Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1856-01-30

pressed upon the consideration of this
body. insisting that we shall elect a
Speaker of sectiunal feelings 10 preside
over our deliberations, whose duties are
general, extending over the whole coun-
Try. Those who hold to The constitution.
al rights OF the several States insist that
this section interest shall be. excluded
from our national legislation. and left
With the States in which it exists: that
we shall electa Speaker whose views are
national who loves his whole country.
And appeaiato TO members. whether ii
were not more just and more staleman
Hike for the supporters of rha inst utiun
10 call themselves. and be called. ',pro-
slorerg men," or the pro-slavery party,
while the vocates of freedom shall call
themselves, anil be called, the "FRIENDs
OF LIBERTY" rather than speaking Of
sectional parties and sectional is
sues 90 ceYetsif This sectional language
rnustbe used, why, then. let Justice be done
and let il be understood that about sixty
southern members, representing section
al interests, aided by some 6fteen north
ern members holding to the doctrines Of
slavery, now cons titute a sectional party,
insisting that this Government shall leg.
islate for thai institution, and protect
sectional oppression that minority Of
seventy; four gentlemen, in a body con-
sisting of two hundred and thirty four
members, stands here and denounces the
one hundred and sixty other members
as ''sectional;.' that this minority, con-
demned by the popular sentiment of the
country, stands here preventing an or.
ganization of this body and while we,
large plurality, are endeavoring to or
ganized and maintain the Government
and continue its functions, these gentle
men have the effrontery to make plopo-
sition after PROPOSE ion that we, the one
hundred and sixty, shall resign our pla
ces. disappoint those who sent us here,
refuse 10 perform the duiies for which
we we're elected, and go home to the peo-
pie. To induce us to do this, they say
they will also resign, if we will. The
proposition is about as fair as would be
that of criminal standing on the gal
lows, the drop supported by single
cord. the rope around his neck, and fas-
tened TO the beam above him, the sher-
iff standing ready to execute law, with
his hatchet raised 20 sever the cord that
sustains the drop on which the culprit
stands. when be coolly turns 10 the off
Ger. and proposes mon Mr. Sheriff.
If yOu riQ stop attlis paint lag dozen ttGt
katohet. resign your place, and ret4rn TO
lts people. I 'OiH do tie same [Great
laughter.
Gentlemen should understand that this
question Of the Nebraska bill has been
TT ed before the people Of the United
States. They have passed upon it, con-
demned il, repudiateI lis authors. and
put there servants Eere 10 restore free
dom in that Territory; to give securi y
to the people in that Ear distant region !;
bid this. Administration stay its hand,
and hereafter 10 WELD its powers for
freedom and moi for slavery. The Dem
ocratic members of this body have been
reduced, in twelve months, from one
hundred and fifty to seventy -four frors
triumphant aud dominant majority to
a minority that is feeble, inefficient, eA.
cepte to retard our organization. Yet,
in all kindness, gentlemen, you will per-
NIT me to say that your modesty and
delicacy in your new condition are not
so appare 1t as would be desirable to
some Of us. You are rather too as
suming. Your propositions for US to re-
sign may have been quite acceptable un
der other circumstances it had even
been generous if made while you had
the majority. You do not, however, ap-
pear conscious that the scepter of power
has passed from you; you do not seem
to understand your helpless condition.
Your insensibilities on that subject re-
minds me OF very solemn fact recor-
ded by a theological writer-perhaps it
was Sw"denborg-who states that he
was entranced, and in that condition his
spirit visited the other world, where he
met with many old acqusintances,
among whom were class Of "Fogies, ]"
who, although they had been in that
world twenty, thirty and even forty
years, had not yet learnt that they were
dead" [Shouts of laughter ] mem
ton this for the instruction, the edifca-
ton Of the minority. 1 really think it
were more modest for them to withhold
these PROPOSITIONS to resign. and these as
saults scharging the majority with section
aIism. The diciatorial bearing which
they manifest is not altogether agreea.
bic. They all understand that l have
myself heretofore acted with a minority
in this body, and speak from experience
on this subject. x.fv-s7-s-r
Gentlemen, we are in the midst of
grv at confusion. We came here unac
qnsinted with each other, bringing with
us different views and pr'.judices:it is
absolutely necessary that we should un-
defStand eaeit ofher in ord.,r ~ oct 70. !