The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-12-30
From Washington.

from w aS01nRCOns
DEMOCRATIC CAUcUs.-The Democrats of
the House held a caucus, on the 10th. Mr..
BococK said he would withdraw, if the
caucus thought any other man could get a
larger vote. The general sentiment of the
members was against any concession to the
Americans. The sentiments announced by
some of the more prominent members were
as follows
Mr.. Winslow spoke in favor of adhering
to the nomination of Mr.. Bocock. He pre-
ferred by far an Anti. Lecompton man to an
American.
Mr.. Stevenson spoke against the plurality
rule.
Mr.. John Cochrane was in favor of the
Democrats maintaining their present posi-
ton.
MIR. Cox spoke to the same effect for the
largest delegation of the north. He was
unwilling to vote for any Know Nothing, or
any man supported by them, unless that
man should be Democrat. But he was
willing at the proper time, to vote for an
Anti Lecompton Democrat, when it could
be shown he could be elected.
Mr.. Montgomery took different view,
thinking there might be union between the
national men Of the Americans and Demo-
Gratis so effected as to crush out seetionalism.
He thought it dangerous that Republican,
ism should have the patronage of the Capt.
toll.
Mr.. Harris, of Virginia, made an earnest
appeal to gentlemen to stand by Democratic
principles and men. He would not ask
Northern Democrats to make such sacri-
fee as to vote for South American.
Mr.. Garnett interrupted Mr.. Harris by
stating that members of the American Party
had Informed him that it was as willing to
vote for Mr.. Bocock as any other Demo.
crat.
The following resolution, offered by Mr..
PRYOR was considered as expressing the
sentiments of the Democracy:
That the members of this Conference
persist in the support of the Democratic
nominee for Speaker until his decination,
or conference of the party shall determine
otherwise.
Mr.. BoCoCK withdrew his name, as q
candidate for Speaker on Monday last, but
his supporters did not, on that day, concen-
trate their vote on any particular individ-
ual.
The CANDIDATES FOR SPEAKER.-The
correspondent of the N. Y. Times says:
Thomas S. Bocock of Virginia, the Dem
ocratic candidate for Speaker, is a man of
thoroughly national and moderate views,
member of the greatest experience in the
House, and one who is universally esteemed
for the possession of sound judgment, good
temper, great courtesy of manner, and very
decided abilities He is tall aud graceful
man, of some forty eight or fifty years of
age, with aquiline features, long face,
brown side whiskers and imperial, mild gray
eyes and plentiful supply Of dark chestnut
colored hair, arranged on his head with con.
siderable adroitness. Of course, in the
PRESENT controversy he has no opportunity
to speak, but it is well understood that he
is at any moment willing to sacrifice his
personal aims to secure compromise Of all
the interests not openly or secretly in league
with the Republican party.
His chief rival, John Sherman, of Ohio,
is a man some ten years his junior, of middle
height and nervous figure, with fine square
forehead, light brown hair, light beard sha-
ven on the upper lip, large blueish eyes,
prominent perceptive faculties, and features
of the ordinary New England mould, with
touch in them of firmness, resolute will
and subtlety. During each ballot, Mr..
Sherman appears agitated, and attempts to
conceal his nervousness by taking up news.
paper, which trembles in his hands as he
holds it.
A VOICE FROM HENRY CLAWS DISTRICT.
Hon Mr.. S1MMs represents the Ashland
Ky district in the House. The following
is an extract from speech delivered by him
on the 18th
The Constitution was formed by North
ern and Southern men. When it was signed
the former had the right to sell the ir slaves
in the Southern States, and did so. The
Southern men had right to purchase those
slaves of Northern men, and did SO. North
ern men took the money received for slaves
and invested it in houses, lands, merchan-
disc and commerce, To this day they have
InaI property anu Iut pTUutS vi IL, anu ycI
turn round and denounce the South, because
they retain the property sold them by the
North. At that time the ring of the cash
was much dearer to their hearts than
the clank of the bondsmen's chains were
oppressive to their conseiences. If there
be in that burning lake, where Kissing SER
penis and fiery dragons torment the damned
a place more fiery than all the rest, it should
be reserved for those Northern fanatics who
seek to scatter the seeds of sectionalism
among brothers and friends, and with the
torch of the incendiary in one hand and the
dagger of the assassin in the other, would
invade even the capital of the nation, and
amidst its fallen columns exult in the DESC
lation they had caused. Unless the North
ceased invading the rights of the South,
they would be prepared to meet them at the
lannon's mouth. For the last forty years
they had submitted to these things for the
sake of the Union. Although smarting
under ten thousand wrongs, there was not a
man in his district whose heart would not
bleed to-day to hear the knell Of the Federal
Union. They were for the Union with the
Constitution; for unless that were preserved,
the Union was worthless, and worse than
-.,&Llooc 1905 %;r,o RI IL loiplu ord