The daily union., 1856-01-15
So there was no choice.

So there was choice.
During the call of the roll,
Mr. BARKSDALE, of Mississippi, took occasion to call
the attention Of the House a slight misunderstanding
which between Mr. KESNETT and himself during the
debate Saturday last The following is the report of
the difculty se
'Br. BARKsDALE Of Mississippi submitted the follow
ing nterogaiores stating that he expected each candidate
81. Are you now member of the American or know
a. Are YOU in favor Of abolishing slavery in the Dis
trct of Columbia aud in the United States dockyards 6c
g. Do you believe in the equality Of the black and white
in the United States and do you wish to promote
that equality by legisation7
Are you in favor Of the entire exclusion Of adopted
citizens and Roman Catholics from Office 2
o. Do you favor the modification of the tariff now
that you did ut the last session OF Congress
Mr. KENNETT of Missouri, desired to put or two
aierogaories the gentlemen who had been voted for
speaker lie wished TO know of each Of the candidates
including his friend from New Jersey, Mr. PENSfSGroS
whether not he believed in future state lGreat
laughter And II that question should be answered af-
frmavey whether they believed il would be free or
slave State2 [Renewed laughter
Mr.. BARkSDALE of Mississippi II the gentleman in
tends by those nterrogatoes TO cast any reflection upon
my nterrogatoes loud cries of mo, no. then hnrl il
back upon him with scorn and indignation. GLoud
shouts Of order, order. j
@Mr. KENNETT. have only to say, in reply that the
tenor Of my remarks could have been misunderstood
by the House. They intended BY good natured-
y No gentleman in the House out Of H. need expect
To n,imda,e me by insulting me in this manner have
made all the apology intend TO make, and II s to the
House did not intend my remarks TO be thing more
than jocuar ones but tue same time consider that the
remarks made about the American party fully justified
putting such interrogatoriesn @ RI
Mr.. BARKSDALE had understood the gentleman from
Missouri in asking these questions 70 intend personal
hection or 10 ridcue and bring him into contempt lie
had propounded his nterrogatores to the candidates in
good faith, acting under full of the responsibility
which attached TO him AS representative Of the people
Believing this he had denounced the gentleman and he
now, for the purpose of giving him opportunity of
ting what he did mesn withdrew temporarily his denun-
Citations. s5H9 E@Ht
Mr. KENNETH did not regret that the gentleman from
Mississippi had called the attention OF the House TO what
transpred here Saturday last; that he
ous occupy the time of the House in matter personal
to himself but he considered the report Of that little
ter as not being entirely fair He did not desire however
to go into particulars regarding il his principal object
was to state what he did say, and it was that If the
House misunderstood bis intention in submitting his ques
thousand he hardly could imagine how II could be mis-
understood, AS 1t evidently oculsr and not per-
sona 10 any msnhat he spologzsd to the House but he
wished IL distinctly understood that gentleman in the
House or elsewhere could nmdste him BY his insulting
manner After what had fallen from the gentleman from
MISSISSIPPI he had TO that the fat knight admirably
drawn by the great dramatst once said "t that
would give bis compulsion, though
sons were as plenty as backberrie much less could any
gentleman be expected TO give explanations apologies
under the stress OF anything that looked like compuson
Under these circumstances il that he had replied
the gentleman that be had no apologies to make. Now
that the offensive words Withdrawn he would say
with great pleasure TO the House and 10 that gentleman
that nothing further from his intention than reflect
upou the gentleman II fun that he after, and
the House. be thought seemed enjoy It, The gentleman
might readily have supposed that the House laugh
ing at him Mr. Krssrrr1 at the gentleman, and IL
would have been better for him concluded that 1t
was laughing at both OF them.
hr. BARkSDAIE not agreeing with the gentleman from
Missouri ms TO the proprey OF the questions which he
bad propoundsd under the and agree
ing with him the grace he displayed that
SION st felt " his duty under the disclaimer Of the
gentleman that be intended persons reflection, TO
withdraw bis denuncations lie cbecrfoly accepted the
Mr. PENNINGTON, Of New Jersey did not happen 10
be In his the time the gentleman from Missouri
r knSssrr propcunded his questions and therefore he
them That gentleman wished know of each of the
candidates inclnding his friend from New Jersey [Nr
PENNINGTON whether he believed In future
And II that question should be answered efirmavcly,
whether he believed II would be free slave state ~
lie (Mr P) hat versed in the Westminster Cate
chsm and he had learned from that that there future
STATE which he believed lie also understood that there
in that future sateone the beati6cd and
the other the damnrdhe free and the slave daughter
The free state side Of the line the slave
the other side; he believed il not exactly a
cotafTonse line renewed laughter but he had always
understood that the damned side wm the hottest and
Therefore tina, must be the southern side Great laughter
II was held by some that there Is third state--thr
OF purgatory. Now, be had acquaintance with
except such he had learned from the
pursaon going in this House lie knew OF certain
gentlemen who had been in state Of purgatory here
llaugbter and placing his hand his hearty he knew
gentleman past praying for. Shouts oflaughterl
Nj. kENNETr wished 70 say one word in reply to his
fiji nd from New Jersey who seemed 10 be well posted
up 10 his eaiechism Ia regard to the future lying
orih and south Of the line and the state of puraaory
As ihe gentleman had been kind enough to bind Of
,nen hand foot and pitch them into that dark place
ia advance he desired 10 know in reference TO his
,hism whether when he informed the House Saturday
that he had got beyond 'efccus calling he was also
able 10 "see his election snre' Tremendous laughter
Mr. PENNINGTON thanked the gentleman, and begged
to Say that he owed him one" tLaughsr.1
On the announcement Of the vo
The House adjourned,