The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-01-12
Congressional.

In the proceedings of the House Of Repre-
sentatives, on Tuesday, the following debate
occurred:
Mr. Leake of Va, desired 10 ask Mr. Ed
wards il he believed that Il man who favored
the abolition of slavery by violence, and The
encouragement Of civil di cord i'll any of the
States OF the Union, was fit to be Speaker of
the House. For himself, he would say that
that portion of the Union which he repre-
sen ted would consider the election Of a man
who had endorsed the Helper book rs pre-
meditated insult, and would take snch steps
10 resent that insult as the occasion might re-
quire, even if that step be the first towards
the dissolution OF the u MON.
Mr. Edwards said that the doctrine of the
book WAS an abstraction. and that the discus
sion which had arisen upon it was the discus
sion of All abstraction.
Mr.. Houston, of Ala, desired to ask Mr.
Ed wards, If he was opposed 10 resolutions
seIting a rule of action for the House in the
election of Speaker, how could he vote for
John Sherman. who in the 3ith Congress led
of in a series of similar resolutions. declar-
ing that no man was fit TO be Speaker who
approved OF the repeal If the Missouri Com
promise.
Mr. Clarke. of N. y, desired to ask Mr.. Ed
wards if ne would vote for man who in his
heart maintained the prnscriptive and intol-
Grant doctrines of the Helper book as read from
| the Clerks desk.
Mr. Edwards said that in private converse.
| ton he would not object to reply to the gem
| tleman, but as a represen tative on this floor,
| Ilt Olu not ietk Oii ~ iAltl
Mr. Morris. of Penn, would say in answer
| to Mr.. Ieake, that if he did not know from
! MIR. Sherman that he WAS bitterly opposed to
| the horrible doctrines of the Helper book,
| which had been read at the Clerks desk, he
would not vote for him. He knew that Mr..
| Sherman was opposed to any Interference
| with the relation of master and slave.
Mr.. Ieake desired TO know II, when Nr
| Sherman endorsed the Helper book, whatever
| his ignorance about it might have bepn did he
| not know that it was book intended to in ter
| fere with the relation OF master and slave
| rithfa the sovereign States.
Mr.. Morris replied that if the resolution OF
| Mr.. Clarke was withdrawn, Mr.. Sherman
could then, without injury 10 his selfresp pect,
| explain his sentiments in regard to every page
of the Helper book if need be, and would do
Mr. Laake said that not only Mr.. Sherman
but fifty -one her gen ntlemen the other side
had endorsed that book The resolution of Mr..
Clarke was directed at the whole of them
Mr.. Edwards contin ued his remarksa and was
succeeded by
Mr.. Wright, of Tenn, who addressed he
House for some time in opposition 10 the prin-
ciples of the Black Republican party. In the
know if Mr.. Hill, Of Georgia, had not said
that in the event OF the refusal OF Congress to
protect slavery in the Territories he would ia
vor dissolution of the Union.
Mr.. Hill declared that though friend of the
Union yet in that contingency he would go
20 w 18th the extreme men of the South for ex-
treme measures. (Applause from the Suuth.)
Mr.. Farnsworth explain ed his position i'll
regard - the circulation of Southern
speeches.
Mr.. Leake, of Va. in alluding 70 the quota
ton from Gov. Wise, made the other day by
MIR. Stokes in which Gov. Wise is reported
to have said that he would fight for the rights
of Virginia within the Union, said Governor
Wise or no other Governor had the right to
speak for Virginia. She had represen 'atives on
this floor TO speak her sentiments. He did not
Justly represent these sentiments. From l7!tS
until now, Virginia had never thought once Of
stirring up intestine war within the Union
Whenever her rights We're invaded, and the
hand Of oppression laid too heavy upon her,
she would withdraw from the Union and as
sumo the sovereignty from which she had
never parted. (Appianse) He scorned to
stand with the Senator from New York, upon
higher law. Virginia demanded only those
rights and used only those remedies which
were recognized by the Constitution. He had
no issue TO make with Governor Wise. He
was able, talented and brave, but All erratic
and not the representative of Virginia sent III
ment on this subject. He Mr.. Leake) spoke
for the 9th Congressional District OF Virginia
district which, both in geographical position
and in population, was the backbone Of the
State.