Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1860-02-02
SPEECH
HON. E. JOY MORRIS,
OF PENNSYLVANIA,

OF PENNSYLVANIA,
NorA; delivered ~ the House of Rspresen-
tatiues, December 8. 1889.
Mr.. NORRIS, of Pennsylvania, said:
Mr.. CLERK: Occupying, as l do, per-
fectly independent political position. / am
at liberty, free from any particular party
bias, to vote in the election of Speaker,
and on all questions which shall come be-
fore the House, when it shall have been
duly organized, according to my sense of
duty to the country and my constituents.
In such a position, l do not sympathize
with extreme men and measures, on either
hand, and shall, as far as possible, avoid
any countenance Of, or participation in, the
discussion of topics of an exclusively Sec
tional character, introduced merely to stim-
ulate party passions, and infame local preju-
dices.
As Representative, Mr.. Clerk, of an
eminently conservative constituency, | am
surprised to see the deeply exciting ques-
ton of slavery, the agitation of which has
been SO constantly deprecated as infaming
the public mind and disturbing the peace
of the country, prematurely introduced
here by gentlemen representing slavehold-
ing constituencies. Sir, l am opposed TO
ali unnecessary agitation on the subject
am willing to meet it only when it comes
before us in the ordinary action of a legis-
Iative body. But protest against its be-
ing thrust upon us now, before the House
is organized, and to the obstruction Of pub
lie business, and in order TO confuse the
election of Speaker. : -
There are many tests, Mr.. Clerk, of the
fidelity of men to the Constitution of the
United States, and to the Union and har-
mony of the country. Crisis in our polit-
ical history from time 10 time occur which
put mems principles to stern proof, when
loyalty TO the party and devotion to the
country come in conflict; when the voice
of patriotism or faction must be needed;
when the popular will or that Of the Exec
utive must be observed. In such crisis
stood my honorable friend from Ohio MIR.
Sherman] in the last Congress, during the
memorial struggle on the admission OF
Kansas under the Leeompton constitution.
Upon our action at That time depended not
only the tranquility of the particular dis
triet of country about which we were leg
islating, bnt the peace of the whole ma
tion, !.
:, onder previous leg'sla.ion Tue People 81 sol
nansas were a,io"su 20 us,e''n'n0 'e'
themselves wne.ner 'hey ~oS'u coii.s ,a ,n,o
tne Union as q irse OF save o'ase. ni'e
engaged IN lne sola'loh o. sna. ,mgo1san,
question, every act OF irauu, sio'euce' anu
ruRanism PerPetra'ed agalns. tnem, 70 pre-
vent tne iree expression OF opinion, was
oy TINS wicked ADMINISTRATION
and constitution was Drought INTO the
House wnicn was not .ne acs Oh .he Peo-
pie OF Kansas: iwas ifanduleh. rom De-
to END one wnicn wouia not pear
the test OF investigatlon. wnen tne
House raised a committee for the purpose
Of investigating the frauds win which 1t
was tainted' the Speasef-ior "nom 1 en-
1ertained Petsona,'y sne moss p,oeouno re-
spect-vloisted lne nrs' principles OF par
law, ana apPoin.ea majority
On 'ne comm''ee oPPoseu = eue seIy oo
)ec, ior wnlcn 'ne house naa c'ea'ea ~
ana 'nus ceiea'ee lne eAposu'e % 'ne y,
lqnitous proceeanss ~ WHICH 'he ,egai
voice OF .ne people ol nansas pad oeen