Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1859-12-30
MIR. GROWS SPEECH,

luc IluICulOu> opccCHli M OH Iltl per :
book is still kept up at Washington. The
voting for Speaker, sometimes once or twice
d day, and on some days not at all, also goes
on with no essential change. Every vote
results like its predecessors, in showing a
strong plurality Of Republican votes. but
with a lack of from three to five of a IN jori-
ty for Sherman, the votes for others shifting
about in all sorts of ways
The speaking is chiefly from the Demo
crats,-those in full communion with the
Administration, - with occasional replies
from Anti-Lec Jmpton Democrats. Rarely
does Republican say anything except to
urge a direct attention to TIE only business
properly before the members, viz: the choice
OF Speaker On the 22d, however, a sharp
though brief speech was made by Mr.. Grow,
(rep.) of Pa. Mr.. Winslow, (dem.) Of NC,
had offered a resolution that no vote should
be taken for Speaker till the 81 Monday (the
9th) of January, on the ground that there
was no immediate prospect of an Organiza-
ton. They were approaching, as he said,
the holidays, which even the slaves Of the
SoIth enjoyed. He thought it better to ad
journ over that gentlemen might 90 home
and catch some of the patriotic feelings of
their con, tituents.
Mr.. Washburne of Maine, and others on
the Republican side, objected to the recep-
ton of the resolution.
Mr. Grow Mr. Clerk, under the law
of Congress, which has been read here
number of times, there are but two motions
in order; one is a motion to proceed to vote
TOR Speaker. and the other is a motion to
adjourn Under the Parliamentary law
those are the only motions that are in order.
But, sir, aside from the question of order,
we have been here now almost three weeks,
and upon the first day of the session, before
any serious eff rt was made TO organize this
House, the discussion of your Slavery ques-
tion was thrown upon the House, and no
vote was taken 70. Speaker, save an informal
one True, we had one vote; but it was like
an informal ballot, merely to concentrate the
vote of the House upon separate candidates.
Before any serious effort was made to or
ganize the House, this discussion Of the
whole Slavery question was forced upon US
by the gentlemen who cry 'No agitation of
Slavery" They have continued the dis
cussion from thai day to this, while gentle
men upon this side of the House have sat
with closed lips under the grossest perver-
sions of their doctrines ever attempted by
men who claim to be fair minded. We ask
that the House should 90 on with its bust
ness.
There are now about five millions of doll
ars due to honest creditors of the Govern
ment-to men who have performed service
under written contracts, and to whom the
faith of the Government was pledged; and
now, when they have performed that service,
and waited six months for their pay, you
propose to go home and leave these men to be
bankrupt, because the Government will not
keep its faith with them. We ask that the |
plighted faith of the Government shan oa
observed to all men, but above all 10 r'9 JIoe
creditors, who have performed service uHIei
written contracts with 1t. anu ye'' sen.ie
men. we have sat here for almost three Weeks |
and listened to nothing IN the world-wlth
tbrea or four exceptions-but the editorials |
of the New York Herald for the last month,
rehasbed and given to us piecemeal in the !
form OF SpocOuoo lApptduoo.J
Now, if gentlemen are satisfied with ad-
vertising broadcast through the land this
pamphlet which they say is so destructive to
their peace and tranquility-if you are salts
fed to give circulation to that pamphlet of
thousan, where it had scarcely solitary
one before-then YOU have performed work
that the Black Republican Committee of
New York would thank you, and did indeed
thank you for. That committee had tried
for more than year to get up a circulation
for that pamphlet, and they failed to do SO;
but you, gentlemen. on that side have ad-
vertised and circulated it throughout the
length and breadth of the land; and if it be
as incendiary as you say 1t is, and if 1t be so
calculated to disturb your peace OF mind,
aye, almost to the destruction of your peculi-
ar institutions and so destructive to the re-
pose of the Unior, then tell You emphatic
ally that you yourselves are responsible for
it, aud fUr all that has occurred. We on this
side have given it no advertisement. We
have not caused It's circulation in thousands.
Several members on the democratic bench
es, rising excitedly, exclaimed" But you
endorsed it'll a- rsfs -