The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-04

"oio ~cPoSeo W AitoW Ialr hearing to al
sides.
MI. Douglas remarked, that during the past
ten days he had observed in various newspa
per rumors and reports to the effect that he
himself and his friends from Michigan and
California, Messrs. Stuart and Broderick. ! had
been formally read out of the Democratic party
at caucus held by them. He nov rose "a,
the purpose of asking the chairman of the
caucus Mr.. Allen whether there was any
truth in those statements.
Mr.. Allen replied, that he knew nothing of
any mars having been read out of the party
on that occasion.
MI. douglas said that during fourteen years
past he had never known caucus to decide
tnat any particular measure was party meas
ure' much less take the responsibility of read
ing men ont of the party.
mr.. lverson rose to make statement in
reference to a resolution which he introduced
in that caucus.
Mr.. Toombs made a suggestion. He dill go
with all kindness towards his colleague, but he
really thought that causus matters should not
be intErAuced into discussions in the Senate.
H. D0ugas@ hoped the Senator from Geor.
gia would be allowed to make his statement.
Mr.. Benjamin renewed the objection of Mr..
Toombs.
Mr.. Douglas stated that he understood the
resolution of Mr.. Iverson to be to the effect that
the cancus disclaimed the right or intention to
read him ont of the party.
Mr.. Coilamer said that it was expected that
the chairman of the committee would open the
debate on the bill but he had waived the
right 70 do so. According to his understand
ing OF parliamentary usage, if man waived
the opening, he also waived the close. If the
l. II
without the opening, he wanted to reply to the
closing argument for that would be the only
opportunity he would have to reply to him.
Mr.. Green replied, that if the Senator from
Vermont insisted upon his opening the argu.
ment, he would crafty the gentleman to the
largest extent.
Mr.. Hale wanted to know what was TO be
done with the army bill.
Mr.. lverson replied, that inasmuch as the
chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs
Mr.. Davis was still detained by sickness, he
should press that bill to a vote as soon as DOS
sible.
Mr.. Collamer moved that the Kansas bill be
made special order for Monday next at one
o'clock; and the motion was agreed to.
Personal Explanations MIR. Bell rose to re
sumo the remarks which he commenced yester
day in reply to his colleague. He thought il
must be evident to every member of the Senate
that the attack upon him yesterday by his col
league was entirely uncalled for.
Mr.. johnson, of Tennessee, desired, by the
permission of his colleague, to say few words
in explanation.
Mr.. Bell gave way.
Mr.. johnson said that, from the remarks
which his colleague submitted last evening, and
from the opening of his speech this morning, it
seemed that he must be laboring under mis-
apprehension as to the purport of his (Mr. J. 's)
remarks yesterday. In what he had said, he
had intended to make no reference at all to the
motives or private character of his colleague.
but had only referred to him as Senator and a
public man, intending nothing personal. He
held that he had a right, under parliamentary
law, to criticise the public acts and speeches OF
his colleague, and cited case which occurred
in the British Parliament where Col. Barry de-
nounced the conduct of Lord North as " indie.
cent and scandalous" He was called to order.
and reproved in severe terms, for using such
language but it was decided that he had .,
right to srraign him as a Minister, and could
use this language without any mputation on
Lord North's private character as a man. Mr..
j. trusted that this explanation would satisfy his
colleague that he did not intend to impugn his
motives.
Mr.. Bell was surprised to hear his colleague
make this declaration, for it seemed as if he
did not understand the tenor of his own Ian.
guage and his own argument. If he did not
intend to assail his motives and character as q
public man VINO was influenced by a want of
principle, would he withdraw that part of his
speech in which he (Mr. b was repre- scented
as looking to the North-holding on to the
South with one hand, and endeavoring to grasp
tho NNrth NIT tho NJ
that as the most offensive and insulting shaft
which could be aimed at him or any other mem.
Der of the Senate. 1t might be that his col
league was not aware how far he had gone, or
what language he had used. If he would dis.
claim those imputations, he would accept the
explanation.
Mr.. B. then reviewed the speech of Mr.. John
son, replying to many of the statements and ar.
guments therein. He spoke at considerable
length, endeavoring to vindicate his consistency
in his public career, and concluded BY saying
that be could not respect his colleague, unless
he would withdraw those portions of his speech
which he regarded as personally offensive.
Mr.. johnson replied, saying that he should
not detain the Senate long, for, in the extended
remarks that his colleague had submitted to-
day, he bad not controverted one fact or answer
ed one argument that had been made against
him yesterday. As to the statement that those
remarks were personally offensive, he had made
an explanation this morning, dieclaiming such
an intention, and he had no other apology or re.
traction to make.
Mr.. Bell rejoined briefly; and the joint reso-
lutions which he presented yesterday were then
ordered to be printed.
The army bill was taken up, in order that it
might come up tomorrow as unfinished bust
ness and, after an Executive session,
The Senate adjourned.
HOUSE
Reports of Committees.-Mr. Mason, of Ken
lucky, from the Committee on Accounts, report.
ed bill fixing the number and compensation
of the clerks, messengers, pages, and laborers,
for the House of Representatives which, after
some discussion, was ordered to be printed,
and recommitted to the Committee on Ac.
counts.
Mr.. Spinner, of New York, from the same
submitted q minority report, with q
bill which was also recommitted, and ordered
to be printed.
Debate on Kansas-On motion of Mr.. Har-
ris, of Illinois, the House went into Committee
of the Whole, Mr.. Greenwood, of Arkansas, in
ton of the Indian appropriation bill.
Mr.. Crawford, OF Georgia, addressed the Com.
mittee in favor of the admission of Kansas into
The Union under the Lscompton Constitution,
that all the clamor against that
Constitution arose from the hatred of the Re.
publican party of the North against the institu-
ion of Slavery.
Mr.. Goodwin, of New York, said the Kansas
Struggle was direct conflict between Freedom
And Slavery, between liberty and tyranny. The
lstempt was made, in the face of the world, to
force upon the free people of Kansas q system
nhich they abhorred, under the fimsy pretence
of permitting them TO govern themselves. The
boasted doctrine of "squatter sovereignty was
a fraud and a delnainn From tho han; nn;nor