The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-12-17
PROCEEDINGS OF THE TlIRTTSIITH CONGRESS
sen TE.
WAsHINGToN, Dec lG.-Tbe Senate is not in seq
sion to-day, having adjourned over to Monday.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

sen TIE.
"ASHINGTGN, Dec. lG.-Tbe Senate is not in ses-
SION to-day, having adjourned over to Monday
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
On motion of Mr.. NIRIACK it was resolved that
until the election of Speaker shall have taken
place, the Clerk of the last House be authorized to
exercise the power devUlying on the Speaker for
preserving order in the galleries and on the 1nor of
the House for the time being, under the rules of
the last House; and that the Sergeant-at. Arms for
the like purpose, be under the direction Of the
Clerk.
Mr.. BoNHAM said the whole country were anxi-
ously looking to the aspect of affairs here and in
quring why we did not elect a Speaker? The
reason was, the majority of the House were unwilI-
ing to place in that chair an endnrser of the infa
nous Helper book, and deem themselves Justified
IN resisting his election by all fair and honorable
means. He had nothing to say against Mr. Shcr-
man, personally, but referred to him politically.
and cordially assented to the resolution that neither
he nor any other man who endorsed Mr. Helpers
book fit to be Speaker
He believed it fatal error, when the Mis-
souri, Compromise was accepted by the South for
lthas only encouraged Northern aggressiOns against
slavery. lie referred to Mr. Hickman as 4 rene
gade of his party when he voted for Mr.. Giddings'
motion to reject the Senate bill for the admission
OF Kansas. Every one supposed he would finally
land on the Republican side although he has since
claimed to be Democrat, his vote Yesterday for Mr.
Sherman settled the question that he is no longer
Democrat 1t had been sought to elect Speaker
by the plurality rule, which he believed unconsti-
tutlona for the reason that but Il majority
could elect a Speaker.
1t had been said that there are precetcns for it's
adoption, but the times different then from
now. Mr.. Banks had not refused, as had Mr. Sher-
man, to repudiate the infamous teachings Of Help
ers book for the abolition of slavery and insurree-
tion. In reply to Mr.. Hickman, he said, that the
South claimed to have the right to carry slavery
into the common Territories, and having it pro-
tected like other property BY Territorial law; and
refusing to afford that protection by positive hos
tile enactments, the South, while denying the right
OF Congress or Territorial Legislature to abolish or
prohibit it, establish slavery in the Territories
claim that it is the duty OF Congress or Territorial
Legislatures to protect it while there
lie replied to Mr.. Nelson, more, he said, in sorrow
than i'll anger, and refuted the common cant that
Gen. Jackson had put down nulliiication defending
South Carolina in her course Mt that period Thai
gentleman had spoken Of the Union rs more mpor-
tant than the Constitution-but those whom h.
lMr. Bonham) represented, look to every part OF
the Constitution as more important than the Union
The gentleman from Pennsy yhana Mr. Hick-
man )had spoken OF forcing the South back into the
Union, should she see proper to retire But when
ever it is found cypedicnt to do 50. the Union no
longer exists. He said, without hesitation that on
| the election Of Mr.. Seward or any other man who
endorses and procaimS and holds to the sentiments
declared by Mr.. Seward, call the party by wha!
name you please, he was in favor Of Immediate
dIsunion, and he thought he spoke the sentiments
of his entire State
How then could it be expected that Southern
gentlemen can consent to the election of Mr. Sbar-
man, who comes here reekng from the pollution of
doctrines adverse to Southern interests The reSO-
luton of Mr.. Clark of Missouri, was proper under
these circumstances, and he warned gentlemen that
they would preserve slavery or perish in the a.
tempt. His patriotism began at home, and he was
for South Carolina against the world.
Mr.. MmLsON made explanation, DENYING that
he ever said that any man who endorsed Uelper's
book not fit to live.
The CLERK alluded to the fact that the House had
passed Il resolution, giving him power to preserve
order and said that this power would be useless un
less he seconded in his efforts by the members
themselves who had first violated decorum lie
desired to say if these scenes of disorder are per
sisted in he will exercise the power conferred hv
that resolution to suppress disorder either in the
galleries or on the floor. He hoped, however, no
necessity would arise for the exercise Of his power
Mr. CLEMENS appealed to gentlemen to vote in
stead OF remaining here four hours a day to enable
gentlemen to vcntilate their rhetoric.
Mr.. SINS, of Kentucky. said that John Browns
ioray in Virginia had been followed 10y a crusade
against the entire South. lie would speak plainly
and tell gentlemen on the other side that from the
| foundation of this Government tha~e has been .
diseased public sentiment in the Northern States
! on the subject of slavery. He snoEn Of the CON
tinued aggressions Of the Republican party on the
! South; they (the KepublicanS) number more than
| hundred men on this foor--men Of character and
! nlupnce-who have sought on the s,umr and
elsewhere, to duse opinions practically leading To
the notification OF the fugitive slave law, and bring
contempt on the United States Supreme Court be
cause 1t has declared that Congress had no uONcr
to restrict slavery exclude it frGm the new Ter
ritores The balance OF power in the United States
Senate, once deemed a safeguard by the South has
been lost, and Northern preponderance will be still
! further increased by the admission of other new
! States. Nothing was now left between the South
and her asSailants but the Democratic party and
| the Constitution, eXpounded by the Supreme
| Court
The abolition party in the North having failed to
reach slavery in the South by direct legislation
have sought to overthrow it bv iudirection-bv
poisoning the public mind at the North, and by
N a hat nd rp,h hat
species of property at the South, scattering nceu-
diary documents throughout the land, and have
elevated to high public trusts men who proclaim
that there is an 'irrepresSible conflict between
slave and free labor. He was no disunonist but
would askwas there to be limit to these assaults
the South? Were they to bow their necks like
conquered province and be despoed Of their
property without redress 1t the Union Is to be
preserved, there must be a cessation of these
wrongs the South After further remarks, he
said that the North has raised tempest it cannot
control. 1t has overeaped the Constitution Of the
country and the laws OF the land
He doubted whether the regrets expressed
that side for the Harpers Ferry affair sincere,
and predicted that the promise TO the ear would be
| broken to the hope As the representative Of a
God-fearing, Union-loving, law-a6idng people, he
! entered his solemn protest against the thousand
wrongs committed on the South. lie charged the
Republican party as being the cause of these dan
| gers hanging over the country. He was no alarm
| ist no disunOnist. For the Union he would peril
his life but if the shock must come and the fell ca
amity of disunion was upon them, he wanted to
his native South stand on the Constitution of
his country, and like one man stand up in defence
of its rights.
As preliminary to voting for Speaker the House
was called, when it was ascertaned that the fol-
lowing named gentlemen were either absent or had
paired off, viz: John Y. Brown, c. B. Cochrane
jenkins, KilIenger, kuuke, Landrum and Stall.
worth.
The following was the result of the vote for
| Speaker
Nl,,l, H..