St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1860-02-09

that the election of William II. Sew
ard to the Presidency, or Sherman al
| Speaker would be abundant cause fol
a dissolution of the Union, and that
the South will therefore sccede, are
only evidences Of the weakness and
folly of those who thus stultify them
selves, instead of conveying to the
country the feelings and opinions OF
any large portion Of their constituents
1t is melancholy to reflect, that sucl
weak and childish men, can be elect
ed to seats in Congress but it must
be borne in mind, that all political
power in the Sauthern country, is in
| the hands of the two hundred and fifty
thousand Shareholders, and that a ma
jority of the six million of "poor white
men" who do not hold slaves, are in
such miserable condition, that books
have been published and circulated
in favor of reducing them to Il state
of Slavery +! and many southern press
cs have openly advocated such pro-
ceeding. 1t follows then, that these
fire-eaters" as they boastfully call
themselves, represent simply the slave
| power of the South, or in other words,
the two hundred and fifty thousand of
the six million of white and four mil
lion of colored population of the
Southern States. .
THE ELECTION OF SPEAKER.
In the debate in the House of Rep.
rcsentatives on the Goth ult., amid the
violence and insults of the Democratic
preachers of disunion and treason,
John Sherman, the Republican candi-
date for Speaker, stood forth boldly
but calmly and courtcously, and proved
| by his bearing and words his claim
to the character of a national legisla-
tor, true alike TO the duties he owes
the Constitution of the United States,
and to his dignity as man. The
whole debate exhibited the Democratic
members in the strongest light oI
reckless disorganizcrs, determined to
rule or ruin. AS long as such firm
barrier stands before them as was pre-
sentcd in the person of Mr. Sherman,
they will not rule, neither will they
ruin. We copy his speech below and
invite our readers, of all parties, to
note the manly sentiments and spirit,
ed language of Mr. Sherman, and also
to note the purely factions character
of the opposition to his election:
Mr.. Sherman asked Mr.. Clark whcth-
or he would withdraw his resolution.
in order to give him an opportunity to
explains
Mr.. Clark said he had avowed his
purpose, and would tell the gentleman
that he had had two opportunities to
make this explanation, hut has failed
to absolve himself from the RESPONSE
bility of recommending the circula,
ton of Helpers book.
Mr. Sherman replied that an oppor,
tunity had never been rendered him.
When the gentleman from Missouri
introduced the resolution, offensive in
character, and at an improper time
and manner, he cut off what he said
he desired to do, namely: afford op-
portunity for explanation. When,
three days after, the gentleman from
Virginia Mr.. Millson) )appealcd to him,
he stated that he had never seen or
read the book, and had no recollection
of signing any recommendation. Af-
ter that explanation was published, he
reed letter from Hon +. d. Morgan,
a member of the last Congress, recall
ing the circumstances under which
his name became connected with the
publication. Mr.. Morgan stated that
while he Mr.. Sherman) was writing
at his desk, he asked permission to
use his recommendation in circulating
a political pamphlet He consented,
provided there was nothing in it often
sivc or improper, and contiding in the
Judgment Of the friend who requested
the favor.
This was the whole story, and pre-
scented plain, unvarnishcd statement
of the facts which had been so much
misrcprcsented. These were all the
circumstances under which his name
became associated with this book.
The other day, when the subject was
brought before the House, and in Ian
guage which he did not consider
courteous-when he was charged with
| disseminating treason and lighting up
the torch to be applied to the dwell
lings of his Southern brethren
charged with crimes which, if he were
guilty of them, would take from him
his title to a seat on that floor--when
he rose in his place and told the gen
tleman from Missouri that if the reso-
luton was withdrawn he would an
swer, as the book was read page by
page, whether he avowcd or disavowcd
the sentiments therein, the gentleman
refused to withdraw it {; he did not
think it the desire of the gentleman to
give him the opportunity or to relieve
| the difficulty. If SO, he would now
withdraw it to give him an opportuni-
ty to do what he proposed. "Never,
so help me God, whether the Speakers
chair stands before me OF not, never,
while the resolution is before the
House improperly, and in an unparlia-
mentary way, and its adoption is
urged by offensive arguments, will |
explain single word in those extracts.
Applause from the Republican side
and galleries. While the resolution
is intended rs a stigma, and is sus'
tanned by epithets, he cannot expect
me to say more"
He replied that the circumstances
under which this resolution was
pressed were not characterized by
| candor and n manly course While