Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-12-27

we h0d ID the l-OuisNiilS u pretty
graphic synopsis Of the debate in the House of Rep
resentatyes, on Saturday. which seems to have bSel
more than ordinarily spicy We give an extract;
Mr. Smith, OF Virginia, proceeded to address the
House. In consequence of the course of The re-
marks INDUCED in BY the gentleman from PenRsyl
vania (Mr Crow he felt it his duty to take part in
the debate when the House assembled. 1t was upon
the heels Of remarkable incident that aroused the
public mind. and brought out revolution that
startled the country with amazement- 1t was seen
that 6S members of the last Congress, besides nn-
merous other gentlemen of the highest position. en-
dorsed pamphlet, known as the Helper pamphlet
inauguratng crusade Of blood, murder and trea-
SON against one of the largest sections Of Ike Union
What had been the first development. One Of the
very gentlemen who had endorsed this book had been
put in nomination presiding officer Of the House.
That presiding officer must sustain the most intimate
personal and social relations necessarily, with the
members over whose deliberations he presides; and
he asked the House and the country if they would
rightfuy and truly perform their great social and
political duty, by elecing that man TO preside over
that body.
He put the question here, ard he desired the
country to understand it. They may have the power
by force of numbers to put man who is d muir
derer or a robber; man who proclams his deadly
hostility to onehalf of the Union, in that chair But
ask them If it is right, if they will stand as the
representatives of constitutional liberty on this
floor.
Mr.. Sheman-with composure, but signs of a
gathering storm desire to know if the gentleman
/ from Virginia applies these words to me?
! Mr.. Smith-quickly-Ia am illustrating. ! did not
say the gentleman is a murderer. ! have no such
thoughts, and was abont to say so, and it would
! have come with more grace than from an inter-
! ruptiOn.
Mr.. Sherman-with a satisfied air misunder-
! stood the gentleman.
Mr.. Smith-imperiously-I was illustrating; would
/ you vote for a murderer?
! Mr.. Sherman and others-eagerly- certainly not
Mr.. Smith, the act of a party
/ Mr.. Curtis-very much excited call the gentle
| man to order. | consider that a reflection upon
members on this floor it mpeacl.es the honor of ev-
cry man on this side of the House. and ask the gen
/ tleman to recall 1t.
! Mr. Smith-frmly-W | have anything to re-
call, will do it without being asked. Applause in
! the gaeriesl If the gentleman will Just keep cool
he will perhaps fare all the better forit | charged
! nobody with being murderers robbers upon this
! floor. but do charge that when we came here, we
found that sixty eight members of the last Congress-
many of them now here, did ndorse pamphlet. ac-
| cordng to what had a right obelieve and sup
pose that was Just as bad and as damnalle [Cries
! of good, and applause in the galleries.
The Clerk said he gave notice yesterday that i
the rules of the House again violated by this
applause in the galleries, he would call upon the of
/ cers of the House to suppress 1t; in accordance
there with, he called upon the SergeantatArms and
/ DOorkeeper to perform their duty. Here ensued a
/ scene of considerable confusion. Many members
crying out, Clear the galleries, whilst others hoped
/ that such course would not be pursued.
In the galleries a cOmmOtion could be observed,
and one middle aged, respectable gentleman eXclam-
| ed. loudly, ' will leave it." and made his way
! through the dense throng, whilst the Sergeantat-
Arms passed at rapid pace out of the main door of
! the House to intercept him Finally order was re-
stored. The Clerk stated that it was not lis irten-
ton 10 have the galleries cleared many ordc Ply
persons occupied them, but simply TO preserve or
der. The business of the House proceeded.
Mr.. Smith said he proceeding to illustrate the
position that had been taken by the Democrats, and
| he had used strong figures of speech for the pur-
! pose of making it in a way from which there could
be escape and to vindicate the Democratic side OF
1 the House from the aspersiOls cast upon them
from time to time. of triing with the organization
| Of this body; he said again, that when they come
here under the circumstances to which he adverted
it was their duty to raise the question which was
stated by the gentleman from Missouri, (Air Clark
! and he glad to see that the honorable gentleman
from Iowa showed becoming sensibIlity. He knew
how he OIr. Curtis) felt upon that subject did
he mean in any sense to intimate that the gentleman
! would do anything dshonOrable but he put the
question whether he would vote for man for pre-
siding officer, who had indOrscd the doctrines of the
! Helper book
Mr. Curtis replied that the gentleman knew that
he would not, AMI he believed he knew that the
| honorable member nominated would net saEctio
assault upon the rights Of Virginia, any oUnvr
| State He misunderstood the gentleman when he
pose the gentleman seriously believed that any Re
! publican member was insensible TO honor as to
dare to bring into this House, any one who would
! propose attempt to indOrse any book like that
referred to, o. cOuntenanee such outrage that
! of Brown in Virginia. anywhere else, one of the
/ greatest crimes earth. lie did not blame him,
however, for asking the questions, he did it for
the purpose of drawing from the gentleman n0mi-
mated, denial of all intention OF indOrsing any such
sentiments.
Mr.. Smith said every sort of atrocty was recon-
mended against the SHAREHOLDERS. Did not the gen.
| tleman know it! r'7
Mr.. Curtis am told it contains infamous matter.
Mr.. Smith-Wcll sir your candidate signed it.
| He was surprised that the gentleman from Tennes
see, (r Nelson) should have fallen into tie error
! of stating that Mr.. Sherman had disclaimed the
atrocities of the Helper book; he would ask that
/ gentleman where he got his information?
Mr.. Nelson said his recollection that Mr.. Sher-
man had declared that he did not approve of the
doctrine Of Helpers book.
Mr.. Smith-No, sir, | have it here. Mr.. Smith
then proceeded to read the explanation Of Mr. Sher
man. being frequently requested by Mr.. Grow to
continue. until he had read the whole of Mr. Sher-
mans remarksl Did he dscaim the doctrines of
the Helper book? | ask it here, in the presence of
the candidate Of that Side Of the House, does that
gentleman disclaim the doctrines of the Helper book?
l ask the gentleman does he disclaim the doctrines of
that book, as read here passage? The gentleman
Is dUmb-he is silent / desire to get the gentleman
to speak. He is silcnt-dumb oyster laugh
teri and the gentleman from Pennsylvania wants
20 speak for him.
Mr.. Grow said he only wanted a correct statement.
Mr.. Nelson thought it proper to say that when Mr..
Sherman had disavowed any intention 20 interfere
with slavery in the States, he considered that he
fisherman. had repudiated the ultra doctrines of
the book-tiat was line %ay he understood him.