Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-01-08
Correspondence of the N. Y. Tribune.
A Cold ssSucker.o
WASHINGTON, Dec. 10. 1856


The telegraph has already given you
some idea Of the speech Of Mr.. Morrison,
the new Democratic Member from Mr..
Trumbulrs District, Illinois, and slight
idea of the effect it had upon the House.
The following colloquy between Mr.. Nor
rison and his colleague Mr.. Norton) IS too
rich to let pass. The confessions of the
new-fedged Democrat are not to be beaten
by modern converts.
Mr.. Norton-I wish to ask my colleague
if, at the time the Nebraska bill was pass
ed, he approved, and now approves, OF the
repeal of the Missouri restriction?
Mr.. Morrison-I can answer my col
league very easily. AT the time of the
passage of the Nebraska BILL was
Wing. 1 had been taught as a Wing, as
the honorable gentleman himself has, to
throw every obstacle in the way of the
Democratic party. Great laughter. l
did disapprove of the repeal of the Missou-
ri Compromise. assailed its repeal, and
1 assailed the Democrats who advocated
it. If the gentleman wants me to go fur
ther and make clean breast of it, | will
say that 1 have assailed every prominent
Democrat in the Union within the last fif-
teen years. Roars of laughter. Now,
sir, the gentleman asks me if l approve Of
the principle contained in the Kansas-Ne-
braska bill, which involves the repeal of
the Missouri Compromise. I answer him
emphatically, do approve Of it.
Mr.. Norton-I ask my colleague if, two
years ago this fall, he was not elected to
the Senate of the State of Illinois, upon
the same ticket upon which Judge Trum-
bull was elected to this House. and upon
the Nebraska issue alone? Sensation, and
anxiety expressed for the answer.
Mr.. Morrison-Two years ago 1 was
elected to the Senate of Illinois. Iwas a
yery violent anti-Nebroska man. Laugh
ter and excitement. AT the same election
Mr.. Trumbull was elected to the Honse of
Representatives. 1 supported him, and
did all l could to secure his election.
TSensation. Mr.. T. went before the Leg
islature of Illinois. l saw that the Anti
Nebraska issue was leading me into the
ranks of the Abolitionists, and l wanted a
living example of one man at least, who, ta-
king the first false step, did not "to HelPs
perdition go" Laughter). Invent to the
Senate of Illinois, and Mr.. TrumbulTs
name was presented for the Senate of the
United States. Although 1 had voted for
him as Representative of his district l re-
fused to support him for the Senate of the
United States, and voted against him. l
went back to my district, united myself TO
the Democratic party, and fought its bat
ties.
Mr.. Norton-As my colleague has not sta
ted the precise time when he became a con-
vert to the Democratic party and principles
of the Nebraska bill, l will send up to the
Clerks desk some resolutions and ask that
they may be read, and then l will ask my
colleague if he offered those resolutions in
the Senate of Illinois. Excitement and
cries of "Read themw1
Mr. Morrison (confused)-1 can tell the
gentleman when joined the Democratic
party.
Mr.. Norton-I desire 10 have the resolu-
tions read Laughter.
| Mr. Morrison-I hope my colleague will
not occupy my time Continued laughter
Voice-That fellow will be cold ''suc
err before Norton leaves him Laughter
Mr.. Norton-Does my colleague refuse
to have his resolutions read?
Mr.. Morrison (excited)-I will read them
myself Laughter
Mr. Norton-I will read them.
Resolutions were read as follows:
Resolved By the Senate (the House O
Representatives concurring therein), THAI
the General Assembly of the State of lii
nois most emphatically disapprove of the
repeal of the clause prohibiting the exist
ence of slavery, which was contained in
the act admitting Missouri as one of the
States of the Union, and our Senators in
Congress are hereby instructed, and oul
Representatives requested, to give then
earnest support to the restoration of said
clause prohibiting slavery in the Territories
of Kansas and Nebraska.
Resozyed, That the Governor be request
ed to transmit copy to our Senators and
Representatives in Congress.
These resolutions were offered on the
7th day of January, 1855. '
Mr.. Morrison Is my colleague dones
Mr.. Norton-Did you offer the resolu-
tions l have just read? '1 a'
Mr.. Morrison (bowing and ehagrined) =
did. The gentleman wants to know
when l came to the Democratic party. /
came to the Democratic party when frac-
ton, fanaticism and intolerance were sweep.
ING the Northern States with the besom
of destruction. came to the Democratic
party in the hour of its need; when the
Democratic party, breastnig the waves Of
the fretful tiber, called upon all natioal men
to aid "Cassius, or sink Laughter =
Then l came to the support of the Demo
cratic party, and l did not come alone
My District, which gave Mr.. Turmbull $500
majority, sends me here the nominee of the
Democratic party by 1900 majority.
Mr.. Norton-I will ask my colleague
whether at the time he offered those reso-
lutions, he believed that the sentiments they
contained were sectional or national?
Mr.. Morrison-I thought it was very
good strike for the Wing party to embar-
rass and defeat the Democratic party; but
sir, at the time l introduced those resolu-
tions, the Republican party had not been
born. 1t was a late production. When l
saw the banner which l had followed in so
many good fight, furled and shrouded in
mourning, and lying upon the grave of the
immortal Clay, 1 found growing out of the