The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-12
PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY, SIXTH CONGRESS
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WASHINGTON, Dec. l0.-Senate not in session.
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| w WASHINGTON, Dec lO.-Senate not in session.
! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The journal having been read, Mr.. HICKMAN
moved it be amended, there being no mention
therein of his resolution for the adoption Of the
plurality rule
The Clerk said the resolution was merely read
| for information.
Mr. HICKMAN insisted that he had right to offer
his resolution, which took precedence of all other
questions, and he asked for decision of the ques-
| ton.
Messrs. Grow and WAsHnURNE (of Maine) con-
! tended that Mr.. Hickman had a right to introduce
| the resolution. .s...
Mr. HoUSroN argued on the opposite side.
Mr.. STAUNToN said that eveh if he should Weld
! the hoor to which he was entitled, the resolution
could not be entertained other questions
! are pending.
| Mr.. REAGAN took occasion to say that the purali-
! ty resolution designed to enable men to vote
| indirectly for Black Republican, when they would
not come up ike men and vote directly for such
| nominee.
Mr.. HICKMAN replied that the remark did not ap-
| ply to him. He should vote for a Republican in
! preference to any gentleman who sustained this
Administration. [Appause on the Republican side:
| also some Kisses.
! Mr.. REAGAN said that nobody doubted the gentle
man would vote for II Republican as against a Dem
Ocrrt He repeated, that the object of his unlawful
attempt to act upon that resolution was to shield
gentlemen from the responsibility of doing Indirect
! ly what they would not do directly.
Mr.. liIcKMAN.-l have never concealed anywhere
election of sound Democrat-hy that mean
| Democrat opposed to this Administration anti
Lecompton Democrat. | have endeavOred for a
! week TO eject such man, but | am beginning to
fear shall be unable to consummate that work. |
believe that either friend of the Administration
or n Republican is ultimately to be elected Speaker.
| am frank to say that in that event have de-
| cided on the choice of the latter. have offered
| this resolution for the purpose of reaching
| ganiZation. II the Administration party succeed |
| trust | shall submit in a becoming spirit ! am
perfectly willing every man in the country should
know my views. Let the motion to amend the
journal be put to the House to decide.
Mr.. WIZ. SMITH, of Virginia. That motion is un-
necessary, in his view of the subject. If the gen
tleman means to vote for the Republican nominee
he and those who think with him can do so, and
thus ends the question.
No who has noticed that gcntleman's
course for the last two years could doubt he would
at last land in tho Republican ranks. lie says he
wants sound Democrat elected, and vet will vote
with the Republicans. Who does he fool by such a
doctrine as that?
The Democratic party are here to perform a high
and holy duty to the country, | want him to be
understood BLACK Republican, who only takes
the name OF Democrat for the purposes of hood
winking and misleading. Let me ask him-woud
he vote for Mr.. BOcOck to-day if he would rise and
say he opposed to the Administration?
Mr.. HICKMAN.-l will state frankly and unequivo-
cally that would not, and give my reasons, which
are entirely sufficient for myself | would not
do it, because know that Mr.. Bocock susains the
Administration in everything it has done, and am
not believer in eleventh-hOur repentance
Laughter
As to the charge of my being Black Republi-
can, that is question for me to decide and not for
the gentleman from Virginia. | shall continue to
regard myself as Democrat until find that the
Democratic party in the region Of country where
belong have the moral and physical force to ex-
clude me from it. | think stand by the cardinal
doctrines of the Democratic party. | think have
always done | repudiate and condemn the
sentiments entertained by the Administration and
its followers. If they are Democrats, | am no
Democrat.
The question he has undertaken tu decide, is one
that cannot be decided by hIA by the whole
Virginia delegation. 1t is question that will be
decided ~ the country, as to who embodies the
Democratic sentiment, whether James Buc anan
or those who held the sentiments of the Cincinnati
platform in its integrity and entirety.
Mr. SMITH, in reply, remarked that the injunction
"man, know thyself," was one of the mos; difficult
to learn. The gentleman was not the man to Judge
himself, but he (Mr Smth) and others were to
classify him, He therefore classed the gentleman
with the blackcst of the Black Republicans not
only on this, but on past occasions. There are
gentlemen hOnorably opposed to the Kansas policy,
who are acting with the Democrats not co-0perat-
ing with the Republicans. Since that question has
passed to the future, and is no longer living ISSUE
WHY should Democrats differ on great principles?
Mr. CLARK, of New York, inquired whether the
support of Democratic organization test
Of Democracy?
