Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1859-12-30
An Excited Member.

During the debate in the House of Repre-
sentatives Oh "Wednesday, the following scene
took place:
Mr.. Ashmore, (Dem.) of S. c., (rising, evi-
dently in great cxcitcmcnt)-In view of the
politicians of the free States, banked together
for the purpose of an assault upon the institu-
tion of slavery in the South, there are at this
moment emissarics throughout the South
rying out the programme laid down by the in
famous Helpers book, from which the gentle
man Mr.. Nallandigham) was just quoting
! here announce upon the floor Of this House
that at this very time in South Carolina their
emmissaries are at this very work.
Mr. Cobb, (Dcml of Ala, from the back
ground Hang them.
Mr. Ashmore-We will hang them sem
sationl every one of them. We have at this
very time in the Jail of Greenvile, in South
creatures that ever defed the face of this fair
earth-caught with these accursed books in
his hands-just after he had succeeded in dis
posing of some ten or fifteen of them to the
nou-slaveholdng whites and free negroes Of the
district ..
Mr. Cobb again-Well, hang him.
Mr. Ashmore-We vii! hang him and hang
all who come on such mission. Applause
from the Democratic benches, with some Kisses
from the galleries, and derisive laughter from
the Republicans. l come here from perhaps
one of the most conservative districts in the
Union loving State of South Carolina, and L
have been taunted by people from my native
State with too much submission /; and yet ever
e,D 7 a
work of these vile emmissaries of the North
In South Carolina. Only few days since, the
emssaries of the Black Republicans were at
work distributing their incendiary books. The
fact was announced to one of the leading gen
tlemen of the district, that one of these ennis
saries was at his mischievoHs work and was
likely to incite the slaves around Greenville.-
This gentleman weEt Immediately to work and
ferretted him out in single day, and on his per-
son were found seven copies of the wicked and
infamous work of this renegade thief, man
who dares not to show his face on the soil that
gave him birth. His (Helpers) heart was as
black, ave, blacker than he could possibly
paint it.
When this Harold Willis effects were
searched, not only were Helper works found in
I his possession out an extensive correspondence
was found between him and others from differ
ent sections of the North, and he had placard-
ed in large letters over his mantle piece that
all would be supplied with copies free Of
charge and free of cost by applying to the of
/ fee of the Tribune, in New York. Yes, sir
he was at work secretly. at midnight, going
about his wicked purpose when all others were
! asleep-when all honest men in the country
were wrapt in slumber, he was prowling thro
the highways and byways of the land distrib
uting his vile publication to non-slaveholders
and free negroes of the district At last q
non-slaveholder denounced him and his mis-
chievous work-a good old man, who never
owned a slave in his life, but who did, never
theless, condemn the treason attempted to bt
perpetrated. Applause from the Democratic
benches and Kisses from the galleries.l The
man was Immediately arrested, and the results
that have stated followed, and other results
too A revelation was made that l am no
yet prepared to make public here; but, whel
the time comes, / will make it public-aye
and fortify it too, by the testimony of the bes
men of the good old district of Greenvilie, Il
South Carolina. This is the work which thes
gentlemen have been recommending-th these ar
the fruits of Helpers book, which they hav
endorsed.