The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-01-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE THIRTY sixth CONGRESS-
SENATE.

DEN Al Il.
WASHINGTON, Jan. THE Senate is not in ses-
sion TODAY.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr.. COBB asked that an article emanating from
Massachusetts, be read, and wishing to know from
the delegation of that State whether it was for
gerry not. 1t appeared in the Barnstable Patriot,
from the East where the first rises on our quar-
ter of the globe.
If it be genuine, he was glad, after searching
among the rubbish that he had been able to find
in Massachusetts, a single Jewel, which should be
shown to the country. The proceedings of the
Union meeting at Barnstable were then read, de-
Caring the duty of obedience to the Constitution
as the supreme law of the land, condemning John
Browns Virginia raid and the sympathizers there
with; and those preaching melting insurrecton
as guilty of moral or actual treason, &c.
Mr. ELIOT asked that the call for the meeting be
read
Mr. COBB said it was not in the paper. He loved
Union meetings, but he wanted them to declare
such sentiments as have been read. He believed
that many abolitionists simply for the Union.
Let the motto be the Constitution and the rights of
all sec ions.
Mr.. ELIOT remarked that Mr.. Cobb did not say
anything new to Massachusetts,, or the citizens of
that State. There were not more Constitutional
nor conservative constituencies anywhere. From
the landing of the Pilgrims till now there never
was body of men who more assuredly, directly
and promptly stood by the laws and Constitution,
and every right, than these same men who met to-
gether at Barnstable the other day to proclaim
lHelf hlleglance 10 IIle union ana laws. Inc men
who diSsented from the spirit of these resolutions,
are the men who would be found standing side by
side with secessionists ard disunonists of the
SOuth-nOt the Republicans nor order-loving De-
mOcrats, but another class of men altogether
One of the gentlemen who addressed that meet
ing was Republican, and his hearers sympathiZed
with his sentiments there declared. We have, he
said, heard words more terse than chaste, more
strong than parliamentary-mo vigorous than
courteous denunciation after denunciation against
those who came from the North n
the feelings and principles of the North as embo-
died in the resolutions just read. The time is not
far distant when the sceptre will slip from the hands
of those who held it and pass to other and stronger
hands, and then we hope will find our Union
loving friends shaking hands with the party
that will have the power of the Government, and
propose to administer it according to the Constu-
ton and the Union, and the laws which underlie
them both
Mr.. CoBB was ha ppy to hear the explanation -
He did not produce the resolutions with a view to
say anything to the Massachusetts, delegation, but
to ascertain whether they were genuine.
Mr. ELIOT said the editor of the Barnstabe paper
was Union-loving, strong3 Constitutional Demo
crat, representing high office in Barnstable.
Mr.. COBB said he did not care what office the ed
itor held, he was the representative of the true
doctrine. He hoped the sentiments declared would
enable all sides to profit by them. He wanted his
constituents to hear the glorious tdings that there
yet live in the North, and in Massachusetts,, men
who worthy OF their Revolutionary fathers.
lie repeated ne WlSneu TO Know why the Demo-
Gratis did not up to the support of Mr.. Gilmer
Messrs. KEITr, WRIGHT, of Tennessee, Rust, and
several others gave, as a reason, that they could
not affiliate with the twelve fourteen Black Re-
pubcans who had voted for Mr. Gilmer.
Mr. STOKES in his further remarks, said he pre-
ferred candidate of his own party but as between
a sound and conservative Democrat and Republi-
can, he should vote for the Democrat.
Mr. WTssLow moved that the House proceed to
vote for Speaker, and demanded the previous
question.
Mr. HICKMAN asked the House to vote down the
demand for the previous question, so that he might
move to offer an amendment to adopt the plurality
rule, in accordance with previous notice.
There was a call of the House, as preliminary
to voting.
Mr.. HICKMAN said he would resist a vote until the
House could vote on the amendment for the plural
ity rule.
the Democratic side would resist till March, 1861,
the adoption of that rule.
Mr.. HICKMAN was ready for the issue. Let the
responsibility of non-organizaton rest on the heads
of the Democratic side.
Mr.. CLARK, of Missouri, said that he should first
insist a vote on his resolution declaring that no
man who signed the recommendation of the Helper
! book was fit to be Speaker of the House.
| Mr.. STEVENS contended that the only motion in
order to adjourn, or to proceed to the election
of Speaker.
Mr. WINsLow said that the plurality rule could
not be voted on for very long time-in his belief,
never.
| Mr. BINGHAM wished to know if the Republicans
would consent to vote on Mr.. Clark's resolution,
whether Mr.. Clark would consent then to vote on
the proposition for the plurality rule.
Mr.. CLARK Indignantly objected to any such ar
rangement as that proposed.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Mississippi, addressed the House
to show that the Southern Opposition should come
up to the support of the Democracy, and said that
the anti i-Lecomptonites had promised to aid the
Democrats, when it could be shown that their votes
| Anffa IIat
view to election that those two parties give the
Democrats the Speaker and the Democrats would
agree that they should divide the other offices
among them.
Mr.. SroKEs, of Tennessee, said the Republicans
were sectional As to the nationality of the De-
mocracy he had some doubts. He quoted from the
! States and the Charleston Mercury, to show that
the Democratic party is not national but sectional
Mr.. MILES said it was most extraordinary that
the gentleman should call the Mercury an organ of
the National Democracy. 1t, however, expressed
his sentiments.
Mr.. STOKES said the Democracy was split up into
fragments. Why should it be asked that the South
ern Oppositionists come up to the aid of the Demo
cracy? They stand between the North and the
South-a conservative and national party. They
stood here to-day as Union men.
Mr.. SINGLETON asked question, to the effect
whether the gentleman seeede from the Union in
the event of Black Republican being elected Pre-
sident
Mr.. Stokes said he would not.
! Mr.. SINGLETON asked how it would be In the
event of Fred. Douglass being elected President.
Mr.. STOKES replied that Fred Douglass was not a
citizen of the United States, according to the dec
sion of the Supreme Court, and that he would
make no opposition to any man elected fairly by
the people, until he had committed the overt
act.
Mr.. SINGLETON reminded the gentleman that the
Northern people differed as to black men being
| citizens of the United States.
Mr.. Stokes repeated that the Supreme Court had
settled that question.
Mr.. HILL here interposed He thought it would
not be unjust to the Republican side to say, that