Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1859-12-15
TTfIRTYSLYIH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
MONDAY, December 5, 1859

Fortyeight Senator's were present. Fhe
credentials of Ten Eyck of New JerSyr and
Haun of California were presented, and they
were qualified.
The absentees were, Benjamin, Clay Crit
teudcn, Davis, Douglas, Fitch, Fitzpatrick,
Hammond, johnson of Arkansas, Polk, Sc
bastian Seward, and ToomhS G..
Mr.. Mason of Virginia submitted a resou
ton, which be would call up the next day, for
the appointment of a committee to inquire in
to the Harper's Ferry seizure aud tragedy
whether such invasion was made under cotor
of my organization Intended to subvert the
government Of any State, &c. &c, and to re
port what legislation, if any, is necessary to
preserve the future peace Of the country
.~ MIR. TrumbuI of Illinois gave notice that
he would move to amend by extending the in
duiry to the seizure of the arsenal at Franklin,
Missouri
The usual resolutions were passed, to inform
the House of Representatives and the Pres.
ident that the Senate was ready for business.
e Mr. Gwin gave notice of Pacific Railroad
bill
Adjourned
HousE.-Mr. Allen, Clerk of the last House,
called the members 10 order at noon The
intense interest was manifested by the specta-
tors
The roll was called and 23l members an
swered to their names. The absenteeS were
Stallworth and Landrum of Alabama, Brown
and Adams of Kentucky, Headman and Rust
of Arkansas and Hamilton of Texas
On motion of Mr.. Phelps the House agreed
to proceed to the election of Speaker rir0
f.II. .l,,
Sherman of Ohio, Davis of Indiana Hickman
and Grow of Pennsylvania, and Boteler o:
Virginia
A motion to adjourn one day to give absent
members time to arrive was lost
The Clerk appointed as tellers Houston,
Corwin, Adrian and Briggs.
The result of the first ballot was for Bocock
6s Sherman, &c Grow, 43 Boteler, IA
Davis, 2; Phelps, l GjImer, 2; Nelson, 5;
Corwin, Adrain, Hill, l Hickman, l;
Pennington, l Haskin, Mcqueen, II.
T. Clark, l.
No one having received a majority of the
votes cast, Mr.. Grow rose and said {" AS /
desire in no way to retard the organization of
the House | withdraw my name as a cand
date I assure those gentlemen who in kind
ness have cast their votes for me, that shall
of their friendship and regard"
Mr. Clark of Missouri claimed the right to
make remarks on the qualifications of some of
the nominees, but, after some discussion, waived
his claim and offering the following preamble
and resolution:
Hhereas, Certain members of this House
now in nomination for Speaker did endorse and
recommended the book hereinafter named,
therefore,
ReSOlred That the doctrines and sentiments
of a certain book called "The impending Cri-
sis of the South and how to meet it," purpOrt-
ing to have been written by II. R. Helper are
incendary and hostile to the domestic peace
and tranquility of the country, and that no
member of this House who recommended or
endorsed it, or the compend, is fit to be Speak
er of this House.
The reading of the resolution occasoned ap-
plauSe from some of the Southern men clap
ping their hands.
Mr. Stephens of Pennsy lvania said it seemed
to him that in the present condition of the
House but two things were in order, one
motion to adjourn, and the other to proceed
to vote.
After some irregular discussion the House
adjourned.
TUESDAY Denember g. 1889
SENArE.-The Harper's Ferry resolution Of
inquiry was called up agreeably to promise by
Mr.. MASON ; and that in the person Of Mr.
TRUMBULL, of Illinois, it found its most elo-
quent advocate Mr. TRUMBULL believed the
inquiry would disabuse the public mind of the
error that any notable portion Of the North
ern population was cognizant of BRowN's de-
signs, or could be brought to approve Of them.
An acrimonious debate ensued, in which Mr..
HALE endeaVored to relieve the Republican
Party of responsibility for BRowSs misdeeds,
and in doing so incurred, by his tone of levity,
a severe rebuke from Senator HUNTER.
HousE.-The discussion of the book of Mr.
HELPER, as connected with the political he
terodoxy of the Republican candidates for the
Speakership, occupied the attention of the
House to the exclusion of public interests.
Mr.. CLARK, of Missouri, continued to lead the
discussion, causing a list of those who had
recommended the book, and the recommenda-
tion ITSELF to be read. He followed with a
pathetic protest against any act endangering
the Union. Mr.. GILMER of North Carolina,
offered a resolution, looking to q coalition Of
conservatives for the preservation of the Ua-
ion but pending its consideration Mr. WASH
BURN, of Illinois, moved to lay the whole sub
ject on the table. This was negatived by
tie vote. The House adjourned without action
on Mr.. CLARK's resolution, and without bal
lot.
WEDNESDAY,, December 7, 1859.
SESArE-The senate still fIlibustered on
the Harper's Ferry and Liberty Arsenal ques
tions, with slight dash at Helpers Crisis"
The principal speakers for the South were,
Senators MALLORY, BROWN, IvERsoN, CLING
MAN, CHEsNUr and GREEN. The encounter
them came, from the North, Senators SIMMONS,
CHANDLER, HALE, and King all of the letter
sustaining the amendment of Mr. TRuNBULL