Mr. SMITH replied that, a general rule, it was,
as the organization was to carry out the principles
Of the party.
Mr. CLARK asked what excuse man could have
who was elected against organization, without
symrathizing with any party, when no principles
were involved.
Mr. SMITH replied, man may be elected against
an organization, and be good Democrat.
Mr. CLARK said his constituents were opposed tt
the political organizations throughout the Union.
Mr.. SMIrH--Are you Republican or a Demo
crat?
Mr.. CLARK said that he was opposed to all parties
Mr.. SMIrH-Then the gentleman is an Ishmaete
Laughter lie is not here against the Constitu-
ton and the Union, am sure.
Mr. CLARK-NO, sir.
Mr. SMITH asked which party, the Republican
or Democratic, maintains the principles nf the Con
sttution.
Mr. CLARK said he was net attached to the Demo-
cratic party of his district or of this House. He
avOwod himself Northern man with national
sentiments, looking to the preservation Of the
Union, and was for cooperating with all national
men who would cooperate with him. He cared
less about party than his country.
Mr.. MILES, of South Carolina, made an expana-
ton in regard to his political sentiments. He CON
sidered his first duty to be to his own State. He
would fight fire with fire, force by force if neces-
sary; but in doing so he did not surrender anv pa
triotc motive or love of country which should ami
mate Il citizen.
Mr.. CLARK said that he never was and never will
be sectional man. He was a representative ofthe
ford to be sectional. He denied the charge that he
abOlitioniSt.
Mr.. SMITH did not believe Chat Mr. Clark had an
abolition sentiment in his heart 4 drop Of aboi-
ton blood in his veins. The principles of a party
are those acted on by party, An organization
was only the means by which the principles are to
be carried out
further oolloquy took place between Messrs
Smith and Clark.
Mr.. Curry proceeded to address the House in re-
gard to the results which naturally and inevitably
flow from the principles Of the Republican party
The agitation and excitement which now be-
held does not have its origin in the fact of the
ganiZahOn OF the ouse being an important matter;
nor is it owing to the circulation Of an incendarv
pamphlet, or to the murderOus ncursinn recently
made into the State of Virginia. These were but
incidents to principle--the revelations, more or
less shadOwy, OF purpose. The real cause of the
present agitation in the public mind is in conse-
quence Of the opinion entertained by many that
property in man is tarce-that the African is the
equal of the white man-that he is citizen of the
United States, and entitled to all the privileges and
immunities of other citizens.
Mr.. G.. did not propose to charge the Republican
party with completely in the raid of John Brown
from the bottom OF his heart ne acquitted them of
that crime. He would likewise accept the plea
which had been interpOsed by their attorney and
their spOkesmen in the House, and allow the mantle
of Ignorance to cover their recommendation of an
incendiary pamphlet This great question should
be approached in a calm and candid manner, as
philosophers, statesmen, and citizens of a common
country.
He believed the principles and policy of the Re
publican party to be necessarily and essentially
hostile to the constitutional rights and interests of
the South. The arguments they adduced assumed
an antagOnism between sections, and fOreshadowed
irrcpressible conflict between two opposing
forces. If slavery be n crime against God and
against humanity; il it be n curse to society; if it
contains the fruitful seeds of immcdicabe woes, it
is vain to talk of eXterminating such an evil by
peaceful and quiet means, as to attempt to prOpcl
skill against the surglng cataract of Niagara These
ideas must have their logical deve opments and re-
suits; and although he willing honestly to be-
heve the Republicans in their dsavOwal of Browns
foray at IIarper's Ferry, that was the inevitable
sequence of their principles and their doctrines.
He went on to refer to the two distinct anti-sla-
very organizations stating that he did not confound
the Garrison abohtiOnsts with the Republicans; but
although the latter might shrink from the avowals
of the former, they would ultimately be driven to
occupy the same position. He further avowed his
belief that the election of VIM. II. Seward or Sal
mon P. Chase, on purely sectional platform ought
to be resisted by the disruption of every tie that
binds this COnfederacy together.
MIR. KELLOGG, rising TO a question of privilege
said he took the earliest opportunity to make an
apology to the House for act of his in the un-
pleasant and much-to be-regretted occurrence in
this hall yesterday, which an offence to its dig
nifty and breach of its decOrnm, and for which he
rendered to the body his regret and apology
Mr.. LOGAN said, after the remarks of his worthy
colleague that if, in the excitement of debate he
violated the rules and decOrum of the House in anv
way, it due to himself to say it was uninten-
tional on his part and he regretted that the scene
of yesterday occurred.
The House then adjourned.
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