Des Arc citizen., 1859-12-21
XXXvIth Congress-F,r.t Sess,on
 HlU SE

XXXvIth Congress-Fir.t Session.
 HOUSE.
 WAsHINGToS, Monday. December ss 1859 , Mir Moore, of Ky. MT. Smith, of Virginis yielding the floor, offered resolution, whicI was read for information, that Alexander II Botcer be declared Speaker of the House O the Thirty-six Congress.
 Messrs. Bingham and Barksdale objccte to the resolution, as being out of order
 MT. McClernand, of Illinois, moved f. substitute the name of Mir. Davis, of In diana.
 The Clerk said that the resolution wa not in order, several gentlemen having oh jected, and besides, other questions wer, pending.
 Mir. Moore remarked that he introduced tn resolution honestly, hoping it would meet thf appreciation of majority of the House H. trusted all had earnestly endeavored since tn, first day of their meeting,to effect an organi zation, and been governed by the same ho nesty, candor and frankness by which he himself was actuated.
 Mr. Barksdale, of Mississippi, reminded Mir. Moore that the resolution had been oh jected to, and the gentleman, therefore, had no right to debate.
 Mir. Moore replied that Mir. Smith had yielded the floor to him.
 Nr. Smith observed that he did so for tho purpose of hearing what MT. Moore had to | say.
 Mr. Moore replied that all he wanted the l gentleman to hear was what he had to say (Laughter.)
 Mir. Smith supposed that what Mir Moore had to say was embraced in the resolution and he had no idea of yielding the floor for him to debate.
 1 NTr WIG avoaa1pn1xr aF,,I As .1 gentleman for permitting the resolution to be read. He had nothing further to say. l Mir. Kilgore, of Indiana, appealed to Mir 1 Smith to forego his remarks till tomorrow that the House might vote for Speaker til two o'clock today, and then adjourn. Mir. Barksdale suggested that the House adjourn now.
 Mr Smith was willing to yield the floor l for that purpose.
 Mir. Stewart, of Maryland, thought that Mir. Smith had better conclude his speech now.
 | Mir. Smith, resuming, declared himself a | sincere and loyal friend to the Constitution and the Union. He was an advocate for no new or inf1ammatory doctrines; he wanted no modern innovations; he desired to uphold the Constitution as framed by our fathers, and replied to the arguments of the repub,i- | cans, founded on the Declaration of Inde- l | saving that instrument was formed by free men, not slaves. It was free men who pro- | posed to sever the relations with England and form an independent government. In the article of confederation free inhabitants are specifically mentioned, showing that slaves are not included. Then followed the adoption of the Constitution. Negroes were no parties to the formation of that instru- ment The Constitution expressly provides for the return of fugitive slaves. Mir. Smith went on to alude to cases occur ring under that clause. Washington himself | attempted to reclaim fugitive slave. He | quoted the case of Prigg vs.Ithe State of Penn | sylvania, and gave the history of events | from the adoption of the Constitution to the | present day, showing that all aggressions on | the subject of slavery came from the North, and the agitation resulting therefrom, was l justly chargeable to them. Particular refer ence was made to the Louisiana purchase, | the admission of Missouri, the efforts of Henry Clay on that occasion, and quoting the | authority of Jefferson, Madison and Monroe | against the Missouri restriction. NortheYo | aggression did not originate in the love of the negro, but the desire for political power | During his speech some one sent him a tumbler of egg-nog, which he drank, say | ing: Merry Christmas to all of you" 1 Naughter)
 | MT. Kilgore, of Indiana, inquired whether | it was in order for the gentleman to monopo- lize the drinking of egg-nog, while the rest are doing without it?
 | Mir. Smith said that that was one of the constitutional privileges of his side of the House. Iaughter.)
 l GA Voice)-"Pd like to have some I'm dry as thunder Ha, ha." After further remarks, MT. Smith received | another tumbler of egg -nogg, which he | drank, lowing to the ladies gallery, and | creating much merriment.
 Mir. Burnett, of Kentucky, rose to inquire l if this was a private treat or not. (ReneWed | laughter.)
 The Clerk said he would not undertake to decide that point, but would, if desired, put the question to the House. Daughter
 MT Moore, of Kentucky-I move we ad- journ, so as all may take that same kind (Cries of no, no; go on.)
