The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-01-20

transformed it into conduis for passing the
estimates of the different Departments through
the House of Representatives. 10 these channels
Mr.. Keitt Of South Carolina, obtained the
floor, but gave way to
Mr.. Bocock, of Virginia, who moved that the
House resolve itself into Committee OF the
Whole on the state Of the Union which mo-
ton was agreed to.
The Presidents MsSage.i-Thes House ac-
cordingly went into Committee Of the Whole
on the state of the Union, Mr.. Bocock in the
chair,) and resumed the consideration of the
Presidents annual message, Ghe question being
on the adoption of the resolutions Of Mr.. Phelps,
of Missouri, referring it to the appropriate com
mittees
Mr.. jenkins, of Virginia, replied to the re-
marks of Mr.. Washburn, of Maine. in relation
to the political parties of the day. He regret
ted TO say that it was the same old cry against
Slavery and of Lecompton and anti-Lecomp-
ton. He saw no excuse for the constant ha-
rangues upon this subject. # the tariff was to
be modified, these gentlemen; thought the only
way to enlighten the House, and the country,
preparatory to so doing, was By speaking against
the South. 1t seemed as if t.iey could only APP
proach it through the medi.im Of an attack
upon the "slave oligarchy." He referred to
our foreign relations, and quoted from the Gin
leans to hold as sacred the principles Of the
Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. Giddings, of Ohio, said, the President in
his message had sought to maiatain the doctrines
of his party. In the first paragraph he recog-
Missed the right of the Governinent to transform
human souls into bondage, ard in all the para
graphs of that State paper he carried out that
doctrine. Whatever he had said Of Spain, of
Mexico, of Central America, was all based upon
the principle that the Government might trans
form human souls into property, and transfer
them from hand to hand, like beasts. His
friend from Maine Mr. WasEburn had shown
conclusiyely, and he should :nOt again argue
the point that the founders OF the Government
proclaimed the great fundamental truth on
which the Republican party based their princi
ples-the right of all men to siberty and happi
ness and it was equally true and obvious that
the trainers of the Constitution in their dav
recognised the idea that no person should be
deprived of his rights WITHOUT due course Of
law. He maintained these Principles, aud de-
clared that when they came TO form the Terri
tories, he thought they would have been recog-
Missed by Democrats and Wigs alike-bv all
men. He denied they had abandoned these
truths by voting for the Montgomery amend
ment.
Mr. Bowie, of Maryland, keplied to the re-
marks OF Mr.. Glddlngs. he spoke of the
genius and spirit of the Constitution, which he
said were now on their onward progress, and no
power on earth could stop them You and |
(said he) may quarrel about xhether we shall
have your domestic institutions or mine in the
Observation-Disclosures you will enslave white men
or we shall enslave Africans That is mat
ter of taste. Laughter. You do not choose
to have them; we do. We, 9n our part, will
not ensave white man; laughter :; we abom-
mate the doctrine.
In conclusion, he proceeded to anayze the
foreign relations Of the Government, and stated
that he believed war would bs peculiarly iniu-
rious to the agricultural portion of the country;
bat yet, no matter what its consequences, he
was in favor Of declaring it whenever it was
necessary to protect the honor and dignity of
the Government. He would ike to see Central
America Americanized and was in favor of for
eign emigration from the South, but was not in
favor of ilibusterism
Mr.. Cox, of Ohio, obtained; the floor; when
the Committee rose, and the House adjourned.