Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-12-30

| Mr.. Grow: When come to the discus
sion of our posi- ions we are ready, as we have
/ been from the first, to meet You and to de-
1 fpnd ourselves on all points. We will take
| the question on proper grounds. Our senti-
ments. delivered time aft time upnn this
floor. pppar in the columns of the Congress
sional Globe, deposited in the archives Of the
country. The sentiments of all upon this
side are there made public. as they have
been expressed upon this floor for the last
FIVE years. and upon them we will take issue.
We will not allow you to come into this
House and attempt to declare what are our
sentiments from the perversiOns and lbes of
the Democratic press OF the country. We
ask and demand to be Judged only ny our
sentiments, as express d and made public BY
ourselves, and upon our own platform of
principles, and not bv the false sentiments
and perversions Of our opponents Would
you think It manly and honorable in us if
we turned round against you and read to
v0C from the Republican press Of the North
what your sentiments and doctrines are
when your doctrines and principles. as you
uttered them yourselves, are to be found in
the Gl )be?
When a man charges me with being an
accomplice In acts of murder, of treason and
rapine and arson, and all other dark and
abominabe crimes, have no answer to make
to such charge. No; but treat it with
that silent contempt it deserves. Applause
My own political sentiments am ready and
willing to proclaim TO the country, upon all
fitting occasions. But my friends have seen
fit, in which think they act wisely, to with
hold from discussing questions at this time
and to ask that the House make a serious
effort to organize by going to business in a
proper manner; that is. by voting for Speak
er, or receiving prop sitions for electing one.
Let this be our business. and let these ques-
tions Of political doctrines be discussed after
the House has been organized and you have
paid the creditors of the Government who
TODAY stand on the verv threshold of bank
ruptcy. This is the condition the creditors of
the country are in, while you stand here dis
cuss;ng what pamphlet Of ll2 pages con-
tains and whether it IS calculated to over
throw the Union. l. the peace Of the country
to be disturbed is this great and glorious
Union TO be overturned, by printed pam phi
let OF 10 pages? | say, if 50, this Union is
not So strong as supposed it was. 1t cannot
be. if miserable pamphlet of ll2 pages of
printed matter can disturb its tranquility.
ate, and ask YOU. gentlemen. to do that
which you have not yet attempted that Is,
to join in discharging those duties we came
here to perform under the law Of Congress.
Let Us unite in fulfilling the obligations of /
the oath we are under To the whole country,
and to the meritorious class of men whom
the faith of YOUR Government is pledged to
protect and preserve from bankruptcy. they
ftf+ IL aI ot
contract | have no authority for making
the declaration, but | have heard it int!mated
that when the first dav of January comes. if /
your Government is not ready to comply with /
the contracts entered into by YOU for the
transportation of the mails, AMI TO pay down
the five millions Of dollars you owe the con-
tractors, they VIII abandon your mail service
/ say to You, then, if You choose. let the
mail service of the country stop, rather than
90 on under the law Of Congress and organize /
the HOusa. Then take The responsibility |
upon your own shoulders; we have none of /
it with you The country looks to you alone,
and with You rest all the consequences. We
take no part we have all along refrained
from taking any part in this exciting. is
useless discussion. which DELAYS the Organi-
zation Of the House We will consent 10 no
over the holidays for the con
v-nienca or amusement of members. while |
the business # the country is delayed and /
while the Contractors for the performance of /
the public service are left unprovided for
Mr.. Whitley, (dem.) of Del: Upon whose
notion was the Post Office bill defeated last
1ssion?
Mr.. Grow; When thar question comes pro-
perly up for discussion, | will answer it full
ly. | am a representative Of the country.
and no coordinate department of the govern
ment shall invade my prerogativeS Of this
House with nv consent. neither will per-
NIT any viol tion OF nfIaction Of any Of the
great compacts of the country. [Applause
in the galleries.