Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1856-01-15


Congress, and had never taken any position upon
that subject heretofore; bnt he was willing, in all
frnnkness and candor, TO do so now, and would
do so with great Difference TO the opinions OF
wiser and better men. Slavery existed before the
Constitution, and in HIS judgment now existed
Independent of that instrument When the people
of the conederated States met, by their repre-
sentatives in Convention 10 form the Constitution,
slavery existed in all but one OF the States. The
people having an existing and acknowledged right
10 hold slaves, conceded, through their repre-.
sentatves the right TO prohibit the importation OF
them after the yearl sos. They made no concession
SO far regarded the existence OF domestic
slavery They claimed, and il was granted, the
right 10 reclaim slaves in cases of escape; they
Claimed, and II was granted the right, OF slave
representation as an element OF political power
He held that Congress had no right 10 legislate
upon the subject OF slavery; that the Territories
were the common property of all the States, and
that the people of all the States had the right 10
enter upon and occupy those Territories, and
were protected by the flag of the country; that
Congress had no right TO legslate slavery into
exclude il from the Territories. Neither had
Territorial Legislature in his judgment, any
right TO legslate upon that subject, except so far
as II might become necessary 10 protect the citi-
zens of the Territory in the enjoyment of their
property He believed that he had answered all
nterrogatores.
There were loud cries of "call the roll"
Mr.. MARSHALL, Of Kentucky, suggested that
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. PENNlNGToN)
had been voted for, and that he too should be
heard upon these interrogatories. [Laughter.l
MIR. PENNINGTON had not expected that SO
obscure and unpromsing candidate as himself
llaughterI would have been called upon to respond
10 any questions. He was outside Of the triangle,
and copy OF the lnterrogatories had not even
been served upon him. Renewed aughter
He most respectfully declined to make any
reply, under the circumstances in which he now
stood, TO the interrgatores that had been pre-
sented TO the various candidates. When it
should be seriously contemplated by the House
to use his name in connexion with the Office Of
Speaker, II would be time enough for him seri-
ousiy 10 consider the propriety of answering any
inerrogatories that might be submitted to him.
Mr.. BARKSDALE, Of Mississippi, submitted
the following interrogatories, stating that he
pected each candidate to answer them:
~. Are you now member of the American or
Know-nothing party?
''2. Are you in favor Of abolishing slavery in the
District of Columbia and in the United States
dock yards, &C.?
80 Do you believe in the equality of the black
and white races in the United States, and do you
wish to promote that equality by Legislation!
a. Are you in favor Of the entire exclusion OF
adopted citizens and Roman Catholics from Of
fee?
IS DO you favor the same modification Of the
tariff now that you did the last session OF Con-
gIess?
Mr.. RICHARDSON answered the first four
questions in the negative. He also responded 10
certain inquiries on the slavery question, pro-
pounded by Mr.. BINGHAM.
Mr. BANKS, in response 10 Mr.. BARKsDALE's
queries, said
When he elected as a member Of the
House from the State of Massachusetts he was
elected upon the nomination of the regular De-
mocrauc party and of the American party in his
district, the latter being very largely in the ma
jority.
In reply 10 the fourth inlerrogatory Of the gen.
tleman from Mississippi, he would refer the gen
tleman 10 a speech which he had delivered in the
House during the last session, in which he had
expressed his opinions upon the subject fully and
freely and which he considered his record. He
had adopted the maxim of Junins, that g il is
very unfortunate waste Of time that man should
spend any considerable portion Of his life in COM
meniary upon his own works" Laughter.l
In regard TO the third nterrogatory, concerning
the equality of the white and black races, he
believed in the maxim contained in the Declare
ton OF independence, "that all men are created
equal" So far as he had studied this subject
OF races he had adopted the idea that when there
IS weaker race in existence il will succumb 10
and be absorbed in the stronger race. This was
the universal law as regarded the races of men
in the word. In regard to the question whether
the white race or the black race was superior, he
proposed TO wait until time should develope
whether the white race should absor the black
or the black absorb the white. Laughter.
The next question was, whether he was in
favor of restoring the Missouri restriction, or for
the entire prohibition of slavery in all the Terri
tories of the United States The territorial
question of the present time referred TO the Terri
tories of Kansas and Nebraska. As 10 the Terri
tories 10 come hereafter, he should leave them 10
that hereafter. He would say 10 the gentleman
from Mississippi and 10 the House that he was for
the prohibition Of slavery in the Territories of
Kansas and Nebraska
In regard 10 the first clause of this interrogatory
as 10 whether he was in favor of restoring the
Missouri compromise, be had TO reply that he
desired that the prohibition Of the institution of
slavery in the Territories OF Kansas and Nebraka,
made by Southern States, should be made good
10 the people OF the country and 10 its great here
after. As 10 the manner in which il should be
done-whether by restoration OF the technical
line or by any other methods, appliances, acts, or
principles that should give 10 the American States
the prohibition TO which Southern men compacted,
agreed, and took a consideration--he had nothing
TO say. He for the substantial restoration of
the prohibition of the institution Of slavery, as
prohibited in 1870.
He would reply 10 the other questions by saying
that he stood here ready, willing, DESTROYS, and
determined 10 cooperate with the men of the
United States who were for the substanta al resora
ton of the interdct Of the institution of slavery
in the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska. He
was ready to act with men of any party, OF any
principles, OF any views, who would cooperate
with him in regard 10 this grsat question.
Mr.. FULLER, of Pennsylvania, remarked that
as he was laboring under severe indisposition, he
coud not pretend TO any eloquence on the present
occasion. He would, therefore, answer the ques-
tons specifically aad directly. He replied TO the
first question, - Are you in favor of restoring the
Missouri restriction, or do you go for the entire
prohibition OF slavery in all the Territories Of the
United States | am not To the second, Are
you favor OF aboshing slavery in the District Of
Columbia, in the United States forts, dock-yards,
&c r. am not. To the third, Do you believe
in the equality Of the white and black races in the
United States, and wish to promote that equality
by legislation ?? do not
As TO being in favor Of the entire exclusion Of
adopted citizens and Roman Catholics from Office,
he thought, with Gen. Washington, that il would
comport best with the policy OF this country 10
appoint nauye-born citizens in preference 10 those
OF foreign birth. Applause in the galleriesl He
would prescribe no man because of his religion,
and would denounce no man because of his poll
tics but would accord TO all the largest liberty Of
opinion and Of expression of conscience and Of
worship. He cared not what religion man might
profess, nor 10 what denomination he might
belong. BE he Mahomedan, Jew, or Gentle, he
would accord 10 him the right TO worship accord
ing 10 the dictates OF his own judgment. As to
foreign born citizens, he did not desire TO exclude