Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-21
THIRTY-sIXTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 20.
SENATE

SENATE.
Mr.. johnson of Tennessee, introduced the
homestead bill, which was read twice.
Mr.. Harlan moved to amend by adding that
the committee on territories be also instructed
to inquire into the proprety of authorizing the
people of New Mexico and Utah to elect all
their territorial officers, executive, legislative
and judicial, in such manner as the legislatures
thereof shall prescribe.
Mr.. Green moved to postpone the consider
alton of the resolution, the committee were
not yet organized and he wished to speak on
the question, but was not in good health to-day
MIR. Hale liked the suggestion, for it gave
him occasion to throw out few hints. Look
ing back at the history OF this country, down
to the present time, he found that no member
of the United States Senate had ever been
elected President. He thought the reason for
it was the introduction of such resolutions and
the making of tflibustering speeches, by which
gentlemen were drawn out and made to put
their foot in it before they knew where they
were going. Ii this thing were understood, it
would have the tendency of shortening these
debates. Monday will be soon enough to re
sumo the consideration of the subject as gen.
tlemen will have time for reflection in the in.
terval.
The motion was agreed to- and the subject
postponed till Monday Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr., Taylor stated that his colleague, Mr.
Landrum, was still confined to his room He
could be brought here, perhaps, at the risk of
his health. He asked that some gentleman on
the Republican side would pair off with his
colleague.
Mr.. Grow said they heard that appeal every
day. Was it quite fair to ask a gentleman
present to pair off with him Pairs were
usually made by individuals themselves, and
in cases where both parties had to be absent.
Mr.. Taylor replied that the question re-
solved itself into one of courtesy, and under
the circumstances stated lit was proper to make
a pair If his appeal were not responded to,
he suggested to gentlemen on the democratic
side that they have recourse to those familiar
methods which would have the effect of pre-
venting vote.
Mr.. Grow thought it was bad practice for
one side coming into the House and asking the
other to offset their absentee
Mr. Clemens said he had a right to know
the policy of the Republicans. The position
of portion of the south was that slavery, by
the constitution, goes into the territories, and
when there, it is the duty of Congress to pro-
tect it by direct legislation but this was as
unsupported by the Constitution as the other
doctrine held by the Republicans namely,
that Congress possesses the power to exclude
slavery from all our territories.
Mr.. Taylor wished to know what policy the
Republican side intended 10 pursue, whether
it was their purpose to take advantage Of alb
sentees.
Mr. Grow knew of no understanding
among his party on this point, and repeated
what he had before said The conversation
ended with the gentleman's saying when the
point comes there will probably be no difficult
ty in finding pair for Mr. Landrum.
Mr. Hickman made an Intellectual appeal for
action on his resolution, proposing the adoption
of the plurality rule.
Mr. Holman of Indiana, Dem. said the
question of slavery was not yet settled al
though there seemed to be approximation
to that end Different and conflicting views
were entertained on the subject. But he was
one of the number who held that Congress has
no jurisdiction whatever over slavery in the
territories, because it is a domestic institution.
The Kansas Nebraska act gave the people the
right to control their domestic institutions in
their own way. The position of a portion of
the south was that slavery by the Constitution
goes into the territories, and when there it is
the duty of Congress to protect it by direct
legislation. But it was as unsupported by the
Constitution as the other doctrine held by the
Republicans, viz, that Congress possesses pow
er to exclude slavery from all our territories.
Whenever gentlemen talk of dissolving the
Union, they touch the great heart of the ma
ton There never could be necessity for
discussion of the question. In the absence of
the propriety and the feasibility of such mea-
.
of South Carolina, Patrick Henry and others,
against the assumed right of state to secede
from the Union, which, being the act Of the
whole people, could not be dismembered except
bv their explicit act He looked upon this doc
trine of secession an outbreak OF the "higher
law" doctrine. Extreme views came from the
extreme north and sonth, while the central por-
tons of the country were conservative In
diana was one OF the most conservative states
in the Union as shown in all her past history,
and she would never consent that the Ohio
River which washes the southern borders
should be the boundary line between the con-
federacies He closed with glowing eulogium
of the Union.
John Cochrane of New York obtained the
floor.
Mr.. Stanton desired him to give way that
they might proceed to ballot for Speaker.
Mr. Cochrane would occupy the floor but
short time. He would not presume to say
that nything he might utter would change
the views OF gentlemen. But what had been
said on the other side merlted grave atten-
ton. 1t had been asserted that we are III the
midst of crisis. Evidences had been adduced
here, day after day, to prove that series of
these couvusions had visited this great coun-
try. At one time we heard of an impending
crisis at the South, and how to help it; at an
other of an alarming and warlike invasion of q
neighborng state. The south, inflamed by
these demands, arises anu demands that there
shall be stay of this action He represented
q constituency that had always stood for the
Union and the constitution, and on their behalf
he declared that whenever a servile insurrec-
ton shall arise, the conservative men OF the
north will be there to suppress it, We will be
there in our whole might, as citizens OF no one
locality, Inhabitants OF no particular state, but
as the proud citizens OF the greatest republic
the world has ever seen.
He believed we were on the eve Of important
events, though he was no alarmist lie had
no belief in the disruption of this Union 1t
is to continue to progress and eliminate to its
destiny. Still, we were on the eve OF an I'M
portant crisis, and it was idle to attempt to
evade this question. He expressed sympathy
with those in the south who were in fearful
trepdnton of the incendary's torch and the
assassin's dagger, but would inform them that
there were myriads at the north in favor OF the
Union, and they were holding meetings to tes-
tfy their devotion. He denied that these
Union meetings were OF no account They