
himself in such manner. If he had done the
gentleman injustice. he Of course regretted IL but
he thought lie would see that his inference was a
correct one.
Mr.. BANKS did not complain Of injustice, but
simply di. claimed any such remark as the gentle
mpn had imputed 10 him.
The previous question was then seconded, and
the question being on the adoption OF the resolu-
ton
Mr.. Triple. Of Georgia, moved that il be LAID
on tie table; which motion was decided IN the
Acknowledgements l05, nays lOl.
MIR MACE. of Indiana moved that the House
adjourn; which motion was disagreed 10.
The one hundred and fourteenth ballot was
then had and resulied Is foows.