Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-02-01

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notice that that is the only accusation p'ade
against me since have been member OF the
House. If there he any other.ie 1t be made
Mr.. Hindman-I charge the gentleman with
having advocated on this floor proposition to
exclude Slavery from the Territories 10y Con-
gressioual Legislation, and cf having avowed
his intention to oppose the admission OF any
slave States into the Union, and OF having
branded the Fugitive Slave law savage and
inhuman. / charge him with having stigma
tized Southern Slavery as injurious and a
crime.
Mr.. Sherman-In other words,I am charged
with being Republican. This is my offence
none other. | never sought to invade the
rights of the Southern States. | have my o.
pinions on the subject OF Slavery in the Ter
ritories. and, at a proper time am willing TO
define them. / never made but one speech on
the subject of Slavery ,and that WAS upon what
l regarded as an improper remark in the mes
sage of President Pierce in 1886. then
spread upon the records my opinions upon the
subject, and find no man TO call those opin-
ions in question. They are the opinions OF
the body of the Republican party to day, and
they are the opinions now entertain.
Mr.Hindmau, k.,-I desire 10 say-[Cries
of "Oreler.'
Mr. Sherman-I am now speaking of my
personal record. Again, those gentlemen on
the other side, in publishing their speeches
all over the country, have proclaimed that L
am q traitor, &c, in order to serve political
purpose. 1t is true it has been done by i'm
plication; it is true they have disclaimed any
personal application, but it has answered the
same purpose. They have called upon me to
show my innocence, but when they make these
charges they are called upon to show the proofs
and the specifications, and they have failed
utterly failcd-to establish their charges. The
only special act they have alleged is that when
a gentleman came here to me, while sitting at
my desk and asked me to sign paper recon-
mendng a tract, | consented to the use of my
name, and they declare that then, by that act,
| became a traitor, and would put the torch in
the ncendiary's hand. l say this is not a fair
argument, and now | repeat that. if my friend
from Missouri really desires to know what my
sentiments are in regard to those extract from
the Helper book which have been read at the
Clerks desk-the only portion of the book
which have seen or read up to this time-I
will tell him, if he will remove from me wha.
| | must consider an insulting menace. But
| never yet did anything under menace, and
never WILL 1t is not in my blood, and those
gentlemen cannot put it there. fGreat APP
| piause. Now, Mr.. Clerk, so far as am con-
! cerned in this contest, have been patient and
| forbearng. l desire to see an organization of
this Il ouse opposed to the Administration.
| think it is our highest and best duty to inves-
| tigate, to examine, to anayZc the mode in
which the Executive powers of this Govern
ment have been administered for a few years
| past. That is my desire. | said before the
session that did not believe the Slavery
| question would come up here at all.
[ came here with the expectation that we
were to have a business session; that we would
have examination of business affairs. an
analysis of the mode and manner in which the
Executive has administered the Government
and its condition. / did not think there was
| any question upon which Slavery could come
| Tot,r
Brown at Harper's Ferry, / do not believe
there would have been any feelings on the sub
]ect. say now, that we should have come
here with kindly feelings-no man approving
of the act of John Brown, and every man rea-
dy and willing to say and to condemn the
act of lawleSs violence. We came here,I say
hoping that we might do our duty and investi-
gate the administration of the Government ;
bnt when we arrived here, before a ballot, or
Immediately after the first informal ballot, this
question was introduced, thrust in upon u.s.
and it has had the effect of exciting the pub
lie mind and preventing gentlemen explaining
their views and their positions. | think this
whole proceeding has been unjust, unfriendly
offensive and wrong, not only to those gentle
men here whose lips sealed, but to our
common constituency. These gentlemen on
the other side have stirred up the bad blood.
If any evil has been done. they have done it :;
they have stirred up this bad feeling if there
is any. ] believe now, that might go to
work and organize if these obstacles were re-
moved, and administer the powers and duties
of this House with frmness and mpartiality.
| say now in conclusion that whenever my
name stands in the way as barrier to the or
ganization of this House, whenever believe
that any man of my party can receive all the
votes have, and more, so as TO elect, either
by majority or plurality, 1 will not stand in
my present position an hour. Whenever they
think they can combine larger number of
votes on another candidate, will retire from
the field and yield to any other gentlemen with
whom act politically, and who will accept
those barren honors OF the Speakers chair.
Applause
HoLE-IN HE-DAY.-This celebrated brave,