 MT. Smth-I was willing to adjourn this morning myself, out Sf reverence for the day but the party which regards the Sabbath as an innovation on popular liberty and repud ates it as social arrangement, was not VII ling to manifest their respect for the birth day of the Saviour of the world, and hence refused to adjourn. I then, in Christian and reverential spirit Qaughter,) engaged 1T the labor of love, endeavorng to enllghtef the darkened understanding of that side o ! tuC IlOuSCs Dut CtJ hoiiJ s''i' w S', way for adjournment. (Cries on the repuo lican side of no, no; go on.)
 Mir. Smith" If it be the pleasure ot th' House to adjourn will yield" | Mir. Burnett" move we adjourn. car' nothing personally about it, but think it duo to the employees of this House. If there Is chance to elect Speaker, l would De wlllihl to vote" ---
 The republican side called for the yeas an' ! +o odiourn
 Mir. Morris, of Pennsylvania, suggeste' that Mr. Smith publish the remainder Of hl speech without delivery.
 MT. Moore desired the House to adjourn If the negroes are allowed week for hol days, he wanted to know if gentlemen wer to be kept there at hard labor all the tint and if they expected their door-keepers to d the same. He would like to adjourn for week, at least, to have tune to go home.
 Mir. Smith-"I can't consent to any sue
 motion; my speech will hurt. (Laughtef Mir. Moore withdrew his motion, The yeas and nays were ordered, and th l Clerk commenced calling the roll
 MT. Norris, of Illinois" object to u
 gentleman's yielding the floor for motto
 to adjourn"
 The Clerk" The objection came too la 9 "a response having been made. | Mir. Morris hollered as loud as con ! ana WAS UOb TcCORulLCu' II lhS Y"JNNN-N l comes too late, it WAS not my fault. l Mir. Washburne, of Maine, hoped that u s motion to adjourn would be withdrawn, !, | that Mr. Smith could go on with his speec
 MT. Burnett refused to withdraw his motto (Cries of "Call the roll.
 Mir Adrian, when his name was caiie
 said he understood it would ke three hou . more before Mir, Smith could finish ms speec If that was so, he would vote for an adJouf
 ment.
 The roll was then called amid great conf = sion.
 s Mir. Webster, of Maryland, vixen his nan . was called, said that hitherto he had alwa s voted yea on a motion to adjourn, known 2 that no damage conld be done to the cou e- try, when the House was not Tn sessio d c aving been at home and consulting , sis constituents, and being satisfied that the C ct is is past, he should now change ms coui e and vote against it. 2, dd MT. Hughes, of Maryland, believing u
 the crisis is not yet passed, would vote y lg | for the reason stated by his colleague. l Mir. Hall, of Ohio, remarkei that sol
 distinguished man had said al things m,
 have an end," and he presumed MT. Snitl :. speech would. Uaughter) He would mo
 that Mir Smith be permitted to continue
 remarks until they were finished, and u
 the House stand adjourned at ihelr conc l Sl0n. tEXceSSlNe ldu5utOl e,
 Mir. Smith, (rising indignaniY,l sald in l did not see why gentlemen should wlsh ne treat him in that way. He had yielded 'is floor day after day, and now, after he had lg- dcated a wish from the beginning to grat 1;St l a number of gentlemen who Wished 10 ," iourn. there seemed to be an effort made
 treat him with disrespect and lorce nm
 speak to empty benches. He krew nor w w Ii ,x he was treated so by friends aswell as TO fly On motion, the reading of tii1 names W he dispensed with. Several gentlemen chauS
 their votes, giving their reasons. E, John Cochrane said: "I wish D change ne. vote. I think it is a very soemn tln'
 0auphter,) and would sit herr ana p"S'
 among the solemnities of tfls h"'i' rs vote no. .,l. iya eo,
 Mir. Briggs desired Mir. Smith 70 give sol .
 reasonable guarantee how much more u '5s he nroposed to occupy the Hotse during se- holiday week it would save tho necessity
 adiourning over. (Laughtcr.) The vote V
 announced: yeas 75; nays i23. So the HOI l refused to adjourn
 as MT, Hill moved that no vote be taken ne Sneaker until one o'clock to-morow. Agre
 to.
 MT. Morris, of Illinois, "I desire to ta 10 this opportunity to object to he gentlem e from Virginia yielding the floor for any pl z. l pose, unless he yields it condiuonally. :, NIT. Harris, of Maryland, moved to a i journ.
 | The republican side called for the yeas ai '..S ;;, . Z