Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-12-20


the constitution existed. Therefore it did not
belong to the federal constitution to say what
state should recognise as property.
His next proposition was, that owners of
slaves have the same right to take them to a
territory that the owners of any other kind of
property have; and, when there, they are en-
titled to the same protection by the law-mak-
ing power of the government, as if they went
there with other property. When the govern
ment fails to protect our property, anywhere
and everywhere it ought to be abolished.
Mr.. Brown said, he asked nothing from his
section which he would not accord to others.
He closed by thanking the Republican benches
for the polite attention they had given him.
! Every seat on that side of the chamber was
vacant Adjourned.
HOUSE.
Mr. Gilmer, of North Carolina, caused to be
read a newspaper article, commenting on an
extract from the Boston Tract Journal, asso-
! ciating his name Extensively with Helpers
book. He said the article was infamous, ma
licous, and talsehood from beginning TO end.
He had no knowledge of the book. Ever
since he had refused to act with the Democrats
on the Lecompton policy, which he believed
| to be an infamous fraud and swindle, he had
been pursued with the terocity of tiger and
the malignity of devil.
Mr.. Singleton, replying to Mr.. Hickman,
| emphaticay denied the charge that the South
had violated all its compacts and compromises.
Where and when had the South demanded
anything more than she was entitled to under
the constitution? Whenever aggressions were
made they were by the stronger on the weaker
| section, and the South was obliged to take her
! present position, with the view to preserve
fraternal relations.
Mr.. Hickman would answer by asking
question.
Mr.. Singleton said that was the Yankee
way. He did not like it.
MIR. Hickman said, if he understood the his
tory of the legislation of 1854, there was a
demand made from the south that the Missouri
| Compromise should be repealed, nasmuch as
itprevented slavery north of Sc deg. 30 min,
and was UNJUST to the south, which went al
most in body for its repeal and with the aid
of a few northern Representatives, accom-
plished it. In return they gave to the north
what he Hickman understood to be a distinct
pledge, viz that the question of slavery from
that day forward should cease to be agitated in
| Congress, and the settlement of the whole
question should be left to the people OF the
territories for their determination. An effort
was then perseveringly made to force slavery
| into the territory from which it was excluded
by the act of 1920 and falling in this, they
now denounce the legislation of 1854, and in
sst that the principles of the Kansas-Nebraska
bill should be repudiated. This was destruc-
tive Of that understanding between the north
and the south which had existed since 1920
He asked whether the south did not consider
it beneficial for her to have the Missouri Com
promise line repealed If not, why did they
struggle so long and anXiously for its repeal
Mr. Singleton said Mr.. Hickman had not
answered him. Every territory organized
north of that line, and a clause prohibiting
slavery, the north receiving everything she
had right to expect, and losing nothing. The
south did not make war on the line of $500.
1t was willing at all times to extend it to the
Pacific Ocean, and thus forever settle the vex-
ed question. So far from being recreant to its
trust, the south was ready to uphold, and had
at all times upheld the laws and the Constitu-
ton. Any man, he continued, who put his
signature TO a circular, recommending the cir
culation OF Helpers book was unfit to be
Speaker, and if, while SO signing it, he knew
1t contents, he was guilty of moral treason,
and should be dealt with accordingly. Ii lie
did not know anything ofits contents when be
signed the circular then he was equally dis
qualified. If the Republicans elect Mr.. Sher-
man they will do it at the peril of severng the
ties which bind us together, and the very
moment they elect such speaker he would
not be responsible tor the consequences. 1t
would be considered by the south as adding
insult to injury. He inquired whether it was
not the design Of Republicans to exclude the
south from the territories.
Mr. Curtis OF Iowa, said the Republicans
were opposed to the extension of slavery, and
by every constitutional power and act would
oppose its extension. But they did not pro-
pose sitting the south circumventon by any
system OF policy. 1t was not his purpose, di-
rectly or indirectly, to njure the rights of the
people of the south in holding slaves. Suffi-
cient into the day is the evil thereof
Mr.. Singleton replied that this was all in
tended to lul the suspicion Of the South, with
a view to further aggressions, and to bind
them hand and foot, and deliver them over to
the tormentor. Did not the gentleman believe
that Congress has the power directly to ex-
clude us from the territories, and would he net
vote for such law :!
Mr.. Curtis-We would give them the same
fights we ask for ourselves. We would vote
to exclude slaves, not freemen, from the terri
tories.
Mr.. Singleton-Is that the opinion of your
party?
Mr.. Curtis-I believe it is.
Mr.. Straightforward other words, you will
never let us, have another foot of slave terri
tory while we remain with you. Is that the
idea?
Mr.. Curtis-That is the idea. After further
coloquy-
Mr.. Stanton said, for himself, he did not
desire to be committed TO anything said, or
refused to be said, on the Republican side prior
to the organization. He protested against the
right OF any gentleman to interrogate him or
bind him by any response, or failure to re-
Spond. When the subject is properly before
the House, gentlemen will be gratified in hav-
ing it discussed.
MIR. Sing leton-You will not meet it like
men,
Voices on the republican side--We will.
Mr.. Singleton replied-The responses will
be evasive in their character. If you exclude
slavery from us it will be the disruption of
every tie. We will have expansion OF slavery
in the Uniou or outside of it, if we must. If
you want to know my advice to Mississippi, l
say the sooner we get out of the Union the
better. For the longer we stay in it the worse
for us. The south have made up their minds
to sustain slavery. We don't intend to be pro-
scribed by present limits, and it will not be iii
the power of the north to coerce 100000 of
treemen-the south with arms in their hands
and prevent their their going into the sur
rounding territories. Gentlemen must remem-
Der that gallant son of the south, Jefferson
Davis led our forces in Mexico, and that
thank God he still lives, perhaps to lead a
southern army. Mr.. Singleton reviewed the
doctrine of squatter sovereignty and said that,
Mr.. Douglas holding these views, he would
never vote for him, if he were nominated by
the Charleston Convention.
Mr.. Logan Of Illinois said he claimed to be
a friend of Mr.. Douglas, and coming from the
democratic state of Illinois would support any
man nominated by the Charleston convention,
| for the sake of putting down the Republican