The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-29
THIR TY-SIXTH CONGRESS-
First Session.
Wednesday,, December 81, 1859.

SENATE.
Mr.. lverson gave notice of his intention to
introduce bills amending the act establishing
the Court of Claims, and changing and regula-
ting the mode of appointing cadets at the West
Pciut Military Academy.
A message was received from the President
of the United States transmitting Executive
communications; whereupon the Senate went
into Executive session.
The doors being again opened, Mr.. Bright
submitted resolution for the appointment of
standing committees-yeas 81, nays l9. A
strict party vote, except that of Mr.. Pugh, who
voted nay.
The following are the committees:
On Foreign Reldtions-Messrs. Mason, Doug
las, Slidell Polk, Crittenden, Seward, and Sum
ner.
On Fu,dnce-Messrs. Hunter, Pearce, Gwin,
Bright Hammond, Fessenden, and Cameron.
On Commerce Messrs. Clay, Bigler, Toombs,
Clingman, Salisbury, Hamlin, and Chandler.
On Military Afairs-Messrs. Davis, Fitz-
patrick, johnson of Arkansas, Chestnut, Lane,
Wilson, and King.
On Naval Afairs-M essrs Mallory, Thorn
son, Slidell, Hammond, Nicholson, Hale, and
Anthony.
On Judiciayy-Messrs Bayard, Pugh, Ben
jamin, Green, Powell, Trumbull, and Foster
On Post O6ices-Messrs. Yulee, Gwin Rice,
Bright, Wigfall, Hale, and Dixon.
On Public Lands-Messrs. Johnson of Ar
kansas, johnson of Tennessee, Lane, Pugh,
Bragg, Harlan, and Bingham.
| On Pirate Land Claims-Messrs. Benjamin,
Polk, Wigfall, Grimes, and Ten Eyck.
On Indian A6ads-Messrs. Sebastian, Fitch,
Rice, Haun, Hemphill, Doolittle, and Clark.
On Pensions-Messrs. Thomson, Clay, Sauls-
bury Powell, Durkee, Harlan, and Grimes
On Revolutionary Claims Messrs Toombs,
Crittenden, Nicholson Durkee, and Ten Eyck
On Claims-Messrs. Iverson Mallory, Bragg,
Simmons, and Foote
On District of ColumJia-Messrs Brown,
Mason, Johnson of Tennessee, Yulee, Kennedy
Hamlin, and Wilson.
On Patents-Messrs. Bigler, Thomson, Hemp
hill, Simmons, and Trumbull.
On Public Buildings-Me Bright, Davis,
Kennedy Clark, and Doolittle.
On Ie7ritories-M essrs Green, Douglas
Sebastian, Fitzpatrick, Haun, Collamer, and
Wade.
TO Audit Contingent Expenses Of the Senate-
Messrs Johnson of Tenn, Powell, and Dixon
! On Printing-Messrs. Fitch, Davis, and An
thony.
On Engrossed BMs-Messrs Lane, Bigler,
and Harlan
| On Enrolled Bills-Messrs Haun, Sauls-
bury, and Bingham.
On the Library-Messrs. Pearce, Bay I'd,
and Collamer
Adjourned.
HOUSE.
! The Clerk said the pending question was
upon the motion to amend the record of Friday,
| the 9th instant
! Mr.. Davidson, of Louisiana, addressed the
! House on the issues between the North and
! the South. He never believed in the doctrine
of secession, and did not believe in it now but
when the people are aggrieved, and their rights
trampled upon without redress, there was no
other remedy.
/ Mr.. Cobb. of Alabama, said, that after SER
vice of thirteen years in the House, he was hui
inflated to find that he had to associate with
those who endorsed Helpers book. His (Mr.
Cobb's) constituents had heard all about
Browns raid, and yet they prayed for the per-
petuity of the Union. He had been a compro
mise man, but was now done with compromises
| lie referred to the South Americans, and asked
them whether they would not help to elect
Speaker.
! Mr.. Etheridge replied, that when the Demo
Gratis could show that they could concentrate
| their forces on any one Democrat, then it
would be time to consider the proposition. In
further reply, he said that he would vote for a
Democratic Speaker only in certain contin-
gency.
MT. OODD WaDJeu 10 KNOW why ali the SOutn
ern Opposition yesterday did not vote for Mr..
| Boteler when twenty Democrats voted for him.
Mr.. Etheridge replied, that all the Southern
Opposition would vote for him at the proper
time. 1t would only be in the last resort, how
ever, that he should ever vote for man for
Speaker who was instrumental in forcing upon
an unwilling people the most consummate des
potism ever attempted on a free people.
Mr.. Cobb having concluded his remarks
Mr.. Boteler after thanking his friends for
the kindness expressed toward him, withdrew
his name as a candidate for Speaker, and be-
fore he took his seat he nominated General
Millson, of Virginia, for Speaker.
There were loud and enthusiastic cries for
vote, and everybody seemed anxious that the
Houce should again attempt the election of
Speaker.
Mr.. Clark, of New York, arose, and made
speech on the subject of organization He de-
fined his position at some length, and gave his
definition of what it was to be a Democrat He
had differed from the Administration on its Ter
ritorial policy, and in that design and reflection
he found himself voting with those from whom
he politically differed He spoke of the efforts
of Federal and municipal office-holders to break
him down, and said that he was here in def
ance of the Democratic organization. He owed
no allegiance to any man, and was as free
|
Mr.. Clark gave his reasons why he could
vote for neither Mr.. Bocock nor Mr.. Millson. 1t
was because of their support of the Administra-
tons Territorial policy. He announced his de-
| termination to continue voting as he has voted
for an Anti-Lecompton Democrat.
| The House then proceeded to vote. Whole
number of votes cast, 226; necessary to
choice, ia. Mr.. Sherman received LOG, Mr..
Millson SO, Mr. Gilmer 6, Mr.. Etheridge Z, Mr..
Davis of Indiana, 4 scattering, Z.
On this ballot, Messrs. Milward, Morris, and
Wood, of PENNSYLVANIA, and Wilson of Indiana,
cast their votes for Mr.. Etheridge, thereby re-
ducing Mr.. Sherman's vote
Mr.. Hill, of Georgia, said there was evident
ly no chance of organizing the House by pro-
ceeding to ballot again, and he should move
that the House adjourn.
Mr.. Winslow, of North Carolina, thought it
would be good plan to confer with their con-
stituents, and, after one more ballot, had pro-
posed to offer this resolution:
Resolred, That, from and after to-day, Ito
morrow,) no further vote for Speaker shall be
taken until the 18th day Of January next.
Mr.. Burnett, of Kentucky, said, the Southern
Opposition, numbering only twenty-three votes,
though claiming to be National men, required
the Democrats to go over to them. Why would
not the gentleman from Tennessee Mr.. Eth
eridge vote day for Mr.. Millson, whom he
proposed by resolution four years ago to make
Speaker? Had his character changed person
ally or politically in that time? He paused for
reply.
Mr.. Etheridge would give the reply. Four
years ago, when he nominated Mr. Millson, not
a single Democrat would vote for him.
Mr.. Winslow, of North Carolina, said that it
was because Mr.. Millson positively declined.