Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-12-14
Congress

Up to Saturday evening last the Senate had taken
no fina! action on Mr. Masons resolution of inquiry
into the Harper's Ferry outrage; and no Speaker
had been elected by the House of Representatives
The slavery question has been pretty extensively
debated already in the two Houses. In the Senate
Messrs Mason, Hunter, Iverson, Hale, Wilson, Fes-
sender, Brown, Pugh, Trumbull, Bragg, and Cling
man have spoken-the two latter briefly, and the
others more at length. Mr.. Hunters rebuke of Mr..
Hale who played the harlequin on the most serious
subject and bitterly assailed the Supreme Court Of
the United States, was severe and dignifed. He
told him that his conduct was like 1.-THE laugh Of
the inebriate at the bed of death" Mr. Clingman,
in reply to Mr.. Hale, who was disposed to screen
Helper, said the language of Helpers book Twas
fully as strong represented by the Senator from
Georgia. If Mr.. Sherman (the black Republican
candidate for Speaker of the House, ignorant of
the character of the book when he recommended it.
he at least knew that the author had been publicly
exposed by late Senator from North Carolina CNr
Biggs,) as a thief" This fact is we'll known, and
yet no black Republican member of the Senate or
House has thus far denounced this man Helper.
In the Senate, on Thursday, in reply to Mr. Will
son, who was endeavorlng to show that free speech
was not permitted in the South, Mr.. Bragg said
Il understood the Senator from Massachusetts, to
say that for entertaining certain preference for
candidate for the Presidency, professor had been
banished from the State of North Carolina. deny
that. I say that in making that remark. the Sena-
tor has used language which the facts will not bear
HIM out in using and which is too strong for the
case. The facts of the case are well known to me.
was then acting in capacity which caused me to
know them fully, to wit: was trustee of the uni
versty of which the gentleman alluded to, Mr. He'd
rick by name, was professor. He thought proper
to express certain preferences. as the Senator has
stated, and also to make public certain opinions
which he entertained. The trustees of that body
claimed no right to Danish him, nor did the people
oil the State undertake to Danish him from North
Carolina but they did claim the right under the
circumstances to advise him to resign, inasmuch as
the sentiments he had uttered very unpopular,
and were calculated to injure the institution OF
which he was professor. He declined to DO 1t,
and the trustees thought it expedient to discharge
him; that is ALL He then voluntarily left the State,
and went into more congenial Cline where hope,
for myself and think the people of the State will
agree with me, that he may remain"
In the House, on the 9th, an exciting scene oc-
CURED, which came near resulting in fight. The
prominent parties were Mr. Crawford of Ga, and
Mr.. Stevens. of Pa The correspondent of the New
York Herald says the feeling of acrimony leading
to this seems to have been engendered first not be-
tween Republicans and Southerners so much as be-
tween Democrats and Gmer and his derision of
South Americans, in consequence of Gilmers resolu-
ton as substitute for Carks resolution The i'm
preston was that Gmer was insidiously acting
with Republicans against his Southern Democratic
colleagues. When Gilmer was asked if he approved
of Clark's resolution he evaded the question, and
this set the blood boiling" On subsequent day
conflict was imminent, but was prevented, between
a Democratic and black Republican member from
Illinois.
In the House, on the sth, most interesting de-
bate took place, in which Mr.. Davis of Mississippi
Mr.. E. Joy Morris, of Pa, Mr.. Corwn, of Ohio, and
Mr.. Cox, of the latter State, took part Mr. Daviss
speech was most searching exposure of Seward
and his doctrines. 1t was greeted with applause
from the Democrats and Kisses from the black Re-
publcans. Among other things he said to the
black Republicans, "if you want this government,
and want us to go out, say so, and will take you
by the hand on that Applause in the galleries. and
when have done that, will let you alone and you
must let me alone" He also pronounced Seward
"a traitor deserving of the gallows."
Mr.. Norris of Pennsylvania, who processes to be
a moderate black Republican, gave his reasons for
voting for Sherman for Speaker, and abused what he
was pleased to call "the wicked administration Of
Mr.. Buchanan He was also disposed to apologize
for Helpers book, though he did not recommend it.
Mr.. Tom Corwin followed in long and very in.
genious and humorous speech, in which he essayed
to relieve Mr. Sherman and the black Republicans Of
the grave charges preferred against them. Corwn
affects to be a moderate Republican, and claims
credit for having checked them in their aggressons
on the South; yet he nominated John Sherman 70,
Speaker, and votes for him. The reply of Mr.. Cox
from the same State, was mastery and conclusive
He showed that Mr.. Corwin was no sounder or true,
than the great body of the Republicans of Ohio
He pledged the one hundred and seventy -one thou
sand two hundred and sixty-six Democratic voters
of Ohio true to the Constitution and the rights
the South.
On Friday the vote for Speaker was as follows
Sherman, black Republican, 10; Bocock, Demo
craft SO; Gilmer, Southern Opposition, 20. Neces
sary to choice, ll6. Mr.. Hickman, of Pa, CAV,
notice of resolution for the adoption of the plurali
ty rule with view to the election of Speaker. Thu
plurality rule would at once give the Speaker to tn
black Republicans
The Senate was not in session on Saturday, hav
ing adjourned to Monday. ~.
There was no vote in the House on Saturday 70
Speaker. A debate took place on Mr.. Hickman
resolution providing for the election of Speaker b.
plurality vote Mr.. Hickman, who is an anti-Le
compton Democrat avowed it to be his purpose
vote for Sherman for Speaker
l. ~ Gov. John Letcher Of Va, will enter upo
his official duties on the LIST of next month.