Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1856-01-26
Remarks of Hon. G.. A. Grow.

Mr.. Grow was called, he spoke as follows
Mr.. GROW. For the first time since ]
have had the honor of a seat on this floor, J.
rise to explain a vote and | Should not do il
now but for the fact, that many gentlemen
with whom l have been acting seem, from
their votes, to take an entirely different view
of this resolution, and the proper action on II
for this House, from myself. | recognize this
House not as IA political caucus, to lay down
platforms and political creedS. | have voted
against all such resolutions, during my term OF
service, as out of place. If there are any nell
here who have been voting for the last siN
weeks for d Speaker, without reasons sufficient
" satisfactory to themselves for their votes,
they had better resign, and go home. Sir, for
myself, j am satisfied with the votes | have
given, nor do | expect my course Of action to
he in anyway affected by this resolution. 1t
simply declares that the elector has the right
to know the opinions ofthe candidate for whom
he is to, vote. The doctrine is a correct one.
But in this case We are the electors, and make
such selections Of candidates as we please, and
vote for them with or without information, as
We like, responsible to our constituents for our.
votes only, not for our means of knowledge, or
the correctness of our opinions. For those we
must answer to ourselves alone, and not to our
constituents. We are auSwerable to them as
to the, righteousness of our selections of candi-
dates, and not as to the information that salts
flies our Judgment.
Then, sir, in passing this resolution, if mean
anything more than a simple declaration of a
sound principle, we present the humiiating
spectacle of a set of men who have been yot-
ing here for six weeks in the dark, and We have
only just found it out.
Sir, if the majority or q plurality of this
House will permit themselves to be diverted
FROM the main object they have in view by
propositions introduced by the minority, then
YOU may sit till ~doouSday without accomplish
ing anything. II every proposition that is
plausible is to be taken up and considered,
40 matter whether it pertains to the legitimate
business of the House or not, then there will
be plausible propositions enough to consume
the whole time. | have no objection to the
principles set forth in that resolution but
this is not the place for mere declarations of
nlta.al Or constitutional rights, but 20 legis-
late, and that alone. Nor am / to be divert
cd from what | consider to be the proper course
of action by any such facSSc or resolves upon
abstract right.
Mr.. Clerk, we are not sent here to make po-
litical creeds and platforms. We are sent to
enact laws, such as we believe to be for the
good of the country. We have nothing to do
with the annunciation of the doctrines of the
Declaration of Independence by legislative
act, or of any other of the inalienable rights
Of men. Our business is to enact laws, and
put them into form, so they can be executed
by the courts upon the great principles of jus
tice and right and there our duties end.
For myself, I nm not to be diverted from
my purpose in this contest, and | hope those
with whom | am acting will not permit them
selves to be swaycd from the course Of policy
that WI choose to pursue, by any such rnse on
the part of our opponents. / have my own
creed and political opinions, and do not recog-
nize the right Of any man in this Hall to put
any test of opinions upon me, by any resolu-
tionS that he my ofc". Acting upon that
sentiment, / have, for the four years that ]
have occupied a scat on this foor, opposed the
passage of any and every resolution introduced
into this House for the mere purpose of estab-
fishing any such test, or for declaring any alb
stract principle or doctrine of human rights.
Sir, what has the constituency of any man
to do with his vote for Speaker? He votes
upon his own knowledge, responsible to his
constituents for his selection of a proper man
and is there a member that desires a passage
of this resolution for his own information p.
What, then, is the object of this resolution?
1t is to divert the plurality of this House from
their purpose. Instead of going on to vote
and elect a Speaker, the effect of the resolu-
ton viii be to open a discussion between the
candidates and different members of this House.
that may last for weeks. 1t is to put the can
didateS upon the witness stand, to be cross
questioned by men who do not vote for the
particular candidate, and never would but
they are eliciting information for the benefit
of those who do, lest, in their inability to take
care Of themselves, they should be imposed
upon. 1t is certainly very kind, but a kind
ness that for myself l do not appreciate.
But, sir, | take this occasion to say a word
in reference 10 tho remarks just made by the
gentleman from Alabama, Mr.. DowDEII,l
who talks of di>solving the Union if the Mis-
souri, compromise is restored. Its abrogation
was a wanton violation Of good faith between
the two sections of this Union, and how can
its restoration be a greater indignity and wrong
TO you than was its original passage to your
fathers in 1920. 1t was passed then as an aG-
iuStment of conflicting interests, claimed al the
ttne By the South as a triumph, and regarded
by the North as a defeat-voted for by a ma
jortty of the entire delegation from the South ;
for, of her one hundred and three Represen-
tativcs in both branches Of Congress, only
forty-sin voted against it. The act was sign
ed by a southern President, advised and ap-
proved of by a Cabinet a majority of whom
were from slaveholding States. Do You, then,
gentlemen of the South, stand here to-day to
libel the memory Of your fathers. by declaring
that they put upon the statute book a law
that it is dishouorable for you 10. submit to ?
Though you would thus blacken their good
fame, we honor their memory, and believe that
We commit no wrong in doing as they did
and that you arc not dishonored by submitting
to laws that they submitted to and helped to
enoct. Had they a less keen souSa of honor