The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-12-15
No. 676.
TEIRTY-SIXTH CONGRESS-
First Session.
Wednesday, December Z, 1859.
SENATE


SENATE.
The Chair presented the report of the Secre-
tary Of the Senate showing the progress made
in printing American State Papers.
Mr.. Clay gave notice of his intention to in
troduce bill to repeal fishing bounties.
Mr.. Mason's resolution for a committee to
inquire into the particulars of the Harper's
Ferry Instruction, was taken up.
Mr. Simmons favored the amendment, think
ing one inquiry equally necessary with the
other, if legislation was required to prevent
similar outrages. We are too apt to overlook
awess acts He deprecated the attempt to
render one political party responsible for such
outrages, and denied that any general sympathy
existed in the North for John Brown and his
movement Browns conduct was unaccount-
able. In his crime there was not one redeem
inc quality, to redeem it from utter detestation.
sui he was a brave man. Ii the duty of
the Federal Government to extend Its protec-
ton to all parts of the Union. There was no
question about It's power. Still he said the at
tempt to implicate parties without proof was a
very dangerous proceeding and not calculated
10 produce quiet in the minds of the people.
Mr.. Mallory said that, since this resolution
had been shorn of all its moral force by the
covert opposition it had received, he was quite
Indifferent whether it passed or not. The cause
Of Virginia was the cause of the South, and the
South would stand by her. He was not sur
prised that the Republican Senators on this
floor denied all knowledge of Browns plans
he expected no less Of them. But the sympathy
universally expressed in the North showed that
the " irrepressible conflict" had indeed COM
menced.
Mr.. Iverson read from the proceedings of the
Massachusetts Legislature to prove that there
was deep sympathy in that State for John
u In, r.,fsh lco L.
made here not worth the paper on which
they written, for actions speak louder than
words. Look at the language of the New York
Tribune and the Albany Erefing Journal, the
organs of the Republican party. He believed
the Northern portion of the Democratic party
was as rotten On this question as the Black Re-
publicans. Judge Douglas and his supporters
we're no more reliable than the Republicans
themselves. Mr.. Sherman disclaims knowing
what was in Helpers book when he endorsed
it. bat he ought to have known. The South
now stands on the very brink of a volcano, and,
unless they take timely action the most disas-
trcus consequences will ensue.
He presumed Mr.. Sherman would be elected
Speaker, for he presumed traitors enough would
be found in the ranks of the Anti -Lecompton
Democrats to elect him but the very moment
such result should be attained-thus giving
the South an example of insult as well as in
iurv-he would recommend to all the Southern
members of Congress to walk out of these halls,
and consult their constituents before returning.
lie would 90 farther than that; he would coun-
sci his constituents to dissolve the political ties
that bind them to their enemies. That would
be his advice, but he did not know as his
people would follow it, for he was considered,
even in Georgia, a little ultra.
Mr.. Fessenden remarked that no one object
el to a thorough investigation of this question.
What use was it for Republicans to make any
statements, when newspapers were quoted as
higher authority? Public opinion could never
be learned from newspapers, particularly Dem
0crauc newspapers, whose trade 1t Is to mis-
represent their own people. He entered his
protest against such a course of procedure.
Senators know nothing of the North, if they
think they can find out public sentiment in any
such way. He was not prepared to reply to
any inquiry whether he was an accomplice in
such a matter. 1t was an insult to cast such a
slspicion upon him or any other honorable
man. He would as soon think of asking his
honorable friend from Virginia whether he had
any completely in the unlawful attempts to
bnng slaves into this country from the coast of
Africa. He repealed any such insinuatons, for
the Republican Senators stand as much above
suspicion as any other Senators.
Mr. Brown said. when Senators make public
the one to stand up and charge his peers with
deliberate falsehood; but there has been that
GONG on ut the North, calculated to produce a
very diff rent impression upon the Southern
mind Is 1t usual for notorious maleiactors,
murderers robbers, and traitors, to have ex-
l,rcssOns Of sympathy in the leading journals
OF the North Suppose the case had been re-
yersed, and foray had been made into Massa-
chusetts, and the Springfield armory had been
,eized for the ayowed purpose of forcing Slave
rs into Massachusetts, and overturning the
Government of that State, would the Tribune,
Ert4ing Post, and other Republican journals,
have expressed such sympathy in that case as
they have in this? Would New England
clersymen nave called their congregations to-
gelher in prayer meetings for the soul of such
| = culprit?
The debate on Mr.. Masons resolution con-
tinped till late hour by Messrs. Chandler,
Do0tle, Chestnut, and others, when, without
taking vote, the Senate adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House met at noon.
Alter the reading of the journal, Mr.. Kellogg,
OF ILL.,, rose 10 make an explanation, which, he
said was somewhat personal. he sent to the
Clerks desk, to be read, letter, published in
the New York Tribune. written from Washing
ION on the 9TH inst. Monday by Mr. Greeley,
publican party responsible for the "cowardly
performance" ia the House of that day-that
1t WAS the act of a very few fossil Wings, who
are only vanished with Repnblicansm suffi-
Gently to get into Congress and expressly
naming In this connection Mr.. Stanton of Ohio,
AID Mr.. Kellogg of ILL.,, who had moved ad
i9urnments on that day. Mr. Kellogg denounc.
ed. with much severity, these aspersions cast by
Mr. Greeley upon the condnct and motives oil
Regublican members, who were responsible to
their constituents for their acts, and not to the
NeN York press. He thought the Republican
party should rebuke those who by trickery pre-
pare papers for others to sign. He charged
that this was not the first offence of Mr.. Gree
ley's in interfering with matters which belonged
TO the people of Illinois, and not to him. That
Mr.. g. had labored to secure the reelection oil
Judge Douglas to the Senate of the United
States, when the Republicans of that State were
exer;iug themselves 10 the utmost to secure the
election of distinguished member of their own
partv Mr.. Lincoln. That Dir. Greeley had
been repeatedly closeted with Judge Douglas,
4 his own house in Washington, planning and
echeming to secure his return to the Senate,
That when Republicans in illinois had written
- the Tib,,Re Office expostulating against the
course of that paper GA the subject of Illinois
politics, they had received for answer that its
conductors had no objection to the election OF
Judge Douglas to the Senate.
Mr.. Kellogg, in explanation of his motives IN
Rowing the adjournment, on Monday last, stated
that when a charge was made against himself
aud other Republican members, of having
signed recommendation of a mischievous
book, which he had never seen, he desired to