Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS

In the House, yesterday, after we went to
press the debate en- the motion Of Mr.. Gid
dings to reconsider the vote of the day be-
fore, rejecting the plurality resolution, wa.
continued by Megsrs. Giddings Cobb of Ga,
Banks, Letcher, Tappan, and Washburn of
Me, ere it was withdrawn.
In its course, 1--WE quote the Intelligencer's
detailed report
Mr.. Letcher desired to know why it was
that gentlemen, knowing that Mr. Banks
could not be elected, still insisted upon sus-
tanning him in preference to any other mem.
Der of the Republican party! Was it because
| they endorsed the principles advanced by
| that gentleman, of the social equality of the
white and black races, and desired to see the
problem worked out by which it was to be as
certained which Of the two races would alb
sorb the other!
Mr.. Banks had made no such declaration.
He had expressed no opinion upon either Of
| the questions to which the gentleman had ad-
verted, but had declared that he should wait
before he should give decisive answer with
| respect to them. According to his under
| standing Oflanguage, the sentiments which the
| gentleman had announced as having been de-
cIared by him Mr.. b. were not to be drawn
| from any just Interpretation Of the language
lie had used when Intercepted on these sub
Jects. lie knew perfectly we'll, as did every
| man, that there was an inequality in the con-
dition and In the present capacity Of the white
and black races, and he had never said that
| they were equal.
As regarded the sentiments imputed to him
by the gentleman from North Carolina Mr.
Clingmanj the other day, and which he utterly
diSclaimed upon the instant, he had to say
that he had never entertained nor contem-
| plated In his mind any such idea as that which
was then presented The theory of the ANAL
gamatlon OF the races was as ineffably re.
pugnant to has mind as it was to that of the
gentleman from Virginia or the gentleman
| from North Carolina, or of any other man.
Applause IN the galleries
Mr.. Letcher desired to read from the gentle
mans remarks as deliberately corrected by
him, and placed upon the record with all the
solemnity that could be given by the most
careful and anxious reflection. Here was the
gentleman's language:
81 have to say, in this matter that accept
the doctrine of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, that all men are created equal. In re-
gard to the superiority Of races, am impressed
with the conviction that it is TO be determined
only by capacity for endurance. So far as [
have studied the sub ect, it seems to me to be
| the universal law that the weaker is always
| absorbed and disappears in the stronger race
Now, If the negro was to absorb or be alb
sOrbed, Mr.. l. desired to know how it was 10
be done? Laughter Or, if the converse
was true, that the white race was to absorb or
be absorbed in this struggle between the races,
how was that to be DONE! Renewed laughter
Mr.. Banks called the attention of the gem
tleman to the fact that the language which he
| had read related to question which he had
not undertaken to determine.
Mr.. Letcher. If the gentleman has not I'M
dertaken to determine it, why does he under
| take to speak of the probable absorption Of
| the one or the other race?
Mr.. Banks. have not spoken of the pro-
| bable absorption Of the one or the other.
Mr.. Letcher. Then, besides, the gentleman
has given this subject study, as he says in
| this extract.
Mr. Banks. The gentleman from Virginia
| mlsrepresents my language. did not assert
that have given the subject study.
| Mr.. Letcher. will read it to the House.
| Listen to your own words, and You will see:
$50 far as l have studied laughter the
| subject, 1t seems to me to be the universal law
that the weaker is always absorbed and dis
| appears In the stronger race Whether the
| black race of this continent, or any other part
of the world, is equal to the white race, can
only be determined by the absorption and dis
| appearance of one or the other; and propose
TO wait until the respective races can be prop
erly subjected to this philosophical test be-
fore l give a decisive answer
| Mr.. Purviance then offered another plurali-
| ty rule resolution, to take effect on the one
| hundred and twenty-sixth vote which was
| discussed by Messrs. Houston, Washburne Of
| Me, Eustis, and Grow, when it was with
| drawn.
Mr.. Clingman offered a resolution providing
for taking two votes daily for q Speaker, with
out debate, the balance of each days session
to be devoted to speaking; which was debated
| by Messrs Campbell Of Ohio, and Jones of
Tenn.
The House then adjourned, pending a mo-
| ton made by Mr.. Wheeler to lay the resolu.
| ton on the table.
Proceedings of To-Day.
In the House, to-day, Mr.. Houston asked
Mr.. Clingman to accent as q snhstitnte for his